“Tomorrow I set off for the mountain I’ve been training six months to climb. I’m flying out to Washington to take on Mt. Rainier, the queen of the Cascades. At 14,400 ft she is the highest mountain in the Pacific Northwest and the 4th highest peak in the lower 48 states. It’s the culmination of a dream I’ve had since I was a child, to test my strength and my will on a major peak, and with hopes that it is only the beginning of a bigger adventure.

It’ll be a three day climb that will test everything I’ve learned as a climber and I couldn’t be prouder to take part in this climb.”

“Tomorrow I am setting out for Seattle where upon landing I will be taken to the RMI camp in Ashford, just two hours out and at the edge of Mt. Rainier National Park. Our first day will consist of orientation, route planning, conditioning, and checking our gear. Getting the right equipment has been essential, and as part of my pack I am taking several short and long sleeved base layers, a lightweight parka, hard and soft shell jackets to repel wind rain and snow, an insulation layer and a mid-layer. Along with my cold weather wear I am also being outfitted with plastic climbing boots, crampons (spikes that attach to my boots to keep me stable on the snow) an ice ax, and fitting it all in a 70 liter climbing pack. I’m documenting my trip via my Sony Cybershot camera, and RMI has generously allowed me to borrow a GoPro (a small video camera that attaches to my helmet) so I can document the climb from a first person point of view.

After getting settled into training, we will begin our first day of mountaineering and skills school. Hiking up to the edge of the Rainier glacier, we will learn the skills that we’ll be using on the mountain such as traveling in a roped group, using our crampons, and most importantly using our ice ax, including self arrest, where we learn to stop ourselves in the event that we slide down a slope. Along with the technical aspect, we will learn how to step, control our breaths, and make the most of our motions at high altitude.

On day three, we begin our climb. The first day will take us from Paradise (5,400 ft) to Camp Muir (10,060 ft) along Rainier’s glaciated edge and the Muir snowfield, named for the conservationist who climbed the peak in 1888. Along the way we will have to put our skills to use, including kicking steps in the snow, traveling together in perfect unison, and pacing our strength to make the best of it. We will spend the night in the wooden huts at Camp Muir which will serve as our base camp for the summit attempt.

Day four will be a rest, acclimatization, and training day from the camp, and we will use this day to travel briefly to a higher altitude to be more in sync with the thin mountain air above 10,000 ft. Our group will review our skills, lay out our equipment for our summit attempt, and then get to bed early to start our climb at midnight.

Our push for the summit will come in the early hours of day five. Since the snow is frozen and compact at night than during the day, leaving in the dark gives us an advantage then stepping on soft slushy ice in the sun. We will be traveling via headlamp and our route will zigzag it’s way first through a rising traverse via the Cowlitz Glacier and then gliding between the crevasses of the Ingraham Glacier or Disappointment Cleaver, where we will navigate several switchbacks before making a final push for the top.

Depending on weather conditions and other factors, we will hopefully make the summit just after sunrise and spend time upon it’s peak to explore the volcanic vents and ridges. After a successful attempt, we will make our way back down towards Camp Muir, and then all the way back to Paradise and the safety of the RMI camp.

This blog is by Michael Restivo, who writes for Mike off the Map (an adventure blog) and for Pocket Ranger (which provides apps for the National Park Service) … and is a guest contributor to Miami Real Estate Cafe (The Restivo Team’s  local … and global … Real Estate Blog):

Climbing 101: Your Guide to Getting Started … This Spring Climbing Season!

Now that we officially hit the first day of spring, it’s time to get back outdoors, get active, and try new experiences! I wrote this article for the excellent Pocket Ranger blog for first time climbers who want a new experience this season.

Rock climbing is a sport of balance, stability, and stamina. It is much more akin to yoga than it is lifting. While physical conditioning aids the climber as they progress, climbing is a sport that is open to all people and body types. Plus, it’s a great alternative to traditional gym workouts because it is dynamic, challenging, and ultimately rewarding. Safety is paramount in climbing and therefore requires constant communication between the climber and his or her partner, as well as a thorough knowledge of the equipment and skills that make for a safe and fun experience.

