Super Angie...Russia part 3

Village life...
construction and un-finished buildings were everywhere.
always a pretty view...
me and my new hat!

The tiny villages around Elbrus were fun and interesting to wander around. Rick and I went to the Wool Markets a few times. I got this hat that says ELBRUS on it. I also got some t-shirts for the kids and a few others things. The funniest thing was when the lady didn't want to give us change, so she just gave us a pair of slippers. Seriously, they look like warewolf feet!

Super Angie...Russia part 2

Our first night at the hotel was fine, except for my cramping and total panic attacks. I was jet lagged. I was homesick. I was terrified to be there. Thankfully I had Rick and some really outstanding team mates. AND family support. Yes, I was able to talk with my family back home every day--mostly texting with my dad. We were in the middle of nowhere and yet, there was great cell reception. I love this day and age.

I was doubled over in fear and stomach cramps and really just wanted to quit everything, but Rick forced me to go to breakfast. Joe from London and James from Ireland were already down there, so Rick and I sat at a middle empty table. There was corn flakes, bread, cheese, fruit, sometimes yogart and then eggs. Oh yes, and hot water for tea. As I was forcing myself to eat, the Austrians came and sat by me. Immediatly they noticed something was wrong...and then something special happened. I spoke to them in German, explaining my homesickness and everything else and magicly, the German helped me. It took my mind off my miserable state and helped me see that as a team, we could help each other. I wasn't healed, but the German did help my heart a lot.


We set out for a beautiful hike through the woods. I didn't take any pictures, but I know Rick did...I'll post those latter. It was really pretty, and it smelled so good! There were horses just wandering the woods and the mountain peaks were gorgeous. I loved this little hike through the woods. I wasn't scared anymore.
We got to the town of Cheget, took a quick rest and potty break, and then jumped on some chair lifts. We rode a series of three lifts and finally arrived at our jumping off point. We then hiked to the top of Cheget peak...around 12,000ft. It was all snow, but the temps were great and the views even better. And when we got to the top (I was dead last...I'm sooo slow!) we were rewarded with our first view of Elbrus!
We stayed up there for a bit and then made our descent down...of course I danced the whole time, much to the delight of Anton (from Austria). (in this pic--Joe from London and Rick...notice Warner from Austria with his shirt off, catching some rays!)

We had the BEST lunch at a cafe in Cheget--schnitzel! I was in Heaven. It was sunny. It was pleasant. We were making friends with everyone and I had actually enjoyed a hike. AMAZING!

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Our group with Vladimir our guide in the orange hat.
Rick and I...so Thankful I had him!

Super Angie...Russia part 1

I got food poisoning. This about sums it all up. I still feel crappy.

We left SLC for Russia. I ate some snacks on the plane, that I had packed. They smelled funny and didn't taste right, but I kept eating them anyway. By the time we got to the base of the mountain, I was feeling sick. I thought it was nerves-- I was very home sick, feeling guilty for being away from the kids, and nervous about climbing. I could barely eat. I was miserable and just wanted to cry. I cried a lot.


We flew from SLC- Minniapolas- Amasterdam-Moscow. Then we stayed the night and had the yummiest European breakfast. Then we took a flight to Mineral Vody. This flight was hillarious. It was a VERY old Russian plane. The bathroom was amazing--looked like something off an old ship. The food was not very good, but the service was fine. I got in trouble for taking pictures of the plane. lol Oh well.

We landed in Mineral Vody and were met there by our guide- Vladimir. We hoped in a van/bus and off we went for our 3 hour drive to the base of Mt. Elbrus. We got stopped by a cop, and gave him some money and he let us go. Nice work!

We drove through charming little villages and saw gorgeous cliffs and peaks. Lots of random animals roaming the streets. It was great. I loved seeing so much of every day Russia. Up until now I had only see Moscow.

We arrived at our hotel, right at the base of Mt. Elbrus--but the mountain is so big, we had no idea we were at the base of it. You can only see the mountain once you get on it...if that makes any sense.

We stayed at the Sherherizade hotel. Irina met us and showed us our room. Everyone was very nice to us, but I was still home sick and emotional...

