Making Up for Lost Words 1

Jamie and Jeremy's wedding Celebration

Wednesday 9/11/13

Had a blast hanging out with Rob. Eating lunch at Maynard's in Excelcior brought back memories. We traded stories and reminisced. We enjoyed beautiful weather on the shore of lake minnetonka, then headed to the U of M Landscape Arboretum to take in the aesthetics of nature as art. Thanks Rob for a great day.

Thursday 

I played golf with Dad. What a game (golf). I have had a funny relationship with this sport. From obsession to disdain (though rare), it seems I am a golfer for life. Though I don't play often enough to improve significantly, I seem to learn something significant every time I play. 

Friday 

Family golf event. Played with G-Pa, Uncle Scott, Scottie Mac and Dad. What a time! Uncle Scott out played us all and held up the teams against Dad and Grandpa. 

Saturday

Wedding!!!!

Jamie - Beautiful! You are inspiration. 

Jeremy - I had a blast as a groomsman. Thanks. Great Party. 

You two know how much I appreciate you so enough said there.

It was especially good to see old friends including but not limited to Hilary, Ben, Liz, Ayla... 

And one of the highlights of the trip was getting to know my little cousins. I just can't wait to see you all grow up. All signs show you three growing up as awesome, genuine and fun persons. 

I'll have to leave a lot out here for the sake of time, but I'd like to add as thoughts come up.

Sunday

More time with the Stoneburghs. Vikings lost in a heart-breaker to the Bears. Adri and I returned tuxes. Good work Guys, all items accounted for. Adri and I packed for two nights and two days of Climbing on the North Shore of Lake Superior. We are a pretty good team when it comes to trips. With some good food from my parents freezer and a quick stop at Cub foods we were set up again for another adventure.

After driving 4 hours north of the city I said to Adri "these GPS' work pretty well, though I don't trust them yet. I think I'd rather have a map." Within a minute or so the GPS in the rental vehicle led us off the map, showing that we were off route, off road, and offering no assistance to our destination. Odd considering we were on a major road. Anyhow, we back tracked to the nearest gas station and asked for directions.

Upon arrival at camp , Robbie and Erin had set up camp at Tettaguche State Park. They had a fire rolling and had already seen a wolf. I prepared two whole Pheasants and some complimentary legs and breasts with savory spices and onion and butter over the grill. The birds cooked perfectly and would provide us with tasty protein and fat for the next two days.

What a day! What a week! What a celebration!

Post on Monday and Tuesday climbing forthcoming...

Congratulations Marshal and Stephanie!

What a Party!

Thursday Night 9/6/13

The Top Hat was great. Boogiein' down with Adri until she tapped out. Props to Kendra and Marshal who kept groovin  well past the other party goer's limit. The band was awesome and I hope to find out their name.

(Update: Band was Cash for Junkers)

http://www.cashforjunkersmusic.com/band_bio/#sthash.zGQPqXEz.dpuf

Friday

Rafting Alberton Gorge with 5  boats of Steph and Marshal enthusiasts. The stoke was high and fun factor higher.

I fished off the back of the raft with out much luck. Caught a number of squakers and a couple of  trout. Adri caught what could be described as a Squaker/Trout Hybrid. Hmmm. Implications not good.

Fished Trout Creek in the evening with good action on the purple haze and a few on a small stimi.

Saturday

Steph and Marshal's wedding  was awesome. These two have become such good friends of mine and I am just so happy for them. Their vows were great and ceremony was great. It was fun to see and meet some Adrienne's aunts, uncles cousins etc.

Sunday

Recovery and Fishing at rock creek. Fish were eating green cadis nymphs. I caught Whitefish, Rainbows, Browns, Cutbows and a Bull Trout all in a two hour period!

Wednesday 9/4/13

More adventure... rope solo - 5.5


















"Dry Wall" aka "So Dang Hollow"

Description to come...

Fence Post Pounding Etc

Friday evening was a whirlwind of post purchasing. I left work a little early so that I could get over to Pbuilt. I put an estimated 2300 pounds on my little 5X8 trailer which has a 2000 lb axle. I was betting on 1.5 safety factor.

Saturday - Robin, Roger and Dave came over to help pound fence posts. We were happy to have the help. Just as we were getting tired, Nate, Kendra, Cambell and Ari arrived to reinforce our efforts. Thanks everyone for your help and your company!

Sunday - Nate, Dave and I teamed up to drive four of the remaining seven posts then continued by digging the last three by hand. The ground was rocky, no surprise. We were happy to have the convenience of technology for the previous 51 posts. I was happy to have friends around to help. Later, Adrienne and I were able to convince Steph to come climbing at Kootenai where she impressed us in her efforts to climb  higher than she ever has. Considering her success I hope she joins us again.

Monday - Adrienne and I met up with Pat at the Mercantile on our way up to fish Rock Creek. It was nice to chat with the folks there. The Merc really is a unique and valuable representation of the good ol' times. 

