national parks

My friend Ben told me about this documentary series. You can watch online through October 9 or catch it on PBS on TV. The series explores the parks beginning with early historical political roots touching on issues of conservation, preservation and a hint of philosophy (Muir). It's well worth watching! Thanks Ben!

Check it out here.

I miss the west in a big way...

conservation education - neotropical migrant pen pals

G sent me this article yesterday. It's short - and touches on the importance of conservation education in a creative way, interesting. Read here.

Avian conservation issues are global. Neotropical migrants like this warbler, raptors (like broad wings) and other species migrate beyond the borders of the United States (north and south). Conservation efforts in the US may be frivolous without equal measures taken in breeding and wintering grounds outside of the country. Cool stuff.

gettin' our migrate on???


yes folks, it's that time. unfortunately for us, big birds are leavin' town. I'm not talking about the yellow big bird either. It's hawk migration season. And this week is peak migration for Broad Winged Hawks.

Just in case you wondered, central PA is prime migration territory. Raptors follow thermal air belts that peak beginning in late august /early September through October and then slowly die / begin to cool. Specifically, in the Ridge and Valley, currents bounce off or ridge tops and sink into lowlands, creating ideal conditions for soaring (given a unique body mass : wing span ratio raptors soar in liu of flapping their wings). Believe it or not, our little rural region is one of the best for eagle sightings! And now is wave 1/2 of bald eagle migration with phase two later in the fall when Goldens begin to travel. Temperature and wind affects how many birds one may see on any given day.

Broad wings migrate early given their extended trip down to south america. The often travel in large "packs" known as kettles. Today we saw kettles of 8-12 birds at a time however they have been known to travel by the 100's!

My buddy the red tail.He's a buteo (short tail, fat body and thick wings). Take note of the dark belly band, the dark edge on the top front edge of the wing and the short broad tail and thick wingspan.

Rattlesnake next to the hawk platform - with 5 babies (one on the right).

Acipiter - Coopers Hawk. Not the long body - long tail with rounded feathers, crooked wings and round head. Classic cooper form. UPDATE: i think this may be a kestrel??? pointy wings and no streaks... hmmmm.

A broad-wing kettle!

Left: osprey - click on the pict. note the long wing span and dihedral form. Right: red-tail. note the windows in the wings, the dark bar at the front edge and the belly band!

Left: broad wing. Right: what has a white head and tail??? (hint: BALD EAGLE)

Turkey vultures...

not a hawk...

tree hugger

Today I hugged a tree.
This act of tree hugging, on some days, might be a metaphor for some greater save-the-baby-whales type effort; however today, it was a literal and much less meaningful event.

I, I mean Reynolds, nicked said tree with the handlebars. I then reached out to save face. One scar is enough, I don't need two. The tree just wasn't havin' it; it sent a branch into my arm and laid me down on some rocks. hard.

oooooh. that was low.

The trail: lewistown contingent, a twisty, rooty, rocky, off-camber and generally slippery mother trail; it's my nemesis. one day we'll see eye to eye. today was not that day.

I had to sit for a moment to regain composure. It left me with a few lovely knots on my quad and back side (u know what i mean) which are currently swelling into perfect golf-ball shaped form. It also left a perfectly positioned set of slits on my arm right where sleeves and arm warmers hit; a pleasant reminder of said fall for the rest of the ride.

Truth be told the fall was worth it and hardly bad. Namely because I continued on and cleared some stuff that previously was too gnarly in my mind's eye to attempt. (thanks to encouragement by dave and kendra!). (image right: me contemplating the same ledge that i managed to atleast get up on - on two wheels today. so sweet!)

rad. it was a sweet ride.

It's not so bad, being a tree hugger and all. As long as one can accept that trees are not always our friends; I still like them though. It's just that sometimes they take you down. Then you get back up and keep pedaling, dammit; muscle it out and grind through. It's the only way to get over and through life's rocks.

ridge

The ridge trail is one of the most fun, accessible and beautiful trails in the forest. For me, it's particularly good for practicing technical riding given numerous rocks and log piles. Today, for the first time, I cleared most of the piles, and some of the rocks; strangely enough with confidence! So sweet. I took my time and tried again and again until I got it right. Some things were cleared lacking grace - others, smooth. I road until my mind and body were spent... so awesome.

The burn area is a favorite spot. There are numerous birds including nesting blue birds and Red-headed woodpeckers.

The weather today was perfect.

This little combo throws me off because the two piles are so close and slightly off camber (IE you can't just roll through you need momentum AND a bit of direction).

i got it finally after a few tries. rad.

I used to always look at this pile and think it was way too tall for me to clear. It's actually really smooth - in both directions. Double rad.

My reward for rocking the logs today was bombing down camp trail, splashing through the rocky stream at the base. It was sweet. I earned it. Reynolds is now officially my favorite bike. The challenge of the trails makes me want more. And more. and more...

Pictures!! West.


Finally - here they are. All 500 of them. HA!
Enjoy.

Comforting Discomfort

Comforted by discomfort - as long as it's naturally created. Like the splash of cool alpine lake water or waking up to the cold chill of ice flakes falling on your already chilled skin.

After two weeks straight sleeping in my bag, I discovered that my idea of comfort as it relates to the outdoors is different than most. I crave simplicity over chaos and can get by with very little. A few granola bars, a little hummus and tortillas, some fruit. Fresh water ... I'm good.


I find unnatural discomfort distinctly discomforting. Introducing... the Yosemite Valley Pines "Campground". Call it - tent city. Yes, people bring uhaul's to camp and set up dining areas.

They bring boats, and chairs, and paddles, and rent tubes. The roll up in Escalades with spinners and F350's with extended beds and cabs. They bring stoves and grills and ...
Women hoard bathrooms in the morning fixing hair and makeup.
Often they set up shop here to charge their phones reading next to the only power outlet in the campground.

All receptacles are bear proof. Not that people pay attention to that. You often hear screams at night as bears attempt to break into cars and tents bearing food.

This was my space. I'm obviously inexperienced lacking a grill, generator and dubs. In my defense, I did have a headlamp. It used it to scour maps in the evenings for hikes I could take around work hours.

As crazy as the campground was I made friends there. In addition to sharing my bear box, my neighbors felt a need to keep an eye out for the quiet girl next door camping all alone. They initially were concerned I had no friends. It was endearing I admit. They provided a seat around the warm fire on 40 degree evenings and hot mint tea. One was a climber and put the idea in my head to head outside of the park to climb mountains and backpack... this set the stage for an adventure to come. They were good people. We're still in touch.

Some share similar ideas surrounding experience outdoors. This was home for a night. It was the best home yet. A simple 1 pound tarp staked with one pole holding up the middle. Two sleeping bags and pads made for a cozy interior. No footprint. We had a small stove to boil water for soup and morning hot chocolate and a water filter to "purify" cool glacier water. It was cold that night - well below freezing. I was comforted by the chill in the air and the distant remote space. Perhaps even by time spent with a stranger turned familiar. It was an adventure. I was left wanting more - extreme.

Returning from the left coast, it's been hard to sleep in a bed again. I miss the simple solid footprint that only the ground and fresh cool air can provide. I'm happy to be back, with friends and in my forest; however, my sleep hasn't been as sound since.

Guess i'm lacking proper discomfort for truly comfortable rest...hmm.