To Summit Up Podcast

"Find that comfort zone, take a step out of it and do that, because that's how you continue your own personal growth. That's how you continue finding who you are. There are so many things out there in life to experience. Expose yourself to all of it because how are you supposed to know what you really like? For me, I never thought in the world hiking would be anything I'd be interested in and here I am doing it every weekend." - Brittany Bowman Welcome to the To Summit Up Podcast! This week's episode is an exciting episode with a hiking power couple who recently just completed the 46 Adirondack High Peaks, Brian Twardy and Brittany Bowman. You may know them from instagram (https://www.instagram.com/brian_hikes_all_day/ and https://www.instagram.com/brittany_hikes_all_day/ ), where they both share their hiking journey with their community. They have embraced the journey of life and have realized that every single moment along each adventure is special. This is a truly inspiring episode In this episode we get into: Brittany and Brian's discovery of the Adirondacks and their dedication to completing the 46 High Peaks.The highs and the lows of completing the 46 High Peaks.Expanding beyond one's comfort zone.Using Social Media to positively affect people's experiences in the outdoors.Living true to yourself. If you enjoy this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen most! Please check out Brian and Brittany's social media to follow along with their journey and reach out to connect :).

"When you've got 400 people climbing mountains all over the country and you're standing on the summit, you feel this overwhelming awe of the power that that holds. Everyone who is at the summit of all of these mountains put through the work to get there for this cause and you're not alone when you're out there." -Kolby Ziemendorf, co-founder of 46Climbs Welcome to the To Summit Up Podcast! This week's episode is all about a very relevant organization, 46Climbs. 46Climbs (46climbs.com) is an organization rooted in encouraging many individuals across the United States and the world to take on the challenge of conquering suicide through the physical challenge of climbing and hiking. This is done in an effort to end the stigma and promote overall positive mental health. This upcoming week, August 30th through September 8th is the 5th annual 46Climbs event benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This episode is all about the incredible connection between getting outside to the mountains and positive mental health. This episode contains clips from two previous shows that talk about mountains and positive mental health, the 46Climbs event and what it is. On the episode is Kolby Ziemendorf, the co-founder of 46Climbs and Cody Wiktorski, the co-founder of Wik Brothers. Both of these amazing people are climbing this week and, this upcoming Monday, I will be too. I'm taking on Mount Marshall, which will be my 40th Adirondack High Peak. This is an amazing episode where you will learn all about how 46Climbs started, the power behind getting outside to the mountains, and how you can get involved.

"The group in front of us was standing there looking out into the water with binoculars and they were like - 'is that a whale?' We stopped and turned and saw this enormous pool of water and it looked like a giant rock, but the people that were looking at it were like - 'yo, that's a whale.' " - Brandon Agostinelli Welcome to the To Summit Up Podcast! This week's episode is the second week in a row with a To Summit Up repeat guest. On the podcast this week is my great friend, Brandon Agostinelli. A year ago, Brandon and I went to Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies and the outdoor flame was lit within him. Over the past year Brandon has grown and made the outdoors a staple in his life. He recently just took a trip to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor in Maine. I (Ryan) too have been to Maine and it is an incredible place with a wide variety of activities available for everyone. This is a really great episode where we talk about why you should go to Maine and what you should do there. In this episode Brandon and I talk about: The varieties of activities available in Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, Maine.Seeing whales in the Atlantic and what that experience was like.Accessible hiking for everyone in Acadia.Exploring new places.The importance of getting outside If you enjoy this episode, remember that the best way to help the podcast grow is to leave a positive review on itunes, subscribe on whatever platform you listen on, and to tell your friends to listen as well!

"The positive out of it was just being out there. I mean, being out on the trail, seeing a new section on the trail that I hadn't done yet, meeting new people, sharing the experience with them when I was hiking with them during the start, and meeting all of the people at the start. There's no bad day outside - no matter how much it sucks - it beats other things in life. I am just very grateful to have still had that experience." - Mat Jobin This week's episode was an amazing conversation with a To Summit Up repeat guest and northeast mountain guide Mat Jobin. Mat owns his own guiding and gear company in Connecticut called Reach Your Summit. Mat was on episode 32 of the podcast earlier this year and one of the trips that he had mentioned he was taking this spring was the Allegheny 100. A few weeks ago, he attempted this 100 mile journey for the second time and I wanted to get him back on the podcast to see how the experience went and what he learned. This is a really great episode where we talk about the Allegheny 100 and so much more. You are definitely going to want to stick around through this whole episode as there are some great outdoor tips and lessons learned. In this episode Mat and I talk about: This year's Allegheny 100 - the full story.Hiking tips and gear to stay as dry as possible in soggy, muddy conditions.How to mentally deal with setbacks.How the outdoors are an opportunity for growth for everyone. To find out more about Mat and Reach Your Summit, check out reachyoursummit.net or https://www.instagram.com/rys_adventure/

