Photographed by shchukin

Alps. Austria.

– License

A small collection of English language Haiku that I created using “Text-snippets” of different books.
They are Haiku merely in their shape, their number of syllables, they are however not observations of a moment in my life or nature.
Enjoy!

Ghosts are not alike
In contact with the ocean
Cabbage patch Jesus

The lethal weapons
Ran here and there in search of
A tropical rain.

Familiar to
Marlena’s horrified face
The mountain, the blue

The top of the tree
Anarchist friends adopted
Naked universe

Honeyed tunes like
The fluorescent lights like
Church for midnight mass

Located in the heart of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, the town of Breckenridge offers a nearly endless array of winter activities. Visitors taking a day off from skiing and snowboarding will appreciate Breckenridge for its plentiful non-ski activities including dog sledding, Nordic Skiing, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, ice skating, tubing, sledding and winter fly fishing.

The changing of the seasons doesn’t bring an end to fly fishing in Breckenridge’s high country. The area is home to several gold medal rivers, streams and lakes where highly skilled guides can hook you up with trophy sized fish. Visitors who are willing to endure the chilly winter temperatures will find uncrowded riverbanks, surrounded by an amphitheater of snowcapped mountain peaks. Massive trout are waiting to hit your fly on virtually every cast, and with an expert guide at your side, you’ll be in a prime position to catch them.

The Breckenridge area has become a snowmobiling Mecca and provides an almost unfathomable amount of terrain to explore. Local outfitters provide both guided and unguided tours and rentals, which allows guests to choose their level of adventure. Snowmobiling provides motorized access to the backcountry glades and bowls that abound in the area, with opportunities for postcard-like photos at nearly every turn of the trail. “High Adventure” tours are available for more adventurous riders who would like to rice Breckenridge’s deepest backcountry powder at full-throttle speeds.

Visitors who would like to immerse themselves in the local backcountry can experience the surrounding wilderness on a dog sled tour. As a non-motorized form of transportation, dog sledding offers guests the opportunity to get up close and personal with local wildlife. Local dog sledding tours run through the middle fork of the Swan River Valley, enabling visitors to experience some of Breckenridge’s deepest forests as well as the historic mining camps and ghost towns that once populated the area.

The Rocky Mountains are also home to phenomenal cross country skiing – a favorite pastime amongst Breckenridge locals. Check out one of Breckenridge’s three local Nordic centers, or break your own trail on an excursion into the backcountry. The United States Army’s 10th mountain division maintains several backcountry huts throughout the area that can be rented for a night or the week, providing a warm base of operations for backcountry skiing excursions

Families who are looking for adventurous sledding options will find several options within a short drive of Breckenridge. Although the ski resort does not offer an on-mountain tubing hill, its nearby sister resort, Keystone, does. Tubing is available at Keystone during the day and into the evening hours. The town of Breckenridge is home to Carter Park, a walk-up slide-down sledding hill with a generous slope and a long out run. Bring your own sled or pick one up at a local supermarket. Carter Park provides sledding opportunities free of charge while visitors will have to pay for access to the Keystone Resort’s tubing runs.

Breckenridge’s three local ice rinks can provide for a morning or afternoon of skating with your family. The Stephen C. West Ice Arena offers 2 NHL sized ice surfaces and hosts open skating hours daily. The Maggie Pond, located within the resort’s Peak 9 base area, offers outdoor skating opportunities with phenomenal views of the Ten Mile Range and Bald Mountain. Skate rentals are available at both locations.

Finally, local dinner and scenic sleigh rides provide an evening of entertainment for the entire family. Rides take place on red Santa-style sleighs and are pulled by massive Belgian draft horses. Sleigh rides are operated on Breckenridge’s Jack Nicklaus designed golf course and through the wilderness of the Swan River Valley. With a star-filled sky lighting the way, guests are treated to fantastic views of the surrounding mountain ranges. Hearty meals and hot chocolate are served in lodges heated by roaring fires and charming mountain hospitality.

Whether you’re an expert skier or a beginner who’s learning to link your first turns on the mountain, be sure you sample some of Breckenridge’s non-ski activities when visiting the area this winter. Opportunities for winter recreation in Breckenridge are unsurpassed, with several opportunities to enjoy the town’s spectacular snow that don’t involve skis, snowboards or chairlifts.

The lake has been here for quite a long time and is dammed by its moraine-soil and rock from broken up glaciers. The lake is not isolated from glacial runoff and the Savica feeds water into it continually.

The entire valley becomes a tourist playhouse come wintertime (and summer time too). All four regions-the Nomenj Basin, the Ukanc Basin, the Upper and Lower Valleys-benefit from natural beauty and outdoor recreation possibilities of the Bohinj Valley. The entire region south of the Bled, for example, covers an area over 20km long and 5km wide.

