HARICOT VERT EXP. INTL. HQ, 14 April 2006 - New Haricot Vert Expeditions adventurer and medical guide Kirk Scheel will take the HV flag to the summit of Hauyna Potosi this June in Bolivia.
"It will be my highest attempt," the firefighter/paramedic says. "Very exciting!"
The expedition is an outgrowth of his work with Outpost Wilderness Adventure (OWA). The organization takes youngsters, mostly teenagers, on outdoor excursions, such as mountain bike rides, rock climbing, fly fishing, and alpine adventures.
"My job as a firefighter/paramedic has made it easier to work with OWA," Kirk says. "They rely on my experience for some of their trips. If I could pull it off, I would work for them always."
OWA sets out for Bolivia on 13 June, flying from Miami to La Paz. The group will spend the next week getting acclimated to La Paz's 13169 ft / 4014 am elevation, and moving about Bolivia.
"We will spend some time around Lake Titicaca hiking and still getting acclimated," the Eagle Scout and army veteran says. "We then will start moving towards Hauyna Potosi.
" Most of the trip is spent getting to the mountain, and getting up to base camp."
En route to the base camp, the OWA group will train and practice on several peaks that offer summits up to 17,000 ft./5,181 am Once at the base camp, only after acclimation climbs, OWA will make a summit attempt. All of this depends on the weather, of course.
"It is my intent to plant the Haricot Vert colors on the summit!" Kirk says. "OWA has done this trip several times and had good fortune for all of them.
It will be a lifetime experience. After the summit day it will be back to La Paz and home. I am really looking forward to mountain biking with friends when I get back after spending 18 days above 13,000ft! LUNGS BABY!!"
Training for this trip is a challenge. Kirk says most of his workout will consist of running and walking. Weight training days will focus on his legs. Of course, training in Texas for a run in Bolivia at elevation is a problem, and Kirk says he hopes to get to Colorado to "get some altitude" before going to Bolivia.
"I can run, and walk carrying my backpack with heavier loads," he says. "But, it is getting warmer here and colder there.
"I get some funny looks when people see me breaking in my new mountaineering boots in 90 degree weather. They are double boots, and orange!"
Kirks says trail running works best for him.
"It keeps me occupied mentally , and helps with my balance and coordination," he says. "When at work at the fire dept I will walk on the treadmill at 14-15% grade for 2 miles, or until we get called out, which usually happens first!
Preparedness is not the only reason Kirk is concentrating on the training.
"I don't want to be in worse shape than the kids that I am supposed to be guiding," he says.