"It's worth every single step. And really take your time. It's not a race and you don't have to beat the clock to get there. You're going to miss a lot of great things if you try to." - Randy Guyer This week's episode was a great conversation with an inspiring Adirondacker named Randy Guyer. Randy has lived at the foothills of the Adirondacks for over 20 years but just recently began to explore hiking - and it changed him for the better. Randy has worked in the food industry and combined his love for food and his newfound love for mountains into an inspiring platform and challenge called sandwich and a summit. This is a really amazing conversation where Randy takes us through his whole journey going from zero hiking experience to itching to hike all the time. In this episode Randy and I talk about: Randy's non-hiking years in the food industry.What sparked him to hike after 20 years of living in the Adirondacks and not hiking and how hiking changed him mentally and physically.Keeping it local for hikes and food.The creation of Sandwich and a Summit.Community in the mountains. Check out sandwichandasummit.com and @sandwichandasummit on Instagram for more!

"Wilderness is not a luxury but necessity of the human spirit.” –Edward Abbey Spending time in nature has been scientifically proven to benefit mental and physical health. In this episode, I dive into an article by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation that lays out some of the benefits of spending time outside including... Improved immune health Reduction in stress and anxietyLower blood pressureimproved ability to focus and a reduction in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms (ADHD)Quicker recovery from surgery. If you need more incentive to get outside beyond the adventure and views, this episode will provide you with reasons that may help you improve your overall health. Citation: Immerse Yourself in a Forest for Better Health. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/90720.html

"Enjoy the experience. Enjoy not just the summit, but enjoy the hike, enjoy the people that you're hiking with, enjoy nature, enjoy the summit, enjoy the snacks that you've brought - and then, after the hike, go to the local brewery and talk about the hike with your friends. That's a great experience." - Pat Barczys This week is challenge week! On the podcast is Pat Barczys, the founder of a new Adirondack Challenge called the ADK 6 Pack (www.adk6pack.com). This challenge combines two of my favorite things; mountains and beer. If you love taking on new challenges in the mountains and then rewarding yourself with a beer after, this episode and the ADK 6 Pack is for you. I am so excited for this challenge to go live on July 1st! In this episode Pat and I talk about: Pat's involvement in the Outdoor Club at the University at Buffalo. Who, What, Where, Why, How for the ADK 6 Pack Challenge.Spreading hikers around the entire Adirondacks rather than just the 46 High Peaks.How you can get involved and participate in the challenge. The fan of the week this week is Joyryde! To be featured as the fan of the week head over to itunes and spend 3 minutes leaving a review! Positive and constructive reviews will be featured on future episodes.

"Follow your gut instinct. It's always right and there is always this little, tiny voice in the back of your head that you're trying to push away or trying not to listen to, but it has always been right so follow that." - Brenda Zeelenberg This week's episode was a super fun conversation with an inspiring adventurer and traveler named Brenda Zeelenberg. Brenda is originally from the Netherlands and currently resides in British Columbia in Canada. Many people know Brenda from her Instagram account @backpackbren and her blog backpackbren.com, where she inspires people to travel and shows that it is not hard to travel and experience the world. In this conversation, we talk about: Go. Live. - Brenda's Life Motto.How to partake in and promote responsible adventure including social media.Doing activities that your body currently allows you to because someday you may not be able to do them.Importance of Avalanche Training.Building community in new places.

"I feel like relationships are built quicker and potentially deeper when you are outside - especially with something like a hike. You go through so much with a person - ups and downs...literally... - and you are put out of your comfort zone and that always brings people closer together." - Heidi Nixon Heidi Nixon is building her skills in the field of therapeutic recreation and is also a skier, fly fisher, and a stoked outdoor enthusiast. This is such a fun episode! In this conversation, Heidi and I get into: Embracing the outdoors and sharing outdoor experiences with others.Heidi's 35 month ski streak.Impact of Therapeutic recreation on teens during developmental years.Wilderness First Responder Courses.East Coast community vs. West Coast community. Check out this episode and more at tosummitup.com !