Given the Bled glacial lake, the Bled Castle, the surrounding mountains, lakes, waterfalls, canyons and other natural and architectural wonders, it’s no wonder nature lovers come here all year round to find natural wonders. Since this area of Slovenia has been inhabited as far back as the Bronze Age, there’s a lot of history here to find and explore.

The borders of Bohinj stretch north to the Triglav Mountain, east to the Jelovica and Pokljuka (plateaus with canyons), and south to the Bohinj Mountain range. With such prominent borders, it’s no wonder the area has held on to its traditional ways for such a long time. This region of Slovenia, too, even has held onto it’s own speech dialect, which is slightly different than even close-by regions.

On each side of Bohinj are the two mountains, Kobla (1480 meters) and Vogel (1800 meters). This second mountain, Vogel, is also located within the boundaries of the Triglav National Park, though the glacier (unskiable) is above Bohinj. The bases of each mountain starts right above 550 meters, so the terrain for each is suited for about 50% intermediate and 20-30% advanced. Vogel, however, has the longest run at 8 km long while Kobla has a 6 km run. Both have plenty of groomed slopes and trails though Vogel is better known for its deeper snowfields.

The whole Bohinj and Vogel areas get plenty of natural snow even as late as April. Because of the Julian Alps and the fortification-like walls found here, the cloud vapors from the Adriatic drop plenty of moisture (snow) to the area. There are some cable cars to carry you up to the skiing area, which roughly starts at 1500 meters and stops just short of 1800 meters. However, you can ski all the way back down to the lake and lose over 1200 meters of altitude.

The Bohinj Ski area has 82 separate pistes and a snow park for snow boarders. The lift pass gives you access to some really amazing ski areas:

Here is a video that I produced for Heavenly Mt Resorts opening day. Ski conditions were amazing thanks to the hardworking snowmakers (check the 2 previous entries below to see first hand). Chris Stamey shot some amazing footage a the village, a bunch of it wasn’t even used in the edit, you will be seeing it in upcoming productions for Heavenly. I was up on the hill shooting the on mountain footage this year, last year I had a severely sprained ankle that kept me off the slope until January…not a good thing to have when your profession is to get out in the mountains.

-Dane

Den zweiten Tag meines Trips verbrachte ich im 30km entfernten Gingee. Dort befinden sich viele kleinerer Berge und ein Fort. Dieses ist so  riesig das es 3 Berge mit einschliesst, es ist 7 Quadratmeter gross, echt der wahnsinn! Zuerst bin ich zum Krishnagiri hoch. Davor kaufte ich Batterien, steckte sie in meine Kamera, und sie hielten 2 Sekunden. Am Einlassheusschen hatte man kein Wechselgeld fuer mich, so ging ich nochmal zum Shop mit den Batterien zurueck, zeigte ihnen das keines ihrer Batterien Power hat. Ich bekam Wechselgeld und neue Batterien. Die neuen hielten wenigstens fuer 10 Fotos. Ueberall in Indien bekommt man leere Batterien, ich habe schon 20 Batterien an 9 unterschiedlichen Orten gekauft, alle waren fast leer und hielten maximal fuer 30 Fotos.

Leicht veraergert begann ich meinen Aufstieg der  so anstrengend fuer mich war das tamilische Frauen 3 Minuten ueber mich lachten weil ich hochging wie ein Opa. Ich war sehr angeschlagen von dem Trip auf den Berg ein tag zuvor, aber das wussten sie ja nich =P Der Aufstieg war atemberaubend, die Gegend muss von Gott geschaffen worden sein, es ist bisher die schoenste Umgebung die ich bisher gesehen hab, auch schoener als Kodaikanal. Oben angekommen hatte ich wundervolle Aussicht, ueberall kleine Tempel und Fortgebeude. Dieses Fort stammt aus der Chola Dynastie und ist 1000 Jahre alt. Ich setzte mich auf eine Mauer und bestaunte die Gegend, Flachland, alles gruen, Palmen, kleine Huetten, Reisfelder. Ploetzlich weiter hinten aus dem nichts emporsteigende sehr felsige Berge. Die Felsen sind so gross wie Busse. Ein grosser See, aufgefuellt durch den Monsun. Gingee, eine 20.000 Einwohner Stadt 1 km entfernt und die anderen Forts auf den anderen Bergen, wundervoll, ihr seht die Fotos = )

Danach ging es mit dem Bike 1 km weiter zum anderen Fortteil (Rajagiri) Dieses befand sich um einiges hoeher, auf 240m. Es kam mir jedoch vor wie 400m. Nochmals ein Aufstieg, aber irgendwie hab ich mich dran gewoehnt. Auf dem Weg zu den Zitadellen auf den beiden Bergen begruessten mich ca. 200 Tamilen, 20 Prozent machten mit mir Fotos, mit 20 Leuten hatte ich laengere gespraeche. ca. 50 Leute hab ich ignoriert und vielen Anderen hab ich auf die Frage wie gehts dir mit fine geantwortet und bin weiter ohne ihnen in die Augen zu schauen, denn dann wollen sie dir die Hand schuetteln. Ich habe viel mitgemacht aber irgendwann nervt es einfach nur. Ich hab mir dann oben ein ruhiges Fleckchen gesucht um mal zu entspannen. Ich hatte keine Lust mehr auf 3 How are yous pro Minute.

