Giving THANKS from 5,000 Miles away...give or take.

Ahhh...the smell of turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes fills the air...the smells of the holidays grabs you by the ears...and you think to yourself...do I have room for a 2nd (or 3rd) piece of pumpkin pie? YES, YES, YES! Do it...eat it...what are you waiting for?

No Turkey Day for me this year...I will miss all the traditional foods which is sad ;(, but what I will miss more are the people in my life...my family and friends. My Thanksgiving meal was a traditional Japanese lunch box (o-bento)...see picture. My potatoes were not mashed, but were battered in flour (tempura) and my protein was not that coma-like sleep inducing turkey that you all are having...nope, mine was some type of fish. It was good, but not like freshly carved succulent turkey. So enjoy...itadakimasu!

I have expressed this more than once and to many, many people...but...repetition never hurt. People are the most important part of my life. I think about my family and friends always and look forward to sharing life again with them on a more regular basis...just chatting...having a meal...going for a bike ride or climbing some mountain. The last 12 months has not been easy for my family, but by the grace of God and amazing support from family and friends...its been as good as I could have ever imagined.

To put it simply...thank you. Thank you for being there...thank you for your support...thank you for making me laugh and thank you for the emails, phone calls, postcards and care packages. I have been blessed...I don't know how I got so lucky.

I miss you all avery much and I think about you often.

Happy Turkey Day!

P.S. - Many people are wondering if I am staying for a 2nd year on the JET program. Well, wonder no more. I officially handed in my re-contract papers for the JET program earlier this week and I will be returning to the USA (Portland, OR) next year (late July/early August 2009). Japan has and will always hold a special place in my life, but its time for me to rejoin my family and friends. This means...if you want to experience Kobe beef, the best ramen ever, a public bath (onsen), Mt. Fuji, cherry blossoms and many more things...its time to make some plans to visit Japan ;)
P.P.S. - This a pic of me hiking in Kyoto this past weekend. The trails so far have been pretty relentless...no gradual inclines...the trails shoot up and up and up...and then drop down just as fast. My knees are loving it ;)

Miyajima Island...one of Japan's scenic treasures!

I promised more light-heartedness and I am a man of my word...how much more light-hearted can you get when you talk about deer (think bambi but w/ an over-eating disorder), WILD monkeys (think planet of the apes w/o the talking) and a beautiful view from sun up til sunset against an orangish/red gate (Torii) leading into Itsukushima Shrine (try saying that 10x fast).

Miyajima Island is a train and ferry ride outside of Hiroshima...about 1 hour one way.
The Japanese teachers at my school gave me two words of advice once they found out that we were going to Miyajima Island: 1) Be careful about feeding the deer...they are aggressive and will eat anything they see and 2) Watch out for the wild monkeys...they will steal your camera and won't give it back...and under no circumstances should you look the monkeys in the eye. I have to admit, I was a little hesitant about running into these animals, but how bad could it be?!?!?!...bambi and curious george are cute and cuddly after all...

The adventure onto the island begins with the views from the ferry of the famous Torii (orangish/red gate) to Itsukushima Shrine . I think the only place on earth that I have taken more pictures of is Mt. Hood in Oregon. People flocked to catch a glimpse of the Torii...all sorts of cameras (disposable, cell phones and point and shooters and of course the tri-podded pieces of machinery) were making this national treasure the envy of all other shrines. Miyajima Island is said to be one of the top 3 most picturesque places in the country. Check out this video of the ferry ride in...http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=CAMMWsa2QyY

This is where the deer enter the picture...they congregate on the path leading to the best views of the Torii and give everyone this "puppy dog" look...feed me, pet me. I could not believe how little kids were walking up to the deer and just petting them...I mean one minute they are tame and friendly...and then we see deer eating maps (yes, paper maps) right out of the back pockets of tourists...we learned that if you pay attention to the deer, they will take that as an open invite to eat whatever you have in your hand...and they are not shy. So, as you can see I was keeping my eye on them.

We escaped from the terror of bambi and began hiking up Mt. Misen...the highest point on the island (529 meters or 1,600 feet). Our path was a stairway...not just step, step and then a path...it was a natural stair stepper for about 2 hours...lets just say on the way down our quads and ankles were torched...our egos were a bit bruised when we saw little elementary aged kids skipping down the trail. Whatever...

