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Writer's pictureWade Balmer

December Update! big Wade's XL Adventure

Sorry it’s been a minute! Things got busy and I kind of got tired about writing about myself all the time. :)


I wanted to give you a much overdue update on big Wade’s XL Adventure.



Goal Check In!


Hike 400 Miles of the Colorado Trail


The Colorado Trail goal is complete!


I started on June 9, ended on October 5 and tackled it on the weekends in between. I learned a lot about myself over these many miles, as one can when they’re applying themselves towards something new. It was worth every step.


Thanks to the amazing pit crew that joined along the way this summer:

CO Trail Pics!

Patrick & Sheamus McGlade,

David Williams,

Jake Jordan,

Tay Snardon,

Maddie Afshar,

Jon Burkes,

Mary Thorn Greene,

Brett Balmer,

Chase Balmer,

Logan Balmer,

Brad Rank,

Brad Ditzler,

Shaun Ditzler,

Meg Coyne,

Jori & Scott Gerlach,

Kristina Ericson,

Susan Liehe,

Steph & Andrew Pugliese


Damn! What a great group. I felt very lucky (and supported) to have had them along for the ride.


I really miss the trail. I think about it almost every day. I can’t wait for the snows to melt so I can finish the remaining 87 miles of the CO Trail next spring (the whole trail is 487 miles and I opted to do 400 miles this year).


Want to see some photos? Here’s a pile of my favorite moments.



What Now


Once I finished the Colorado Trail on October 5, life got kind of crazy. There was some big, fun work stuff that has been keeping me busy. We also hosted the Adaptive Climbers Festival from October 17-20! And then I got the obligatory sickness one gets after pushing for too long over too many months. My body was telling me to chill, so I listened!


This gave me an opportunity to slow my roll for my remaining goals. I am embracing the opportunity to pause for now, get through the end of year/holiday hustle, eat some more recovery pizza, and pick up the rest of the goals in early 2025.


I struggled with this decision for a minute, then gave myself grace. Afterall, if this year is about learning what I can do with my wee little muscles, I have to factor in time for rebounding and recovery so I can get back at it. The "CAN'T dos" help to balance out the "CAN dos". You can't have the ying without the yang, as someone once might have said.



What’s Left


Climb 40 Pitches

I'm 6 pitches in so far. This goal picks back up in the new year once those outside rocks get a little warmer.


40 Small Kindnesses to Friends and Strangers

Begins very soon! I’ve been scheming how to do this in the right way. I have some fun ideas to drop some kindness in people’s lives in the early new year. Stay tuned. Mwah ha ha!

 

Raise $40K for the Adaptive Climbers Festival

We did the thing! Thanks to each and every one of you who helped us reach, and exceed our goal for ACF this year. It's amazing and quite literally enabling new climbers to attend ACF for the first time.


Want to see some Best Of photos from ACF this year? Dig into the ACF magic!

 

Hike 40,000 Feet of Elevation Gain in 40 Days

Complete!


Take the Blue Zones Challenge Over 4 Weeks

Complete!

 

Complete 40 Hours of Acupuncture and Therapy

Ongoing for-evah!


Involve 40+ Friends in the Shenanigans

What a crowd it's been so far. There's plenty of more opportunities in 2025. Let me know if you want to join the party.

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