Challenge Conception

Harold Wood and Derek Arneson served the Salem, OR community together through various Networking Exchange Club, a national service organization, charity events and fundraisers.

Still, they wanted to do more for the people these charities hope to benefit, namely the Child Abuse Prevention Center.

During an Exchange Sponsored Child Abuse Prevention Effort (E.S.C.A.P.E) fundraising brainstorming session, Harold and Derek tossed around a number of different ideas . . .

Try to set a record for time spent perched on a billboard? They didn't have two years to spend on a ledge over I-5.

Plan a hiking trip and let people pledge per mile that is covered? Not unusual enough.

Backpack in the winter on the crest of the Cascade Range, turning a common trip into an uncommon survival situation? PERFECT!

With similar intersts in survival skills, outdoor adventuring, forest service work, and more, a winter survival challenge seemed like a perfect fit.

Serious planning began in Oct. 2010 for a Nov. 6, 2010 departure. It wasn't long into the preparation process that Harold and Derek found out just how unusual their plan was. Finding the perfect sled for the unusual mountainous hike through snow and rock proved difficult.

In the end, the two purchased basic, light-weight sleds and modified them to to suite their needs, fabricating light weight pulks (poles that attach the sled to a harness so it may be pulled behind the hiker).

They modified snow pants and backpacks. Created extra straps and hand rolled duct tape to save space. They purchased special water proof bags for gear, hats and neck gators with omni-heat lining, special boots, Spot 2 transmitting device for communication and emergencies, and much much more.

Come November 6th, Team E.S.C.A.P.E Survival Challenge was pumped and ready to hit the trail.