At the top of Mt. Misen there is a beautiful panoramic view of several islands...remember, Japan is an archiplego...and the country is made up of about 3,000 islands. It was a gorgeous, sunny day in October with barely a breeze in the air. We found a spot on the rock outcropping and perched there taking it all in. We worked up an appetite on the way up and brought the usual trail food...sandwiches, granola bars, potato chips and water. Well, as luck would have it, there was a little snack shack at the top of Mt. Misen and they served the perfect menu...a hikers dream. Cold beer, sake, udon noodles, ice cream and some other snacks. Udon never tasted so good...and be sure to SLURP your noodles...its all part of the enjoyment!

After basking in the sun and inhaling our bowls of udon, we hiked over the the monkey park. Yes, that is the actual name of the place on our tourist maps. I was expecting a cage or some really strong nets with a few monkeys picking bugs off each other. What we saw can only be described as...well...scary, very scary. As we approached the park a dominant male monkey scaled a tree and started screaming and shaking the tree...as if to say..."the tourists are coming, the tourists are coming!" After checking my shorts (yes, it freaked me out), we decided to continue on. The monkey park had a defined boundary, but the monkeys could care less...they were everywhere...on the roof of the observation center, on the sidewalk, under the stairs...I guess this lack of concern for tourists bothered that dominant male because he went berzerk on his tribe...again checked my shorts. Here is our furry friend after picking some poo off his feet.

Our day on Miyajima Island was coming to a close...the sun was setting and the air became cooler...jackets were put on and we stood in awe of the Torii leading into Itsukushima Shrine once again. It was like watching a fireworks show....with the grand finale being...this. Mother nature casting her light from behind the mountains, off the spray of clouds...giving a silhouette of the Torii.

Hiroshima and Miyajima Island are two treasures of the land of the rising sun...one for its mission for peace and the other for its natural beauty.

In the absence of violence there is peace...

Konnichiwa! In this first posting of a multi-part blog series, I will attempt to convey what Sarah and I experienced during her visit...First up: Hiroshima (ひろしま). This was Sarah's first time in Japan...she was here for 3 weeks and we had the opportunity to spend time together and share some pretty amazing experiences in the "land of the rising sun." So please, sit back, relax and enjoy the sensations of Japan...

Some housekeeping first...Sarah had quite the trip in getting to my home in Suzurandai...it all started with a 9 or 10 hour flight from PDX to Narita, then a 1 hour train ride from Narita to Tokyo, then a shinkansen (high speed train) from Tokyo to Kobe (about 3 hours) and then a 25 minute taxi ride to my apartment in Suzurandai...a true, plane, trains and automobile story. The trip home was tiring, but it had been 9 weeks since we saw each other last, so we just enjoyed sitting next to each other. Pictured here are two of my friends from Tokyo (Mari and Kaoru) who helped me remember how to get to Narita Airport to pick up Sarah.

On to Hiroshima - located on the Western end of Honshu, the main island of Japan, about a 1 hour 10 minute shinkansen ride from Kobe...that`s about $130 USD per person round trip. We had a fantastic trip to Hiroshima...from history refresher in the Peace Park to a beautiful Japanese garden to Hiroshima-yaki (so yummy) to wild monkeys and deer (on Miyajima island)...here is a taste...remember, there is more to come!

I always knew I wanted to visit Hiroshima, but I did not really know what to expect. I was told "oh, you must go...there is this, that and the other." Well, like most things, it is totally different when you see "this, that and other other" for yourself. Hiroshima is a city with much historical significance...it was the first city ever bombed w/ an atomic bomb (Nagasaki was the 2nd). A history refresher...On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima was devasted by the a-bomb...Nearly 200,000 people died within the first year after the bombing due to the immediate impact of the bomb and the effects of radiation poisoning...The impact of radiation poisoning are still not fully known. One of my teacher`s father (who is now in his 80s) lived in Hiroshima during the bombing and suffers from radiation poisoning today. This is a sad story, but it is also one of hope. Sarah and I were in awe of the peace felt in Hiroshima...it permeates the entire city.

We walked through the epicenter of the bombing...what was once a war zone, has become a memorial built to promote peace. Peace infused the air and we got absorbed into its warm embrace. To say this experience gave us pause is an understatement. Among the many sites are: the A-bomb Dome (only structure still standing from the bombing), the Peace Park (pictured above), the Peace Museum and the Children`s Peace Memorial (see video below).

As we took in the experience, we were accosted along the way by a few groups of Jr. High School kids on a school trip...all they wanted was to practice their English - which was quite good. Sarah and I became instant celebrities...and 15 seconds later we were on our own again.

