Everyonce in a while we have a big flock of blackbirds come in to water.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
A Systems Approach?
On occasion I repost something I find of particular interest from the blog links listed on the side of Cold Thistle.
Recently I have been working on a number of design projects and seen a few others starting to produceresults. Even after a lot of effortthe results may be of limited value. Eventually a well thought out "system" willallow one to use less clothing,carryless weight with better protection from the elements,allwhile being moreversatile. Think a seamless approach, head to foot.
I think to design well, you need a beginner's mind, an open mind. The student's mind. And enough experience to know what really does work and why.
Below area couple of good thoughts for you. I don't agree with everything listed in the blog post. I think tucking your pants into a modern gaitered boot (Phantom and Batura) for example is a bad idea. Tucking your pants is simply a faster way to getcold, wet feet eventually.
Look closely at the upper left hand corner and else where onthe Phantom Guide's gaiter. This is what happens when you tuck your pants into your shorty boot gaiters in the wrong conditions. That is all moisture out of my boot! A good antiperspirant applied to your feet priorwill help as well.
But when thinking of a "clothing system" these two are good info worth remembering.
More here:
http://iceclimbingjapan.com//12/23/climbing-mythology/
Recently I have been working on a number of design projects and seen a few others starting to produceresults. Even after a lot of effortthe results may be of limited value. Eventually a well thought out "system" willallow one to use less clothing,carryless weight with better protection from the elements,allwhile being moreversatile. Think a seamless approach, head to foot.
I think to design well, you need a beginner's mind, an open mind. The student's mind. And enough experience to know what really does work and why.
Below area couple of good thoughts for you. I don't agree with everything listed in the blog post. I think tucking your pants into a modern gaitered boot (Phantom and Batura) for example is a bad idea. Tucking your pants is simply a faster way to getcold, wet feet eventually.
Look closely at the upper left hand corner and else where onthe Phantom Guide's gaiter. This is what happens when you tuck your pants into your shorty boot gaiters in the wrong conditions. That is all moisture out of my boot! A good antiperspirant applied to your feet priorwill help as well.
But when thinking of a "clothing system" these two are good info worth remembering.
More here:
http://iceclimbingjapan.com//12/23/climbing-mythology/
heat loss thru the head
another misunderstanding that leads to rescues and unrequited goals. people thinking they lose 50% of their body heat thru the head so they get away with just a good hat is a myth so embedded its not even questioned.
the head loses the same amount of heat as any other part of the body does in ratio to its size – in this case about 9%. meanwhile, somewhere often ignored but which does have a surface area approaching 35% is the legs.
think about it next time you dress for the cold.
crampon patches
crampon or ‘slash’ patches do little to protect your trousers, and do a lot to make your feet cold.
20 years ago when crampons had 20 teeth and fabrics stretched less and had more abrasive textures they were a big deal. now, the seam that joins them and the difference in fabric properties are more likely to catch a crampon than deflect one.
of course bad footwork will create the odd nick, but a thick layer of unbreathing cordura or, worst yet – absorbent Kevlar – is trapping more moisture around your ankles than the odd nick will let in.
Sharing Space with Pedestrians
As cyclists, when we are not sharing the roads with cars we often share space with pedestrians: mixed use paths (MUPs), off road trails, certain types of crossings, even the road itself in areas with no sidewalks. To new cyclists this usually seems like a safer option to riding in traffic, but they soon learn that mixing with pedestrians presents its own challenges. People on foot move differently than those on a bike and their behaviour can be difficult to predict. Compared to cyclists, pedestrians are less likely to keep a consistent line of travel and more likely to make unexpected stops, which makes passing them tricky. Children make sudden u-turns. Dog walkers let their canines loose. Couples shove each other playfully across the path. Joggers zig-zag obliviously with their headphones on. Even seemingly predictable walkers moving at a steady pace can stop without warning if they get a phone call or notice something interesting.These things happen.
A local woman new to bicycling once told me she was hurt and baffled to discover how much pedestrians, whom she had considered allies, dislike cyclists - not only failing to apologise, but inevitably blaming her for the near-collisions they cause. (I can certainly relate: Just earlier this week a man whose undisciplined dog lunged at my wheel as I passed them cursed at me for not being "more careful.") I think the reason for this is simply that we, as cyclists, are perceived as more aggressive because we are operating machines and moving faster than walking speed. Despite whose fault an incident is, we are seen as the dangerous ones.
