If you can count the times you have been overdrawn on one hand there is definitely something wrong with your spending habits. We’re all as bad as each other. There is rarely a month goes by that I’m within budget. I can’t help myself, it’s those must have shoe-boots that Pixie Lott is rocking or that Benefit product that looks good enough to eat, it’s packaged so beautifully. I would go as far as to say I’m a marketing executives dream. Im drawn in by all the big lights, the all singing, all dancing gimmick, the BOGOF’s. It’s all one big scam to draw the credulous consumer (AKA me) in. I know what you game is. I know how these things work, so why can’t I stop myself? 

1 st it was the backpack. I just had to have the last model, the most appealing colour, the one with the most gadgets. Of cause non of which is really necessary and when I’m away. The colour of my bag is of  little importance, it’s more the amount of pockets it has and the comfort of it that really matters. Thankfully I know a man who can and I managed to wangle a rather large discount off my fabulous bag. It is certainly who you know not what you know. 

So, backpack aside I realised I am going to have to curb my spending habits or I would end up with more products than I could possibly want or even need to take away with me. After all there is limited space in my 55l monsoon. I will have to eliminate the un-necessary and only pack the essentials I require for my trip. Afterall if I am going to want to squeeze my  hair straighteners in, the 5 bikinis, 4 pairs of flip-flops, 3 hoodies, 2 pairs of leggings, 5 boobtubes, 4 skirts and a mac-in-a-sac might just have to be reduced. The straighteners are staying! 

I am trying to combat my addiction by staying away from shops, which is near impossible when I work in a shopping center. It’s a case of straight in and out of work, blinkers on so no shop window has chance to lure me in. I have even decided to leave my bank cards at home so I’m not tempted by all the beautiful new stock we have in our shop daily.  I keep telling myself  it all worth it. Its killing me.

I did even cave in when Kasabian tickets were dangled in front of me like a carrot in front of a donkey. A few weeks back I would have snapped them up. I love them. All my friends were going to the gig. There was so much hype. But rationality took over and I did not buckle. I didn’t need to go, so I simply said no. I bloody wish I hadn’t, it sounded like an amazing night. However: I am now not in my overdraft for the 1st time in forever and I havent had to eat into my travel funds. I am only half way through the month though. Well here’s to making do with the 15 different types of lip gloss I own and digging out those shoe-boots I already had.

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This is disposable sponge for body shampoo. You had better use this sponge with body shampoo.

Submitted by: anna.ippolita via Engrish Funny Submissions

I see like 2 or 3 bags that would make a great substitute for my backpack i use to go to the outdoor fresh food market. COOL.

While many labels rally and attempt to live up to the standards of design meets uncompromising quality, few are actually able to achieve those golden standards and convince people that their items are worthy of that plastic swipe. Japan’s urban-styled bag maker, Master-Piece (MSPC) is one of the few who do manage to reach and surpass those standards of production with relevant design and durability. Working with interesting designs and materials, Master-Piece’s collection that just dropped at oki-ni is a great balance of color for those who want it, and classic subtlety in black and white. Some fun twists in terms of silhouette and shape includes a roomy canvas tote which can also be used a rucksack. The aforementioned bag is lined in a lasting yellow PVC with contrasting purple nylon straps and black leather padded bottom. Of course, for all your transportation needs, MSPC purveys a wide range of bags running from backpacks to camera holders, from messenger bags to waist packs. Check out the collection and do invest in a wonderful piece from MSPC if you are still searching for the perfect pack– these easily to use and style packs are likely to last a lifetime in terms of both style and quality.

via Master-Piece (MSPC) | Available Now | FRESHNESS | Sneakers, Streetwear, Men’s Fashion, Gadgets and More.

Me han traido de Alemania algo nuevo. En primer lugar la mochila MacPac. Especial. Por fin que tengo una mochila de gran capacidad. Y de seguido unas botas de montaña de HanWag. Son del estilo Bestard españolas. No puedo decir que mejores ni que peores pues en ambos casos se trata de botas de muy buena calidad y con unos acabados de excepción.

Ahora bien, os enseño… la mochila es la Glissade Classic de 70l. Y las botas las Alaska GTX.

Esto es para ir calentando motores para la escapada que queremos hacer ahora en Navidad a Bavaria… emocionante, ¿eh?