This is a Ryck Proctor (Episode 25) Appalachian Trail update! Welcome back to the To Summit Up Podcast. I took a 2 month hiatus from posting and this is the first episode back. In this episode, I talk about: Reason for the 2 month hiatus.Recap of my trips to Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe to ski and Lake Placid in the Adirondacks to hike.APPALACHIAN TRAIL UPDATE! Ryck Proctor was on Episode 25 of the podcast and embarked on the AT approximately 60 days ago.Reminder on the Garden Trailhead situation in the Adirondacks. Emily Giffin once said "Often I feel that projects overwhelm us when we look at how many hours are involved until completion. But just getting started is usually not that difficult." I appreciate your listening and am so glad to be back :)

"Get outside. We only have one life to do it. Take the chance, make time and go for it. It's going to change your life. I mean, one of the things that I really love about long-distance hikes and thru-hikes is every day is different. You're waking up in a different town and you're seeing different things and experiencing different things - get out there!" -Mat Jobin Who is on: On this episode is Mat Jobin - an adventure guide who has his own company called Reach Your Summit based out of Connecticut. Mat's mission with the company is to empower anyone who seeks to connect with themselves and with nature with the opportunity to do so. He does this by striving to make the wilderness responsibly accessible for people of all experience levels. We talk about: Guiding and Coaching through Reach Your Summit (RYS).The values Mat instills in each individual who hikes with RYS.The need for more diversity and equality in the outdoors. Distance hiking and backpacking.How Mat created his own backpacking loop and hiked it for National Trails Day. Support TSU and Make a Difference: If you want to support the podcast and graduate from freeloader to a full-on supporter, there are a few ways you can help out. https://www.patreon.com/tosummitup, which allows listeners to contribute as little as $1 to help cover the costs of putting the podcast together.Bumper stickers and apparel at tosummitup.com/shop. Hats, shirts, and patches…grab your swag and represent the community as you create your story in the outdoors. Thank You: Music for this episode was brought to you by Scott Holmes. Scott’s music is throughout many of the podcast episodes and is brought to you courtesy of free music archive. His music can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/ . To Summit Up Theme Song was composed and produced by my good friend Jordan Wolf. Jordan can be found on Instagram @jwolfy3.

"I just wanted to get to the top of that mountain and I remember telling myself as I was walking up that mountain - and this got really deep -, I was like 'If you give up now, you are going to give up on anything that you try in your life.' I made it that extreme because that's how much it meant to me to get to the top of the mountain. I truly think that how you treat every challenge in your life - or any challenge in your life - is how you are going to treat every other challenge in your life." - Rose Hvisch Who is on? Rose Hvisch - a now avid outdoor enthusiast who had basically zero mountain experience as of a few years ago, however, she has now backpacked in the US and Canadian Rockies and climbed a peak in Banff National Park. Rose is a prime example of what never quitting and continuing to put one foot in front of the other can do to you. In this episode we talk about: How to mentally handle and conquer being at the back of a group on a hike.How hiking has pushed Rose to NEVER QUIT at anything in life.Our first backcountry experience in Montana and how we learned what not to do.Hike preparation which now includes running, stair-climber, and local hikesThe importance of writing down goals and looking at them every morning. Puppies: The organization Rose talks about at the end is labs 4 rescue. Check them out! Support TSU and Make a Difference: If you want to support the podcast and graduate from freeloader to a full-on supporter, there are a few ways you can help out. https://www.patreon.com/tosummitup, which allows listeners to contribute as little as $1 to help cover the costs of putting the podcast together.Bumper stickers and apparel at tosummitup.com/shop. Hats, shirts, and patches…grab your swag and represent the community as you create your story in the outdoors. Thank You: Music for this episode was brought to you by Scott Holmes. Scott’s music is throughout many of the podcast episodes and is brought to you courtesy of free music archive. His music can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/ . To Summit Up Theme Song was composed and produced by my good friend Jordan Wolf. Jordan can be found on Instagram @jwolfy3.