It doesn't help matters that pedestrians might not hear a cyclist's approach, or might not know how to react even when they do. In my 4th year of riding in Boston now, I have still not found an ideal way to gently warn those on foot of my presence. If I ring my bell, they might freeze or panic. If I say "on your left" they might instinctively jumpto the left. If I say "excuse me" they might misinterpret this to mean "get out of my way" and get offended. And if I say nothing at all and don't ring a bell, they might move into my line of travel at the exact moment I try to pass them. No solution is guaranteed to work.
When sharing space with pedestrians, I have now simply learned to accept the inherent unpredictability of it; the need for vigilance and reduced speed. Iexpect inconsistency, especially when children are involved. Ipass carefully and never assume my approach is heard or understood. I am mindful of dogs even if they appear to be on a short leash (those things are sometimes expandable). When in doubt, I slow to a crawl or stop altogether. And I do not enter into altercations: If a pedestrian at fault fails to apologise or even shouts at me, I just let it go.While these incidents can be frustrating, I try to keep in mind that as a cyclist I am the fast and scary one; I am the one who is operating a machine.
When I voiced this philosophy to the woman who'd complained of being disliked by pedestrians, she pointed out that cyclists are no less vulnerable in a collision and therefore such a distinction is unfair. Maybe so, but I don't think it's a matter of fairness. I suspect that pedestrians' response to cyclists as "fast machines, therefore dangerous" is a visceral one. Should parents be taken to task for not supervising their children and allowing them to run across the path? Should dog walkers be reported for not obeying the leashing laws? Maybe, but on some level that seems petty to me and I just don't see it making a real difference. The only reasonable solution, in my view, is to separate the infrastructure and not group pedestrians and cyclists together. Until then, we must make do with what is available, cycling responsibly and cautiously in the shared space.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Pit Profile 2/14/
If you are heading to higher elevations, be aware that the top of the slope heading up to Panorama Point was icy on Saturday under a light layer of new snow that has now increased to a depth of about 6".
The current forecast is predicting almost a foot of snow at Paradise this weekend.
Waffles will be happening throughout the day on Monday February 20 in the Old Station at Paradise. Fuel your adventures. Again please bring your own cup/mug and a topping or fixings to donate.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
The Ups and Downs of On-Site Research
Six nights were spent at the campground in Guilford Lake State Park a few miles northwest of Lisbon, Ohio. It turned out to be the “ideal” spot for research in Lisbon and exploring other areas of Columbiana County.
My first stop for research on Friday (July 15th) was the Columbiana County Archives and Research Center (CCARC) located just half a block south of the courthouse in Lisbon. I knew they would be open on Friday then closed until Tuesday. I must say, the two ladies in charge – Shirl and Linda, both volunteers – were very helpful and friendly. You could tell that they enjoyed what they were doing and were dedicated to saving and preserving original Columbiana County court records and files that would otherwise be destroyed. The organization is six years old and their facility was opened in .. – it is already nearly jam-packed with stuff. Shirl and Linda and other volunteers are in the process of indexing the records and files they have received. It is an awesome resource and they are incredible ladies! I'll have more in future posts regarding what they found for me...
The ladies warned me that working in the Recorder's Office was going to be a real pain. It seems that the largest reserves of natural gas ever discovered have been found in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. As a result, the gas companies involved have to do extensive research of land titles in order to purchase rights to drill for the gas. And that means they have virtually taken over the Recorder's Office.
I ended up spending all day at the CCARC and didn't make it to the Recorder's Office on Friday. Saturday I drove around Columbiana County. I had forgotten how hilly and curvy the roads were! It was fun driving in that area but the “locals” probably were getting a little upset with me as I drove really, really slowly! Cemeteries were found. Photographs were taken. Most of Saturday afternoon was spent at the library where it was cool and the wifi was reasonably fast.
Sunday afternnon I returned to several cemeteries to get better photos – the lighting was different. But it was very hot out in the sun. My campsite was mostly in shade and there was a nice breeze blowing. It was rather nice and relaxing to sit and not do anything at all for a few hours!
Monday morning I went to the “Records Office” in the Juvenile Court building where the probate records are available on microfilm and printed out the pages for four probate files (no fancy microfilm scanner available there!).
