Just awoke from a good night’s sleep. We’ll need it. We’ll be awake for the next 39 hours straight. Today we hike to the base camp of Cotopaxi. After lunch we’ll receive 2-3 hours of glacier training. Try to relax for awhile and then prepare for one final push. We’ll be leaving around 11 P.M. God-willing, we should summit at sunrise around 6 A.M. 7 hours of hard climbing across a glacier at 50% oxygen. Good times.

So why do we do it?

Well, there’s nothing like the sense of accomplishment, of viewing the world from above the clouds, of breathing “rare air.” There’s nothing that compares to the camaraderie that is shared between ten men who are “leaving it all” on the mountain–memories that we’ll carry forever. But, at the end of the day, it is for the children. That is what will get us to the summit of Cotopaxi.

So here’s the deal . . . Our goal is to raise $100,000 for children at risk in Ecuador. The money will be given to ChildReach Ministries and Compassion International–both are organizations for which I can personally vouch 100%. To the best of my knowledge, we are currently sitting at about $80,000 of our $100,000 goal. So I’m making one final push. If you would like to “climb with us” by sponsoring us up the mountain please visit www.climbing4kids.org to find out how. 100% of your monies given will go to care for the children at risk. Absolutely none of it has been or will be used to fund this climb.

We so appreciate your prayers and partnership. For the children . . .

Cotopaxi from our Illiniza summit.