Super Angie...dilemma

So, I leave for Russia in 3 days. For those who don't know, I am going with Rick to climb one of the Seven Summits. Mt. Elbrus--the tallest mountain in Europe. Its 18,000 something feet. My highpoint thus far in my life is 14,000 something, so this is a HUGE deal.

I love Russia. I have been twice before. I went with my dad on a business trip in 2001--when they lived in Germany. And then I went while prego with Tanith in 2005, when my parents lived in Moscow. I love it there.

My dilemma...I'm a fashion girl. I *TRY* to look cute at all times. Yes, right at the moment, sitting in my jammies, I don't look cute or fashionable, but when I go places or especially when I travel, I try to look awesome.

So... its in the 80s in Moscow. And its in the 30s in Cheget, where Mt. Elbrus is. We will be spending half a day in Moscow on route to Cheget, and then again, half a day on the return home. Of course I want to look steller in Moscow.

My other problem is, luggage weight restrictions. I'm climbing a mountain, so every peice of clothing must be chosen with the thought in mind--will this kill me or keep me alive? Its a very serious choice. So I have all my mountain stuff packed and ready. I feel great about that. But now, its all about what to wear around Cheget, what shoes to take, and what to wear on the plane and how to pack it and where to pack it all. I have a pink North Face duffel with all my mountain stuff in it. Then I have my climbing back pack. Thats all I can take.

I'm not writing this for suggestions, I already have everything figured out, but its quite a new dilemma. I have never traveled before where it wasn't strictly for pleasure. So packing for this has been a challenge.

I'm happy to say I will look freaking awesome on the plane. :)

Super Angie...Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to my best friend.

Love you Mom!!!

Super Angie...Gaga Gaga

So, I'm going to the Lady Gaga concert in Seattle (in August) with my friend Lori. I decided I need to go full out and wear a fabulous concert costume, so I bought this hair bow for myself and one for Tanith.

Too much fun dressing up!

Super Angie...love hate relationship

I LOVE Speed skating
I HATE hiking
I LOVE Lady Gaga
I HATE climbing mountains
I LOVE sitting on FB and wasting the whole day
I HATE hiking
I love stepping in dog poop
I HATE hiking

Okay...so the dog poop part isn't true, but seriously...I have a bad attitude towards hiking. And this isn't a good thing considering how much money we have invested in the dang sport and the upcoming trip to Russia to climb Mt. Elbrus.

To be honest...I like hiking because I can eat almost anything I want (chocolate cinnamon bears) and i like the bragging rights that come with it. That's not very good, is it? Another reason I like hiking is because I get to reward myself afterwards... like with a new purse, or pair of shoes or something like that. Yesterday we hiked, and I started crying when I saw the most beautiful snow flake land on my glove...picture those candy confetti peices you sprinkle on cupcakes, and well...thats exactly how this snowflake looked. It was amazing to see...so I guess I like the things I see when I hike.

Mt. Elbrus is the tallest mountain in Europe. Its 18,000 something feet. Its part of the "Seven Summits". Now, don't jump to conclusions...I have no interest in doing all of the seven summits--no Everest for me thank you very much.

I get up in the morning excited to go speed skating. I don't get excited about hiking. But I am excited to go back to Russia. I went in 2001 when Dallin was a baby and again in 2006 when I was prego with Tanith. In 2000, I went with my dad on a business trip. We did all the tourist things. It was awesome. In 2006, I took Dallin with to visit my parents who were living there. We did some of the tourist things and some just local things. It was awesome. I love Russia!

I have a hard time believing in my abilities to do this. I'm not a runner. I don't do all the cool things my neighbors do--like run races, swim and bike forever. I'm not a stick skinny girl--although I am a size 6, which I've worked SO HARD FOR. But really, I'm not a mountaineer chick. I'm just not. I don't fit the mold and I'm not like the girls I see on the trails. But I've done "good" on other mountains I've climbed. I did Torreys in Colorado almost 5 years ago...and I was NOT in shape and I hadn't done much hiking before that. I also went up to Muir last year on Rainier...it was hard and I was barely walking when i rolled into camp, but I did it! I jumped over crevasses. I hiked up steep ice. I did it! I was slow, but I did it! I cry a lot on mountains, but then again, my friend Ann( who climed Rainer with Rick and has climbed 3 of the seven summits) says she has panic attacks and climbs before almost every climb she does. I just have to remember that the first 30 minutes or so really suck. Its horrible. And the suddenly you get into a zone.