Then I went to the Recorder's Office. Of course, the tiny room was packed. There was one counter about 8 feet long and wide enough for one index book to be laid flat. But there were so many people that you actually had enough space to prop the index book up on the edge of the counter. Then, the actual deed books were not available. They had been microfilmed and cut into strips, rather like microfiche only bigger. And there were only 3 microfilm readers available. And if you wanted copies, the staff in the Recorder's Office had to make them and they cost $2 per page!
I stayed, perhaps an hour, and was able to look at one deed record. Oh, and the images? They were negatives. Very difficult to read. Basically, I attempted to abstract enough information so that I knew who the deed was for and got the description of the land. It was suggested that I get to the office when they open at 8 am as they weren't as busy first thing in the morning. Also, late afternoons were usually not as busy. I did go back later that afternoon but the little room was still quite crowded.
Tuesday morning I was up bright and early and at the Recorder's Office at 8:05 am. No one was there except the office personnel, at least for a little while. It never did get all that crowed in the several hours I spent there, not like it had on Monday. I was able to review all of the deeds that I wanted to look with one exception – and that deserves a post all of it's own! It was strange. As with every Research Trip there were some successes and some disappointments. But it was definitely worth the time and effort and the slight frustrations.
The weather was supposed to take a turn for the worse on Wednesday. Temperatures had been in the mid 80s with high humidity but it hadn't been totally uncomfortable. However, the higher temps that had been plaguing the states to the west was on its way to Ohio. I was hoping to avoid most of the 100 degree temps by heading northward. Rather reluctantly I departed Columbiana County early Wednesday morning July 20th.
My campsite at Guilford Lake State Park was right on the edge of the lake!
It was foggy the morning I left. Someone had left this chair on the pier, perhaps in anticipation of catching the “big one” later in the day.
Also taken the morning of July 20th. The view from my campsite. It was lovely. I really enjoyed my stay at Guilford Lake.
My first stop for research on Friday (July 15th) was the Columbiana County Archives and Research Center (CCARC) located just half a block south of the courthouse in Lisbon. I knew they would be open on Friday then closed until Tuesday. I must say, the two ladies in charge – Shirl and Linda, both volunteers – were very helpful and friendly. You could tell that they enjoyed what they were doing and were dedicated to saving and preserving original Columbiana County court records and files that would otherwise be destroyed. The organization is six years old and their facility was opened in .. – it is already nearly jam-packed with stuff. Shirl and Linda and other volunteers are in the process of indexing the records and files they have received. It is an awesome resource and they are incredible ladies! I'll have more in future posts regarding what they found for me...
The ladies warned me that working in the Recorder's Office was going to be a real pain. It seems that the largest reserves of natural gas ever discovered have been found in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. As a result, the gas companies involved have to do extensive research of land titles in order to purchase rights to drill for the gas. And that means they have virtually taken over the Recorder's Office.
I ended up spending all day at the CCARC and didn't make it to the Recorder's Office on Friday. Saturday I drove around Columbiana County. I had forgotten how hilly and curvy the roads were! It was fun driving in that area but the “locals” probably were getting a little upset with me as I drove really, really slowly! Cemeteries were found. Photographs were taken. Most of Saturday afternoon was spent at the library where it was cool and the wifi was reasonably fast.
Sunday afternnon I returned to several cemeteries to get better photos – the lighting was different. But it was very hot out in the sun. My campsite was mostly in shade and there was a nice breeze blowing. It was rather nice and relaxing to sit and not do anything at all for a few hours!
Monday morning I went to the “Records Office” in the Juvenile Court building where the probate records are available on microfilm and printed out the pages for four probate files (no fancy microfilm scanner available there!).
Then I went to the Recorder's Office. Of course, the tiny room was packed. There was one counter about 8 feet long and wide enough for one index book to be laid flat. But there were so many people that you actually had enough space to prop the index book up on the edge of the counter. Then, the actual deed books were not available. They had been microfilmed and cut into strips, rather like microfiche only bigger. And there were only 3 microfilm readers available. And if you wanted copies, the staff in the Recorder's Office had to make them and they cost $2 per page!
I stayed, perhaps an hour, and was able to look at one deed record. Oh, and the images? They were negatives. Very difficult to read. Basically, I attempted to abstract enough information so that I knew who the deed was for and got the description of the land. It was suggested that I get to the office when they open at 8 am as they weren't as busy first thing in the morning. Also, late afternoons were usually not as busy. I did go back later that afternoon but the little room was still quite crowded.
