Another Balloon

Black Bear crossing the Pigeon River

I caught this guy swimming across the river just upstream from the mouth today while kayaking on the river. This was the third time I've seen a bear swimming across the river!

Super Summit

Recent news begins with Dave Uberauga's and Randy King's successful ascent of the mountain last Saturday. If you don't know, Dave is Superintendent and Randy is the Deputy Superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park. Perhaps you haven't seen them much on the mountain because they have been rather busy with the flood recovery, Paradise construction projects, new guide services and routine "day to day" business of the park since their last attempt in 2006.

We're all smiles in this summit photo, taken after a 6 - 1/2 hour ascent from Camp Muir up the DC-Emmons variation. On Saturday, we found excellent conditions: firm snow, light winds, great boot-track (though LONG). Somehow, a rather sizable rock wedged into Dave's crampons (he's on the left in the photo) at Cathedral Gap and he carried it to 12,300ft before discovering the handicap! Randy (right in photo) wasn't interested in extra weight, and stayed focused on technique since his last 3 summit attempts were thwarted by rescues and/or bad weather.

Aside from climbing, they spent the better part of Thursday and Friday talking to the public, guides, climbing rangers and Ted (guru of all things "essential" at Camp Muir) to get a sense of the mountain action. The main points of attention were the Camp Muir plan (which addresses facility and toilet deficiencies) and the new guide service operations.

CLIMBING AND ROUTES: This is that time of year when some of Mt Rainier's climbing routes begin to really loose their fancy with climbers and skiers. It's not that they are "closed" or "unclimbable," it's just that experienced climbers generally get nervous when too much of the route is threatened by rockfall or blocked by gaping crevasses. As an example, a few teams attempted Liberty and Ptarmigan last week; neither were able to get "on route" due to the hazards/obstacles.

SAFETY: And speaking of crevasses - go to the Muir Snowfield. Look for a thin gash in the ice near 9,200 feet (top of Moon Rocks). I'm sure it will grow, and I'm sure there will be more. And how about another safety reminder? Wear your helmet when climbing to the summit! Also, the weather has been quite warm. When it is, expect soft snow by late morning and early afternoon. This could be welcome news to some (b/c it's easier on the knees) however others may find it difficult to descend when the snow and slush "ball up" in their crampons. Crampons "balling up" can sometimes lead to a serious fall (esp. when left unchecked)...

Feathered Friends sleeping bags?

Lee out in LaLa-land, snuggled into a Feathered Friends Hummingbird.





It is kinda funny when you look at all your gearand it is so easy to miss the really important stuff. Not the biners or hardware or the newest ice tool or a pair of boots. But the really important stuff like sleeping pads, the bags and the tents.



I'd guess part of it is I hate having to carry any of them. So until required I try to ignore all of them. The when I am forced to sue them I generally take the smallest and the lightest of all three. It has made for some uncomfortable nights. But it is never the gears fault. It is an issue with faulty decision making. To be specific my faulty decision making.



In the old days I carried a pack like this pretty much every where I went and spent half the year or more living out of asleeping bag.







Now I am more likely to measure a climb by how much can I get done in 24hrs or less and how much do I REALLY have to carry. This size pack is about as much as I want on my back these days.



As you might imagine that has cut down on a LOT of gear including the size and more importantly the comfort range of my sleeping bag.



I suspect there are a few sleeping bag companies that make good bags. Western Mountaineering seems to be well liked by friends over the years. A quick search turned up this:



http://www.climbing.com/print/equipment/bags215/



I've owned a few bags. My first down bag, which was second hand, I resold at some point. My second, a synthetic, was stolen off my clothes line, where it sat drying one too many days and nights, after a minor epic in the Canadian Rockies. The third the same brand of synthetic I eventually wore out and gave away.



My fourth and first really nice down bag I bought in 1976, a Trailwise Chevron, which still own. I thought it had about died on me till I had Feathered Friends cleaned it for me a few years ago. It was always a good bag but they worked wonders on it.



That wasn't my first experience with Feathered Friends however. In 1980 I had them builda custom Peregrine. Black VBL inner shell and a bright green Gortex outer. Loved that bag. I remember waking up at 17K on the west butt one morning with chilled feet. Thinking sheet...not enough bag. Until I reached for the stove pot and it singed my hand it was so cold.That is really cold! Wonderful bag! 17K was the first time I had actually zipped up that bag on Denali.



I sold that one....as I didn't want to be anywhere that cold again. Thatwas a mistake as I did 2 more Alaska trips after that and never could afford to have another one built.



With Feathered Friends virtually willing to build you any bag you could imagine in the next 20 years I did have them buildseveral more custom bags though. All over filled, all with something extra I figured I needed and all of the bags truly spectacular.



I still have them. One of each, aHumingbird, a Widgeon which I had them buildto my specs. Andmost recently a Vireo that I returned after using it for a couple of years to have it modified as well.



Feathered Friends makes some amazing bags you can buy off the shelf. But when you ask them to do some thing special....look out 'cuz you'll get more than you ever expected. It is kinda like they appreciate the request and what to make the very best just for you.



So back to my last bag from Feathered Friends to finish up these comments. I had my Vireo over stuffed to the max (5 oz in the body of the bag, most of it on the upper half) and a collar added. They didquiz me on the collar...."you want what?" "Really?" "Ya, can you do that for me?" "Sure?" Price was right. Now I have this dinky little lwt sleeping bag I can get into my dinky little packs for when I don't make those 24hr estimates. And I'll sleep a good bit warmer in this one for the added 1/2 pound. :) The Vireo has truly been transformed from a summer bag to a decent 3 season bag for me now.



How cool is that?



I have some brand loyalty again. Feathered Friendshas never told me "no" when asked for something special on acustom bag. And they are local for me. The cost and wait has always been more than worth the end result. Few pieces of gear get my unqualified support. Feathered Friends earned that support20 years ago and continues to today.

Great Oakley to East Carlton via Pipewell and Wilbarston

From Mel Jarvis'sAround Corby Walk but clockwise. With Barry and Gordon. Lovely dry sunny morning with no wind. About 7 miles - no big climbs, but lots of high stiles!

Monks in sheep's clothing - on the site of Pipewell Abbey










Pipewell Abbey

The wide expanse of Pipewell/ Desborough airfield

Some info on the airfield If the link doesn't work first time try refreshing the page. No idea why!





Another link to a story from BBC People's War website mentions the airfield and more about Corby and Northants in WW2

One of several stiles

The path follows the line of the hedge

Worth a dollar or two?

Approaching Wilbarston

To be investigated?

Wilbarston

A carved tree at East Carlton

East Carlton Church

Wildlife - rabbits possibly a hare, definitely a fox running across the field with his brush flowing as he ran

Cokinos Brothers on H Street

Here it is - the oldest photo so far of the Cokinos Brothers Ice Cream and Confectionery owned by my grandfather, Peter George Cokinos (pictured right) at 11o3 H Street Northeast. This photo was taken probably around 1919- after his brother, Alec (pictured left) came over from Agoulnitsa, now Epitalion, Greece. All that is left now in this spot is a convenience store - in a new building.

Snow

I took this photo from our kitchen window looking over to our neighbors house.