may already?

sorry its been so long, lots of things have been happening, i will try to get my inspiration back...

little big econ state forest

Well, hello. Writing from the airport wi-fi, as per usual. Sad to be leaving Tucson, there were a lot of things that added up to a nice feeling--people I enjoyed, who were into going out and doing cool activities, in an interesting place, with as much work as needed to keep busy. I will certainly miss folks. It will be nice to be making some money, though, and to get some more trail crew in before summer--help me to get ready for crew leading. Most of my day dreaming time has been taken up with fast forwarding one month, and I am possibly setting myself up for disappointment, but on the other hand...road trip, exploration, camping, climbing, eating, dancing. Maybe it will be everything I hope. Lots of new music to listen to, another hat to make, new books to read. Orlando, here I come.

wheels

Just finished registering my car, a white 99 Isuzu Rodeo. She's pretty sweet. I just hope I can keep her running nice. I'm sure we'll have many fine adventures. I'm looking to figure out her name, and in honor of the Rodeo, I've been leaning towards western style names, but also started thinking about some spanish words. Imput or ideas welcome.


Sweet Marie
Nellie
Luna
Jancy Jane
Paula Jo
Bessie Belle
Clementine
Slew Foot Sue
Daisy Mae
Dusty Lee

rough drafts

Looking Back

Valentines I am sending myself

Lightweight Seminar

Excuse the stream of thought, it was too chilly for complete sentences.

Thundersnow. Only 1.5 Miles today. As we walked away from the van, snow blown sideways, thundersnow. I was warm while hiking, very easy road walking. Quick start tomorrow good idea to get warm. New Schwag! GoLite packs and puffy coats. Couscous dinner, bear hangs. Next time: Neoprene socks.

Long cold night. Especially toes. Felt sick and achy into the morning. Ryan is serenading us. Evac this morning, Matthew had blood in his urine, we all joke how smart he was to get out when he did: it’s cold. Day hike then move when CL Matt comes back. Lots of Cat Claw Acacia. Much booze and cold on this trip. Via coffee break. Cold.

Let me set the scene for you. 10hrs of hiking ass-cold blowing wind steep slope no trail no water foot of snow don’t know where we are going hiking in the dark bouldering broke our aqua mira water freezing as we watch it.

Breakfast on a frozen slab of rock sunrise just a tease wispy frozen clouds water freezing as we pour it in to the pot. Nohl’s cold toes on warm stomach. Hiking hiking trying to find the trail up and over rather than around and down. Past the cat claw into a Manzanita forest through red split trunk trees in the saddle of giant’s cairns, the stone jaws and fingers of rough golden stone on the other side is a tumble of rounded blocks falling haphazard into the valley far below. Poles stowed clambering leaping squeezing climbing down, like Alice through the rabbit hole spit out in the land of Lower Holdout…a rainbow of windshirts jumping for joy, for the camera crew, to stay warm. A carved out creek sinuous and strong. Running singing laughing until—splash! A misstep and cold wet leg gross red gloop scrape it off! Stay warm walk for warmth.

Walk through the desert and onto our trail, pink flags leading the way through Upper Holdout, beauty in the desert rocks, weak sun in front, snow behind on the high ridge. We are walking so fast now, I am keeping up, but missing out. Light and fast, we are going, light is right, but where is the time to soak in the magic of this place? We’ve got to make it to Reef Tank—maybe even before dark? Leave behind the holdout, enter the mundane world of the Santa Teresa Wilderness. No water at reef tank, just lots of cow poop. Making dinner in a blizzard—it finally caught up to us. Coldest night ever, must have fallen asleep twice, because I remember that there were two dreams. One where we were camped at the branch and I couldn’t understand why we didn’t go and get extra sleeping bags from the issue room. Wake up and skip breakfast. Let’s get out of here.

Golden rocks gravel ribbon ridge road. Insolent mountain cows. Blue shadows white snow. Coyote tracks and cold cold sunshine. Sore knees, tender toes, dry throat. Stepping home. The first time I am able to meditate to wonder ponder think breathe and walk.

I am so glad I got to go on this seminar—such an adventure, so much laughter. Pushed at a lot of my comfort zones, skill levels. If I can get through that in good spirits, I can get through pretty much anything.

