Big Trees, El Capitain and Panorama Trail

My roots are showing.
My Capitan, My Capitan
Is the current too fast to go swimming?
Ric and I at the end...two original HFD hikers complete another hike!

Yosemite completed!

I am back and recovering from an awsome weekend at Yosemite. It was just as amazing a weekend as last year at the Grand Canyon. The inspiration that all the Honored Hero's have given all that hiked. As a group from Michigan we raised over $180,000. I came up a bit short on my goal, but raised over $4,100.

This couldn't have been accomplished if it weren't for the many donor's out there who kindly donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in order to help find a cure for blood cancers and to support patients that have blood cancers.

Sad News

As you know this is my second year participating in Hike for Discovery. A week from today I will be in Yosemite reaping the benefits from all my hard training the last five months.

But it will be bitter sweet to say the least. It's with a heavy heart that I go, Jan Fallat, my honored hero from last year passed away on June 3. She was 57 years old and lived a pretty full life. She had a wonderful husband Dr. Larry Fallat and two daughters (I only knew Katie). She will be missed here but will be with all who she has touched and waiting for them in heaven.

So, next Saturday as I hike in one of America's most beautiful places, I will be thinking very much of Jan and knowing she is in a beautiful place as well and at peace.

Pontiac Lake hike

It was a beautiful day on the trail at Pontiac Lake. Sunny, warm and lots of bikers.

Missed updates

Here are some photos from a recent hike at Highland Rec. Area.

Brighton State Rec Area

The weather on this hike actually held off and it turned out to be a nice day...if you consider still hiking in low 30 degree weather in the middle of April nice. We hiked for 4 hours. Next week will be our assessment hike, which will help determine the hike we take at Yosemite.

This coming week is the Mongolian Grill guest grilling fundraiser - 4/18 6-8 pm

Bachelor Auction that Steve Assmann will be participating in and I will be emceeing. This fundraiser is for Michelle and Kathryn who are two other mentors. Thursday, 4/19 6 pm at Pi in Southfield. $25 tix in advance -- tickets can be purchased at the door.

Maybury State Park

Spring has sprung. It was a balmy 45 degrees when we started out this morning for four hours. We hiked at Maybury State Park.

Tomorrow is the Euchre Tournament. I think we will have a pretty full house.

Holly was nice

Although the cold has come back into Michigan, the hike this past Saturday was rather pleasant. I am unsure of the total distance (est. between 9 and 11 miles) but we did hike for 3.5 hours. The shamrock cookies Christine supplied were perfect.

On Sunday I participated in a bucket drive, which was really successful in the time we were there. Next Sunday is the Euchre tournament. Should be a good time.

Fundraising update

Well, the donations continue to come in. I participated in a very successful event today with Dick and Charlotte again. After today's event and the recent donations I am almost to the $2,000 mark. Thank you all for your kind donations and support.

Island Lake trails icy and we needed to take the road more traveled

Trails were icy. Hiked the paved trail from the trailhead to Kensington Metro Park and back making it between 9 and 10 miles. It was the warmest day yet for us and we all completed it in our alloted 3 hours.

Bald Mountain 3/3/07

This week we hiked at Bald Mountain Recreation Area in Lake Orion. We did the same trail last year, but it was in April and much nicer of a day out. Although it was close to 30 degrees, the wind kept it a bit cooler. The trail wasn't too bad with snow, maybe ankle deep. Compared to the Stony Creek hike which was deeper.

Fundraising event at Detroit Ignition

Last week - Charlotte, Dick and myself worked the crowd at the Detroit Ignition indoor soccer game for a 50/50 raffle on Sunday. We collected $532 in two periods! Why to go! This fundraiser helped me go over the $1,000 mark.

The night before I worked the bar at the Monsignor Clement Kern Knights of Columbus Vegas Night. I made over $40 in tips, just serving up beer.

Missing in Action

I have been missing in action lately on my blog. You can see why.

