Jared Fowler Is...

by Jared S. P. Fowler on Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 1:19pm

The Forword
Ok Here it is. We haven’t mentioned much about it till this point I am not sure why, but, I am going onto a 7 day hike into the Rocky Mountains, in Kootney National Park. The trail is called the Rockwall trail. it’s ranges from mountain tops to Valley floors and literally everything in between. I haven’t mentioned much about this but after doing final preparations for this journey, i realize that i might die on said journey and that would not allow people to enjoy this journey at all. If i die, know that i have lived a full life, my wife and children have been the absolute best part of it. i have always loved my extended family, even the ones who are suffering, i truly was blessed to be born to such a great set of siblings. I have a very wide variety of close friends, and you have all made my life interesting and full.

What have I gotten myself into????…..

The Terrain
The Rockwall Trail is 60 Kilometers of difficult non-technical climbing. Meaning we won’t require ropes or ice axes, but we will be climbing mountains. It is however 10,000 feet above sea level and during one portion of the climb, we climb and descend 1000 meters over 2 kilometers. The mountainous escarpments are plentiful, with many chances to be on a glacier on day, and beside a roaring river the next.

The Crew
Our team, of 5 experienced hikers, have spent the last year preparing for this adventure. Each of us will be carrying 54lbs of equipment, food and supplies. We have 1 Satellite Phone, 2 Cans of Bear spray, and enough knives to panic a platoon of Indian Gurkhas. We have 2 topographical maps of the entire Park, GPS Unit with Topo included as well, 2 compass’ and all the necessary First aid and survival equipment in case of disaster as well as lots of cameras and writing utensils. Each Hiker has had ample training in first aid, as well as two hikers both have been re-certified in first aid training, specializing in broken limbs and trauma.

The Adventure:
I’ve been an avid hiker since I was little, but started getting into it heavily as a 15 year old teenager, when my brother Jason and I hiked to Radium Lake in Chilliwack Mountains. Jason was decided in attempting a “solar blanket and summer sleeping bag” combination in the late winter months and I happened to bring a large sleeping bag, nearly fit for 2 persons, in a rather large uncompressed stuff sack, rated for -20 degrees Celsius. On our hike up the 11km, almost the entire way was switchbacks and rocks, I spent my time listening to my companions discuss the humors of my unbalanced and undesirable sleeping equipment. We reached the top of the climb hours later and there was near a foot of snow, we didn’t expect it but it was enjoyable to experience regardless, until the evening time fell upon us. The temperature fell sharp to -10, as the sun settled behind the Cascade mountains, our breath was visible. We decided to go to sleep, after a quick dinner. I was settled like the others into my sleeping accommodations rather quickly and dozed off. Until, I awoke, what must have been hours later, to the sound of my brother’s chattering teeth by my ear, whispering, “Jared, I need to sleep in your sleeping bag with you, I think I’m going to die.” His creative sleeping arrangements had failed him. A summer sleeping bag rated for +15, lined on the inside with a space blanket. Exactly like the ones they use by the astronauts to keep warmish. He said it worked for the first hour, then once his body heat reflected back on the plastic liner it created condensate that then began to freeze. Basically Jason created his own refrigerator to sleep in. Lucky. I, realizing that I had the upper hand felt for a minute second that I could take advantage, but declined my selfish desire for retribution and I opened my sleeping accommodations and let the poor beggar in and saved a man’s life. We cuddled in a manly fashion, to keep him warm with clothes on, inside the squeezed quarters, and slept the best we could until morning.

The Lesson
So this was my first camping trip, I had great exercise, enjoyed the wilderness, and saved my brothers life. Every trip since, I’ve expected and prepared for the worst, knowing that it saved a life once, and it will probably be called upon again. I and my companions are all of the like mind, we seek the outdoors to enjoy our Father’s creation, build friendships, challenge one’s self to become better than you were. There is a feeling I have, a theory if you will, that I use in discussion and teaching often, it is the concept of eternal progression.

The Quote
“You must always move forward. Progress. Create. Standing still will only cause you to move backwards, because the entire world is constantly moving away from you.”

The Inspiration
This isn’t meant to be a Tony Robins seminar, but doing what you love is not always a good thing, a crack head loves crack, a gambler loves to gamble, but making the hard choice to change, to challenge, to reshape, to improve is what this life is all about.

The Conclusion
Prayers are good, if you are catholic; prayers and money are OK as well. I’m going to attempt a facebook message for every day of the trail via the satellite action, but it depends on how tired I am, and how long the satellite battery will hold out. I have read many books and strongly suggest one of the recent favorites, “into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer. When i finished reading the short book, i closed it and uttered to my self but said aloud “that is a beautiful book”. I suggest you give it a read, it has become a movie, but as per usual the book is better. It’s a book that will give you incite into the mind of a brave man.

The Asking
if you get the chance, read the trail blogs, It will be an amazing adventure, i hope you will find you own someday. Be well, Cheers, Jared