The most impactful and lasting memory will be the stories told on behalf of those who died from the bombing. One story in particular was of a little girl who by all accounts was living a healthy life, but 9 years after the bombing she developed leukemia from the radiation poisoning. Her name is Sadako Sasaki and her story, while sad, was one of hope. Paper cranes, made from the ancient Japanese tradition of paper folding (origami), are known to be signs of peace around the world. Well, Sadako new of this tradition and began folding cranes and did so until her death 8 months after diagnosis...her story set of a storm of activity by schools in Japan to promote peace by building a Children`s Peace Memorial - for all children who perished from the bombing. Now, this is a global story and every year about 10 million cranes are offered up for peace. It all started with a little girl`s dream.

Video of Children's Peace Memorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvB-51k7m0g

The message we took away from this experience was that peace is possible...it may sound hokey, but when you stop and think about it, what good are all these atomic and nuclear weapons if all they are going to do is destroy our most precious resource - people.

So, if you get the chance...go to Hiroshima and experience what peace feels like. You won`t want the world any other way.

Note: future blogs will be more light-hearted...i promise.

EvErY dAy Is A nEw ExPeRiEnCe

Konnichiwa!  Its my birthday...and I will blog if I want to !!!  So, here's a little somethin' somethin' from my roller coaster ride in September 08:

Life in Japan is treating me well...the week of Sept 8th was my first full week of classes...whoa, do I have a new appreciation for all teachers...especially high school teachers.   I believe that I am pretty lucky in that I have a supportive group of Japanese Teachers of English (JTEs) and a genki (energtic) group of students.  The students and I are getting to know each other and for the most part, they are warming up to me.  Especially outside of class...they love to chat before school, in between class and after school.  I ask them for some Japanese pointers while we weave an "Engrish" conversation.  I have been invited to the Judo club a lot...I am starting to think that my presence there will be less cultural exchange and more, breaking Steve-sensei in half.  Stay tuned...

I am doing my best to learn Japanese (Nihon-go) both verbal and written.  I am learning directions (left, right, in front, behind, on top, between...) and learning new verbs (tabemasu = to eat, mimasu = to see/look/watch and nomimasu = to drink).  Now I can watch 

people eat and drink in Japanese :) I even carry around a little notebook where I write down new words and phrases, so I can review them later.  I am far from being conversational, so when a Japanese person and I are trying to communicate I usually say "sumimasen" (sorry) and then "muzukashi" (difficult) or "nihongo sukoshi" (a little Japanese)...and then they compliment me on my good Japanese.  They are very kind, but I know the score...

Life in Japan is good, but not w/o its challenges.  Overall, I am very lucky with my placement.  my school, the teachers, the students, proximity to city life (Kobe) and other parts of Japan...its difficult to beat.  Culture shock of varying kinds creeps up every now and again and recently smacked me square between the eyes...sometimes I just smile and go with the flow and other times, my American mindedness gets the best of me and wonders why "they" do it "that" way.   I am learning...yes, even at the ripe old age of 32 :)  I always want to learn, but some lessons are surprises fo sho!  Just so ya'll know...I really appreciate getting emails, cards and care packages...anything that keeps me connected w/ home is soooo nice.  Its funny how the little things...the simple things can mean so much...I always knew they did, but being far away from home really highlights the importance of simple gestures.

One last bit...  Every one of us had our first haircut right?  I don't remember mine, but I know that I had one b/c a lock of my baby hair is still in my baby scrap book and I am sure there's a polaroid snapshot in my dad's attic of me crying my eyes out with a big tarp around me and some lady w/ a bee-hive hair-do with a pair of sheers in one hand and a cigarette in the other. No?  Maybe that's just my story...Anywho, I had the honor of having another first haircut...my first haircut in Japan!  Before I embarked on the

 epic adventure, I debated...do I just shave it off for good and just accept my eventual bald-headedness or do I let it grow until I come back to the USA for the holidays.  I chose the more difficult path...I actually went to a barber w/ my Japanese phrase book in one hand and my dignity in the other and did it.  The end result made me look like a new army recruit, but I gained a cool story and some confidence to do it again.  My "stylist" was a middle-aged dude w/a "samurai-like" quality and I did not want to test his patience...after trying to explain that I wanted a 3 guard on the sides and a trim on top, it was clear that he was not amused.  So, he tossed me a catalog of Japanese men's head shots with more styles than hairs on my head...I chose one and tried to explain that I wanted "this one" but just a little different than the picture...well, w/o going too far down this path of recounting every detail...let's just say, that I had a pleasant experience that cost me about $17 and a memory that is priceless...I just hope they were able to get the sweat mark off the chair when I left...well, what would you do if some dude pulled out a razor blade the size of a machete and started to "clean up" around the ears and the back of my neck...my "samurai barber" will surely get my repeat business!