]]> http://superbored.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/outerspace-hero-series-backpackwalletpouch/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:42:49 +0000 superbored http://superbored.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/outerspace-hero-series-backpackwalletpouch/

Waterproof!OUTERSPACE HERO series backpack is now @ SUPERBORED!

use this pouch to protect your iphone/ipod touch/cell phone/ camera…

Aren’t back pains reserved for people like over the age of thirty…? If so, then I feel old. Today I had too carry home three textbooks, three binders, and like 4 regular books. I felt like I was carrying cement on my back. Totally not fun. When I put my backpack down in my car, before climbing on, I saw a distinct shift of the car bouncing on it’s shocks. How sad, my bag is so heavy it can move my car up and down.

Currently: Math Homework. I got sixty on the last test. I seriously need like an 70 – 80 on the next test or I’m screwed for the rest of the year.

Reading: Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

Listening to: Rich Girl by Down with Webster

My buddy and training partner George, of Modern Combative Systems, hooked me up to test drive the new S.O.Tech Camera Insert for their high end Mission Pack line of packs. Officially designated as “Padded Camera/Surveillance Insert (MSP-CMRA)” The bag is designed to be used in conjunction with the Mission Pack but can be used as a stand-alone bag to transport photo gear.

I just started using the bag so this isn’t a full blown review, just some initial impressions.

While the bag is intended to be used with the Mission Bag, it’s perfectly good as a stand alone camera bag for hauling a good bit of gear. Like all SoTech bags, the photo bag is overbuilt with heavy duty zippers and big zipper pulls. It has two webstrap handles, one on the top (which I promptly wrapped with para cord) and one on the side. It also features a velcro loop for holding a tripod. 

The bag has two compartments, the main, large padded compartment with adjustable/removable dividers for your camera gear and a smaller padded pouch on the front to hold a laptop computer or other odds and ends. My Dell 13″ fits in here with room to spare, should be able to get a 15″ in with no problems. Inside the lid on the main compartment is spots for holding compact flash cards and other stuff.

The bag does feature two backpack straps on it, but these are not very heavy duty and while ok transporting the bag to and from the car, I wouldn’t take a long walk with the bag filled with gear on these straps. After the holidays I’m going to order a Mission Bag and really give the SoTech a workout.

sponsors site – PG Web Portal Pro – portal management software.

Perrsonalized items uncover attention to duty. These details help to establish feeling individuality even if you are one of many. This hold distinctively true in large organizations where there thousands other employees. Even though employees may not be centrally located in one place it beaars remembering they all being done in place. empployees, their identity is something they don’t want to lose even at feat. Just like only a few employees may shaare a particular annniversary , it is important to remember that each hand personal that is unique.

Personalized items that are presented to employees as rewards and incentives are a greeat way recognize the individual in each wage-earner. Whether your company want to provide incentives and rewards such as personalize laptop bags, briefcases or some other item that serves a good purpose. Adding the personalization to these items makes all the difference in the in all respects. Often other employees ascertain these personalize gifts from the company they too are motivated, inspired and empowerred to work harder so that they can suffer a monogrammed item artistically. This type of reward system can be exceedingly motivating and exciting for sales team and many other type s of teams that contend to achieve sales goals and objectives.

Many employees consider themselves to be jet setters because they frequently travel by plane, train, auto and other meanns of transportation. For employees who take frequently having a personalized beast can not contrariwise be a status symmbol but can foster the employee against random switching of bags and is a theft drawback. Such employees are often not only appreciative of such gifts but proud to showcase their belonging to other employees, forebears, friends and other associates.

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While there are many to say how much you really appreciate employees nothing really says it better than a personalized item. Giving the gift of personalization says thank you in more ways by making them feel as though you sincerely appreciate what they do.

Jansport is known for its durable backpacks and original quality has some decent backpacks releasing apart of the Heritage Series. Antique brass metal zippers, cordura fabric, and plenty of pockets are some features you can expect from the line. Peep more images after the jump.

Backpacks hurt my back and turn me into Quasimodo, particularly when hurrying. Luggage adds a kilo or more, which translates to extra charge when you exceed your allowed baggage weight. Gym bags can be bulky and heavy and strain my right shoulder. But they can accommodate everything I’d want to bring—including dry and wet clothes and tons of pasalubong, most especially.