"Some of the hardest situations - you look back and you're like 'wow. I'm so glad that happened... like that really sucked while it was happening.', but pushing yourself and putting yourself in uncomfortable situations is going to get you the greatest distance in the end." - Courtney Wilson In This Episode We Talk About: What makes the Adirondacks, Catskills, and hiking in Upstate New York special.Growing through putting yourself in uncomfortable situations.Heading West to live out the mountain dream in Colorado.Being a Spartan Athlete and competing at the highest level.Following your passion and knowing your limits. Support TSU and Make a Difference: If you want to support the podcast and graduate from freeloader to a full-on supporter, there are a few ways you can help out. https://www.patreon.com/tosummitup, which allows listeners to contribute as little as $1 to help cover the costs of putting the podcast together.Check out the bumper stickers and apparel at tosummitup.com/shop. Hats, shirts, and patches…grab your swag and represent the community as you create your story in the outdoors. Thank You: Music for this episode was brought to you by Scott Holmes. Scott’s music is throughout many of the podcast episodes and is brought to you courtesy of free music archive. His music can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/ . The To Summit Up Theme Song was composed and produced by my good friend Jordan Wolf. Jordan can be found on instagram @jwolfy3.

"I want to inspire people to set their own goals and say yes to more opportunities in their life and to embrace the beauty around them." - Liz Rose On the pod this week is Liz Rose - the youngest Canadian to climb the Seven Summits. The seven summits are the highest mountain on each tectonic plate (yes, this includes Mount Everest). She began her journey in 2015 and finished it just about two years later and has been working on a book that reflects on her experiences and aims to inspire people to conquer their own mountains both literal and metaphorical. This is an amazing episode where we talk about Liz's journey and growth over the past few years. In this Episode we talk about: Hiking parts of the Seven Summits with her Parents and what that meant to her including Mount Kilimanjaro with her Dad and Mount Everest Base Camp with her Mom.Climbing Mount Everest and how she completed it just months after she hiked Mount Aconcagua in South America.Specifics on Liz's book called Written in the Snow The biggest lesson that completing the Seven Summits taught Liz. Liz's Book, Written in the Snow: https://www.amazon.ca/Written-Snow-Journey-Seven-Summits-ebook/dp/B07MXT3LLD/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549392868&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=written+in+the+snow&dpPl=1&dpID=41mWOgd-mPL&ref=plSrch Support TSU and Make a Difference: If you want to support the podcast and graduate from freeloader to a full-on supporter, there are a few ways you can help out. https://www.patreon.com/tosummitup, which allows listeners to contribute as little as $1 to help cover the costs of putting the podcast together.Check out the bumper stickers and apparel at tosummitup.com/shop. Hats, shirts, and patches…grab your swag and represent the community as you create your story in the outdoors. Thank You: Music for this episode was brought to you by Scott Holmes. Scott’s music is throughout many of the podcast episodes and is brought to you courtesy of free music archive. His music can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/ . The To Summit Up Theme Song was composed and produced by my good friend Jordan Wolf. Jordan can be found on instagram @jwolfy3.

How many mountains do you climb in any given year? Chris Calabrese summits over 100 mountains per year and continues to fuel his passion in the mountains by peak bagging. There are many different mountain grouping lists that Chris keeps track of including the New Hampshire 48, Catskill 35, Winter 35, New Hampshire 52 with a view, New England 50 finest, Northeast 115, and Adirondack 46. You can bet he has had his fair share of crazy experiences in the mountains... "Scar Ridge was one that I was putting off for a while because people hate it and this is one of those hikes where it is guaranteed that you are going to go solo because, unless you know somebody else working on that list who's available that weekend to do it, nobody in their right mind would volunteer to do this hike with you." - Chris Calabrese What we talk about: The power of reading mountain-based books for inspiration and ideas.Why Chris hikes over 100 mountains per year.How hiking to complete mountain lists can lessen overall trail impacts. The Gear Chris uses.Insane stories about nearly getting lost alone in the woods.What Chris hopes those who see his content get out of it. Follow Chris's Journey: https://www.instagram.com/lives4summits/ https://www.peakbagger.com/climber/climber.aspx?cid=4768 Support TSU and Make a Difference: If you want to support the podcast and graduate from freeloader to a full-on supporter, there are a few ways you can help out. https://www.patreon.com/tosummitup, which allows listeners to contribute as little as $1 to help cover the costs of putting the podcast together. Check out the bumper stickers and apparel at tosummitup.com/shop. Hats, shirts, and patches…grab your swag and represent the community as you create your story in the outdoors. Thank You: Music for this episode was brought to you by Scott Holmes. Scott’s music is throughout many of the podcast episodes and is brought to you courtesy of free music archive. His music can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/ . The To Summit Up Theme Song was composed and produced by my good friend Jordan Wolf. Jordan can be found on instagram @jwolfy3.