Below is a link to pics from a variety of new experiences...enjoy!

http://picasaweb.google.com/steve.papp/LifeInJapanPart2#

Sights and Sounds of Japan...

Konbanwa (こんばんは)!  Good Evening!  This posting is dedicated to the sights and sounds of Japan...or at least the one's that I am experiencing...There are a few day to day and a few other off the wall and maybe one or two local experiences...Sayonara! (Bye for now).

At the cash register check out line at my local Daiei grocery store (ダイエ) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtTe-Mo_h34

Riding a bus in rural Japan, going to Yashiro where one of our orientations was being held - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzcMDwBNbmM

A piggy bank that eats coins - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUuA077ba7E

Opening dance at a Bon Odori (dance festival) at Kobe Winery - http://w ww.youtube.com/watch?v=VxBn6lVQ09k

Local band trying to make it big in Osaka (outside train station) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFYMMUZk8VI

Karaoke in Osaka (Part 1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWzLfKxWAX8

Karaoke in Osaka (Part 2) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVZ39PhicoQ

Karaoke in Osaka (Part 3)...requires a little more explanation.  This outting was sponsored by the Osaka Toastmasters Club and the past club president created a song about Toastmasters to the tune of On top of the World...this was our attempt at singing it...needs some work (or I just need to hum instead of sing) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0T-7AQ4pJw

If you have made it through all of these...you are in for a treat...you have to check out my "moves!" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URxd3gCXcJA

Three weeks in...and mostly illiterate.

This is the start of my third week and I am sure you are all chomping at the bit to get a birds-eye view of what my life has been like...to summarize, I was like an infant initially - unable to read and write...needing help with the most simplest of tasks. Now I bounce between infancy and kindergarten...I have learned how to do some basic things, but every now and again I have to ask for help. I can now read a little...and speak a little (sukoshi=little). Here are some pics and stories from my first three weeks to wet your appetite for the Japanese culture...

Here are some basic stats that will give you a flavor of what life in suburban Japan is like for me...remember...every situation is different! That idea was pounded into our gray matter for the last several months to temper our expectations for what life in Japan is like as a JET participant...

Number of times I have....

1) eaten sushi? - 2x (both from a grocery store)

2) eaten ramen? (popular fast food here) - 5 ish

3) been asked to be in a picture with a Japanese person? - 1x (this is also known as gaijin (foreigner) on parade).

4) had that `deer in the headlights / I dont know what you are saying` look on my face? - too many to count.

5) been giggled at by the students for saying hello? a lot.

6) banged my head into the various doorways in my apartment? - at least 10

What does it cost for gasoline here? The price per liter is 180 yen. For my geeky accounting/auditing friends, here is what is would cost per gallon.

$1 = 110 Yen (as of 8/20/08), therefore 180 Yen = $1.64

1 Gallon = ~3.8 liters, so...

1 Gallon of gasoline in Japan cost about $6.23 (3.8 x $1.64)

And as a result...I take the trains and buses everywhere...b/c its more convenient and I dont have to deal with car insurance, buying a car, parking, blah, blah, blah.

What is my day to day like?

I wake up just like you and take a shower/bath (my bathroom is not like at home in US...see pics). Eat bfast (asa-gohan or morning meal) which for me consists of granola and yogurt. If I get up early enough I will study some Japanese, read a book or just listen to the mind-numbing sounds of cicadas outside my window. I leave my apartment around 750am ish and walk to school. It takes me about 30 minutes to get to school...about 1.5 miles each way. The phrase `sweating bullets` has a new meaning for me...just standing still sometimes makes me sweaty (humidity is unreal at times).

I am supposed to be at school by 835am...I am allowed to wear my Nike workout geat to walk to school, but after I towel off the sweat I change into my khakis and collared shirt...I usually stick to my seat/pants for most of the day...very difficult to stay cool.

I spend my day chatting with teachers, students and checking out the club activities (e.g. baseball, ping-pong, kendo (like fencing), volleyball)...just trying to show my face around. August is the summer holiday season, so there are no classes until September 1st. It gives me time to acclimate and settle into my new life.

My contract states that I work five 7 hour days (total of 35 hours per week). However, I will stay later if needed or work on the weekends if there is a special activity. My principal (kocho-sensei) allows me to leave work at 1pm ish during August to explore my home town of Suzurandai and asks me to journal about my experiences...the intent is for me to use my life experience to teach my English lessons to the students...the goal is to help students learn `living English`...since I am learning `living` Japanese, I can relate to their struggles.