Tuesday morning I was up bright and early and at the Recorder's Office at 8:05 am. No one was there except the office personnel, at least for a little while. It never did get all that crowed in the several hours I spent there, not like it had on Monday. I was able to review all of the deeds that I wanted to look with one exception – and that deserves a post all of it's own! It was strange. As with every Research Trip there were some successes and some disappointments. But it was definitely worth the time and effort and the slight frustrations.
The weather was supposed to take a turn for the worse on Wednesday. Temperatures had been in the mid 80s with high humidity but it hadn't been totally uncomfortable. However, the higher temps that had been plaguing the states to the west was on its way to Ohio. I was hoping to avoid most of the 100 degree temps by heading northward. Rather reluctantly I departed Columbiana County early Wednesday morning July 20th.
My campsite at Guilford Lake State Park was right on the edge of the lake!
It was foggy the morning I left. Someone had left this chair on the pier, perhaps in anticipation of catching the “big one” later in the day.
Also taken the morning of July 20th. The view from my campsite. It was lovely. I really enjoyed my stay at Guilford Lake.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Winter OR
Remember a lot of the new gear and clothing I am showing here won't be available at your local retailers until summer (at best usually) or Fall of !
It is a BIG show to cover in a couple of days. This year I got a late start and the driving was pretty bad, so my time was cut to just one full day at the show and a day in the BC at Alta on the snow.
Here were the highlights that interested me. Some of it I have been using for a while and will have a review up soon. Some I have and haven't yet used and some of it I will likely never see :) And a bunch of it I am scrambling toget my hands on asap.
The nasty 800 mile drive was a great comparison of old and new technology, Julbo, Vaurnet and Cebe sun glasses. No flies here. Review coming shortly.
Scarpa! Even at the predicted price point (read expensive) I predict the Rebel Ultra will rock the NA alpine market! These are just nowhitting the warehouse in Colorado. Review coming asap. Going to take a lot to get me out of the Phantom Ultra. My hybrid 6000 did that. But the Rebel Ultra may well keep me out of them year around.
Dang! Edit note: 2/5/13 A reader, Zgemba, noted the new toe on the Rebel Carbon which I had missed!! Actually a new boot called the Rebal Pro GTX. Which is a INSULATED Rebel Carbon with clip on crampon attachments. (Thanks Raf! ) The new sole allows for clip on crampons and it is insulated. Both area huge improvement over the Rebel GTX for the majority of my own use. Nice catch Zgemba and Raf! Damn it! Now I want two new pairs of boots. It never ends!!
Ski Trab, skis and bindings. One of the major players in ski mountaineering which you are about to hear more of.
Scarpa SkiMo race boots....hugely popular. More to come. Gotta wonder how they climb :)
A quick look at the newest Dynafit skis. I'm waiting for my own pair of the bright red Nanga Parbat. Going to be hard to impress me after two seasons on the Broad Peak and another on the Seven Summit. They promise me I will be impressed.
The newest TLT6with no TLT5 in sight!! That hurts! More weight, stiffer boot. Not the direction I would have preferred. So I am stocking up on the TLT5 first.
Dynafit 115g (yes 4oz. total weight) and 160g (5.5oz total weight)race bindings. I have been skiing *everywhere* the last two years on the 115g Low Tech Race and theDynafit Broad Peak skis.
And a damn fine climbing boot it is as well!In my size 45s?
La
Sportiva Batura 2.o. 2#2oz / 970g
La
Sportiva Trango Evo Extreme GTX 2#3oz (35oz) / 992g
Scarpa
Phantom Ultra new model 2#3.5oz (35.5oz) / 1006g
Scarpa
Phantom Guide new model 2#7.5oz / 1120g
La
Sportiva Batura 2nd gen. 2#9oz / 1170g
La
Sportiva Nepal Evo 2#10.5oz / 1205g
The
DyNA PDGis 870g per boot in a 29 shell or 1.9 POUNDS....1 # 14oz or 30oz!
Dropping a full 10oz per pair off my size 45 from the lightest FABRIC ice
climbing boot!
More on ski packs from Camp and Dynafit coming
Outdoor Research just floored me with all the great alpine and ice gloves they are no making today. OR has always been good. Now? Simply stunning with such a broad collection of speciality gloves. Look for a full review of every model I think is exceptional from OR...and there are a lot of them! Bravo OR!
