The town of Big Bear had one of it’s largest gatherings ever, to send off our town Olympian Marathoner, Ryan Hall. He leaves for Beijing on August 6. Over 3000 people gathered at the local middle school track/field where Ryan said he got his start with running.
Jordan was invited to run a celebration/send off lap with the Olympian Ryan Hall. It was a tremendous gesture by the Lighthouse Project, a group that has made it a mission to turn Big Bear into Child Honoring Community. They presented Ryan with more than 1,200,000 miles all run, biked, paddled, swam and walked in honor of Ryan. Check out www.bigbearlighthouse.com and the Move a Million Miles for Ryan Hall Project.
Check out the I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E efforts of OffRoving.com, a group that has started a fantastic fundraising effort for Jordan. WOW!
The finest hangout in Vegas is the San Tropez looking villa known as Lake Las Vegas. Live music on the lawn and good people to share the good times. Thanks IZZY for the pics www.studio3photography.com
July 12, 2008.
The GOLDEN Birthday…they day you turn the age of the DAY you celebrate…..12.
We spent the day in the tiny, 1 horse, lake front town of Fawnskin, …just across the lake from Big Bear. It was cloudy and cool….when the rest of the west is blazing in heat. We were loving it.
Jordan has takin to Stand Up Paddling. He was fast and stable and just loves it. In any spare time he has, it’s time on the new dirt/jump/BMX Intense bike he was gifted for summiting Denali…he’s learning tricks…at the expense of some skin, but as he knows all too well goo things come from hard work.
On the approach to high camp 17,000 Jordan stopped me in my tracks and told me (dad) that if he succeeds on this climb, he will dedicate the climb to his late Uncle Tony Romero.
Two days later from the summit, he tells us on camera “I’d like to dedicate this climb-the highest peak in North America- to my late Uncle Tony Romero who recently passed away after a brutal battle with brain cancer. He was a great man who served our country as a Marine in Vietnam, I will always love him, and my Aunt Irene and cousins Nick, Josh and Ben.”
It’s in the books.
Jordan and the rest of the team has just returned from base camp and flown back to Talkeetna.
Many apologies for not much communication. We had no means to communicate.
Jordan has astounded everyone on the mountain with his strength, determination and skills.
Denali was out of this world.
We will write more later after a meal.
We are staying at the Tee Pee in Talkeetna. 907.733.2323
Feel free to call and ask for Jordan. I’m pretty sure we’ll be eating.
Jacques, please post here and let us know if you can come get us tomorrow.
I just sent a post from my phone, so pardon if it comes twice. Working out all the kinks. We will send posts from mobile phone as best we can. Be patient, we WILL do our best. Dark/gloomy again here in Anchorage. We now start the drive from Anchorage to Talkeetna. Then a bush plane of sorts to Kahiltna Glacier. We will be trekking tonight.
Again, sorry if this other message comes from my phone later…..
Ad Alta
Paul, Karen and King Jordan
(Last chance to call Jordan if you wish)
p.s. Kele, he just finished 6th, going into 7th;)
Travel from Big Bear to LAX to Anchorage was flawless.
Our good buddies (Christian, Melissa and Halle) and Los Angeles shuttle and accomodations team met us on the curb, and grabbed our truck and saw us off. The gal at Alaska Air tried to hassle us for our huge back packs and sleds thet were neatly plastic wrapped together (well under weight), but the superviser saw it our way and we skated with no baggage fees (just under the July 1 new regulations. whew).
We caught the Lakers game, at the sports Pub (GO LAKERS!), and boarded a packed plane for the 5.5 hour flight to Anchorage. It IS a bit strange to leave in darkness, then head into daylight in the late evening. Yes, it is light here around the clock. Not exactly sun shining, but ‘working light’ as we say in A.R.
With amazing fortune and luck, Alaska/Denali and Eco Challenge Legend Jacques Boutet and his family reside in Anchorge. He’s out of state, but wifey Donna picks us up at 2a.m., takes us to their beautiful home, we pull the shades WAY down low and get sleep. It’s raining here, cloudy and cold. Snowing and high winds on the glacier and mtns now.
We’re shopping and getting last supplies and enjoying civilization for the last bit. This season is 48% success rate on summiting Denali…..better than the 20% we had in Aconcogua last year.;)
Ad Alta
Paul, Karen and King Jordan
His first magazine cover at age 11. This is getting nutty.
It’s the 3rd edition of this hot new Adventure/Multisport Magazine based here in the U.S. It’s a GreenZine, that means it’s an online magazine, no printing,…and that is good for the environment says Jordan.
www.adventureworldmagazine.com
Hop on there, and buy a cheap subscription, and follow Jordan’s future adventures as well as catch this new edition with a full feature article on his quest.