Sayonara for now...

Check out this pic album - http://picasaweb.google.com/steve.papp/MyLifeInJapanNihon

First Day on the Job...

Ohayo Gozaimasu! (Good Morning / おひよ ございます) from Tokyo Japan...my first day on the job started off with a buffet breakfast in our hotel (Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku).  I have not worn a suit in like 8 years, but I look pretty nice -- don't you think?

My adventure began 2 days'ish ago at the Portland International Airport (PDX) where I nearly lost my gortex jacket...luckily it was rescued by one of our travel agents...whew!  Upon arriving at Narita Airport, we were greeted with the pizza oven like weather of Japan...and hearded like sheep from point A to point B.  We could only take one piece of luggage and a personal item with us to the hotel...the rest of it had to get shipped off to our prefecture.  I think I did a good job packing...one suitcase (51.5 lbs), one backpack (31.5 lbs) and one carry on (20 lbs).  Oh ya, the turbulence got soooo 

bad on the flight that the flight attendants were not allowed to serve our 2nd meal...we all believe that they did not have any food on the plane (another effort to do cost cutting) and turbulence was there excuse...very suspicious :)

The next two days will be spent in the Shijuku area of Tokyo for orientation and then we're off to our homes on Wed, August 6th.  This is the view from our hotel room looking at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building..."we're not in Kansas anymore Toto."

A Trailmaster's "work" is never done...

Ahhh, a Trailmaster's "work" is never done...my "office" for the last several weeks has been the great outdoors...its where some people find their respite from the daily grind of cubicle life and where others challenge themselves to reach new heights.  After my dad's visit to Ptown and summitting Mt Hood at the end of June, my cousin Peter from Chicago came out for a visit...our crowning achievement? Sitting atop the rim of Mt St Helens...a 12 mile round trip slog covering approximately 5,200 feet in elevation gain (summit is at 8,300 feet).  A little factoid that I heard a while ago is that airplane passenger cabins are pressurized to about 8,000'ish feet above sea level...so, if you have ever flown in an airplane, then you can sit atop the summit of Mt St Helens and breath just fine...I guess there's one small difference...your legs and lungs are your engine!

Steve Sr. and I climbed Mt St Helens in September 2006, so this was my 2nd trip up to the rim...however our crew this year were all 1st timers (Peter, Nate, Devon and Sarah).  

We were greeted with snowfields from the get go...and then dry land...and then more slow...and then more dry land...it was a loooooong way to the top (about 7.25 hours to get up)...but the coolest part (other than the summit that is) was glisading down those snow fields that we hiked up...the videos below on Youtube of my cousin Peter learning the ropes will give you a birds-eye view of a how to leverage mother nature to descend in a "low impact" way :)

Glisading Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpLVvaI7BjA

Glisading Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9K0T3wB988

Sitting atop a summit like Mt Hood or Mt St Helens is hard to beat, but there are hikes closer to sea level that still test your legs and lungs, but offer a much different view in our nations last frontier...the

 Wilderness.  That's right, no mechanized equipment allowed here!  Basically, the only thing that woman/man should leave behind in Wilderness areas as her/his footprints...and even those should be kept to certain areas. You'd think that having been in Portland for 6+ years that I would have hiked many if not all of the trails around the area...well, I was introduced to a gem tucked away in the Mt Hood Wilderness area called Ramona Falls...the water cascades down the 120 foot waterfall like silk.  It was simply amazing...

I'll miss hiking in the Pacific Northwest, but I've read that Japan is covered in mountains too...Mt Fuji (Fuji-Yama to Japanense) to name one.  The Trailmaster is taking his "work" international!

Mt St Helens Album - http://picasaweb.google.com/steve.papp/StHelensYama_July72008

Ramona Falls Album - http://picasaweb.google.com/steve.papp/RamonaFallsJuly192008

The count down to Japan...

Konnichiwa!  Translation = Hello/Good Afternoon!   I wanted to update ya'll on my status re: the JET (Japan Exchange & Teaching Program).  The three most popular questions I have received and the answers (in English and some in Japanese) are:

Q1: When are you going to Japan? (Steve-san wa itsu nan Nihon ni ikimasu ka.)

A1: I am going on Saturday, August 2nd.  (Watashi wa Nihon ni hachi-gatsu futsuka ni ikimasu.)

Note: Don't try to literally translate each word from English to Japanese...it doesn't work so nicely.

Q2: Where will you be living?