เป็น เครื่องคอมพิวเตอร์ ของคุณตลอดเวลาให้คุณหน้าจอสีฟ้าแห่งความตายหรือเพียงโหลดช้าและมักจะ crashing? นี้เป็นสถานการณ์ที่เกิดขึ้นกับผู้ใช้ คอมพิวเตอร์ จำนวนมากและคุณจะต้องเรียนรู้วิธีการล้างรีจิสทรี คอมพิวเตอร์. 3 เหตุผลนี้มักจะเกิดข้อผิดพลาดที่สำคัญของ คอมพิวเตอร์ และ slowdowns.

1. คอมพิวเตอร์ Registry ข้อผิดพลาด

90% ของเวลาปัญหา คอมพิวเตอร์ และความเร็วช้าที่เกิดจากปัญหาในรีจิสทรีคอมพิวเตอร์>. ไฟล์รีจิสตรีในการควบคุม เครื่องคอมพิวเตอร์ ของคุณวิธีการประยุกต์และฮาร์ดแวร์จะทำงานและโอกาสที่มีข้อผิดพลาดในรีจิสทรีมีความสูงโดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งสำหรับผู้ใช้ที่มีการใช้คอมพิวเตอร์สำหรับปี. มันเป็นสิ่งสำคัญตลอดล้างรีจิสทรีของ คอมพิวเตอร์ ของคุณเพื่อให้แน่ใจว่า คอมพิวเตอร์ ของคุณทำงานในสภาพดี. มีสตรีจำนวนมากจะสแกนซอฟต์แวร์และคุณควรดาวน์โหลดหนึ่งของพวกเขาและสะอาดจากรีจิสทรีของคุณ. สำหรับการรายการทำความสะอาดรีจิสทรีด้านบนในเว็บโปรดไปที่ลิงค์เว็บไซต์ของเราที่ท้ายบทความนี้.

2. สปายแวร์และแอดแวร์

คอมพิวเตอร์ที่เชื่อมต่อกับอินเทอร์เน็ตตลอดเวลาจะมักมีสปายแวร์และแอดแวร์พวกเขา. เหล่านี้โปรแกรมที่วางเว็บไซต์ออนไลน์ใน คอมพิวเตอร์ ของคุณขณะที่คุณท่องพวกเขา. สปายแวร์ที่แตกต่างกันจะทำสิ่งที่แตกต่างกันใน คอมพิวเตอร์ ของคุณและวัตถุประสงค์ที่พบบ่อยที่สุดของพวกเขาคือเพื่อติดตามสิ่งที่คุณทำ. ข้อมูลนี้เป็นอาหารแล้วกลับไปยังเว็บไซต์หลักและผู้ใช้จะคิดไม่เกี่ยวกับสิ่งที่เพิ่งเกิดขึ้น. ทั้งหมดที่คุณต้องทำนี่คือการดาวน์โหลดซอฟต์แวร์สะอาดสปายแวร์และใช้ซอฟต์แวร์. ลบทั้งหมดสปายแวร์ใน คอมพิวเตอร์ ของคุณและคุณสามารถคาดหวังว่า เครื่องคอมพิวเตอร์ ของคุณทำงานได้เร็วขึ้นหลังจากที่.

3. ไวรัส

นี่คือสาเหตุปัญหา คอมพิวเตอร์เครื่อง อื่นแม้ว่าจะไม่บ่อยมาก. หากคุณเชื่อว่า เครื่องคอมพิวเตอร์ ของคุณได้รับการติดไวรัสคุณควรหาดีซอฟต์แวร์ป้องกันไวรัสสำหรับ คอมพิวเตอร์ ของคุณ. ตั้งค่าการสแกนไวรัสเพื่อสแกนเอกสารของคุณคนโดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งที่คุณดาวน์โหลดจากอินเทอร์เน็ต. ซึ่งรวมถึงไฟล์เช่นเพลงหรือดาวน์โหลดเกมของคุณและเอกสารแนบอีเมลของคุณ.

สิ่งหนึ่งที่ฉันจะไม่ทำคือการพยายามที่จะทำความสะอาดออกจากรีจิสทรีของ คอมพิวเตอร์ ของฉันที่ฉันเอง. ฉันจำประสบการณ์ของฉันเมื่อฉัน "สงสัย" ซึ่งเป็นหนึ่งในไฟล์รีจิสตรีของฉันอยู่ในสถานธรรมและดำเนินการต่อไปย้ายในตัวเองกลับไป "เดิมของฉันสถานที่ ". หลังจากนั้น คอมพิวเตอร์ จะบูตไม่อีกครั้งและฉันมีการใช้รีจิสทรีทำความสะอาดเพื่อให้ คอมพิวเตอร์ ของฉันทำงานอีกครั้ง.

