Julie and I begin my 50th birthday excellent adventure early tomorrow morning.  We’ll fly to Las Vegas which, interestingly enough, is the closest airport to Mount Whitney.  Kind of fun because we’ll have one day to explore before departing on Thursday morning to drive to the base of the mountain.  Julie nor I have ever done more than pass through Vegas.

Thursday morning we’ll drive through Death Valley National Park on our way to Whitney.  We’ll stop at the lowest point of elevation in the United States, Badwater Basin, at 282 feet below sea level.  From the depths to the heights in 48 hours!

On Thursday night we’re actually staying in a little hotel in Lone Pines where John Wayne once stayed.

Friday morning we begin our climb with a gear check at 8.  If all goes well with the check we will climb for 8 hours to our base camp at 11,200 feet.  A possible swim in a frigid lake and then off to dreamland in our tent.

Saturday morning we begin our summit bid at 4 A.M. and can expect a 10 hour day of climbing by the time we return to camp.  God willing we should summit around 10 A.M. on my 50th!  Weather will be around 30 degrees with 20 mph winds.  A quick birthday kiss with my bride and then back down we go.

Another night in our tent and then Sunday morning we descend to the base of Whitney.  Drive to Vegas for the night and then home on Monday!

We deeply appreciate your prayers!!!

And, as you hopefully know by now, this climb has the potential to change the lives of thousands of people.  Children and adults who desperately need the hope of Jesus in their lives.  Thank-you for helping make this possible.  A new church with Stadia and Compassion International’s ministries to care for kids.

If you have not done so already, I am asking you to invest with us.  Would you please consider sponsoring Julie and me on this climb with a donation for every foot ascended? The summit of Whitney is 14,505 feet.

It will take $80,000 to fund this endeavor!  We just crossed $40,000 in commitments–amazing . . . but we still have a long way to climb!!!

1 cent per foot equals $145.05.

2 cents per foot equals $290.10.

3 cents per foot equals $435.15.

4 cents per foot equals $580.20.

5 cents per foot equals $725.25

10 cents per foot equals $1,450.50.

1 dollar per foot equals $14,505.00.

Please respond in the comment section below with the commitment you are making.

100% of the monies will be invested in children at risk!

All investments are 100% tax deductible.  A receipt will be provided by RiverTree Christian Church.  Please make all checks or money orders payable to RiverTree Christian Church (7373 Portage St NW, Massillon, Ohio 44646), and write Climbing4Kids on the memo line.

Julie and I will do our very best to make it to the top of the mountain.  Thank-you for partnering with us, Stadia, Compassion, Climbing4Kids,  and for the children in Jesus’ name.

You can follow our climb here at www.gregnettle.com.

For further information about Compassion International visit www.compassion.com.

For further information about Stadia visit www.stadia.cc.