Auf dem Weg zurueck bin ich fast draufgegangen. Ich fahre 60, eine Kurve kommt und ploetzlich aus dem Nichts ein Elefant auf meiner Spur, rechts daneben ein Bus, die Leute geben dem Elefantenreiter Geld oder Essen, ich weiss nich so genau, jedenfalls stand er dort und blockierte den Weg! Ich bremste ab und fuhr halb dran vorbei, bzw drunter durch, der Elefantenruessel war ueber mir und haette mich fast getroffen, ich dachte ich spinne. Ein Elefant, den ersten den ich in Indien sehe und er steht auf der Fahrspur ganz laessig. Ich hoffe es gab niemanden der nachmir kam, z.B. ein Jeep, die mit 90 die Strecke fahren oder Busse mit schlechten bremsen.

Ansonsten verlief die Fahrt ungwoehnlich ruhig, ich hatte nur 10 brenzlige Situationen, auf 200km.

Der Wochenendtrip hat sich echt gelohnt obwohl er doch sehr viel Kraft kostete und ich froh bin wieder heil in Auroville zu sein. Bis demnaest ; )

Waking up a much later than I had wanted in Bern put me en route to Zermatt much later than I originally had anticipated. The train ride to Zermatt was stunning. I had to transfer trains several times, the routes took me high in the Alps and through the beautiful mountain passes, over ravines and gullies, over streams and alongside waterfalls. The expression on my face was that of a little kid in a candy store. I was overly excited to be in such a beautiful place, and knowing I was going to hike in the area made me even more elated. The closer I got to Zermatt I noticed that the concentration of outdoor enthusiasts on the train increased. Seeing people with backpacks, hiking poles and boots I knew I was in the right place.

Small electric taxi's take people from place to place in Zermatt, Autos are prohibited

The Gondola I refused to take

At 11:30 when I arrived in Zermatt I hit the ground running. I had plans to hike up to the Matterhorn and by golly I was going to stick to them. I briskly walked over to the visitors center to grab a map and some information about accessing the trails. Armed with my map and determination to stick to my plans I walked through Zermatt very fast heading toward the Matterhorn. The town of Zermatt is very quaint and cute with little skiing and sporting goods shops everywhere. If I was a rich tourist I would certainly come back to Zermatt for a few weeks and indulge in all their town has to offer.

Hiking at a fast pace up the hill I passed several other hikers with smiles on their faces just like me. I reached a small town up on the hill, Old Zermatt, even cuter and smaller than actual Zermatt. Continuing on I noticed that the number of hikers dwindled substantially. I like very few others decided to actually walk up the mountain rather than take the 45 Euro cable car up. Past the small town is where I really noticed my climb to begin. The air was cool and crisp as I headed up the mountain. The further I got the more I noticed the weight of my pack. Being as how I had everything with me for my “round the world journey” plus extra food and water it was certainly noticeable on my back. Drenched in sweat I continued on the path through the beautiful lush forest up into the sky.

Prior to my trek up the mountain I had noticed a cloud covering the tops of the mountains and the hillsides obstructing my view of the Matterhorn and anything up passed a few hundred feet from Zermatt. Now that I was several hundred feet above the town I too was engulfed by the looming cloud. A fine mist permeated the already cool and damp air. Completely drenched with sweat my core temperature began to cool as I ascended. Pushing myself to keep warm I hiked faster and faster, making amazing time up the increasingly steep mountain.

Exhausted I climbed out of the timberline and into the high elevation meadows. I grabbed my plastic poncho just before it started to rain. I ran into two other hikers roughly my age from San Francisco who had prepared even less than I had for their excursion and headed down the mountain when their cotton sweatshirts were nearly soaked. Discouraged that my new hiking buddies had quickly abandoned me I wearily kept storming up the mountain, not letting it or the weather persuade me to turn around. Arriving at one of the gondola’s stops, Schwarzsee Paradise, I found a small restaurant and hotel to get shelter and warmth at for a little while.

