'Tis the Off-Season

The holiday rush of the city really got to us this year, and we wanted to be some place quiet.So for the days leading up to Christmas, we stayed on Cape Cod.






And quiet it was. Turns out Provincetown has chosen this winter to repave its roads and fix its sidewalks, so basically the whole town was dug up and closed to motorised traffic.






But despite the roadwork, many of the businesses remained open, catering to locals and to the occasional visitor.The result was the sort of insular pedestrian small-town atmosphere that has long ceased to exist under normal circumstances. People said hello to each other on the streets. The phrase "How are you?" was interpreted as a question, rather than a greeting, and detailed answers were given. Merely seeing each other walking, or cycling around the town center had created a sense of relaxed familiarity among everyone present, however temporary.






Even in the busiest, most hectic part of summer, what I like about Provincetown is how relaxed and unaggressive it is. Bikes, pedestrians, cars. Tourists, summer people, locals. Gay, straight, undefined. Somehow, all of these categories are simply combined, without being pitted against each other. They are separated by "and" and not "versus." It's a microcosm that does not reflect the reality of life elsewhere. But at least it shows that, in theory, it's possible for people to function like this. And in the off season, with everyone squeezed into the same couple of bars and coffee shops after hours, this became all the more apparent.






Last year I mentioned noticing more incidents of aggressive and inattentive drivers over the winter holidays in Boston, and this time around it seems even worse. First it was the rush of last minute Christmas shopping. Now I guess it's the post-Christmas sales. Soon it will be New Year parties. Whatever it is, drivers on the roads just seem so impatient and angry right now. Sure, they might arrive to their holiday parties smiling, saying all the requisite niceties and exchanging beautifully wrapped gifts. But what's the point, if for entire weeks leading up to this they are filled with such stress, that rage is boiling just beneath the surface? I couldn't even feel annoyed at the woman who laid on her horn and shouted when I took too long making a left turn the other day. Obviously something other than me on my bike must have been the real cause of her anger.So I try to be extra cautious on the roads. And I try to not fall into the stress trap myself. No big plans. No pressure. No stress. That's my plan into the New Year.

The Copper Falls Trail

Monday, August 8th - - For some reason, I was quite ambitious today and went on a second hike. This was a 1.7 mile loop through the forest, along the river, with a few stair-steps involved as well as some other downhill/uphill sections where there were some handrails to help provide support. I'm not ashamed to admit that I made ample use of the handrails!



The trail would also cross two rivers in three places on very sturdy foot bridges and we'd see several waterfalls along the way. The pictures I took really do not do it justice. To fully appreciate the area you have to be there – feel the spray from the water and hear the roar of the river as it drops over the ledges and through the narrow passageways that it has carved out over many years. This was one hike that was definitely worth the effort!





A small portion of Copper Falls, which drops about 12 feet, on the Mad River. Like the Tahquamenon Falls, the copper color comes from tannin in the water.





A slightly better angle, but still showing only a small part of the falls.



This view shows it a little better – how the river has carved two paths around and through the stone walls of the canyon - but I think the only way you could get a really good shot of this falls would be by being suspended over the river in front of the falls, with a wide angle lens on the camera!



Flowing in a northeasterly direction, the Mad River essentially “runs into” a stone wall, making an abrupt left turn to the west. Coming in from the east is Tyler Forks. Visualize a rather crooked “T” with Mad River being the long upright part as well as the left hand part. Tyler Forks would be the right hand side of the “T” with a bit of a zig and zag just before and after it meets up with the Mad River.





Brownstone Falls is created when Tyler Forks plunges down 30 feet to join the Mad River. The name Brownstone comes from the color of the rocks surrounding it. They were formed eons ago from lava flows that contained small quantities of iron. Tyler Forks curves off to the right, eastward, above Brownstone Falls.





This picture provides no perspective whatsoever! But, there is the Mad River coming in at the top of the picture. The “whitewater” at the bottom of the image is actually Brownstone Falls dropping over the edge of a 30 foot cliff, plunging down and meeting up with the Mad River. Together they continue their journey as Mad River, veering off to the right (where the white foam is in the center of the photo). The sound was incredible. Not nearly as loud as Niagara Falls by any means or even Upper Tahquamenon Falls, but the sound reverberated around the canyon.





