Successfully climbed Carrizo Peak this weekend along with James, Jess, and Eric. Passed on Palko Peak in favor of green chili cheeseburgers at the Outpost in Carrizozo. It looks like the Orizaba expedition this winter is a go! James, Eric, and I seem to get along well and the general feeling was that it would happen, this year.

So starting now I begin ramping up my endurance. I'm going to go biking or climbing whenever I can. By the time December rolls around, I'd like to be climbing Pajarito Mountain (behind Los Alamos) several times a week with increasingly heavy loads in my pack. I figure if I can do the 1,300' ascent up one of the double black diamond routes (from 9,100' to 10,400') at the ski hill with a 50 pound backpack, it'll be similar to climbing 1,300' or so at higher altitude with no pack. Of course, I'll have to climb ~4,000' on Orizaba, starting at 14,500'... but we'll see.

Who knows, this may even be sufficient impetus to get me trail running in the canyons around town. But don't hold your breath.