Once inside I headed for the bathroom where I used more than my share of the hot air hand dryer then I took off my wet poncho and studied the map carefully. Knowing that I had quite a ways to go I engineered myself a new clothing “system” for the remainder of my hike. I changed into my warmest and driest clothes that I had, layering of course. Next I grabbed one of my huge black plastic trash bags and cut two leg holes in it, I secured the trash bag on me like pants and tucked everything in to ensure maximum waterproofing. Next I put on my jacket and made sure it was nice and tight, next my backpack, and finally my plastic 97 cent poncho. Making sure everything was tucked in and secured I grabbed a quick bite of my Swiss chocolate bar for some energy. Looking at myself in the mirror I realized I looked pretty silly, for one I was covered in plastic, and secondly I was dumb enough to go outside and hike up the mountain in a storm. Luckily I found a back door out of the place and took it so that no one would see me.

Me in plastic in a Swiss bathroom

Thankful that my clothing efforts had not been in vain I kept hiking up the mountain. I was a little weary of going through a section of mountain sheep. Some found me quite curious, and a black one even chased after me a bit. Continuing to climb, the mountain became much more rocky and steep. A few minutes after seeing the sheep I realized that all of the people I had seen were heading down the mountain, and away from the storm. And all of those people were wearing expensive Gore-Tex hiking gear. They all had poles and everything one would need for hiking this terrain in this weather. I figured, oh well, I’m already this far, why turn back now.

The fog and haze of the cloud really began to engulf everything around me. The trail had progressively diminished from a dug out dirt path in a grassy area, to a well defined rocky trail, to eventually a barren wasteland of slippery rocks on a mountain ridge with orange and white markers. Hikers (in good conditions) are supposed to be able to see these markings painted on rocks, white orange white, and look to the next set of markings from the one they are currently at and continue hiking that way. However, in a storm it is nearly impossible to see from one set of markings to another. It wasn’t until I got into an area where I could see no more than 5 feet in front of me, did I actually worry. I got through my first set of markers okay and just had to stop. Getting turned around quickly I just decided to walk in the direction I felt was the right way, having gotten lucky I tried again on the next one. Several times over the course of this I had to backtrack and try another route to try to find the marked stones. The distance I covered would have normally taken me roughly 10 minutes, but instead it took almost 45.

Reaching a metal bridge I met one lone hiker who was just as lost as I was. He had come up from the gondola near where I wanted to get to and I was coming from where he wanted to go, so our exchange of information was quite beneficial. After exchanging pleasantries we went out on our ways. His leading him back to town and likely to a warm bed, and mine, leading me further up into the mountains in a wet, windy, rocky, snowy, barren environment where I was planning to spend the night.

The cloud cover began to clear a bit, and I was able to see the trail markers a bit more clearly. I heard a giant rock slide toward the direction I was heading, which made me all the more comfortable with the journey and my plans to stay up on the mountain at over 8,000 feet.

The area I had to choose a place to sleep

Finally reaching the general area I would call home for a night, I had to pick a spot that would keep me as dry and as warm as possible, while at the same time keeping me sheltered from any falling rocks and debris. The area I had to choose from was several hundred acres of open space filled with rocks, snow, lakes, ice, and snow, not to mention the cliffs on the side of the expanse. So, I began wandering around the open area in search of the perfect spot to rest my head, jumping over creeks and trying not to fall down the loose gravely surface I picked up a few stray pieces of wood, that had somehow gotten there and carried them with me while I searched. Finally I came to a large boulder that would protect me from the wind from at least one direction. I began to dig up larger rocks around the area and make a small perimeter around where I would be sleeping, giving myself some shelter from the wind. I found several small alpine plants that I used to pad the area where my head and shoulders would be resting. I did not want to be lying on either the cold mud, nor the sharp rocks during the course of the night. As for the few sticks I found, I took a bit of rope I had been carrying around with me the entire trip for the “just in case” factor and fashioned a “roof” over my head. Once my terrible rocky and cold structure was completed I headed out to brush my teeth and fill up my bladder bag.  Returning I unrolled my bivy sack and inserted an emergency blanket to try to keep some of my warmth through the night.

My dentist would be proud, Im trying to not die, and what do I do? I brush my teeth.

I used my rope, "What are we gonna need the rope for?"

This is what the inside of a bad idea looks like

Crawling into the non insulated bag I realized that this was a terrible idea. The ground was uneven, uncomfortable and frozen. The wind was relentless during the night. I didn’t really sleep. I just froze. It was by far the coldest night I had ever experienced. Once the sun went down the already cold temperatures began to drop even faster. I tried to get sleep but unfortunately I was so cold that my shivering kept me awake. I put on as many of my clothes that I could that were dry, to try to increase my temperature. This helped only slightly. I was afraid of my phone freezing and breaking, so I kept it close to my body. Aside from shivering all night I decided to get up out of my bag and do jumping jacks to try to get my blood flowing and warm up a bit. This helped for about two minutes and I was back to shivering again. Finally I grabbed another one of my emergency blankets and threw it in my bivy sack with me. I was able to fall asleep for roughly twenty minutes before I woke up freezing and soaked. The two emergency blankets had insulated me so well that I began to sweat so much that I had condensation forming on the inside of my bag and on the emergency blankets. When the freezing air reached it from the outside it froze and I was basically in a small personal freezer on a cold mountain. Waking up to the ice and water I jumped up and did my jumping jacks and shook out my iced over bag before trying to sleep again. The whole process probably took 35 minutes, for me to get to sleep, be asleep for 20 minutes, get up and do jumping jacks and try to get myself back in my bag. I did this the entire course of the night. It was an incredibly long night. For some hours I would basically just sit up and stare at the clouds wishing for the warming rays of the sun. Throughout the night I did get to see the cloud cover drift away from the top of the Matterhorn. Slowly but surely it began to reveal its strikingly beautiful presence.