The thing I need to remember is that I LIVED! My knees hurt. My feet hurt. But I pushed myself and I survived! I didn't die. It wasn't the end of the world. I pushed through and eventually I recovered. Heck my black toe nail even grew out and now I can have glitter toes again. Life went on. I need to remember that.

Going to Elbrus will be awesome. I'll be with Rick. I'll experience a different part of Russia and meet interesting people. Elbrus isn't "hard", but it is high. I'll be on drugs for altitude, so I'll be "okay". The schedule is easy going and I'll have plenty of time to acclimatize.

So...I need to stop saying I HATE HIKING.

I love lady gaga.
I love hiking
I love figure skating
I love hiking

I'm good at speed skating
I'm good at hiking
I'm good at sitting in basic position and getting low in my knees
I'm good at pacing myself on the mountain
I'm good at doing the flip jump in figure skating.
I'm good at keep my body temp right when i'm hiking
I'm good at eating mostly healthy
I'm good at busting dance moves to Lady Gaga while I hike.

I LOVE HIKING

I climbed Mt Fuji in good time.
I can ski double black diamonds and stay alive.
I finished 1st in the 500 meter race.
I CAN Hike Mt. Elbrus.

and I can win my reward of a new purse...from Burberry! :)
--Super Angie

Super Angie...May day gingerbread house

Well, I had been saving a gingerbread house in the pantry for a rainy day--and May 1st didn't disapoint--rain, sun, snow. Oh yeah! So, while Rick and I hiked, the kids had fun with Miranda. Prompty after taking this picture, they dove right in and ate it right up. Well, they didn't eat it all on May 1st...they ate some for breakfast the next day!

Super Angie...my first race

On Saturday, I competed in my first Speed skating race at the Olympic Oval. Here I am with Alexis and Sam
I was number 455...pretty cool, ey?
I love Alexis. She is in my class, shes fast and fearless and has similar passion for skating. Shes a nut!
Me and Nick--from my step class. Nice speed suit Nick!
Alexis and Jamie--Jamie is a super kid! SO FAST!
This was an official race, with a bell and lap sign. Awesome!
Here are the 6 of us. 6 Girls racing together. It was awesome!
Here are the girls with Chris (but we thought his name was John, so we were cheering John the whole time). He wore his "crazy" shirt and we had a good time cheering for him.
During warmup. My nerves were wild, but I was also excited.
The begining of our first race--the 1000 meter. Thats 9 laps. 9 Laps is REALLY hard. Notice the start guy with his hand in the air? Hes holding a starting gun! YEAH BABY! It was awesome to have a gun sound.
Go go go! With it being 9 laps, I had planned NOT to waste myself out and not go fast.
Rick took some awesome pics, but this is my favorite!
Trying to catch Alexis...can you see how tired she is--practicly skating upright.
go go go
9 laps is REALLY hard
It was hard, but I just kept pushing and going
go go go!
nice basic position. I need to get lower though
I like my form here.
The end of the race. I took second place, behind Alexis. Nice work girl! I finished in 3 minutes 2 seconds. Amazing!!! I had no idea I could do that!
The start of the 500 Meter race--my favorite!
500 meter...Alexis is catching me!
This is my favorite picture. Right before I won the 500meter!
Alexis and I hugging--we love being competitive with each other. This group of girls was fantastic! I can't believe I won the 500! 4 1/2 laps. I tried to stay down in basic and just endured the pain. Alexis finish a very close second place..I think it was 3 tenths of a point behind me...I think.
I loved having my family there to cheer me on. The sign says, "My mom is faster then your mom!" LOL

After the first two races, we were supposed to do the 1500 meter--which is like 12 laps or something crazy like that. But they changed it and we only did 7 laps. I was sooo tired, I was pretty much standing the entire time. I came in Second to Alexis again. She is a powerhouse!
At the end we all got ribbons. YEA! :)

This was such a great experience and I'm so happy I got to skate and compete. When is the next race?!