La Sportiva's new SkiMo race boot! You'll have to stand in line to get these. Short line but it is STEEP buy in! Yes, sick as it is I want some!
And La Sportiva's SkiMo boot for the normal folks.
This one from Petzl made me crazy. A bolt on "Dart" reinvented. Now we just need a clip on model...Please!! Oh, PLEASE Santa!!! Lynx meets Dart...finally! Wel almost anyway. My bet is they are floating around Chamonix already. Anyone care to hold that bet for me?
One, if not THE, coolest thing at the show...Petzl's new hand sharpener for ice screws. This thing really rocks. You'll never have to send me (or anyone else) your screws again
Petzls newest ice screws, now with a crank, new teeth and a aluminum version that should again...rock the alpine world! Hopefully more on these two coming up.
Petzl harnesses always deserve a second look.
The one item I saw that really opened up my imagination this show. Always a surprise what that "ONE" piece of gear might be. Last summer it was the new Scarpa Rebel Ultra. This show surprisingly it was the new Arcane Hoody from the Canada's Westcomb. Sewn at home. A stretch Shoeller super light weight soft shell, fully water proof and breathable with taped seams and 180g of Primaloft. This thing is going to make the Duelly obsolete. And almost half the retail price! It is NUMBER ONEon my hit list right now.
Speaking of the Duelly...the Solo (one layer of insulation) now has a hood and is back with the Duelly (two layers of insulation) and some small fit changes! Awesome climbing jackets. And a bunch of new down from Arcteryx as well.
La Sportivas new 4 buckle full on combat AT boots. .the lightest weight boot in that category we were told
It is a BIG show to cover in a couple of days. This year I got a late start and the driving was pretty bad, so my time was cut to just one full day at the show and a day in the BC at Alta on the snow.
Here were the highlights that interested me. Some of it I have been using for a while and will have a review up soon. Some I have and haven't yet used and some of it I will likely never see :) And a bunch of it I am scrambling toget my hands on asap.
The nasty 800 mile drive was a great comparison of old and new technology, Julbo, Vaurnet and Cebe sun glasses. No flies here. Review coming shortly.
Scarpa! Even at the predicted price point (read expensive) I predict the Rebel Ultra will rock the NA alpine market! These are just nowhitting the warehouse in Colorado. Review coming asap. Going to take a lot to get me out of the Phantom Ultra. My hybrid 6000 did that. But the Rebel Ultra may well keep me out of them year around.
Dang! Edit note: 2/5/13 A reader, Zgemba, noted the new toe on the Rebel Carbon which I had missed!! Actually a new boot called the Rebal Pro GTX. Which is a INSULATED Rebel Carbon with clip on crampon attachments. (Thanks Raf! ) The new sole allows for clip on crampons and it is insulated. Both area huge improvement over the Rebel GTX for the majority of my own use. Nice catch Zgemba and Raf! Damn it! Now I want two new pairs of boots. It never ends!!
Ski Trab, skis and bindings. One of the major players in ski mountaineering which you are about to hear more of.
Scarpa SkiMo race boots....hugely popular. More to come. Gotta wonder how they climb :)
A quick look at the newest Dynafit skis. I'm waiting for my own pair of the bright red Nanga Parbat. Going to be hard to impress me after two seasons on the Broad Peak and another on the Seven Summit. They promise me I will be impressed.
The newest TLT6with no TLT5 in sight!! That hurts! More weight, stiffer boot. Not the direction I would have preferred. So I am stocking up on the TLT5 first.
Dynafit 115g (yes 4oz. total weight) and 160g (5.5oz total weight)race bindings. I have been skiing *everywhere* the last two years on the 115g Low Tech Race and theDynafit Broad Peak skis.
And a damn fine climbing boot it is as well!In my size 45s?
La
Sportiva Batura 2.o. 2#2oz / 970g
La
Sportiva Trango Evo Extreme GTX 2#3oz (35oz) / 992g
Scarpa
Phantom Ultra new model 2#3.5oz (35.5oz) / 1006g
Scarpa
Phantom Guide new model 2#7.5oz / 1120g
La
Sportiva Batura 2nd gen. 2#9oz / 1170g
La
Sportiva Nepal Evo 2#10.5oz / 1205g
The
DyNA PDGis 870g per boot in a 29 shell or 1.9 POUNDS....1 # 14oz or 30oz!