Porter and Original Fake team up to bring us a backpack capable of holding down your gear in the coldest of months. ‘XX’ logo has the Kaws remnants dripping from the backpack, so peep more images after the jump.

You know when you wake up in the middle of the night with an idea so great that you can’t get back to sleep for love nor money? (not that there was any one there to love me or to pay me). Well it happened to me last night. Erika. Ive got it… I am going to document my forthcoming travels to enable others to travel with more ease. I will provide a service to my fellow trekkers. I will tell you of the amazing places I’ve been and the places to avoid like the plague. You will come flocking to my site for the latest news and best places to go. You will love it. That is if i can get my non technical mind round how to blog in the first place!!! Im a bit of a technophobe, but:  I have equiped myself with the latest gadgets (thanks Dave from my local Comet store, he really did live electricals!) and I will be taking them away with me. I have plenty of time to learn the basics before I go, 6 weeks to be exact. Ooo not that long come to think of it. I will have to enlist the help of my friend Adam the techno king and my brother  Josh the ‘I’ll try anything’ dude who is back from living it up in London town any day soon. Here’s hoping they have the patience of angels because I really do have  limited knowledge of this whole demain. Wish me luck.

Michelle: Thanks again for being my bookbag for today.

Kendra: Although, you know what it means… You have to be something for me tonight. And with my date tonight, I know exactly what you’ll be.

After we return I will be posting to this blog everything that happened and when – the trouble we will have when there  is access to a computer and the time to sit in front of one if we find one.  But you never know…

Update until then:
We now have all the documentation completed and are just waiting for the Agency to return our passports and the visa for Vietnam.  Was meant to get a call today!

All the advice we get tells us the same thing – use backpacks, do not use bags or suitcases, etc.  So we now each have backpacks. The packs are cool, the two large one are actually called Urban Adventure Packs as they have a backpack with a detatchable “Day pack”.  Really handy when moving around.

I have already started assembling bits and pieces like a first aid kit (was advised to take a simple one).  I have also booked in for vaccinations, we are all looking forward to those.

Thursday October 1 10:30am
After shooting lineup shots at Oxnard Shores I called Brain Nix to see if he
wanted to go get some breakfast and discuss our upcoming climbing trip to Mount Whitney. We end up meeting in his garage, which resembles the back end of a gear shop more than a normal three-car garage. From bicycles to balaclavas everything is neatly organized and properly labeled in a bin or on a rack. Basically this garage has everything one could possible need for any type of adventure. Brian asks, “ Kyle, do you have a ice axe?” “No, I don’t and I have never used one. Am I going to need one for the trip?” “Well you might,” says Brian. Brian then walks over to a bin labeled “mountain gear” and pulls out a well-used black ice axe. “Put this up to your leg, yeah, that looks like a good fit. It should keep you from flying off the mountain.” Brian then gives me the short version of how to properly use an ice axe. At this point I am really hoping that there is no ice up on the mountain because having to self-arrest sounds like it could go wrong really quickly. It’s sort of like having to jump off a skateboard when you are bombing down a big hill, you have always thought about what to do but when it comes time to do it you just have to hope for the best. We head off to breakfast and discuss where everybody is going to meet up on Friday, what gear we are going to bring, what we are going to eat, pick the route, come up with a bail plan in case someone gets sick or hurt and a few other small details about the trip. After eating a nice but overpriced breakfast we part ways. We will meet again tomorrow back at Brian’s house at 11:00.

Friday October 2 10:15 am
I had to go to Trader Joe’s to pick up food that I will be eating on the trip. I run in and grab a handful of Cliff Bars and one bag of trail mix, swipe my credit card for $12.37 and answer the question, “You going on a little hiking trip?” and I am back in the car heading off to Brian’s house.

