The Second Rainier closes 2014

At Poo Poo Point, Wilson witnesses the "Second Rainier." (Photo by Sue Butkus)

55 pounds, four miles, 1,760 feet up. Wilson, the indestructible futbol,  was there to witness another milestone in the campaign to raise funds for those balls for children in distressed communities around the world. 

The Wilson campaign is now halfway to the goal of purchasing 100 balls, which will potentially serve 3,000 children. For those who asked, the Web site (One World Play Project) which allows you to purchase and donate balls is fully functional again, and the counter on the Wilson campaign page reflects, at this writing, the purchase of 51 balls. 

If you are one of those who has been waiting to support the campaign, this would make for a great New Year’s resolution. There is a link on the upper right of this page that will take you to the Wilson campaign. 

Today’s climb focused on conditioning and involved lugging 55 pounds of water and backpack to Poo Poo Point on Tiger Mountain near Issaquah, WA. Poo Poo Point is  where parasailers launch their aircraft;  we passed many as they ascended the same Chiroco trail that we took to the top, bearing their parasails in backpacks. The previously muddy ground was frozen hard and the flight down was going to be a cold one, but cold air is dense air and not necessarily bad for parasailing explained Steven Weltyk, who was hiking with his sailing companion Janell Davidson. We wouldn’t have necessarily recognized them from a previous encounter on the trail on October 10, except that  Janell remembered Wilson from that meeting. (See photo below.)

Weltyk and Davidson on October 10. They demonstrated that, not only is Wilson indestructible, the little blue futbol is also hard to forget and easily recognizeable.

The ascent marked the accumulation of more than 29,000 feet of elevation gained since the start of the campaign to raise money for the futbols. That’s the equivalent of two Mount Rainiers. My intention is to accumulate three more “Rainiers,” meeting an objective of 70,000 feet climbed, before July, when I will ascend Adams for my 70^th birthday.

Sue Butkus warms up with coffee following the chilly descent. She is an occasional hiker with Team Wilson. Today she also served as part of the photography staff.

Team Wilson wishes all of you a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2015. And, remember the children!

Love,

Robert,

And Wilson