A2: Hyogo-ken (ken = prefecture), but more specifically in Suzurandai about 40 minutes North of Kobe, Japan.  I have attached the symbol of Hyogo-ken (thank you Wikipedia!).

Q3:How long will you be there?

A3: My contract with the Hyogo-ken Board of Education is for 1 year, so at least 1 year.

Bonus Question

Q4: Where will you be teaching?

A4: Suzurandai Sr. High School.  My contract is with the Hyogo-ken Board of Education, but my specific day to day responsibilities will be at Suzurandai Sr. High School.

Here's some light reading on the area in which I will be living...

• JET Programme: http://www.jetprogramme.org/
  
• Hyogo-ken: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyogo_Prefecture

Suzurandai Sr. High School

• Japanese website - http://www.hyogo-c.ed.jp/~suzurandai-hs/top/index.htm
  
• English Description (only one page) - http://www.hyogo-c.ed.jp/~kobesuzuran-hs/English/English.html
  

Reaching the Summit (Steve Sr's Visit to Ptown Part 2)

In my prior blog, I mentioned that my dad and I had four goals for his visit...well, we achieved all of them...simply put: We ate (boy did we eat!), we hiked (15+ miles), we slept (not enough) and we summitted Mt. Hood!!!  Mission accomplished!   Many of you know that I have had a sort of "love affair" with Mt Hood since I moved to Oregon over 6 and a half years ago...well, all I can say is that standing atop her summit was more thrilling than I could have ever imagined.  This was truly a special moment in the history of my life...father and son, together on top of Oregon honoring the memory of my mom and many others impacted by lung disease.  Our climb to the summit of Mt Hood was almost 6 months to the day of my mom's passing...(mom passed away on 12/21/07, our climb finished on 6/20/08).  It is hard to believe that she's gone...Her passing still doesn't make sense, but my dad and I took a step forward together through this adventure.

Before I get knee deep into the details of the climb, I wanted to share with you the results of fundraising...you all played a role in supporting my dad and I during the last 6 months and I wanted to let you know how grateful we both are...many worthy endeavors in life are not done by just one or two people, but accomplished as a community...this experience was no exception.  Your donations, positive encouragement and prayers pushed us to "reach the summit."

1. Number of Reach the Summit climbers ~46
2. Total amount raised ~$255,000
3. Steve Sr. raised - $4,316
4. Steve Jr. raised - $4,672
5. Total Raised - $8,988

If you are interested in learning more about this annual fundraising event, check out their website: www.reachthesummit.us/

Now for the climb...

Thursday, June 19th

We awoke at the crack of dawn in Portland (or thereabouts) and headed up to Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood.  Our objective for the day was to learn the fundamentals of climbing...you know, how to use our knife-like crampons and ice-axe, practice our footwork (duck step, plunge step, etc.)...this is called "Snow School" and is taught by the amazing mountain guides from Timberline Mountain Guides.  Our team's teachers were Matt and Nick.  Snow School lasted from about 10am to 2:30pm...my dad learned a valuable lesson this day...to listen to his son!  Yes, even though I am half my dad's age, I do have some valuable knowledge...for example, sunscreen helps protect your skin from the sun's UV rays and prevents sunburn...well, Steve Sr. poo-pooed the idea.  This resulted in his face turning fire engine red and subsequently shedding a layer of skin like our reptilian friends often do.

After Snow School, we were driven to to Silcox Hut (our home for the evening) via a snow cat...rather than try to describe it to you, here's a picture.  The driver (his name is

also Steve) wore many hats during the evening...driver, chef and host...the meal he created for us was amazing and he treated us

 like family.  Our curfew was 8pm'ish...our goal for the 

evening was to relax, not think about the climb and get as much rest as possible by 11pm...I personally fell asleep for about 30 minutes before my dad poked me in the shoulder b/c I was "sawing logs."  His response to this untimely gesture?...payback for all those times I grabbed his nose has a kid when he was "cutting down a forrest" with his chainsaw like snoring...isn't there a statute of limitations on getting even?  If there isn't, there should be.  Suffice it to say, I just laid there for the rest of the night staring at the back of my eyelids.

Our climb team rolled out of bed at 11pm...packed up our gear and headed up to 8,500 feet'ish in a snow cat to begin our climb.  Our summit bid began around 12:30am PST.

Friday, June 20th

We stepped out of the snow cat and immediately threw on our crampons...the first 4 hours or so of our climb looked/sounded like this:  Headlamps blazin', snow crunching underneath our boots/crampons, Mother Nature led the way with a nearly full moon and constellations hanging above our heads like Christmas tree lights.  The cool, dry mountain air our fuel for the next several hours...it was truly majestic.