Friday October 2 10:49 am
Pull up at Brian’s house and take my pack inside his house because he wanted to see what gear I was bringing on the trip. He wants this to be a fast and light trip so any unnecessary gear is going to be left behind. Brian pulls out his scale and weighs my pack. It tips the scales at 38 pounds. Immediately he says “38 pounds is a lot. My pack only weighs 32 and I have rope and climbing gear. You need to take some stuff out.” I end up leaving my tent and my nalgene. My pack weight is now 33 pounds. Brian then pulls out a small Pelican Case and blue dry bag and weighs both items. Together they weigh an even ten pounds. Brian asks, “What’s in the case and the bag Kyle?” I reply “All of my photo gear that I am going to bring. I can’t leave any of it. It has to go. End of story.” Brian then says, “Well you could use a Ziploc bag instead of the Pelican Case and that would take off at least a pound. That stuff is not that expensive right?” “Brian, if any of that gear gets wet or slammed around and it breaks I lose all the photos from the trip. I don’t think a zip lock bag would work at all, I am bringing the case.” I keep packing up my stuff and Jen walks down from her room with a backpack and a pile of jackets and hiking clothes. Now it’s Jen’s time for the pack weigh in. Her pack came in at twenty-four pounds.

Friday October 2 1:15 pm
After three or four text messages our ride and final member of the group, David, finally shows up. Everybody throws their gear in the back of his Jeep; I grab a few Rock and Ice magazines and the new issue of Climbing and the crew piles in and we head off for Whitney.

Friday October 2 5:30 pm
We are now in Lone Pine, which is the small town at the base of Mount Whitney. I take some time to stare up in awe at the mountain. I have been to Lone Pine several times to shoot photos of Mount Whitney but this is the first time where the goal was not only to shoot photos of the mountain but also to reach the summit.

Friday October 2 5:35 pm
We are waiting to cross the street when Brian and I notice a light pole moving
back and forth. At first I thought it was the wind but then the ground starts to shake and behind me a roof rattles and light blub works it way out of its socket and falls then explodes on the sidewalk below. Earthquake. I start to walk towards the fallen light blub but Brian grabs me by the shoulder and pulls me back. He is only two years older than I am but he is the oldest guy in our circle of friends so I pop off with “thanks for looking out for me Grandpa.”

Friday October 2 6:29pm
We meet up with a few of Brian’s fire department friends for dinner in Lone Pine. They just finished the portal trail and tell us that there is no snow or ice on Russell’s Pass but it’s very cold and really windy at the top of the mountain. The group save David, powers down a pile of Mexican food. David eats only a side of French fires.

Friday October 2 8:12pm
We leave the restaurant and drive a few streets down and park in a dimly lit
parking lot to change out of our street clothes and into our hiking gear. I felt like we were preparing for battle and just at that moment the song “Sgt. MacKenzie” from the movie We Were Soldiers comes out of the Jeep’s speakers. Now I start to realize that this is not going to be a normal walk in the woods, but more like a charge up a cold and harsh mountain. No turning back now. Everybody dons their respective Gore-Tex trail runners, lightweight fleece jackets, hiking pants, headlamps, and we each do a last run through of our packs to make sure that we are not leaving anything crucial to the trip behind. As a group we decide to leave our ice axes behind because of the lack of snow and ice on the mountain.

Friday October 2 8:34pm
Jen, Brian, David, and I are speeding up Boy Scout Road on our way to the
trailhead. David requests some pump up music and DJ Smiley (Brian) lays down some tracks. He starts it off sort of slow and gets ripped on by everyone in the car. Then he pulls out the big guns. By far the most overplayed pump up song ever; “Eye of the Tiger.” Smiley is instantly redeemed. After a few quick miles we reach the trailhead.

Friday October 2 9:02pm
The crew and I head off for the trail under a blanket of white moonlight, which
was great because we could save some battery life on our headlamps. After about 15 minutes we reach the turn off for the mountaineer’s route. After we take the turn the trail pitches up quite rapidly. This route is not nearly as common as the portal trail due to its difficulty. The mountaineer’s route carries a class three rating which means at some point you will have to use your hands and climb up and over exposed rocks. You won’t need rock climbing gear but if you fell while you were on some of the class three sections your going to be broken all over your body. We brought helmets for this reason alone. Basically our route was a straight shot to Whitney. On either side of us were giant cliffs so the route went right between them for a few miles. After about an hour of hiking we hit our first class three section. It was a section only about thirty feet or so tall and not super difficult because all you had to do was walk up a three foot wide rock ramp, but this was one of those spots where you really did not want to fall because if you did it would be a long fall into total blackness. At one point during the assent I looked back over my shoulder to see where I was coming from and my headlamp couldn’t illuminate the ground underneath me because I was too high above it. Spooky.