Smuggler's Notch is the best ski resort in Vermont. I said it. This weekend just bolstered my stance on this. Last weekend's storm DUMPED feet of snow in Vermont and I was fortunate to take full advantage. I skied the most powder I have ever skied! Family owned and operated with the best terrain and awesome vibe, it's no wonder Smuggler's was the feature in a huge ski magazine article in one of the recent editions. In this episode I talk about: Last weekend at Smuggs (it was DEEP) and my first time skiing in the backcountry.Mike Loucy's tips for skiing powder.Discounted lift tickets and finding the deals that make skiing affordable. Ski Cheap in Upstate New York with These Deals: For those of you in Upstate New York, here are some cheap ski dates that you can take advantage of. Labrador Mountain south of Syracuse has $7.99 lift tickets on February 17 and a $20 Saturday night on February 2. Pick up ticket vouchers at the Ski Company prior to the event.Song Mountain south of Syracuse has $9 Friday nights on January 25 and February 2nd. They also have a carpool day where it is $50 per vehicle on March 16. Lastly, Song Mountain has a Rochester day where you can get $20 vouchers at the ski company (Rochester or Bloomfield locations). Pick up all other ticket vouchers at the Ski Company prior to the event.Hunt Hollow in Naples south of Rochester has $15 tickets for the first ticket and $10 tickets for every ticket purchased after that for the following Sundays: February 3, February 17, and March 3. Pick up ticket vouchers at the Ski Company prior to the event.Swain Resort in the Southern tier has $15 lift tickets available at the resort itself for Saturdays February 9 and March 2.Holiday Valley in Ellicottville has $25.99 lift tickets for Thursday February 7 and Tuesday March 12. Tickets are available at The Ski Company one week prior to the events.Bristol Mountain in Naples south of Rochester has Weekend Family and Friends Fun Nights throughout the season. Pay $79 for 3 people and $30 for each additional person and ski 4PM to close any Saturday and Sunday throughout the season. Support TSU and Make a Difference: If you want to support the podcast and graduate from freeloader to a full-on supporter, there are a few ways you can help out. First is through https://www.patreon.com/tosummitup, which allows listeners to contribute as little as $1 to help cover the costs of putting the podcast together. Secondly, you can check out the bumper stickers and apparel at tosummitup.com/shop. Hats, shirts, and patches…grab your swag and represent the community as you create your story in the outdoors. Thank You: Music for this episode was brought to you by Scott Holmes. Scott’s music is throughout many of the podcast episodes and is brought to you courtesy of free music archive. His music can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/ . The To Summit Up Theme Song was composed and produced by my good friend Jordan Wolf. Jordan can be found on instagram @jwolfy3.

"It's like your biggest fear or whatever, you know, just do it. With Malawi - that was huge and I was just like 'you know what, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.' Don't pass those things up because you're going to say to yourself 10 years from now, I'll do that next year or I'll do that tomorrow, but, you know, just do it today." - Sarah Woychick, Physical Therapist On the show and IN THE HOUSE this week is a longtime friend, the one and only Sarah Woychick. Sarah works as a physical therapist and has had an amazing journey getting to where she got to experience many places across the United States and beyond as she learned the importance of her service. One place she went to serve was Malawi which is a part of her life that I am excited we got to in our chat. In this episode we talked about: Physical Therapy and its many applications.Service, teaching and a safari in Malawi.How service changed her perspective on many of the aspects of our life here in America. Becoming more aware of the words you use and what you say.Anacondas, Hippos, Crocodiles and Charging Elephants.Combining service and adventure to find the best opportunity to grow. Thank you: Check out tosummitup.com/shop for new hats, shirts, stickers, and patches! If you have any feedback, please email me at story@tosummitup.com with any constructive suggestions or questions you have. Music for this episode was brought to you by Scott Holmes. Scott’s music is throughout many of the podcast episodes and is brought to you courtesy of free music archive. His music can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/ . The To Summit Up Theme Song was composed and produced by my good friend Jordan Wolf. Jordan can be found on instagram @jwolfy3.

