Trudy Saves the Day

ZION IN WINTER

In January we decided to take a vacation to see Zion Canyon in the winter. Alan and Judy came out from Buffalo and for a week we hiked around here and up north in Zion.

Winter was fully in control and the ice was spectacular. It wasn't the climbing kind, not thick but feathery and all the more beautiful for it.

The four of us took a long, icy walk to the Emerald Pools and before I knew I was deep in hypothermia. All the training I have, all the places I have been, sleeping out at -20 and below, I was caught by complete suprise but Trudy was not.
She convinced me to put on her black shell over everything of mine and sheparded me for about 20 minutes until my core temperature came back from zombie land.
We saw places in and out of the Canyon that were new, even after many trips to the Canyon.

More as it happens
Bob

Predicting Groundhog Day

I am going out and find my old friend “Mohave Phil” He moved out from Gobbler’s knob after he and Punxsutawney Phil had a big blowout over movie rights to star with Bill Murray. “Mohave” wanted to do all the stunts but broke an ankle falling off a bar stool. He moved out here and became a mover and shaker in the handicapping biz.


We'll go out and spend dawn in the desert but I won't guaranty the accuracy of his prediction.

More as it happens,
Bob

I Survived The Nevada Caucus

Democratic duty firmly in the sharpest possible focus, I went to the Nevada Caucus. Knowing that this was "Vegas, Baby!" I anticipated excitement beyond my wildest dreams. We had been told that this would be a highly technical, heavily monitored and exacting process closely allied to musical chairs.

After proving my identity, citizenship, party affiliation, general good character and clean underwear, they let us know who the candidates were. This was true democracy in action, Uncommitted was a viable position. I still wasn't sure that I had heard enough from Mike Gravel, so maybe I could talk to his supporters - if I could find them.

Well maybe they would be along just in time. Oops, the doors closed 5 minutes ago.

Like any true Democratic Process, people got to freely voice their concerns.


Then they got to assimilate all the information to make an intelligent choice.


The tension built as we got ready to vote!


The first vote followed a "realignment" If a candidate did not have 8 supporters, they would not get a convention representative so backers of losers were given the opportunity to shift their position.


Edwards backers shifted to Obama and the Kucinich guy held out to the end. Sometimes it's really all about loyalty.


Final results counted, it took a few seconds to have the news about Hillary sink in.


Time to turn in the official "ballot" so that what we did could be counted.


And then it was all over but the actual election, so far in the future that I wonder if I will remember who I caucused for.

More as it happens, Bob

The Walk Back From Arrow Canyon

After our encounter with the dam, while Alex and I were trying to find a way down into Arrow Canyon we walked around on some unusual rocks. A real mixture of volcanic, limestone, sandstone, basalt and others.
The real treat of the walk was finding what at first we took for regular seashell fossils. They turned out to be mammal bones end on and sticking out quite prominently.

Of course I'm no expert but first time finds are always exciting.

The weather started to change a bit and in fact it was over the horizon lightning that got us moving for the car. Photocredit - Alex
A little different route back found us walking under a huge overhang in long grass. The direct summer sun would never reach the ground here and there were also large piles of purple thistles that had gone to seed. This would be a delight in the summer.

The desert out here is always ready to give up surprises. As we were scouting access from a different direction we came upon some abandoned mine equipment.
It looked to be the headgear from an old vertical shaft.
We looked for the mine, thinking that it might be close but couldn't find a thing in the area.

More as it happens

Bob

A Mild Disappointment

Just the other day Alex and I set off north of Vegas to try to get into Arrow Canyon. Jim Boone, a local hiking authority says, that Arrow "is a deep, narrow slot canyon described by one old-time field geologist as the most amazing slot canyon in all of Nevada." Following the most favorable set of directions, we were greeted by a NO TRESPASSING sign. Out in Nevada we really do pay attention to them.

PhotoCredit - Alex
So out came the TOPO maps and a 5 mile drive in the desert was followed by a 2 mile walk.

PhotoCredit - Alex
We got into the lower end of the canyon and it was blocked by a 30' stone dam that was definitely not on the map.

PhotoCredit - Alex
S0 I went over the top only to find a 30' vertical wall, completely smooth and us with no climbing gear.
Then Alex took the culvert overflow shaft and had no better luck.
PhotoCredit - Alex
A 15' drop we might have slid down but not back up.


We backed out and tried an end run from the south. We were able to look down into Arrow but getting to the bottom was beyond us.

The rest of the hike has a bit more of a story but that's for the next entry. Needless to say, I'm going back using a third route we scouted but could not complete because of time.

Bob
More as it happens