In the morning, Adrienne caught a couple on the surface before heading out to take care of "missoula chores". Pat laced a bunch on the surface in the morning as well. I had an excellent morning stripping shiny streamers. I landed two nice trout in the morning and had nearly 10 takes and or bumps by about noon. 

Mid-day was slow and Pat and I enjoyed the nice moderate temps chatting about plans for the fall and sharing stories. 

The afternoon / evening session picked up a bit. Pat missed a BIG roll on his purple hopper where a spring  was lazily rolling into the river and he caught some others up top. I dropped a red copper john below my hopper and caught a couple white-dogs and a rainbow before switching to a personal favorite the Evil Weavil. I hadn't fished the E.W. in a long time but seemed to remember it being effective in the late summer. Sure enough... I landed a couple small rainbows, and a few nicer browns. When the sun hinted of evening, I switch to a black Delectable and had some action. A few follows and bumps... and WHAM! Somebody  was pissed and pulling out line against a pretty stiff drag. What fought like a 23 inch brown turned out to be a 16 inch Bully that had my delectable in its dorsal fin. It is always fun to catch a Bull trout and this fish didn't disappoint.

Neither did the weekend.  I am happy to return to work. Only 3 days till my next adventure!

Friday 8/23/13

First time over Skalkaho. I wonder if the pass is groomed all the way across in winter. Camped in Sand Basin with Adri, Dave and Robin. Awesome.

Saturday 

Gem Mountain and hike to Fuse lake with the same crew from camping Friday night. Searching for Gems is a blast! We were successful and found some beautiful Sapphires. 

After hiking, Adrienne and I drove to Pipestone to camp.

Sunday 

ATV land is not very inviting to folks used to quiet and solitude. Fun all the same. I led five crack routes 6,8,7,8,8. The last one was a bit of a sandbag in my opinion. I am improving with gear placements. The first four routes went flawlessly. The final 8, "Shoulder Crack" went OK. I was a little stressed and placed enough gear for 70 ft in 40.  The result was lack of fluid climbing. 

Adri climbed well as usual. Though perfect hands for me equals awkward and difficult for Adri.

While Climbing we met Kevin and Jenni of Butte. Kevin was an engineer for the power company and Jenni was a Ortho PA. They were very friendly. Considering the occupational and recreational coincidence I bet we cross paths again.

Weekend Summary

Another amazing weekend facilitated by the desire to do something new,  to learn new skills, and a diesel Jetta which consumed only $20 in fuel.  

Thursday August 22


Lost Horse-Climbing

Adrienne was rained out half way up Chocolate (5.8+) after I conducted a less than smooth lead.

I enjoyed the route, which can be described as a little dirty, a little loose, and lot of fun.

Sounds like a good party. Adrienne disagrees - must be getting old.

Adrienne and I have really done a lot this summer. I really should keep better track of it all. We had a conversation not long ago trying to recall all of our adventures this summer. What fun that was! 

Smokey Bitterroots 

10c

Brown Dog Buttress

Cleavage

5.7 Rope Solo 8/21/13

"Tread Lightly Crack"

Time to go...

Brown Dog and Summer

5.4?

Summit!

Last turns for a while...

Snake gets dinner...

Last night at 6050...

Thanks Betsy and Luke for a great two years.

It's hard to describe how lucky we were.

One last Driveway to Town float...

Pat

Mabel and Roxy

Evening Rainbow

My Girls and some enticing terrain...

Objects in Motion

Suppose we stopped moving. I mean really stopped. What would happen?

5/31/13

Increasing velocity -> slower time

Decreasing velocity -> faster time

Zero Velocity?

How can V be Zero? We will always move relative to something right?

What if there was only one particle in the universe? Would its velocity be zero because it has no frame of reference?

May Fish

Many fish were caught this month. It was great to see Andy and Willy on the Madison. Best of luck boys! 

I had an amazing trip on the Smith with Adrienne, Luke, Betsy, Bronwin, Junior, Steph, Marshall, Pat, Kelly and new friends Chad and Jenna. Congratulations to Chad and Jenna and Steph and Marshal!

Adrienne is now hooked on streamer fishing. I'm sure there will be pictures posted soon to document her new found enthusiasm (obsession?).

Upper Madi

Um Dad? You know it's rainy and cold, right?

Healthy Bow ate my Midnight Bugger. Who would have thought?

On to the Smith!

Folks say the fishing is never good in high water...

Finding Winter

 Found it!

Thanks Matt, great trip, great images!

Goods

So the Bitterroots

are BIG.

"West Chute"

The terrain ranges from awesome and mellow

 to awesome and committing.

I moved to Missoula two winters ago. This winter I was able to ski somewhere new nearly every weekend and each passing weekend become more more excited for the next. My excitement, it seems, is ever increasing, and unending.

Perspective 1

Perspective.

We can gain it, choose it, make it... A versatile thing perspective is. Related to relativity. Choice of perspective I suppose is an act that makes use of relativity.

The practice of choosing perspective can be very creative. Or destructive.

A fragment of thought at best I know.