Okay, maybe this is a little better. But it still appears as though the water is flowing in from the right and the bottom and going out the top. You'll have to trust me, it isn't.





Adding to the sound of falling water was Tyler Cascades, which is a set of four smaller waterfalls just above and to the east of Brownstone Falls. Simply Gorgeous!



The trail followed Tyler Forks to the east a little ways then crossed at a point just above the cascades. By then the roar of Brownstone Falls was muted and the sound of the water tumbling over the rocks was quite soothing.



Oh, yes! This was one hike that was definitely worth the effort! And I savored every minute of it...

Desert Christmas

Macro Cacti, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Before today, I had never gone hiking in the desert during a rainstorm.

Well, I guess there's a first time for everything.

I saw these cacti growing high on Sunrise Peak near Scottsdale, Arizona. A rainstorm had just blown through, and the setting sun was creating golden light everywhere. Directly behind me was a 180° rainbow, and considering its desert location, it was pretty spectacular.

Talk about a great Christmas.

Angels Landing :: The Finale

By the time I went to bed on Wednesday night (May 5th) I had talked myself into making the climb to Angels Landing. I got up early Thursday morning and caught the eight o'clock shuttle bus to the Grotto stop.

The trail up to Scout's Lookout was just as strenuous as it had been on Tuesday. The uphill grades and switchbacks were still just as steep. It didn't take long before I was huffing and puffing and stopping often to catch my breath. And just like on Tuesday, other hikers started passing me within a few minutes on the trail. I didn't care. I took my time and got there all the same.

Soon I was navigating through Walter's Wiggles and had arrived at Scout Lookout. I stopped briefly for a quick snack, and before I could even think about it was up and over that first peak. Then before me was Angels Landing. Still intimidating. Still awesome. I stopped long enough to get a couple of pictures of the trail, then with a rush of adrenaline, I was on my way. I didn't stop to think about what I was going to do, I just knew that I “had” to try.

The first few steps are the most terrifying. But it is mostly psychological. The trail is several feet wide. The Virgin River is almost 1200 feet below.


Left: This was the hardest and scariest part for me. It was a pretty high step up to the cut-out in that first rock and the chain was down low. And I have short legs. And there was nothing on either side of that rock except air. I “knew” if I could get through this section at the beginning, then I could do the rest of it too.

Right: Going up the “spine” of the peak.


Left: Looking back at where I had gone.
Right: Offering a helping hand.


Left: Getting near the top.
Right: Walking across the ridge at the top of Angels Landing.

This is it! The end of the trail. The top of Angels Landing!

Do I looked pleased with myself? You bet!

The Lower Zion Canyon from atop Angels Landing.

The following four photos were taken on the way down from the top and show a bit more detail of the trail.




The descent down took me about half as long as the climb up. It wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it was going to be. You really just concentrate on where that next step is going to take you and you are looking at perhaps ten feet or so in front of you. There were a lot more people on the trail on the way down, everyone was patient and helpful, no one was in a hurry. We all just wanted to get safely down. And we did.

It was amazing! I still find it hard to believe that I DID IT!!

Other posts in this series:

• Angels Landing :: The Prelude
• Angels Landing :: The Overture
• Angels Landing :: Interlude

Sunset at Big Lagoon

By the time I returned to the campground Sunday evening, a chill had set in and the wind had picked up. It was downright cold compared to early afternoon. But it was a nearly cloudless sky and there was already an orange hue enveloping the night. You didn't think I'd let it pass without taking a few pictures, did you?

Across the water, signs of “civilization” abound. In fact, condominiums, houses, and businesses are on three sides of the state park, but somehow it stills seems isolated and distant.

Clouds dancing above the observation tower.

Yes, I know, it is similar to the one above, but zoomed in and from a different angle. I like how the colors reflect off the railing and the water. The color changes in the sky during sunset never ceases to amaze me.

Wille Nelson Concert

Today Nathan and I decided to head over to Sea World to use our passes. They are going to expire in April, so we are hoping to use them a lot before then. When we arrived, we noticed it was packed. So packed that we could not even park in the Priority Parking lot. I like parking in the Priority Parking lot. But more than that, I like going to Sea World when it isn't packed.