Saturday October 3 12:56am
We had been hiking for several hours and Brain told everybody that he wanted a short break. All of us took off our packs and sat down on a pile of rocks. These breaks are great times to put on other layers of clothing or take some off, if you were too warm, or drink some water and grab a bite to eat. Brian had other plans. The sound of a person vomiting is instantly recognizable. I look over just in time to see Brian getting rid of Mexican food via his mouth. Our little break quickly turned into something much more. Brian was showing signs of high altitude sickness, not good. He pukes three or four more times and stands and says, “You guys ready? We should keep on going.” Being that he is older and has done this sort of thing more times that I have, I put my pack back on and we kept on going towards Iceberg Lake, our stopping point for the night.

Saturday October 3 2:00am
We have pushed on for another mile or so and came to another scramble section. Brian takes off and goes up and to the right and David goes up and to the left. Decision time. I switch my headlamp to spot and scope out both possible routes. Brian’s had a few patches of ice on the face so I decided to go left to avoid the ice. The left route still had its own challenges. Half way up the rock face you had to pull a back step and a lie back move for eight feet or so. Successfully past that section we keep pressing on towards camp, which means a warm place to lie down and try and get some sleep.

Saturday October 3 2:45am
We arrive at the lake and spread out to try and find some shelter from the wind which was gusting to around thirty miles per hour. I find a small group of rocks that’s doing an ok job of blocking the wind and I called out for the others to come over and meet me at camp. When the rest of the crew showed up I pulled out my camera and started to shoot some photos. The moon was right between Mount Whitney and the Keller Needle so I was able to get some nice night landscape photos. I have found one thing to be constant and true on all backpacking trips that I have ever been on. There is always something that you could be doing. This trip was no exception. Jen was laying out the sleeping tarp, David was thumbing through the guidebook, I was shooting photos and Brian was throwing up. He was posted up on a rock, head between his knees, just flat out going for it. Sucks to be him. Everybody knows what its like to puke and you just feel bad when you see it because there is not much that you can do to stop it. After another rally of three or four pukes Brain starts to make his case that he is feeling much better and is ready to start climbing the East Buttress. This was the all part of the original plan. We were going to hike in then once we arrived at Iceberg Lake Brian and David were going to start the East Buttress. Then they would summit, come back down Russell’s Pass, and then start the East Face route. At that point Jen and I would go up Russell’s Pass and we would all meet up on the summit. It sounded good on paper. After some discussion Brian was talked down and he decided that he and David would sleep with us and then at first light they would wake up and start climbing one of the two routes. Here’s the problem. Because Brian and David thought that they were going to be climbing through the night they decided they would have no need for sleeping bags or sleeping pads. So now here we were 20 degrees out and gusts of wind up to thirty miles per hour and only two sleeping bags, one and a half sleeping pads, and no tent because it fell victim to “too much weight” for the four of us. An epic night of sleep was before us. Brian laid down next to Jen and wormed his way into her extra small sleeping bag. Brian was able to get his legs in the bag but it stopped at his elbow so he kept his down jacket on all night long. They were able to pull this move off with out much awkwardness due to the fact that they have been dating for a few years. For David and myself our sleeping situation was going to be a bit different. I was not going to let David sit out in the cold all night long, because that would have been a super lame move on my part. I declared that I was going to be the big spoon and then the two of us squished ourselves into the sleeping bag. We had to sleep the entire night on our right hip because that’s the only way that we were going to be able to fit. I knew going into this trip that it was going to be an adventure but if you would have told me that I was going to end up spooning with a fully grown man I would have just laughed. Guess you’re the one laughing now.

Saturday October 3 3:29am
I set and alarm on my phone to wake me up at 6:30am because I wanted to
photograph the alpine glow on the face of Whitney. Alpine glow is an optical
phenomenon that occurs when the rising Sun is just below the horizon and the sunlight casts a glowing red band of light upon the high alpine peaks. Basically super kick ass light for about five minutes. I have seen this in several photographs but I wanted to experience it for myself so even though I was looking at only three hours of sleep I did not care because I was not going to miss this event. After making sure my alarm was going to go off I tried to get some much-needed sleep. I was quite unsuccessful in my attempt. The wind and the coldness of my feet kept waking me up throughout the night. I botched the sleeping operation by taking off my socks before I went to sleep. However, I was not the only one that did not get a good three hours of sleep. As I found out in the morning the whole crew did not sleep much at all. I guess this is just what happens when you have four people sharing two sleeping bags, two sleeping pads, and a tarp that only fits two people.