Dropping a full 10oz per pair off my size 45 from the lightest FABRIC ice
climbing boot!
More on ski packs from Camp and Dynafit coming
Outdoor Research just floored me with all the great alpine and ice gloves they are no making today. OR has always been good. Now? Simply stunning with such a broad collection of speciality gloves. Look for a full review of every model I think is exceptional from OR...and there are a lot of them! Bravo OR!
La Sportiva's new SkiMo race boot! You'll have to stand in line to get these. Short line but it is STEEP buy in! Yes, sick as it is I want some!
And La Sportiva's SkiMo boot for the normal folks.
This one from Petzl made me crazy. A bolt on "Dart" reinvented. Now we just need a clip on model...Please!! Oh, PLEASE Santa!!! Lynx meets Dart...finally! Wel almost anyway. My bet is they are floating around Chamonix already. Anyone care to hold that bet for me?
One, if not THE, coolest thing at the show...Petzl's new hand sharpener for ice screws. This thing really rocks. You'll never have to send me (or anyone else) your screws again
Petzls newest ice screws, now with a crank, new teeth and a aluminum version that should again...rock the alpine world! Hopefully more on these two coming up.
Petzl harnesses always deserve a second look.
The one item I saw that really opened up my imagination this show. Always a surprise what that "ONE" piece of gear might be. Last summer it was the new Scarpa Rebel Ultra. This show surprisingly it was the new Arcane Hoody from the Canada's Westcomb. Sewn at home. A stretch Shoeller super light weight soft shell, fully water proof and breathable with taped seams and 180g of Primaloft. This thing is going to make the Duelly obsolete. And almost half the retail price! It is NUMBER ONEon my hit list right now.
Speaking of the Duelly...the Solo (one layer of insulation) now has a hood and is back with the Duelly (two layers of insulation) and some small fit changes! Awesome climbing jackets. And a bunch of new down from Arcteryx as well.
La Sportivas new 4 buckle full on combat AT boots. .the lightest weight boot in that category we were told
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Real weight?
Some times even I wonder just how important tracking you gear weights really is.
If you wonder as well take a quick look at what I used on Polar Circus in '08 and what I used on the same climb in similar conditions in '09, '10 and '11.
pack-CCW in ballistics nylon 2#6oz
boots-Nepal Evo 2#10.5oz
screws-12 -12cm Helix 60.7oz
belay parka-Mtn Hardware Compressor Hoody 19.8oz
soft shell-Arcteryx Gamma MX Hoody XL 24oz
pants-Arcteryx soft shell Bib large 30.3oz
helmet-Grivel Salamander 13.7oz
crampons-Grivel G12 full bot 35.6oz
total weight in 16.5#
pack-CCW Ozone, custom, 20" back, Spectra 1#9oz no lid
boots-Trango Evo Extreme GTX 2#3oz
screws-8 -12cm Helix 40.8oz
no belay parka
hard/soft shell-EB Frontpoint XL 18.5oz
pants-Gamma Lt large 12oz
helmet-Petzl Meteor III 7.9oz
Dartwin 1/2 bot 30.5oz
Total weight in 10.6#
How does that relate to effort in the real world? In '08 we climbed the route as fast as I ever have with a partner. In '09, with more comfort and significantly less effort than I have ever used on the climb and not actually trying to climb any faster than normal we almost cut that time in half! And in very similar conditions.
Even better I didn't add the weight savings of my gloves, harness, 'biners or inner layers all of which added up quickly as well for an additional significant weight savings. So my take is; it really is worth paying attention to what you buy and carry.
It is always a learning experience. The system I last used in warm conditions?
pack-REI Flash 18L 9.2oz -
boots-Scarpa Phantom Ultra 2#3.5oz +
screws-8-13cm BD Express 38.4oz -
Arcteryx Squawmish XL 5.6oz -
pants-Gamma Lt large 12oz =
helmet-Petzl Meteor III 7.9oz =
Stainess Sabertooth stripped/Neve heel 25.4oz -
Total weight 8.2#
And what I used in -30C temps early last winter?