First picture I took when it was light enough. Its not in focus because my hand was shaking too much from all the shivering I was doing.

Trying really hard to smile here

Before the sun rose, I had determined that it was basically morning for me. I wasn’t going to kid myself any longer, I would not be able to sleep any longer because of the cold. So I got up and started walking around trying to get some feeling back in my toes. I was sure I had gotten frostbite on my big toes, I couldn’t feel them at all when I walked for the next few months. I examined my bladder bag I had filled the night before to find that the hose on it had froze and cracked, rendering it leaky thus ending its useful life.

Town of Zermatt covered in Clouds

I walked up to a rock where I perched myself with my camera taking pictures of the surrounding mountain peaks and the cloud cover that was blanketing the entire town of Zermatt. I was high above the entire town while they were trapped in a soup bowl of fluff. Slowly but surely the sun started to light just the tips of the peaks. Taking advantage of the amazing photographic opportunity I snapped as many pictures as my frozen hands could manage. Waiting patiently for the sun to illuminate the Matterhorn I was poised and ready to capture shots that those even in Zermatt wouldn’t be able to see. Seeing the glorious Alps in all of their majesty made enduring the bitter cold worth it just to see some of the sights I was fortunate enough to have.

I was relieved when I was finally drenched in sunlight atop my perch on the rock. I took full advantage of it while I had it. Once I was able to move my digits again I began to clear my camp. Working slowly I dismantled everything and readied myself for another intense day. Today’s challenge called for hiking another few thousand feet or so along a steep ridge to the actual Matterhorn.

After having my Swiss chocolate for breakfast I headed up the steep trail which took me along a metal grate-way bolted into the side of the cliff. The grates were coming apart in some places, so it was wise to be mindful of the loose panels, for the drop was not to be taken lightly. Once off the grate I and many other hikers who seemed to appear out of the woodwork (who I am sure came up the gondola like a sane human being), headed up the ever steepening grade toward the Matterhorn. Some were armed with climbing gear, some with small backpacks and some with just a bottle of water. I had all my stuff I needed for three months.

As the trail went higher the presence of ropes along the trail increased. With ropes also came steep drop offs to both the right and the left. At the top there was a rather large hotel, and restaurant that many climbers use as a base before attempting to summit the jagged peak. My goal was not to climb the monstrous mountain, but merely to get as far as I could without climbing gear, and touch the mountain. Which I am proud to say that I was able to do.

It the abyss...

(My beard is all messed up)

3260 meters = 10,695 feet

After touching the mountain I found myself a nice rock and had lunch, once again basking in the glorious view of the Matterhorn. After relaxing for a while I determined that I should head back down the mountain, all the way back down to Zermatt to catch a train out of Switzerland. Hustling down the steep slopes I decided to take an alternate way down, that afforded me another view of the Matterhorn, just as spectacular.

(YAY! I touched it!)

The sun was out and at its full intensity and I spotted a gigantic flat rock just off the trail that was calling my name. I climbed up and laid down on the flat stone staring at the snow blowing off the Matterhorn. I caught some necessary sleep on the rock. About an hour or so later I put my socks and shoes back on and headed down once more. Walking through beautiful green pastures I noticed a gigantic waterfall along the hillside in the distance. I started to see and hear sheep along the grassy hills. Then I heard cows, I noticed the sound kept getting closer and closer. Then I saw an entire heard of cattle right in the middle of my path, holy cow! (No pun intended). They were all wearing bells, I couldn’t believe it! I had never actually seen a cow wearing a bell, other than in cartoons. But these cows had nice pointy horns and they were all eyeing me with curiosity as I walked right in the middle of their grazing territory. I was a bit nervous about walking through a field full of cows with horns. I figured they wouldn’t hurt me, but some of them were right on the trail, and I certainly didn’t want to get in a fight with any of them over whose trail it was and whose it wasn’t. Taking a video of the cows the entire way through, I was relieved to be out of their territory. I kept heading down the hills toward Zermatt and once into town I had to stand to the side as several small children were leading a rather large number of goats through town. Again these goats were all wearing bells and the sound was intense but the sight was just too unique, for someone like me. I spotted a McDonald’s and convinced them to fill up my water bottle for free, feeling a little bad I bought a small sandwich and enjoyed the small hot meal I had bestowed upon myself. I kept walking and smiling toward the train station and I grabbed my ticket for the last train out of Zermatt just moments before it left.