I couldn't figure out why so many people were there until we got inside. Well, I could have figured it out, had I listened to Nathan but instead I didn't figure it out until I got inside. I saw on a poster that they had special entertainment and food. When I saw who was there, I got OMG giddy about it. Giddy enough that I didn't even mind that so many people were there.



We headed over the stadium where the concert was at...about two hours early, and sat with all the other people already there waiting. Then I sent a text message to my sister. I said: Guess who I am about to see in concert? Hint: oh that lucky old sun ain't got nothing to do....but roll around heaven all day....

Once we established who in fact I was talking about, we discussed why I sent her a text message about it. We love music, but I had to let her know that I was going to see Willie Nelson live because of a childhood bonding experience over Willie.



When we were teens, my Mom left her regular music menu of all gospel, all the time, and went down the wild and wicked path of the likes of artists like Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. I'm still not sure what this was about, since this is the same woman that told me Nathan was not someone I should be dating because he took me a Billy Joel concert. Whatever the reason though, she would sit in her rocking chair at night while we were trying to go to sleep and listen to the records.



Picture three teenage girls lying in bed at night listening to Willie Nelson records. Against their will. What could we do...well, what we did do is take the attitude "if you can't beat them, join them". So we started to join in and sing at the top of our lungs with our best Southern drawls (those years in Texas paid off!) and sang right along with Willie. Which cracked my Mom up. Or maybe it was we girls who were cracking up. Either way, laughter replaced groans.



All of that came in quite handy today, because now I'm old enough to appreciate that Willie Nelson is a legend. And it's an honor to see him in concert. Especially when you still know all the songs!

Let me tell you, Nathan and I have been to a lot of concerts together. And this was one of the best ones we have been to. There are people who can sing.

There are people who can entertain.

A select few can do both. Willie is one of those people.

His voice is incredible for his age (77 years old) and he has so much expression in his face when singing.

Did I mention, he plays a mean guitar?He plays a seriously mean guitar.In honor of my sisters, I sang with all my heart. Oh, and Mom...he even played a couple of gospel songs for you! They were even old time country gospel songs. It was awesome!I am so grateful we got to see this legend while he is still with us. I loved seeing someone do what they love and do it well. My favorite shot and my Project 365 pick for today...thanks for rocking with us, Willie...then and now!Living the life in music filled Florida!

OR day 2

The Cube version is a LOT lighter!


But the new Cube isn't the only light weight boot there are others I'll be reviewing shortly as well.



A new ice boot from Asolo deserves some attention. 805g!













Best on liner from the show..any show to date?



When asked how the new boots climb?

"I used to climb a little. But my friends say......" when asked about the new Asolo Eiger's performance on ice and mixed.



The one and only "HOT" Henry Barber's answer to a question. If you are too young to recognize Henry Barber just think of a taller Ueli with a bigger set of titanium cajones from the '70s. Barber knew what leashless Grade 6 ice climbing was all about three DECADES ago.



12hr day today. I never come to Summer OR expecting much and am always surprised.



I simply too lazy and too tired to do the update tonight, bbuUUUUUUUUUUTTTT :)



I saw a few things that will change my own ice and alpine climbing significantly today. Total surprise again. But gear (hardware specific) I can incorporate into my own kit right now...like yesterday if I could get it all. That single meeting for me makes these trips worth while for my own climbing. More on those details in a week or so. But I think you'll be surprised. I was. Newtools from Grivel? Yes, the "MACHINE" is back in three new versions! And I like the design work a lot from what I have seen.









So I am stoked. Some times seeing this stuff 6 months prior to production really sucks! Lots of commentary and new products to introduce. But it is going to have to wait till I get more time.



Highlights today? New Jet Boil stove, ropes, hardware and climbing packs. Yes , real no chite climbing packs! New boots!! Again. Lots of new boots reviews coming up in August. Just in time for the fall alpine season and early ice.Good day all in all. More details to come shortly.



Till then thenew make over on the Petzl Meteor helmet had me pretty happy in the short term. Making my current Meteor obsolete sadly.









Just trying to share the luv above in matching lid and light:) Much more to come!



In the mean time check Raf's stuff out:



http://www.thealpinestart.com//07/or-show-report-summer--day-0-5/?fb_source=pubv1