Saturday October 3 6:30
My alarm never sounded so loud as it did today. After fumbling around in my
pack I was able to find my phone and shut off the alarm and grab my camera all without leaving the warmth of my sleeping bag. David was up, running around the campsite trying to warm himself up because it was still very cold outside even though the sun was starting to shine on the peaks in front of us. Setting the alarm had paid off in a big way. The alpine glow was in full effect and I was able to get some great images of David standing in front of Mount Whitney. After shooting for ten minutes the glow was gone and the light became very flat and dull. I always find it very interesting on just how fast good light can change to flat crappy light. By this time Jen and Brian were awake and Brian was talking to David about which climb they were going to attempt. After some discussion they decided to climb the East Face route, which was great for me because I would be able to photograph them climbing the face from our makeshift camp. Next we came up with a plan for the rest of the day. Brian and David were going to leave camp first and start climbing and once Jen and I could see them on a large ramp section of the face we were going to leave camp and finish the!mountaineer’s route. We figured that the mountaineer’s route would be faster than the climb so even with the later start we should all be at the top at roughly the same time. With the plan in place, Brain and David left camp to start the climb and Jen and I laid back down and went to sleep.

Saturday October 3 9:29am
I was awoke by someone yelling “Kyle! Kyle! Hey Kyle!” I looked up and saw two small dots on the ramp section of the climb. I knew right away that the two dots were Brian and David. I quickly switched to my longer lens and tried to find them on the face while looking though the viewfinder of my camera. This was not the easiest thing to do because I had to search over 1,800 feet of rock to find two six-foot guys. Eventually I found them and shot a few pull back photos of them working their way up the climb. Once they were out of view Jen and I started to break down camp and pack up our gear. We also found some time to have a quick breakfast of pop tarts.

Saturday October 3 10:05am
Jen and I were starting up the long shale section of Russell’s Pass. This section was difficult because you did not know what small rocks were going to hold your weight and which ones were going to give out and send you sliding down the mountain. In addition to the lose rock we also had to deal with extreme cold and a very strong head wind. About half way up I went to drink some water out of my Camelback but was unsuccessful due to the fact that all of my water had frozen. Bummer. Luckily Jen’s water had not frozen yet so I was able to drink some of her water and stay one step ahead of dehydration. After our quick water break we kept making our way up the pass. A few hundred feet above us were a team of four people making their way down the pass. As the team got closer I noticed that they were all roped together and clad in full mountaineering gear. I thought that this was really odd because there was no snow on the pass so having the rope and mountaineering gear was way overkill. To make things more interesting they were kicking loose rocks down towards Jen and I. By no means was this on purpose but it was still quite unsafe. To get out of the situation Jen and I picked up our pace and scrambled our way above the team. After another two hours we arrived at the top of the pass. From where we stood we could see directly into Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. At this point of the route we had two possible directions to choose from to get to the top of the mountain. Our first choice was to walk around to the backside of the mountain and come up to the top from the west. The problem with this route was a thirty-foot shale section that had some real serious consequences if you slipped on it while on this section. If you were to slip you would fall and roll down a thousand feet of shale, which would put a stop to your life. The second choice was five hundred feet of class three climbing. Class three climbing is defined as scrambling or un-roped climbing. Use of hands is required to hold onto terrain. Class three climbing is like going up a ladder. It can be climbed without much difficulty however a fall could be
fatal. Because Jen and I both have done a fair amount of rock climbing we decided to go up the class three section, the five hundred foot ladder. The first move was the hardest move of the entire section and once we went above that ten-foot section it was nice and easy climbing the whole way up. About half way up I looked back at what we had just climbed up and then quickly realized that I did not want to fall because a fall at this point would be very bad. About fifty feet from the top we had to down climb and traverse over a small patch of ice because the way that we were headed became totally vertical and looked unsafe to go up without climbing gear. Once we had finished the traverse we had a one last quick section top the top. I topped out first and immediately saw the small weather shelter that’s on top of Mount Whitney. Jen was right behind me and we jumped around for a bit, congratulated each other and started walking over to the shelter. At that moment both Brain and David came out of the shelter and the whole crew celebrated for about ten seconds and then we hustled back to the shelter to get try and warm up a bit. It was only thirty degrees out and the wind chill factor put the temperature somewhere in
the twenties.

