Eagle Mountain is Minnesotas highest peak....

“Climb Up the 50” to benefit American Foundation for Children with AIDS
www.helpchildrenwithAIDS.org
Harrisburg, PA – March 10, 2009 – The American Foundation for Children with AIDS (AFCA, www.helpchildrenwithAIDS.org) announced the dates for their United States event, “Climb Up the 50”.
“Climb Up the 50” is part of the Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up group of events that support AFCA. Although other events that have been going strong for the past three years have been worldwide, this is a USA-based only event, inviting outdoor enthusiasts anywhere in USA to participate.
Climb Up the 50 is another “viral event” by AFCA, which means that there is not one location that the event will take place. In fact, hikers, climbers, cyclists, and runners from each of the 50 states will “climb” to the highest peak in their state to show that they are united in fighting AIDS. These individuals and teams will also raise funds for the AFCA by having friends, family, and co-workers sponsor them and their climb. All proceeds will go to American Foundation for Children with AIDS and help HIV+ children in Sub-Saharan Africa by providing them with medication, food and supplies that they desperately need.
Justin Wood, who climbed Denali in 2008 as part of Climb Up the 50 stated, “We felt great joy and pride when, after a very long summit day, we moved to the top and set foot on the 20,320’ summit of North America. We were very excited to use the moment to draw attention to the AIDS epidemic.
“We are convinced that ending the epidemic is possible. In the meantime, education of and compassion from the general public will help those who have been stricken survive and live good lives.
“We hope to inspire people to see themselves as part of a team on a very long expedition. We hope each will make a long-term commitment to reach our summit goal of helping these young people live fruitful lives. We hope the members of the bigger team to fight AIDS will make the fight against AIDS an ongoing part of their lives by contributing each month, whether $10, $50 or whatever they can afford. That’s the hope and commitment we want to pass on to you. If we can reach a goal like summiting Denali under difficult conditions in an arctic environment, we are convinced we can succeed in helping these kids live to see a tomorrow. Let’s do it!”This year, the climbs across USA can take place on any day from May 23 to May 31, 2009. Memorial Day finds itself within that time frame and AFCA hopes that the holiday will be to their advantage in acquiring many people to participate in this exciting event.
You can find the highest peak in your state by visiting the Highpointers Club at http://highpointers.org/us-highpoint-guide/
People interested in representing their state this summer are asked to register on the Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up web site, www.climbupsokidscangrowup.com or call AFCA at (717) 798-8335.
About Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up and American Foundation for Children with AIDSClimb Up So Kids Can Grow Up is a series of global climbing events to raise money for the American Foundation for Children with AIDS. The Kilimanjaro Climb in September 2009 will be the first African trek.
The American Foundation for Children with AIDS (AFCA) is a not-for-profit foundation providing medical supplies and aid to children in countries hardest hit by HIV/AIDS including Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe. For more information or to make a donation, please go to www.helpchildrenwithaids.org.

Wait out the Winter.....

There are lots of things to do in this big world and REI Roseville has seminars on many of them. Click here to go to the website for more information

Climbing the Walls!

Try a literal interpretation!
Women on the Ledge Step 1- Basic Indoor Rock-climbing
Sunday, February 22 12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.
This introductory lesson is designed to introduce newcomers to the exciting sport of rock climbing. This is your chance, give it a try. You can do this! Please register by February 20. The fee of $25 includes a harness and instruction. Climbing shoes are available for an extra $4. We will meet at St. Andrew's and car pool to Vertical Endeavors in St. Paul for an afternoon of sport climbing fun. Sign up at http://www.saintandrews.org/.

Dogsled, Ski and Snowshoe 2009!

My own snowday! How can I keep from Singing?

Prayer for Today, Breathe....

As the light of dawn awakens earth's creatures and stirs into song of birds of the morning so may I be brought to life this day. Rising to see the light, to hear the wind, to smell the fragrance of what grows from the ground, to taste its fruit and touch its textures, so may my inner senses be awakened to you, O God

Let me be alert to the yearnings that you have placed within me and let me know that you will satify the desires of my heart.
Let me be attentive to the yearnings that you have planted in every human being and let be sure of what will fulfil them.
Let me be guided by your wisdom, O Christ

Celtic Benediction

More fun in the snow

Click on this link for more incredible impressions made in the snow.

Doubling Up

by Dan Joseph

Years ago, I set off on a cross-country trip with a friend. Our plan was to camp and hike our way through the National Parks of the western United States.

I had been living in a city for the previous few years, and was starved for natural beauty. And so, as we drove into Yosemite to begin our tour, I was riveted.

The mountains were breathtaking. The alpine fields were touching. I felt like a thirsty man who had stumbled into an oasis – there was beauty everywhere.

My friend and I backpacked for a few days along the waterfalls of Tuolumne Meadows. The landscape was magnificent. Then we moved on to Utah, and moonlit hikes among the spires of Bryce. We waded knee-deep in water up the canyons of Zion. We strolled through the tundra of the Rockies.

It was all stunning. Mountains, waterfalls, flowers – indescribable beauty. There were moments when I felt profoundly close to God. And that, of course, was why I really went to those places – to feel that sense of spiritual connection. To feel that transcendence.

But as the weeks passed, a curious thing happened. It began to be more difficult to get my "high." These mountains were great, of course – but they weren't much different than the ones from last week. That field was beautiful – but so were the others. I began to chase more dramatic scenery, looking for a spiritual lift.