Fundraising update

I have past $800 so far in my fundraising towards my $4,500 goal. Thank you all for your kind support. I do have some upcoming events to keep an eye on. One is the following:

Euchre Tournament Benefit

• $25 entry fee
  (includes pizza, pasta and salad buffet)


• Five tournaments of 16 players


• 80 player limit


• 1st Place guaranteed pay-out


• 50/50 raffle


• Silent Auction


• Beer Specials

When: Sunday, March 25, 2007
1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Knockouts, 36980 Ford Rd., Westland, MI
Why: Support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Hike for Discovery program

More info or guaranteed reservations: (734) 394-0599


Special thanks to the Tomei Family for graciously donating their restaurant for this great cause.

Hike Four - Stony Creek

Hiked for about 1:45. It was a difficult hike in some parts. Not due to the terrain (it was pretty flat most of the time) but due to the amount of ungroomed snow. With close to 10 inches of snow falling earlier this week and the temperatures in sub-freezing range, none melted. The group I was in hiked for 3 miles, but it seemed longer than that.

Afterwards, I met with some hike buddies from last year, Pam and Lori, for a late breakfast. Always good to see those ladies.

I forgot my camera at home...so the pictures are not as good from the phone.

Hike Three - Waterloo in Chelsea

It was a bit warmer then week 2, but not much. It took us a little while to get started, so the standing around chilled me out, taking longer for my core to warm up. Once it did I was as warm as can be. We hiked around 7 miles with both hills and flat areas. It was a very pretty park, plus we saw some cross country skiiers. I think I will go back again without snow.

Week two - that was also the tempature

2 degrees, close to -10 degree windchill. That was what we experienced this morning. All things considered a very good turn out, no frostbite cases and we all seemed to have a good time. (Hand warmers are better than sliced bread.)

First weeks training group photo at Paint Creek Trail

First training completed

On 1/26 there was a decent turn out for the the first hike. Although it was around 35 degrees, the wind made it feel a bit chillier (not as cold as last year when we were at Paint Creek Trail). This coming week is the first of many "group" meetings for my group of hikers. We will be starting to plan a group fundraiser. More to come later.

One week until training starts

Next Saturday will be the first of many training hikes for Yosemite in June. I am looking forward to it. Meeting new people and reconnecting with many who experienced the Grand Canyon with me last year.

I've already started fundraising and am off to a good start. I am getting some help this year from a friend who is a Creative Memories Unit Leader. Please visit her link on the right to find out more about Creative Memories and what they offer. I can't think of a better partnership as I raise funds to help ensure memories for people with blood cancers, my memories which will last a lifetime and the memories I hope to share with you through this experience.

Keep checking back often for more updates and pictures from the hikes.

Donation information

I am very excited to be participating in another Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Hike for Discovery event -- an adventure fundraising program that benefits the LLS, to help find a cure for blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma myeloma and Hodgkin’s disease.

As you remember last year I raised funds for the LLS in their inaugural Hike for Discovery program. I raised over $3,700 and the rest of the Michigan group raised over a quarter million for research, support groups, educational programs and financial planning for afflicted families.

This year I am looking to raise over $4,000. While fundraising I will be training to hike at Yosemite National Park on June 16, 2007. All the while I’ll be thinking of the more than 110,000 new cases of blood cancers which will be diagnosed nationwide this year alone; some 55,100 patients will die.

This year I don’t have one particular Honored Hero; instead I have decided to participate in honor of people I know, and the ones that you know, that are fighting their battle with blood cancers. People like Jeff Newton, who I hiked with last year; Jan Fallat, my Honored Hero of last year who is still in need of a bone marrow transplant; a former co-worker who lost her battle with leukemia over six years ago.

I need your help to reach my fundraising goal. Every dollar you donate is tax deductible and at least 75 cents of it goes directly toward research and patient services in Michigan.

You can make a donation online at the donation link on the right. Please come back here often to see updates and photos as I train, which starts the last weekend of January.

Please feel free to share this Web site and the donation information with your friends, family or colleagues. Thank you in advance for your support. The patients, families and I appreciate your efforts in helping to find a cure for blood cancers.

A new year and a new adventure

It's official! I am participating in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Hike for Discovery 2007. This year the LLS is offering not only a hike at the Grand Canyon, but also at Yosemite National Park, which is where I will be June 14-17, 2007.

I will have my new donation page up in the next couple of weeks as I get more information. Hope all had a Happy New Year and I look forward to sharing this years adventure with you.