Not stellar

I am doing this thing that I occasionally do, where I find myself chasing circles around nothing, and I am sad for no reason, and I go to check Facebook, and then gmail, and then yahoo, and then webmail, and then my blog and the answer is always the same, nothing new--not that I am really expecting anything new. It is a failure to live in the moment and to appreciate all the good things that are going on and even the brilliant blue skies outside can't break me out of it. I feel like one of those birds who keeps grooming its feathers over and over, trying to look good, but instead slowly shredding the edges until it is frazzled and frayed. I'm really okay---I just want to be able to hang on to these folks that I come across in my travels instead of having to say goodbye way too soon. Nomad living leaving me unfulfilled right now.

NOLS SW

Sesame pita, Greek yogurt, Kalamata Olive Hummus, Red Onion, Baby Arugula, NOLS Falafal Mix. Good Dinner.

I'm here in the southwest, settling in, feeling pretty glad that I came here. Drove out to a course in the field to bring them their next ration of food today. Tomorrow I guess that I am helping to build a fence, and then Laura is supposed to visit me. Waiting for SCA to tell me how the interview went. People here are very nice and friendly, even the instructors, who are in and out. We made pizza and played Settler's of Catan last night.

haven't thought of resolutions, yet

I am facing a dilemma that I was not anticipating. Seems that I might now be looking for spring work--could go back to the old job, but it isn't a great fit, and they know it, and I know it...So now I am looking around madly for something to make a little bit of money, unlike this entire winter. And I've actually found some really great options.

SCA is hiring leaders for their alternative spring break, which is one month of work, and means that I could bop around with Sky and Laura, or hike the AT for a little bit, and maybe pick up some other short trip-like jobs somehow.

Also there are Ridgerunner and Caretaker positions open for the southern part of the AT, which actually sound very fun and exciting, talking to people about hiking and LNT and gear and fun stuff like that. It is different from everything else I have done, and I am rather jazzed about it.

But I don't want to get my hopes up too high, and I need to decide soon what I am doing and tell Salish. Bounce. I also need to get my WFR recert, and want to talk WTA into paying for half of it, or something. I will scrub floors, peel potatoes, whatever.

Also must prepare to apply for summer WTA work. Not even thinking about fall. Trying to leave Tole Mour behind--though that may not be the right choice, either. A huge part of me wants to GO BACK!

t-day

Menu So Far That I Can Tell:

Juice Shots: Grapefruit and Mint, Ginger and Apple

Crackers with Cream Cheese and Olive Tapenade

Clementine Oranges

Black Cherry, Pomegranate, Wild Blueberry Jellybeans

Fig and Goat Cheese Spinach Salad

Seed-crusted Harvest Rolls

Butternut Squash Bisque

Maple-glazed Brussel Sprouts

Rosy Duchess Potatoes

(guest is bringing green beans?)

Carrot, Pecan, Cranberry Grain Salad

Turkey

Stuffing

Cranberry Sauce

Caramelized Onions?

Duck of some sort?

Pastry Wrapped Honey Poached Pears

Vanilla and Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Pumpkin Pie

16 People--most are exchange student from Wash U.

I made another hat--this time for a baby boy, and it is pretty cute. I have a hard time making the place where one row blends into the next look seemless.

Pictures from Texas

Ponder

The last two weeks have flown by, and I have really enjoyed my time here in Texas. So much has happened but nothing ever felt rushed or busy. It just kind of flowed along from breakfast into work, sometimes into a guitar session instead, with games in the afternoon, potlucks or craft nights in town, pauses for duckling cuddling, and lots of learning about Rocket Stoves, cob, Earthbag houses, plumbing, sweet potatoes, and crochet. Leaving tomorrow for St Louis. I'm rather glad I'm taking the train, it will give me more space to shift my thoughts forward.

adventure month

I am back in the airport once again, inspired by free wifi. Sunrise as we drove to Seatac, glow-orange with a line of pink and blue all around. It's raining now. I am mostly glad to be leaving Seattle. I am mostly excited to be headed towards a farm in Texas to help build some sort of house. Things seem pretty routine--security lines were long, a granola bar is way to expensive, my luggage is too heavy and overfull. At the same time it feels like everything is unstable, and about to change in some life-altering way.