Beginner climbers should start in a gym environment. Climbing gyms, which are now becoming increasingly popular, offer a supervised introduction to the sport. A climber is given a harness and climbing shoes. The harness, which must be snuggly attached around the waist of the climber, is the point where the climbing rope connects. The climbing shoes, not unlike ballet slippers, must be tight around the feet but not constricting. Climbing shoes allow climbers to flex their feet comfortably while the tough, rubber soles help the climber securely grasp the wall.

Bouldering Overhang

There are three main styles of climbing, each offering their own unique take on the sport:

• Bouldering

Bouldering is scrambling up large boulders without the aid of a rope or a harness. In most cases, the boulder is not tall enough to cause injury in the event of a fall. Bouldering is a great start for new climbers because it teaches proper hand placement, weight distribution and body positioning.

• Top Roping

This is where the climber is affixed with a harness and climbing rope that is secured to a rope that hangs from a fixed point at the top of the route. The climber teams up with a belay partner whose responsibility is to act as the climber’s anchor and control the flow of the rope and its tension. The climber is held securely in place by the belay partner’s weight, so if they let go of the wall they are suspended in place. Once the route is completed, the climber takes their body off the wall, and the belay partner slowly lowers the climber.

• Lead Climbing

The most advanced of the three styles, lead climbing begins with the climber affixed to a rope from below. As they ascend the wall, they must clip themselves into strategically placed points, which protect the climber from falling, while he or she continues up the route. Unlike top roping, the climber is given a generous amount of slack rope providing for a greater range of motion.  If the climbers fail to clip themselves before a fall, they run the risk of dropping a great distance before their protection catches them.

Climbers are initially introduced to the basic knot: figure eight. This knot serves two purposes: it creates a secure link between the rope and the harness and it acts as a shock absorber if the climber falls. When the climbers affix themselves to the route that they choose, they learn to tie a double figure eight, securely following the lines of the original knot.

Figure Eight Knot

An important part of climbing is managing strength. Climbers who frequently use their arms to get up a route tend to over-exert themselves compared to a climber who comfortably positions their feet and stands up to be within reach of the next hold. Paying attention to difficulty levels labeled along the route is recommended for beginners still gauging their strength.

Once the basic skills are mastered, climbing is an alternative, dynamic and, not to mention, challenging work out. With good safety skills and communication it can be an enjoyable experience.

Post written by Guest Contributor, Michael Restivo … Mike Off The Map

Farther past Shark Valley is the heart of the swamplands. The Everglades.

 Although explored in the comfort of an airboat, car, or organized trails, those looking for a wild experience can explore the many backcountry sites far removed from civilization. The canoe trails in the everglades are dotted with chickee hut platforms,

ground sites and beach sites, many accessible only by the constricted waterways. Many of these sites lack campground amenities such as showers or running water and a basic understanding of camp construction is a must.

However these sites offer a true wilderness experience as they are isolated from the organized campgrounds and it is possible to only see a couple or less tents at a time. Backcountry camping requires obtaining a permit the day before or the day of the start of the trip and basic navigational skills are a must, however it provides an authentic experience in the midst of the swamps.

The range of adventure in South Florida is vast, and the small sample of outdoor experiences isn’t even a mere tip of what the land has to offer.

 What makes South Florida so unique is it’s accessibility. Trails, paths, and waterways are clearly marked, and pristine waters offer a glimpse of a diverse ecosystem that is uniquely ours. Of course it requires the same level of protection and anybody enjoying our lands should treat it with dignity and respect.

A true adventure requires a leap into the daring and unknown, but it also requires a sense of preservation and thoughtfulness. Keep our lands clean, and explore on!

