Hello, party people!

I’m launching some targets as part of a little project I’m calling big Wade’s XL Adventure.

Here they are -

Hike 40,000 feet of elevation gain in 40 days
Provide 40 small kindnesses to friends and strangers
Climb 40 pitches, mostly awkwardly
Take the Blue Zones Challenge over 4 weeks
Complete 40 hours of acupuncture and therapy, but not at the same time
Hike 400 miles of the Colorado Trail
Raise $40,000 for the Adaptive Climbers Festival
Involve 40+ friends in the shenanigans

Why 40? It turns out, 2024 is my diagnosis-aversary! Around 40 years ago (when I was 5 years old), I was diagnosed with dermatomyositis, a disease where my immune system parties too hard and attacks the cells inside the small blood vessels of my muscles and skin.

It was a bummer in terms of my energy and strength when I was little. It kept me from being able to do a lot of things.

Because of all that stuff, I have an on-again, off-again relationship with my disease. Sometimes it is the Alpha.

But not this year! I’m making this my launch year to establish higher baselines for my health, my abilities and my outputs.

I've made this little website to compile these XL Adventures. It shares more specifics on the goals (which I call targets), the plan of attack, how we got here, a calendar of happenings, and a lot of other unnecessary information.

I’m going to need a lot of support with all these nerdily number-themed goals in the months ahead. I hope you can come along with me for the fun in one way or another! This site has info on how you can stay informed on ways to join up for some of the targets and party times.

And along the way, I’m hoping we can raise some serious support for the Adaptive Climbers Festival. ACF is a three-day festival for climbers with disabilities to rock climb, hang out, build community and learn, mainly from one another. It’s a magical event and mega community builder. ACF wants to serve even more climbers and needs support.

That’s the plan! I’m pretty excited and a little nervous, but mainly excited.

So… hey friends, hey family, hey party people. I’m seeking helpers!

I’m looking for people to train, hike, climb and party with me.

I’m looking for random high-fives.

I’m looking for support towards my fundraising goal.

The support you give could lead us on a fun and unprecedented adventure!

Thank you...
Wade