What fall looked like

back from Quartz Creek, back from Icicle Ridge

Well, I can't really believe it, but it looks like it's the end of the summer for me. My fall job starts on the 1st of September, and I've moved in to staff housing and started looking for some winter busy work.

The high country around Lake Augusta and Big Jim Mountain. Larch, Rocks, Dust, and Garnets! Nothing big enough for me to take home though. Crew leader Julia and I had a great time together, cooking, venting, hiking, and finding rocks to hide behind. Not to mention signing songs.


It was cold and frosty at our mountain meadow camp. Wind rattled the silver tree skeletons and blew dust and dirt into my tent. Snowed one night and reached lows of 28. Very beautiful up there, no hiker traffic, probably because it took some serious commitment to master the strenuous hike up.
Brushing, rock removal, root removal, and picking up sticks and throwing them on the downhill side of the trail. Two and a half miles of this.

This is one of my few pictures from Quartz Creek. We were working in a nice shady forest, building some horse-worthy check steps and fighting the black fly fight. We had an ice cream social on the last day, and I downed an entire pint of half-liquid brownie batter ice cream. Yum. Then I had to hike back 4 miles to retrieve a lost shovel. Not so fun.

Going to try to summarize my summer notes for a wrap-up meeting tomorrow with my boss...it's been a great summer.

back from Schreiber's Meadows, back from Meander Meadow

I have been work a lot with the youth lately, first a front country trip and then a back country. I've got to say that it is amazing the different that a year or two can make in a kid's maturity level. Neither were 'bad' weeks, both were successful trips, but things were just so much more fun and relaxed with the older kids, I think mostly because they had more work ethic and were a very inclusive group and very into having fun, even in the face of mountain meadow mosquitoes and daily thunderstorms.

Time for a trail nap. The youth were arguing about the Robin Hood morality question.

Beautiful PCT near Glacier Peak. If I ever learn enough about mountaineering, that's the mountain I want to climb.

Mt. Baker and Mazama Camp. Quite a hike to get up here, but stunning views. Right now I am starting to pack for the next two weeks, sorting out the fall circus, looking for amazing winter jobs (Nov-March, I'm awesome and hard working, and I'll send you a resume), and gathering my things for moving in day for Salish.

back from Holden Lake, back from Robbinswold

It's been a busy two weeks, and I'm about to start another two week stint, but I wanted to check in here briefly. I'm relaxing at home, with cheese melts and lavender ice cream, watching NCIS and putting off doing laundry.

Holden Lake: beautiful lake, baby marmots, massive turnpike, good crew, great crew leader.

Camp Robbinswold: teaching kayaking, beautiful Hood Canal, great group of middle school girls, singing, crepes, friends.

Looks like I'm going to be sailing onboard the Carlyn this fall, with Salish Seas. If you have some fabulous winter employment, lasting from Nov to March, let me know. I will travel, I'm handy in the kitchen, can tidy, sing, sail, or crosscut.

back from Hart Lake

Happy fourth of July, everyone. I had a surprisingly nice day yesterday, with camp friends, walking, rain, the Festival of Wooden Boats, a job opportunity, getting called 'pretty lady', laundry, and ice cream with hot fudge sauce.

Had a really good WTA week with the youth up at Hart Lake. Rebuilt two puncheon, learned a bunch about trailwork, honed my Fox Walk, got to explore a whole new area of Washington. We bowled at Holden Village, swatted mosquitoes, rode the slow boat, told riddles, discussed gender stereotypes, and laughed at the Nose Monster. It takes a lot more energy than the adult Volunteer Vacations, but I think the payoff is bigger. Now I have a short, busy week off, and then I'm heading back east.

back from the Carbon River

Well, Arlen warned me that Volunteer Vacations would really take it out of me, and he was right. I really wanted some quiet time after I got back. But now there stretches before me a lonely expanse of time with no colorful meals or old growth forests or stories in the party tent, and I am sad. I've got my climbing gear out in hopes that I'll get to tag along with someone, and I am working on logistics for a solo kayak around Vashon and Blake. I'm getting ready to send out a bunch of fun mail, I am applying to jobs and waiting to hear back from NOLS. And all the time, I am wishing I was not here in this house, and that I had more friends in the area to rescue me. Sometimes, self-rescue is hard work.