Michael

Link back to the first blog post on Hike, Bike, Kayak Wild Miami     ….   For all your Miami Real Estate Needs …  Local Real Estate Experts Vicki and Alexandra Restivo would love to make your next move a great move … 305 793-1365 or contact us at restivo.v@ewm.com

By guest contributor, Michael Restivo …     MiamiRealEstateCafe.com blogsite:  MIAMI & MIAMI REAL ESTATE

A mere thirty minute drive from the Florida International University campus is the lush paved trail known as Shark Valley. Shark Valley is a 15 mile loop along the tip of the Everglades where alligators roam free along the waterways and nature is as up close and personal as ever.

The loop is accessible in three ways. By bicycle, by tram, or by foot. Any bicycle is welcomed and bike rentals run at $8.00 an hour.  Halfway up the loop is a watchtower that when climbed provides an awe inspiring vista across the vast swamps. At the edge of the watchtower are several hiking trails that go to the border of the wild everglades.

Animals are in abundance here. The seven mile ride to the watchtower runs parallel to a natural canal where gators are ever-present. The alligators are generally docile and there have been no reported attacks in the valley, yet, they are continuously crossing the road, and the bikes are generally whisking by a mere three feet or less from a ten foot animal.

Other than the gator, great blue herons, egrets, falcons, and storks line and nest in the trees.

One of the pleasures of Shark Valley is riding out in the early morning before the large crowds arrive and having an empty road while watching the daily movement of life in a part of South Florida that is so close and yet so removed from anything else.

If you missed the previous post Hike, Bike, Kayak Wild Miami by Mike Off the Map for our real estate blog MiamiRealEstateCafe.com,  you can link to it here.

Happy Travels,

Michael

At the windows were  a dozen (or so) faces of dogs … all different kinds… all  happy, panting pups …  with waggy tails .  

The dogs were on their way home from a day a doggie day camp…     

The  bus pulled over and stopped at  the side of the road by Pinecrest Gardens, which was ‘pick-up point’ …   The driver  handed out treats to each of  her  ’passengers’  and waited for the owners to drive up …    She chatted  with the pets and then the owners …  It was fun to watch.

We’re often asked for recommendations as to pet sitters, kennels, dog parks, veterinarians … So, here’s one more Miami secret to share …  “Doggie Day Care” ! 

www.TotallyDog.com    Doggie Day Care …  A yellow doggie bus  for dogs only …    Miami pets get the royal treatment!

If you or someone you know are moving to Miami with pets,  we would love to help you relocate here.  We specialize in Miami …  and we specialize in real estate here.  The Restivo Team at EWM Realtors.  Our direct line is 305 793-1365   …  and  you can always contact us here  and/or via email at restivo.v@ewm.com . 

Residents of Coral Gables can snag some free tickets to the University of Miami vs Georgia Tech game at Sun Life Stadium.

Residents can buy one and get two free tickets for the game on October 22. Tickets go on sale September 26 and need to be purcahsed in person at the UM Hecht Athletic Building on San Amaro Drive, Monday thru Friday(8:30-5).

The tickets will be available up until the 21st of October, on a first come first serve basis.

Call 1-800-GO-CANES if you need more information.

 Chase Perez-Blanco and Baker Newman recently had such an opportunity to practice with tennis superstar Venus Williams. They were asked to practice in West Palm Beach, where Venus lives and trains.

Both are part of the Junior Tennis Program at Royal Palm Tennis Club in Pinecrest. The program is run by former University of Miami tennis star Eric Hechtman, who has also practiced with Venus and her sister Serena. He’s also served as hitting partner for Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

If you’re looking for a tennis club, Royal Palm has junior tennis and ladies leagues, and just opened a new clubhouse in January.

Dock space (whether deeded or cooperative)  in Coral Gables typically  costs anywhere from the high $100,000′s upward of $500,000 depending on the marina, the specific location within that marina,  and the size of yacht that can be accommodated. 

Application fees run as high as $15,000  (if you are looking at  slips in Cocoplum).  

Deering Bay application fees run considerably less .. $1,500 …  although Deering Bay does require marina  applicants to own property within Deering Bay ( whether a condo, townhouse, estate home or patio home)  before  they are eligible to purchasing a slip.

For more information,  contact us here or at 305 793-1365.