Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Just a bit further!


Hello everyone! It has been a while since i last updated the blog I have just been busy with college apps witch I should be finished with in just a few more weeks. In case you were wondering I am applying to
1. University of Washington Seattle
2. University of Wisconsin Madison
3. University of Michigan
4. Berkeley
5. UCLA
6. UC San Diego
7. Colorado University Boulder
8. UC Davis
9. UCI

I listed them in order of schools i would like to attend UW Seattle being my #1 choice. Anyway my senior project may be on the back burner but that does not mean it has been forgotten. I am currently working on a 10 page research paper about the Gear and physical fitness required for mountaineering as well as the mentality one should have for safe mountaineering. After this paper is done 100% of my senior project will be working to fundraise for BCM and working to climb some mountains. Speaking of fundraising I have currently raised $1600 for BCM a mere $400 from meeting my goal. So please TELL YOUR FRIENDS about my project any donation on my behalf will be greatly appreciated! I will be going to local businesses the week before Christmas for sure to get some local businesses involved. AGAIN PLEAE TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT MY PROJECT PLEASE! Thank you all for your continued support and help to make my project a success.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Bridge to Nowhere Hike was AMAZING!!!

So this friday my mentor and I went up to Azuza Canyon in the afternoon to to hike bridge to nowhere. A hike i tried as my second backpack 5 years ago but when my friend fell off a cliff right in front of my i got traumatized and stopped backpacking for 3 years. But since I have gotten back into backpacking I have been determined to conquer this hike. Well yesterday afternoon that became an reality. Not only did i get to the bridge but I made it there taking the trail less taken. Instead of just taking a nice walk on the trail my mentor and I went off trail unknowingly and hike over and through rivers, on rock terrain, and scrambled our way up 100+ feet of steep and lose rock to finish the hike. One year ago I would never have had the courage let alone the physical strength to scramble up cliffs but it was so much fun and now I want to do more of it! It was a great hike we did some night time travel with just headlamps, camped under the stars, and enjoyed taking the harder and less well known trail. It was the best hike I have been on in years and I can't wait to do it again! Being in nature is the best thing for you it is fun and it is the BEST thing you could possibly do for your soul. I can't wait to tackle
Mt. Baldy and another trail next month and the Long Beach Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Day. Things are finally heating up in terms of my physical product and it will only get better from here! Also thanks so much for all those who have donated in the past week I am now up to a wopping $1305! A truly amazing number, and only $695 to go until I meet my goal! keep spreading the word as many of you have and even though I am close to my goal it does not mean I will stop fundraising for BCM the more money I raise the more at-risk youth will be able to go backpacking this summer to keep trying to get others on board to support!
Thank You All So Much!

Also I added photos to my flicker page of my recent trip

Friday, November 5, 2010

Wish Me Luck

In the next week I will be going to two local REI's to see if they can help me fundraise for Big City Mountaineers on my behalf. I know the Berkley REI did just that! Also I have raised $1150 for BCM so I'm more than half way towards my goal. Wish me luck as I take the last step to secure the last half of my fundraising goal.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Weathers Looking Good

So I've noticed that we have been getting a lot of rain in SoCal these last to months and it got me thinking that we may have a rainy year this year and that means lots of snow in our local mountains. This got me super excited for the first snowfall of this year because as soon as there is snow on the mountains I will be heading out to do my first summit with my mentor which as of right now will be Mt. Baldy which is 10,068 ft tall. I am really looking forward to it especially as I continue to accumulate gear. Like as soon as i got my ice axe in the mail I thought to myself "wow I'm really going to do this!" Now I cant wait to get up on that mountain and get the feeling like im on top of the world. Also I have an update on the fundraising, so far thanks to VERY VERY GENEROUS donations I have raised $885 for Big City Mountaineers in only two weeks. I hope i can hit $1,000 by the time i run the 10k Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. Thank you for everyones support and keep spreading the word about my project to all your friends.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Fundraising off to a strong start

Hello all, just wanted to give everyone an update on how the fundraising is going. So far I have raised $475 for Big City Mountaineers in online donations and checks. So thank you so so much to those who have already donated! Keep spreading the word to anyone who may be interested your support means a lot to me. Also I have made a small addition to the project. In order to raise awareness and support for my project I have registered to run the 10k Long Beach Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day with my backpacking pack. I hope the run will raise some support outside my friends and family. Again thank you for your support of my senior project.

Monday, October 18, 2010

New Toys!

So this weekend i went to the REI Fall sale. If you didn't know REI sales are THE BEST things ever!!! My parents bought me a 0 degree sleeping bag for my birthday and I bought myself some super cool Black Diamond crampons. I plan to accumulate my gear over time before my climb; mostly during sales. So if you want to help me get my gear you could always email me at abenudiz@gmail.com but I would prefer if you donated to Big City Mountaineers before you help me out. Anyway all systems are go for fundraising the blog is 100% functional with a link to my photos here and a my official BCM (Big City Mountaineers) fundraising page here if you have any questions feel free to email me. I am planning on my first weekend training hike the fist weekend in November so I'm getting pretty pumped for that and just letting everyone know BCM is a
501 (c)(3) non-profit so all donations are tax deductible all the more reason to donate!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

New Backpacker Magazine

So good stuff to report today. I got my new issue of my favorite magazine and I was pleased to find a bonus gear guide for winter, perfect for researching the gear I will need for my climbs! Every issue has useful information for EVERYTHING backpacking if you like to hike I highly recommend you subscribe to it. Anyway I got a shirt from Big City Mountaineers so i will wear it proudly when I go the gym tonight. It seem like I have a lot of momentum going for this project and I don't plan on losing any of it, if anything I will only become more motivated as time goes on. I was also fortunate enough to be connected with an avid hiker who is a teacher at my school, yet another person I can go to for advice and support for my project! Be sure to spread the word about my Quest for Big City Mountaineers, send them the link to the blog or follow me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=100150526717062
Keep spreading the word guys with your support we can make this project a success!

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Quest for Big City Mountaineers is a GO!

I am officially all set up to begin my Quest Senior Project! I have an official fundraising page with Big City Mountaineers and I am ready to start fundraising for them. Help me meet my goal of $4000 by visiting the link above and donating, I would really appreciate it. I have also been hitting the gym 5 days a week to condition for my climb and that has been going very well. I notice my endurance is going up every week when the summit day arrives I know I will be able to tackle my climb with confidence.