Then...a little after 5am PST, the sun's glow uncovered the ridges of Mt Hood.  We could finally see, up close and personal, our eventual perch atop Oregon.  Much work was ahead of us, but we were as determined as ever to conquer this mountain.  This is as good a time as any to shed some light on the anatomy of our climb: began at the top of Palmer glacier, zig-zagged our way up triangle morraine, leading to crater rock, then ascending the hog's back (ridge of snow) and then finally hiking into the old chute where we were putting all of our tools to the test.  Visuals can be found in the picture album below.

Our climb team summitted Mt Hood (11,239 feet) at 7am'ish PST (about 6.5 hours after we began)...the sun had already risen and the shadows that the sun cast across the floor of forrest below us 

 were awesome...Oregon is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth...God's country.  Here are two videos that I took after we exited the old chute and began walking along the summit ridge to reach the peak...

• Summit Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFfO_Hou_VY
  
• Summit Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Anb5q8GhOI

You've probably heard this before, but repetition never hurt...the top of any mountain is only half way...we still had to get down!  After spending 20 minutes or so absorbing the heavenly views we were escorted back to our trail to begin the descent back to Silcox Hut - about 4,200 feet below the summit...our endurance would be put to the test.

We scrambled down the old chute, back to the hog's back and then plunged stepped our way down the snow fields that were once frozen tundras several hours earlier.  Steve Sr., however, had another idea...he was like, "why should I hike down when I can glisade?" (think back to when you were a kid on a slip n' slide or water slide)...I hiked down b/c I was too lazy to take off my crampons, while Sr. slid down a good portion of the trail on his newly purchased/expensive Gortex pants (yikes!).  Near Silcox Hut we were greeted by Stacy Allison, the first American woman to summit Mt Everest

 (she summitted in 1988).  Ms. Allison is a staunch supporter of the American Lung Association and also makes a mean strawberry waffle!  She saw how fatigued Steve Sr. was and offered to take his backpack...he declined.  After a few steps, Ms. Allison took matters into her own hands and gently removed the pack from my dad's shoulders...he was relieved.  Ms. Allison commented, "I heard that you were an ornery (stubborn) man..."  My dad turns to me and said, "What have you been telling her?!?!"  My response, "Dad, she's just a good people reader...don't you agree?"  This is a picture of the three of us back at Silcox Hut right before we devoured some of the best waffles we've ever had!

This chapter of our life's adventure is closed, but other chapters are already being written...thank you for sharing this journey with us!

Below are two picture albums of Steve Sr. visit to Ptown...grab your favorite beverage, sit down and enjoy!

1) Day hikes, Farmer's Market and other daily shots of my dad's visit

2) Reach the Summit adventure.  



If anyone wants the original/full size digital picture, just let me know the picture number(s) and which album and I will email them to you.

Steve Sr's Trip to Ptown - Part 1

Steve Sr. (aka Pappy) is back for his annual trip to Ptown...if you remember from prior year's our goals for his visits are: 1) Eat 2) Hike and 3) Sleep...I can say that we've exceeded expectations so far. One additional goal for this visit to summit Mt Hood on June 20th...enjoy the first 4 days of highlights below...

Day 1 we stuffed ourselves on some good local fare...some sandwiches at Laurelwood Brewpub in NE Ptown (just a few blocks from where I live) and then for dinner we had Hot Lips Pizza - this is a picture of Sarah, my dad and I at Hot Lips...you can see the "Hot Lips" on the window :) After eating our weight in food on day 1, day 2 began early (well, early for me, but not early enough for Pappy)...we drove up to Mt Hood to do one of our favorite trails - Mirror Lake / Tom, Dick & Harry. We hiked this trail 4 years ago almost to the day...back then, it was a clear trail all the way to the top...however, due to all the precipitation around the Pacific NW recently we were greeted with anywhere from 2 to 5 feet of snow...soooo, our hiking adventure was cut short at Mirror Lake. We had a good time and got a good leg workout in...We finished the day off with some grilled italian sausages, sweet onions and bell peppers (carmelized to perfection by yours truly)...mmm, mmm, mmm.

