Hound Summit Team Memorial Day Limb Climb in honor of Sergeant Nick Dickhut

Hound Summit Team Memorial Day Limb Climb in honor of Sergeant Nick Dickhut

May 25-27, 2012

Sergeant Nick Dickhut

Honor the Fallen Link

On Sunday, 27 May, the Hound Summit Team planted an American flag on the summit of Mount Adams in honor of Sergeant Nicholas Dickhut of 5-20 IN. Sergeant Dickhut was killed in action while engaging enemy forces near Zharay, Afghanistan on April 30th, 2012. 

The Mount Adams climb was the first official wounded warrior climb of the season, and included five members of Active Duty Military, the Wounded Warrior Program, and the Hound Summit Team. 

On a day that saw Mount Adams turn away more climbers than it let up, the HST members worked together to get the flag to the summit and then safely down the mountain. The team fought high winds and dramatically changing conditions on the way to the top. At the summit, Joshua Brandon said a few words for Nick, and every other warrior, friend, and loved ones we have lost in the service of our country. During the long descent to camp, the mountain rewarded us with spectacular views and a beautiful snowfall. 

Thank you to all of our friends and sponsors who made this trip possible. Please join us in supporting our warriors in our first annual wounded warrior climb of Mount Rainier from 19-21 June. 

Flag on the summit in honor of Special Dickhut. 

HST Adams Team before pushing up from the Lunch Counter.

HST leaders Mike Pickerel and Joshua Brandon.

HST Climber Joshua Brandon's Interview with the National Center for PTSD's About Face Program

Check out the interview at the link below.

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/about_face/veterans/maj-joshua-brandon/who-i-am.html

“The Old Breed” – The First Ascent of Saser Kangri II

Saser Kangri II stood as the second highest unclimbed peak in the world until August of 2011 when Steve Swenson, Mark Richey and Freddie Wilkinson completed the first ascent.
This Piolet D’or Award winning climb is the subject of the film (shown for the first time at the AAC’s Annual Dinner in Boston) and is now premiering on the west coast. Join Steve Swenson before and after the film for questions and socializing at the Mountaineers Program Center.
This event is a fundraiser for the Vantage permanent toilet project. As the climbing area has gotten more and more popular the impacts on the land are readily apparent. The WCC has been funding temporary toilets for the last few season, but this is just a stop-gap for a real solution.
The American Alpine Club, The Mountaineers and the WCC are joining forces on this very important project and we hope you will support us.

For Details: http://www.americanalpineclub.org/events/blog/ai1ec_event/the-old-breed-the-first-ascent-of-saser-kangri-ii/?instance_id

Best Ranger Competition Report (TJ Laynor)

Best Ranger Competition Report (TJ Laynor)


I must say I haven't had this much fun in a long time.  It is fun to attempt these events without someone yelling at you or various simulations going off to peak my PTSD.  MAJ Moore was also a blast to have as a partner.  He is still the same old guy always trying to show up the younger guys.  


The competition started early Wednesday morning as we split up into two groups to either start at the shooting range or Grenade range. Tobin and I started with the grenade range.  Good thing we don't throw too many grenades in combat. For some reason all of mine liked to bounce to the left and always out of bounce. Tobin either fell really short or too long.  It was safe to say that although we didn't score perfect, none else did either.  The next event was a race to the top of the tower and repel down.  We both accomplished this task, but I'm told they had to literally throw Tobin off the tower.  After coming off the tower we each had to throw 5 tomahawks.  We were the only team that received a perfect score.  Good to know that although we will miss them with our grenades, we can always kill them with our tomahawks.


After a quick MRE snack we traveled to the range to compete in the M4 shoot off.  Each team was given 30 rounds and had to fire 10 in the prone, kneeling and standing positions. Team OR received a 99%. I'm sure it was my blind eye that missed something.  After completing the M4 shoot off we had to race our way to the Malvesti Obstacle Course. The obstacle course consisted of 5 pull ups, a rope climb, the log climb, monkey bars, the low crawl in the worm pit, and finally the 150 meter run to the finish.  It seems easy, but when you have to finish as a team it can take a toll.  The rope and the logs were the crux of the course, but in the end we had a finish time in the top 3.


The event was a blast and I could not have asked for a better partner.  Tobin Moore made the event a challenging one. This Saturday we should find out how we did over all.  The winning team gets a replicate trophy (minus the 45 cal pistols) of the one given to the winners of the actual Best Ranger Competition.


Follow Up: TJ and Tobin took second place! Rock on Fellas!

Team OR (TJ Laynor Left, Tobin Moore Right)

Getting ready to fight the natives.

Adorable personalized ACUS.

Finish Line!

JBLM-based soldier killed in Afghanistan combat

Sgt. Nicholas Dickhut died during a firefight in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province, his parents were told Sunday. Dickhut was a forward observer, on the front lines to identify and communicate enemy positions for other units. He was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and attached to the 82nd Airborne.


http://www.startribune.com/local/149535645.html