Doesnt that rock just say "Take a nap on me"

I bought Swiss Cheese and Chocolate

And oh were they good!

Feeling accomplished I felt I could finally rest for a little while I rode the train into Italy.

Have you ever looked at your neighbors yard and thought, “Oh, my god!”  This turn of phrase always brings me back to the nursery rhyme line, “When she was good, she was very, very good, and when she was bad, she was horrid.”

This blog is dedicated to the beautiful and the horrid yards near us all.

I feel the need to start with my last vacation destination, the Rocking Z Ranch, near Helena, Montana. Yep, they have one of the best backyards I’ve ever seen! We were able to ride horses for miles and miles. The scenery was beautiful! A creek in the front yard, hay fields near the lodge, and the pasture land, I mean back yard, lent itself to wonderful vistas of snow capped mountains, and strong beautiful horses and sheep enjoying life.

Here is the ranch’s YouTube video:

All the best,

Your Number One Neighbor

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امروز صبح با حسن رفتیم کوه. اولین تجربه برف.
خیلی خوب بود و خوش گذشت. از کلکچال رفتیم شیرپلا و از دربند اومدیم پایین. تو مسیر بالا رفتن از کلکچال، خوردیم به برف و یخ و مجبور شدیم یخشکن ها رو ببندیم. هوا اینقدر خوب بود که مجبور شدم تمام لباس های گرم رو دربیارم و با یه تیشرت خالی صعود رو ادامه بدم. کلاه و … هم که دیگه :دی!
البته من خسته بودم و انرژی نداشتم و کلی سرعت حسن رو کم کرده بودم. رسیدیم کلکچال، یه استراحت خیلی خیلی کوتاه و بعد هم حرکت به سمت سه راهی (مرتفع ترین نقطه تو مسیر کلکچال تا توچال با حدود 3050متر ارتفاع) و بیش از 60سانتیمتر برف بکر و دست نخورده که حداکثر تو 2روز گذشته باریده بود و حتی هنوز یخ هم نزده بود. مسیر هم خلوت بود و ساکت، بطوریکه وقتی پا روی برف ها میگذاشتیم، صدای دوست داشتنی فشرده شدن برف رو زیر کفش هامون میشنیدیم که خیلی لذتبخش بود.

تو سه راهی وایسادیم و خواستیم تو منظره زیبای اونجا و سه تیغ پرتوهای خورشید، عکس بگیریم، که دیدیم یه تکه ابر بزرگ داره به سرعت به سمت کوه میاد. تا به خودمون اومدیم، دیدیم مه اطرافمون رو گرفته و حتی 50متر اونطرفتر رو هم نمیشه دید. من که کاملا غافلگیر شده بودم. هنوز داشتم به اینکه چقدر سریع اون آفتاب داغ تبدیل شد به مه فکر میکردم که پشتم داغ شد و دوباره هوا آفتابی شد… انگار نه انگار که تا چند لحظه قبل یه مه غلیظ اطرافمون رو گرفته بود!

اونجا با یه پسر حدود 25سال که میگفت دماوند هم رفته و بنظر با تجربه میومد همراه شدیم و راه افتادیم به سمت شیرپلا و کلی تو مسیر سرسره بازی داشتیم و خیلی سریعتر از چیزی که فکر می کردم رسیدیم شیرپلا. قرار شد از شیرپلا برگردیم پایین. اون پسره که همراهمون بود گفت حدود 2ساعت و نیم تا پایین راه داریم. راه افتادیم و چند صد متر که اومدیم پایین، دیگه اثری از برف و یخ نبود؛ فقط سنگ های لغزنده و خیس. به کمک طناب ها اومدیم پایین. کمتر از 2ساعت طول کشید تا برسیم پایین و وقتی سوار تاکسی شدیم، 1ساعت و 50 دقیقه از لحظه خروج از شیرپلا گذشته بود.

تو مسیر پایین اومدن، چند بار همراهمون وایساد تا سیگار بکشه. اواخر مسیر بود که فاصله بین سیگارها کم شده بود و حرف ضعف بدنی پیش اومد، اون پسره گفت باید با استفاده از “آب” و “شکلات” خودتون رو سرپا نگه دارید ولی اگه اینا جواب داد، بهترین چیز “دود” سیگاره!!! یه کم لبخند زدم و با تموم شدن سیگار آقاهه! راه افتادیم به سمت پایین.

