Category: N.O.S.
-
First Epic of 2011: A Case Study
A discussion of a ski trip with Bill Martin on Saturday, interspersed with photos from other activities this weekend, with speculative conclusions on the most salient factors that build a safe and fulfilling outdoor adventure. A reliable approach to a good weekend with M is as follows: have a big adventure straight away so I’ll…
-
A few things in winter
M in the snow last weekend. The larger context. This little zone has a good view (Missions in background, right). 1) Danni is competing in the Susitna 100 this weekend. Follow her here. Cheer on Jill and Beat (also foot), and Woodchuck (bike), too. 2) Backcountry Magazine reviewed fat waxless skis. They’re shitty little reviews…
-
On not getting hurt by an avalanche
(Wherein I throw most caution related to my modest amount of training, knowledge, and experience to the wind.) While there’s no doubt that this knowledge can lead to better decisions, it is disturbing that the victims in this study that were most influenced by heuristic traps were those with the most avalanche training. -McCammon, 2002…
-
We live here
Amazingly clear day. Clearest since we moved here in October last? Likely. Certainly the clearest day since the beginning of November, at least that’s been above 5F. Looking NNE over downtown Kalispell. The Big Mountain ski hill is right on the left edge. White peaks in the far distance, center, are in Glacier NP. Northern…
-
Slacklining
As this video from Cedar Wright shows (he’s more than dabbled in highlining!), slacklining is a great form of physical and mental training. For any form of outdoor adventure. I taught myself to slackline when I moved back to Iowa to finish undergrad: I spent the better part of a very snowy February and…
-
Future plans
Bill Hatcher photo; the legendary Dial-Tobin-Adkins Alaska Range bike traverse. Look at that tiny pack! The past weekend of fun and the extensive germ exposure of my job caught up to me, and I’ve spent the past two days feeling achey and sluggish, trying to not get any more ill. Hopefully it works. Life up…
-
The new Egyptian revolution
Sunset over Cairo, from the Citadel, looking towards downtown Cairo may well be the greatest city in the world. The combination of deep history and thronging, chaotic modernity is special, perhaps unmatched. Of course, I’m not enough of a traveler or a historian to really say such things, but with the events of the past…
-
Disregulation
Since I began doing social work post-undergrad, in 2003, it hasn’t been unusual for my work to adversely influence my sleep. Either the quantity, in the form of insomnia, or more commonly the quality, in the form of peculiar dreams and nightmares. There are many reasons to not blog, and a number of the classics…
-
2010: in review
Running through all these Christmases is the sense of an emotional cadenza at the end of the year, a braiding of feelings like hope, renewal, nostalgia, love, joy and exhaustion. Yet in the stories about this holiday, it’s surprising how often we’re reminded of a darker life, full of isolation, penury, greed, despair and the…
-
Christmas Eve
Lynx tracks. Lake McDonald. Mountains. Steak. Vegetable Wellington. The best Tiramisu I’ve ever eaten. Merry Christmas to all.
Bedrock & Paradox 
You must be logged in to post a comment.