White Sands National Monument

New Mexico

 

March 2014

 

 

 

We spent an afternoon hiking and sledding at White Sands National Monument. Both girls had a ball, just as they did when they first visited the park back in March 2011.     

 

(More pictures & video of Kellisa sledding)

El Paso Times- Kellisa Video

Below is the video that the El Paso Times made about our 2012 attempt to complete the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, NM. We completed 20 out of 26.2 miles because the temperature was above 90F and I was worried that the extreme desert sun and heat would trigger Kellisa's seizures. It wasn't worth the risk.

2013 Bataan Memorial Death March

Kellisa and I will be there in 2013...will you?

Three videos from 2012:

Registration

Registration for the 24th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March will open in mid-November!  We look forward to seeing everyone on 17 March 2013!
On or Before 31 December 2012:
Individual - $75.00
Team (5) - $375.00
Between 1 January 2013 and 15 February 2013 
Individual - $85.00
Team - $425.00
Between 16 February 2013 and 13 March 2013Individual - $95.00
Team - $475.00

NO registrations will be accepted after 13 March 2013!  No walk- in registration will be taken at MWR facilities. You must register online.  All marchers must pre-register!

Mail-in registrations will no longer be accepted for the 2013 march (exceptions will apply in cases where payment must be made with a purchase order).

Marchers are required to check in and get their packets on the Friday or Saturday before the March.

Bandera Volcano and the Ice Cave

New Mexico's Land of Fire and Ice

June 2006

Along the Continental Divide in New Mexico, you can hike to a volcano crater followed by a descent into a nearby ice cave in a collapsed lava tube where the temperature never rises above 31 F.

The hike to view the crater:

The trail to the Ice Cave leads through old-growth Juniper, Fir and Ponderosa Pines:

The Ice Cave:

Leaving the Ice Cave (not exactly accessible):

Four Corners

Four Corners

Arizona-Utah-Colorado-New Mexico

June 2007

4 wheels - 4 states

The only place in the United States where four states border each other. Besides standing in four states, you are also standing in the Navajo Nation.

White Sands National Monument

White Sands National Monument

New Mexico

March 2012

The Organ Mountains rise between Las Cruces and White Sands National Monument:

Our last training hike (7 miles) before the 2012 Bataan Memorial Death March:

Sierra Blanca rises to 11,981ft. above the sand dunes. After talking to a family from Albuquerque, we learned that Ski Apache on the slopes of Sierra Blanca Peak offers skiing for the disabled. Look for pictures of Kellisa snow skiing next year... 

Kellisa is all smiles after our hike as we drive back to the hotel:

Bosque del Apache

Bosque del Apache
National Wildlife Refuge
New Mexico


March 2012

2012 Bataan Memorial Death March

Bataan Memorial Death March

White Sands Missile Range, NM

March 25, 2012

I've completed the last three (2009-2011) Bataan Memorial Death Marches. Every year, I set two goals for myself. First, I wanted to finish no matter what. Second, I set a target finish time in my mind. I did not carry a watch or time myself in any way, I just knew how prepared I was each year and hoped for the best. The march is 26. 2 miles across the rolling hills of the New Mexico desert. Depending on who you talk to, there are two cruxes on the course. There's a mountain to traverse and approximately 3/4 of a mile of ankle deep sand after mile 21, fondly known as the "sand pit".

Elevation of the course:

My timing goal in 2009 was to finish under 9 hours. My time: 8 hours, 59 minutes and 19 seconds. In 2010, all I wanted to do was finish better than the year before. My time: 8 hours, 17 minutes and 28 seconds. My goal for 2011 was to finish in under 8 hours. My time: 7 hours, 59 minutes and 55 seconds. I'm 3 for 3 in finishing under my target finish time. My goal for 2012 will be to finish in under 10 hours. Why am I adding 2 hours and 5 seconds to my target time? I plan on completing the 2012 march with Kellisa!

The march has a strict no strollers policy. I wrote to the race director and pleaded my case. I explained that Kellisa was a disabled 12 year old girl who can't walk, weighs 80 pounds and is a patriotic supporter of our troops. I described the Advanced Mobility Independence Push Chair that Kellisa would ride in as I pushed her along the course. To further my case, I mentioned that I am a three time completer, so I know what I'm getting us into as far as understanding the difficulty of the course. I also promised to be 100% self reliant. They had a few questions and warnings, but on January 20, 2012, we received special permission to participate in the 2012 march.

I've been working on adapting custom rear wheels for Kellisa's chair:

Kellisa traveled to White Sands Missile Range to support my march in both 2009 and 2011 since it fell on one of her spring break weekends. Luckily, the 2012 march also falls during her spring break.

Lisa and Kellisa in the early morning cold before the start of the 2009 march:

Kellisa looking for me at the finish line:

Approaching the finish line:

I didn't want to get up, so Lisa and Kellisa joined me on the ground:

Participating in my first Bataan Memorial Death March was a life changing experience and I made a vow to myself to participate every year that I was able. I'm excited to take the march experience to the next level and share the course with Kellisa. I don't know if 10 hours is realistic considering I will have to stop and help Kellisa, including giving her water through the g-tube. Hopefully we will finish and claim to be the first "pushiking" team to complete the Bataan Memorial Death March.

Maybe we will inspire a team of soldiers to push a fellow veteran that lost a leg or two and can't complete the march under their own power???