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تجربه خیلی خوبی بود. صعود تو برف خیلی لذتبخش بود. هوا هم اینقدر عالی بود که تو جمشیدیه (قبل از صعود) اس ام اس دادم به یه دوست که بیاد اونجا و از اون هوا استفاده کنه. تجربه مه و تغییر ناگهلنی هوا تو کوه هم خیلی آموزنده بود.

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حسن فردا عصر میره شیراز برای طراحی مسیر رالی. تجربه سختی خواهد بود و ذهن رو خیلی درگیر میکنه. احتمالا 5 شنبه هم من برم شیراز که جمعه و شنبه اونجا باشم و شنبه بعد از پایان مسابقه برگردم…

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5شنبه با یه نفر مشکل پیدا کردم. البته خیلی هم تقصیر اون نبود؛ تقصیر من هم نبود. فقط همون بحث “مکان و زمان مناسب” نقض شده بود و تو زمان نامناسب یه حرفهایی زده شد…

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این هم از اولین برف بازی امسال :پی

Can you believe that some malls in my area are already starting to play Christmas music? And I hear radio DJs announcing that their station is Ohio’s number one Christmas music station. I liked it better in Japan where I’d be walking through a department store and the speakers would be playing profanity-laced gangsta rap. (Because little old Japanese ladies doing their midday shopping can’t understand English.)

Gamehouse has also jumped headfirst into an early Christmas with Delicious: Emily’s Holiday Season, a time management game that takes place in a festive winter wonderland. Emily has arrived at the Snuggford Hotel, a mountaintop ski lodge and resort, in preparation for a family holiday celebration. The lodge is in a terrible state, and before Emily can even introduce herself she’s been hired by the new owner, Richard, and tasked with whipping the place into shape. Fellow employee Paul offers plenty of help, and of course Emily’s pal Francois is along for the ride and absolutely no help whatsoever… as usual.

It’s a holiday romance on the ski slopes!

I have to say, I didn’t start out as a big fan of the Delicious series, but somewhere along the way I’ve been converted. The attention to story detail in the last few titles, Emily’s Holiday Season game included, is extremely polished. I’ve yet to see more consistent and better-presented time management games then the last few Delicious releases. Good show, Gamehouse!

As usual, guests enter the lodge dining room and, after thinking for a few seconds, order a meal. Some sit at tables with their friends, and others head directly to the counter for a takeout meal. Either way, their orders appear as icons inside the word balloons floating over their heads. Your job is to tell Emily which foods to grab (preparing them if needed) for her tray, who to bring them to, when to go to the cash register to settle a customer’s bill, and which tables to bus, if necessary. It sounds easy, but as more and more guests begin arriving at once, as background tasks like cleaning, accepting mail deliveries, preparing for special events, or just plain stirring the cranberry sauce so it doesn’t bubble over the sides of its pot, etc. take up more of Emily’s time, and as more complex food begins to appear on the menu… let’s just say that things get quite hectic indeed!

It all comes down to how quickly – and how precisely – you can operate a mouse.

The longer guests are kept waiting, no matter what the reason, the unhappier they become. When they begin to become red in the face, you’re in trouble! Only happy customers tip well, and the sum total of the restaurant’s profits act as your score at the end of each day. In each of these levels you have a target score to reach. If you can’t match it, you’ll have to repeat the day. If you do exceedingly well during a day, you’ll receive an expert rating. As the game began, I was busting out expert scores left and right. But as things got more complex and Emily’s friends and family began filling up the dining room – and bickering like any crazy family at a holiday get together! – I rapidly realized I wasn’t quite the time management game champion I secretly always thought I was…

(Three levels of difficulty are available, so younger children or slowpokes like myself can play on the easiest setting, while adepts and the cognoscente can knock themselves out with the fiendishly demanding most difficult setting.)

There are always plenty of things to click on in the Delicious world, and the Snuggford Hotel is no exception. No two days offer the same fun distractions. Even “normal” days have extras going on: A cute Christmas mouse often pops up, and is worth an extra 100 points if you can locate him after hearing his announcing squeak. More Gamehouse items are up for grabs – basically, if something looks like it’s out of place in the lodge, click on it! There are trophies to be won (for example, you receive a trophy for getting three payment combos in a row) and of course Francois’ catalog of restaurant goodies to look through. Upgrading the lodge with Christmas furnishings is absolutely necessary to meet the mounting challenge of later levels!

With plenty of cute characters (basically everyone from the past Delicious games makes an appearance), a romantic storyline, and lots of time management challenges that will keep you replaying levels trying to get that elusive expert score… do you chance waiting just a few seconds longer to settle a customer’s bill in hopes of getting a payment combo with another customer who has almost finished his meal?… Delicious: Emily’s Holiday Season is one time management game and Christmas game I highly recommend.

Review by Uesugi

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Lokasi : Kaki gunung wilis, 20090920

Fiske Independent Race Management has just posted their 2010 race schedule here.  It’s actually only the first half of the season posted, with promise of the second half being posted in the next couple of weeks.