Saturday October 3 2:00pm
After talking about how each of our climbs went, eating some food, rehydrating, and warming up it became time to make get off the mountain via the eleven mile long portal trail. The portal trail is a long trail that comes up the side of Mount Whitney instead of the more direct mountaineers route, which goes up the front of the mountain. It’s very similar to other trails in the High Sierras; you are above the tree line, exposed to wind, stumbling around on large gray stone, and going through countless switchbacks. The trail has over sixty-one hundred feet of elevation loss when going from the top down so the switchbacks were many and very steep. During one section of switchback you
only drop ten vertical feet for about seventy feet of trail. This section was not very difficult but very mentally challenging because you can see the end of the switchback several hundred feet below you and hundreds of small switchbacks between you and the end. As the miles pass the sun began to set and sunglasses were traded for headlamps and we pressed on into the darkness.

Saturday October 3 7:53pm
I could see taillights from cars and the faint glow of headlamps from people walking around in the portal parking lot. I was getting close to being done with this physically taxing photo assignment. The last few miles or so of the hike my right knee was in a great deal of pain making by progress horribly slow. Shortly after eight I limped into the parking lot where Brian, Jen, and David were unpacking and getting ready for the car ride home. “Hey Kyle, how is your knee doing? Think you will be able to drive us home tonight?” Said Brain. “My knee feels like a big guy wacked it with a bat. I don’t think I will be helping out with the drive home, plus I drove out here so it’s your turn to drive.” We pack up the rest of our things and drive out of the portal and into Loan Pine for some dinner.

Saturday October 3 9:57pm
After we ate dinner in Lone Pine we were back in the Jeep heading home to Oxnard. Normally I don’t sleep much in cars but I was able to sleep a little bit on the way home. Every time I woke up we were in a different city but strangely reggae music was still being played in the car. Strange.

Saturday October 4 2:06am
We had finally arrived at Brian and Jen’s house in Oxnard. The wind that battled
with on the mountain was not blowing onshore around twenty-five miles per hour, which made the task of unloading David’s car a quick one. The crew said our final good byes and we started to part ways. I asked Brain if he could help me back my truck out because it was parked in a very tight spot. He told David to help me and walked inside his house. David gives me the all clear just “go straight and you will be fine” so I begin to slowly pull my truck forward. Then I here the horrible sound of metal scrapping against concrete. By this time I was already out of the parking spot so I get out to see the damage. I ended up kissing a light pole with the back right panel of my truck, and I was
rewarded with several two-foot long scratches. “Aaww crap! That a bitch!” I say when I see the damage. “I didn’t even see you hit the pole! I saw a tunnel the whole time, you looked good from where I was standing.” Said a very confused David. I shrugged my shoulders got back into the truck and drove off.

Saturday October 4 2:45am
I arrive back at my house, pull my backpack out of my truck and walk inside to a warm house. Quick jump in the shower and I am in bed and asleep before three.

This was one of those trips that was fun while it was going on but even more fun to think about when its all said and done.

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Can you believe that this is just an elementary school backpack advertisement?

I don’t know about you but this video’s message is not saying to me that I should buy a backpack.

[+18 section] All I could think of after I saw this was if they wanted to say that I should buy a backpack full of condoms or some lube to put in my backpack. [+18 section]

The backpacks cost about 360 dollars each. I wonder how much did the blonde babe received for this sexy-back[pack] dance??? Does anyone know how much she costs…cuz I could buy her [backpack] )

Já é oficial. As passagens foram compradas e não tem mais volta, nem reembolso da maior delas. Somos os felizes possuidores dos seguintes bilhetes aéreos:

1. Curitiba-Buenos Aires | 4 de dezembro
2. Buenos Aires-Ushuaia | 7 de dezembro
3. Cidade do México-Frankfurt-São Paulo | 20 de julho de 2010

Como diria o pescador rã do brejo, agora a porca torceu o rabo. A viagem se concretizou e já está aí batendo na porta. Faltam três semanas para o embarque…

Confesso que às vezes já me dá aquelo frio na barriga e aquele nervosismo. Pensar que vamos, Camilo e eu, largar tudo para percorrer o mundo por momentos parece uma insensatez, por outro a melhor coisa que faremos na nossa vida.

A ideia é fazer, para nós, o mundo um lugar menor…

… ou então que o mundo nos faça pessoas maiores…

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