"There were things that people told me I couldn't do at a physical level and people who didn't believe in me starting the Appalachian Trail and now I am to the point where in two months I leave. And people telling me that I probably wouldn't pick up hiking or be into it as much as possible and now I am. I kind of look back on those things and it just gives you a different perspective on how to look on life after you have completed so many challenges that maybe you didn't think were possible." - Ryck Proctor On the show this week is the one and only Ryck Proctor, an upstate New York native, aspiring Adirondack 46er, a restaurant manager, and the man behind the instagram account @i_need_mountains that has inspired so many people who follow his adventures and messages. Ryck is taking on the Appalachian Trail this year and has been preparing for the trek from Georgia to Maine for over a year now. In our conversation we talk about: The importance of preparation and what Ryck does to get himself ready for a trip.Using social media to spread positivity and information about certain areas.How to hike responsibly and safely.What makes the Adirondacks special.Planning for the Appalachian TrailHow mountains affect Ryck's mental state. Links that Ryck uses to prepare for a trip: Adirondack Backcountry Facebook Page https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9198.htmlhttps://www.mountain-forecast.com/https://www.adk.org/ Ryck's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/i_need_mountains/ @i_need_mountains Thank you: Music for this episode was brought to you by Scott Holmes. Scott's music is throughout many of the podcast episodes and is brought to you courtesy of free music archive. His music can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/ . The To Summit Up Theme Song was composed and produced by my good friend Jordan Wolf. Jordan can be found on instagram @jwolfy3.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So thrown off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - H. Jackson Brown Jr. Happy New Year! This first episode of 2019 is all about saying YES and grabbing life by the adventure. We have inspirational insights from four incredible previous podcast guests; Jenna Celmer (e6), Cody Wiktorski (e18), Evan Lindenmayer (e22), and Lizzy Marks (e7). Each of these amazing adventurers will get you hyped up to take 2019 and make it the year that you go out and live your life to the fullest version possible. This episode covers taking advantage of adventure opportunities given to you, creating valuable connections with others in the outdoors, and pushing your boundaries to grow. Get out there and take the adventure! I am super excited to bring you these inspirational clips from previous episodes. Music for this episode was brought to you by Scott Holmes. Scotts music is throughout many of the podcast episodes and is brought to you courtesy of free music archive. His music can be found at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/ . The To Summit Up Theme Song was composed and produced by my good friend Jordan Wolf. Jordan can be found on instagram @jwolfy3. 2019 is your year. Live your best life and take the adventure. Set aside time to adventure as often as possible - no matter how big or small your trip is. Mountains Matter and so do you. Happy New Year everyone!

"Culturally, for some reason, we attribute mental illness as a weakness and that's definitely not the case." - Kolby Ziemendorf Climb a mountain to help conquer suicide. On this episode, we are fortunate to have Kolby Ziemendorf, co-founder of 46Climbs. 46Climbs is an annual event and organization that encourages many individuals across the United States and the world to take on the challenge of conquering suicide through the physical challenge of climbing and hiking. The connection between getting into the outdoors and strengthening mental health is so prevalent. Mountains have the power to heal and strengthen. About 46Climbs: Started in 2014, 46Climbs has grown from a dream of fundraising $10,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) through climbing the Adirondack 46 High Peaks in 1 week, to having people all over the world raise a total of over $200,000. Last year alone there were 400 participants! The premise of the event is as follows: Pick a mountain or group of mountains (large or small) and climb it between Sunday, September 8 and Saturday, September 14 (2019 National Suicide Prevention Week)Register your climb (beforehand) and fund raise towards your event.Post photos to #46ClimbsHelp spread the word that it is okay to talk about whatever you are going through. In This Episode: How 46Climbs started after the passing of a close friend.The importance of Community and how mountains encourage it.How mountains provide a platform to open up and talk about whatever we are going through.Dealing with stresses by going to the mountains.How to GET INVOLVED with 46Climbs in 2019. 46Climbs and AFSP Links: Email: contact@46climbs.com 46Climbs Website: http://46climbs.com Find a hike: http://46climbs.com/findahike/ AFSP Website: https://afsp.org How long should a hike take? Check out 46Climbs hike time calculator: http://46climbs.com/trip-planning-estimating-long-hike-will-take/ Donate Donations go to AFSP and help fund suicide prevention programs and the suicide prevention hotline. It would mean the absolute world to me if you would Head over to itunes and leave an honest review. In doing so, you could be featured as the fan of the week on an upcoming Friday episode. Tag @46Climbs and @_tosummitup and let us know what you think or if you'd like to get involved! The To Summit Up theme song was written and produced by the amazing Jordan Wolf. You can find him on instagram at @jwolfy3. You matter and this life is extraordinary. Go out there and make a difference in your life by being intentional about getting outside more in 2019.