Right of the bat in April, there is a repeat of the Mud, Sweat and Gears Duathlon on April 25th, except it has a different name: the Rockbuster Offroad Duathlon.  I think I’ll sign up for that one, and see if my brother makes good on his stated intention to do the race with me.  I’m also going to try and rally some of my Mountain Biking Ladies to ride this one with me, too.  I don’t mind doing it alone, but I love the camaraderie I’ve discovered in my mountain biking group.  However it shakes out–my only goal will be to beat my time from last year, which mean more training on the run portion of the race (which is 66% of the whole race).

There are also some other fun races scheduled, duathlons in the spring,  and triathlons in the summer when the water gets warmer.  I’m curious about the experience of triathlon, but would need to commit to serious swim training–something I’m not sure if I can fit into my already crazy schedule.

–Karen (AKA, the dog paddler)

Pregnancy clothes, similarly as well as every clothes, should be selected to the type of the figure. Amongst being on a marketplace of types and different kinds of the collection every future mum will certainly find something appropriate for oneself. Depending on the taste it can be for example pregnancy clothes more or less colourful, underlining or hiding the growing character, correcting or exhibiting some its parts. Appropriately selected pregnancy clothes will let it emphasize the most beneficial advantages of every silhouette and cover up possible imperfections. Carrying clothes in dark colours optically is reducing riveting the attention, whereas lively and sharp colours as well as great models cause that the silhouette is kind of more exposed and he is returning the universal attention. With additional attracting the interest and at the same time changing and sending element for clothes of attraction, there are all additions, so as bags, belts, the jewellery, the footwear and different ornaments. Imperfections of the figure but especially its bottom parts great are hiding loose trousers made of nicely negotiating materials, best in dark keys, without great models, large pockets. As for skirts or dresses best, lightly widening downwards straight lines are covering cuts up. Leggings reaching little centimetres by knees are also recommended. Dresses having low necklines are clothes masking too rich shapes of the mountain of the silhouette, I am sewing V- which additionally they are extending and they are making the face look slender. Dresses or smeltings can be of wallet cut, to have side trusses. However blouses not having sleeves, turtlenecks or sweaters are undesirable about thick stitches. In the period of pregnancy wearing is very important appropriate put $one’s$ shoes on. Many women wearing shoes on high heels, for the period of the last months of pregnancy should resign from them and for universal days put the more comfortable footwear on, so as for example plimsolls or slippers on a low heel. It will let reduce straining the spine and a rest will leg it.

The day I was looking forward to it began, and we were excitedly waiting with a bag full of mangos for Manuel’s driver to give us ride. It appeared, we had another traveler share the trip with us. He was a friend of Manuel who was in a business trip from Australia, very pleasant guy.

Parque Nacional Tayrona was on the jungle covered coast east of Santa Marta. It took around an hour to get to that Majestic Beauty. The admission supposed to be US $9 and no surprise that we had to pay much more because we were not “locals”.

Oh boy! It was totally worth it to come to Colombia just for those coconut palms shading the beaches, awesome wood smell, fogs covering mountain, and a massage bed right in front of the ocean (luxury at a bargain).

The driver showed us to a beach which, as he said, was hidden from Tourists. It was unbelievable. A scene from heaven!! Too bad we couldn’t swim there since two armed guys guarded the place and warned us not even thinking about swimming there. I heard from driver and several tourists that Tayrona was the loveliest yet most dangerous part of Colombia. (I leave the reason to your imagination.)
Riding with a jeep in the bumpy road, wild nature, and forewarning of the driver to leave before dark made me feel inside one of the Indiana Jones movies. I was not into horse ridding but there was an option to rent horses and wander around the jungle. We finally found a beach that we could swim for awhile. With perfect water temperature and an awesome view it was heartbreaking to leave the beach.
At the end, I was glad for leaving the best part for the end.

A million thanks to beautiful Katrizza and nice Manuel.

It is Wednesday and that means adventure day. After brainstorming Mike and I decide to head up to Larch Mountain in the Columbia Gorge. Driving up there, as we gain elevation snow slowly becomes part of the landscape. Snow covered trees symmetrically line the road.

We decide halfway up to pull of to the side of the road and explore the surroundings. Opening my door I am pleasantly surprised at the absence of sound. Dead silence. I get my camera out and position myself in the center of the road to capture the symmetrical landscape in front of me.

Out of the silence a strange methodical sound surrounds me from above. I look up and see two huge hawks sweeping above the trees.

Twenty minutes later and we’re back in the car and on our way to Larch Mountain.

We are often so set on getting to our desired destination that we fail to enjoy the journey. While getting to the top of Larch Mountain, with the amazing view of Mt. Hood National Forest, was breathtaking, the most enjoyable part of the adventure was stopping and exploring the forest area along the road.