Day 3 began with a visit to the PSU Farmers Market...most people go for the fresh fruit, berries and breakfast type items...well, my dad likes to go there for the COOKIES! There's a particular vendor that has these lemon cookies with white chocolate chips that are amazing! So, he bought not one, or two, but FOUR. Here's a picture of Pappy enjoying one of them (note: all four where gone within 24 hours of purchase)...After the market we decided to leverage the sugar rush and go on a hike...only on the car ride to the trailhead Pappy was doing the "head bob" while trying to get some zzzz's. There's a lesson for ya...the sugar rush leads to this insatiable need to take a nap...don't get me wrong, I would have loved to catch a nap, but someone had to drive. We did a 3'ish mile hike in the scenic Columbia River Gorge (Horsetail, Pony tail and Triple Falls)...the falls were gushing so forcefully that it sounded like a jet engine right next to your ear! - check out the videos!

Our last two dinners have been spent with some very cool people...one dinner was at Isabella's Cantina, a new local foodie haven that fuses latin and asian flavors to perfection. We had a social group of 14 friends sharing stories, libations and scrumptious food. Dinner number two was at Bob & Sue Foreman's (Sarah's Parents) house on Father's Day. They invited my dad and I over for steak, potatoes, greenbeans, salad, bread...a great meal with some great people. Oh ya, for dessert we had the award winning peach/blueberry crisp (SNAP!).

There have already been some unforgettable moments with my dad...many of you know that Pappy likes his coffee black and no frills. So far, he's tried some local coffees - ranging from Stumptown's french press (which apparently leaves bits o' coffee beans in the coffee - no good) to Starbucks (still tastes worse than water being poured through a dirty sock) to 7-11 coffee. The verdict is in and 7-11 wins by a landslide! I am not a coffee drinker, but my dad enjoys the drip coffee that is filtered.

That's it for Part 1...stay tuned for Part 2 which will include more good times w/ Pappy!

Count Down to Reach the Summit...

Now that I am gainfully unemployed, I am hiking a little here and a little there to spice up my domestic activities of cooking, cleaning and shopping...I'm squeezing in learning Japanese too. There is less than two weeks to go before my dad and I are plopped off at the top of Palmer Glacier (8,000 feet) and we begin our bid to Reach the Summit of Mt Hood (11,239 feet). It will be a steep climb, but one that we've done our best preparing for...Many of you have provided support...encouraging words, your culinary skills, your hard earned $$$ and much more. My dad and I will carry with us all your positive intentions to help propel us to the summit of the top of Oregon! Our summit bid will begin around 12 midnight the morning of Friday, June 20th...

Okay, enough touchy/feely stuff...here's some good ol' Trailmaster Papp pics for your viewing pleasure.

This past week, I went on three hikes - Multnomah/Wahkeena Falls (5 miles, 1500 feet in elevation gain), Angel's Rest (4.5 miles, 1500 feet elevation gain) and a snow hike on the Mt Hood Climber's Trail (4.5 miles, 2500 feet elevation gain). Click on the albums below to check out what my dad often calls...God's Country!

Gorgeous Gorge Pics - Multnomah / Wahkeena Falls Foliage

Palmer Snow Hike - Counting Down to Reach the Summit

Dessert Throwdown for a Cause...

What better way to spend time with friends and raise awareness and $$$ for the American Lung Association of Oregon, than a dessert throwdown?!?!?!  It was patterned after the popular Foodnetwork program (Throwdown w/ Bobby Flay).  The idea was born out of some trash talking about who could build a better dessert...Ross or Sarah (see picture).   Here's how it worked: 

• Our two culinary artists (Ross and Sarah) would duke it out for the title of dessert throwdown champion and the honor of receiving the coveted 'golden whisk!'
  
• Three dessert categories - cheesecake, chocolate and fruit.
• Each artist made 1 dessert for each category - that's a total of six desserts!
• Everyone was a judge and had three stickers in the shape of a star to vote for their favorite in each category.
• Everyone donated $$$ for the American Lung Association - Reach the Summit fundraiser (www.reachthesummit.us). 

The result?

• Everyone was well fed and enjoyed an explosion of flavors from two amazingly talented culinary artists.
• Both Ross and Sarah made the best desserts ever...they are both winners and amazing people in my book, but the one who came away with the Golden Whisk was...Sarah!
• We raised $285 (that's nearly $600 after the Nike dollar for dollar match!) for the American Lung Association of Oregon.

Special Thanks to....

• Sarah for coming up the Dessert Throwdown idea...
• Our culinary artists (Ross and Sarah) for putting in a champion's effort to make desserts that were out of this world!
• Ross and Jennifer for hosting the event.
• Our guests for contributing to the American Association of Oregon.

Want to find out what they artists made?  Check out the pictures...enjoy!

Dessert Throwdown!