Eventually I got to a point where I just couldn't make it happen. I did my best to extract a spiritual high from what I was seeing – the mountains, the fields – but I just couldn't do it. It was discouraging. Shortly thereafter, we ended the trip and I went back to my city life.

It took me years before I understood what had happened. In this article, I'd like to show how broadly the lesson can be applied.

Getting What You Give

On that trip, I fell into a common trap. I believed that I was getting my spiritual lift from something external – the mountains, the streams. This began a cycle of chasing better mountains, better streams.

In fact, though, my "high" was coming not from what I was getting from the mountains, but from what I was giving to them. Let me explain what I mean.

On the first day of my trip, I looked out at those mountains and said – so quickly I didn't realize it – "My goodness, you are profoundly beautiful. I love you." I was then immediately swept up in the joy of that thought. It seemed like the mountains were making me feel joyful. But it was really my love for the mountains that lifted me up.

If I had seen this, I could have kept the flow going. I could have entered each new park saying, "Ah, what wonderful things can I extend love to today?" But instead, I fell into the trap of trying to extract from externals. "I need better mountains," I thought, "bigger ones, something more dramatic." As I did that, the outflow of my appreciation was blocked – and thus, the sense of transcendence became harder and harder to reach.

I share this story because it illustrates the power of choice. We can choose – at any time, with any thing – to extend copious amounts of love and appreciation. And we will be instantly lifted up by our choice. We are in control of the outflow. There is nothing that prevents us from exercising our right to give.

I didn't realize this on my cross-country trip. I thought that I could only embrace the most dramatic, towering mountains. Or the most delicate, flower-sprinkled fields. But the fact is that I could have chosen a pebble on the path and enfolded it in waves of love and appreciation – and thus been lifted up.

There is a line from A Course in Miracles that speaks to this. The Course says that as we extend forgiveness – as we allow our hearts to embrace what we see – "The smallest leaf becomes a thing of wonder, and a blade of grass a sign of God's perfection."

The key is to realize that the power lies with us. We don't need to chase beauty, love, and

Along these lines, I sometimes engage in a practice that I call "doubling up." If I feel deprived of something – kindness, for example – I decide how much of that thing I'd like. Then I try to give twice that amount to the people in my life. I try to double, in my giving, what I want to receive.

Of course, the "outflow" of kindness creates a simultaneous "inflow" of kindness – and sure enough, I begin to feel it. Although there may be some internal resistance at first, I find that this practice always produces positive results.

The lesson that we receive what we give is an empowering one. Instead of spending our time chasing externals, we can spend our time giving internals – and thus experiencing them. The power is in our hands, because we are always free to give.

Wonder and Astonishment

By Eugene Peterson
Birth: Wonder...Astonishment...Adoration. There can't be very many of us for whom the sheer fact of existence hasn't rocked us back on our heels. We take off our sandals before the burning bush. We catch our breath at the sight of a plummeting hawk. "Thank you, God." We find ourselves in a lavish existence in which we feel a deep sense of kinship-we belong here; we say thanks with our lives to Life. And not just "Thanks" or "Thanks It" but "Thank You." Most of the people who have lived on this planet earth have identified this You with God or gods. This is not just a matter of learning our manners, the way children are taught to say thank you as a social grace. It is the cultivation of adequateness within ourselves to the nature of reality, developing the capacity to sustain an adequate response to the overwhelming gift and goodness of life.

Happy Thanksgiving

This Weekend!

Midwest Mountaineering is proud to host the festival's 33^rd anniversary world tour.

Click for Festival Info.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival (held in Banff, Alberta from November 1st to 9th, 2008) accepts over three hundred mountain films into it's competition, the top fifty or so are screened throughout the festival. Every year the films feature a range of styles and themes, including climbing, skiing, kayaking, biking, adventure, culture and the environment.

Prizes are awarded in eight categories: Grand Prize, Climbing, Mountain Sports, Mountain Environment, Mountain Culture, Short Mountain Film, and Feature-Length Mountain Film, and People's Choice. The international jury will announce the Best of the Festival award winners at the awards ceremony on Sunday, November 9th.

The tour brings a selection of the best films from the festival right here to Midwest Mountaineering! Whether you are an experienced mountaineer or an armchair adventurer, this event is for everyone. Don’t miss the excitement!

Banff Festival Update

The Banff Mountain Film Festival pre-screening committee viewed 296 films during the month of September and 53 finalists have been selected.

Our Friday, Nov 21 and Saturday, Nov 22 will contain completely different films. You may want to attend both nights and see all of the films!Mel and I are taking our dates on Saturday night.

Showtimes

Banff Film Festival shows are located in Willey Hall auditorium, rooms 125/175. Tickets are $15.00 each — or see both showings (completely different films) for $25.00 and save $5.00. Tickets go on sale Saturday, October 18th at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are available: At the customer service counter in Midwest Mountaineering for no service fee. - or - Buy Online Here for a $3.00 service fee per order. - or - Telephone (612-339-3433) for a $5.00 service fee per order.

Kristy says....Ski Sale!

For anyone who may be interested Three Rivers Park will be having their annual cross country ski sale December 13th (Saturday) from 8-11am At the Baker Ski chalet. 763-694-7660. They have kids (cheaper than adult skis) & adults. Get there early they go fast. Last year I got boots, skis & poles for $60.