CCW packs 1# 9oz
Spantiks 3#.05oz / 1362g
screws-12 -12cm Helix 60.7oz
Atom Lt Hoody 14.4oz / 429g
NWAlpine Salopettes 21.6oz / 612g
helmet-Petzl Meteor III 7.9oz =
Vertical front point crampons 39.4oz / 1116g
EB down pull over 15.4 oz / 455g
14.5#
Close ups of the upper tiers on Polar Circus
.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Back in Texas and Trying to Catch Up
These 'Blue River II' hibiscus were the subject of my first blog post in June ... They weren't blooming when I left, but two weeks later are in full sail, cheering me on to weed, prune, clip and mow our damp, buggy, mildewy jungle, making it look like a garden again.My plan for Illinois was to stay with my mom at her house as she recuperated from surgery, and to try to persuade her to sleep better and eat more. I wasn't very successful with that last part, but in between household reorganization, a little yard work, adventures with plumbing, and electrical outages, it was great to have the time to look at photos, sing a little, talk a lot, and watch movies, including the newer version of The Parent Trap and Helen Mirren as The Queen. It was also great to see all my brothers and sisters, Philo's sister, and their extended families, along with our dear daughter & son and their wonderful spouses.
Most of you are younger than I am - maybe staying at your parents' house is something you've done routinely? I've returned as a visitor on hundreds and hundreds of occasions during the 40 years since I left the family home, but usually stayed overnight elsewhere. It felt very odd to sleep once again in the house in which I grew up, where some things are unrecognizable, and other things haven't changed since I was a young school girl.
Back then I first encountered what we called 'the locusts'. Here's a souvenir photo of one of them- actually one of the brood of 17- year, periodic cicadas that are humming again all over the Chicago area. I was glad that my visit to Illinois coincided with their June appearance. My mom's trees were full of cicadas, and we enjoyed sitting on her patio in the afternoon when the little buzz saws were at peak volume. 
Some people hate them. One of the health care visitors shocked me by stating that everyone should exterminate the insects now so there'd be none in 2024. But my mom and my sisters and I enjoy them as a fascinating natural phenomenon, and my sister's dog considered them to be a delicious treat! The cicadas provided a 'white noise', muffling the sounds from nearby highways and the racket produced by several neighbors engaged in remodeling projects - their background sound almost seemed like ocean waves. So many cicadas emerged from the roots of Mom's bur oak that the shells looked like mulch on the ground:
These cicada photos were taken by my daughter. She & her husband and our IL son & daughter-in-law took Mom and me one afternoon on an outing - to a restaurant with great pizza, some history and perhaps a few ghosts. The building had an old-fashioned interior, and a very comfortable atmosphere.
Supposedly Al Capone owned the century-old building at one time. There are tales of paranormal events in the bed and breakfast upstairs: radios turn on by themselves and alphabet blocks spell out words. I don't know whether the ghosts are real, but if you prefer thin, crisp crust for your pizza, with quite remarkable sauce, homemade Italian sausage and good beer, it's worth the drive out to Willow Springs. Last year this restaurant featured bocce ball, but the area has been converted to a cornhole bag court. You may all know about it, but this beanbag-type game phenomenon, with sewn cloth bags of corn thrown toward an opening on a slanted wooden board was new to me.
Everyone in Illinois seems to play it now - a brother-in-law compares it to a more democratic version of horseshoes. Back in the nineteen-fifties the women kept the kids out of the way while the men tossed the heavy iron shoes, aiming at a metal stake but frequently taking out nearby trees, shrubs and ankles.
Tossing bags is safer, but still requires skill. It needs less space, and both males and females of every age can play, so when the boards were set up at a family gathering, the entire group of kids and adults had fun together.
While I was listening to cicadas, cooking, and talking nonstop, Philo was here in Austin, engaged in a furniture project he'd been planning for a long time. Shortly before I left he finished this sunny Adirondack chair:
After I left, Philo designed and built a settee version for another part of the garden. On my return, we pulled into the drive and he hit the garage door opener, revealing a classic garden loveseat built for two.
You've all been writing like mad - it will take quite awhile to catch up with my real garden and your many posts. But right now I have to get the flashlight and go outside. According to some calenders, including Entangled's, Midsummer's Day falls on June 24, the Feast of St. John the Baptist. So tonight is Midsummer's Night Eve, and there might be fairies in the garden.
*** Added Monday, June 25th - Carol's comment sent me back out with the camera to see if the hibiscus really were as big as a dinner plate. The plate measures 11-inches across - guess the flower is about 10 inches. And not a single fairy/faerie showed up, just mosquitos. ***
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