Melakwa Lake

06.27.06

Bracken ferns beckon,

like a gnarled-knuckled finger,

bent,

unfurling, uncurling.

Come.

Come, my pretty.

Come, my darling,

the wizened ones call.

Little bread crumbs can’t be seen

on this snowy trail.

Come.

Get lost in these woods.

Linger by the lake.

Bake in the sun.

Dege Peak, June 2005, is now a little movie

I skied off Dege Peak last June in the Sourdough Chutes Fest 2005. I am one of the featured skiers in the 13 minute film about the day.
check it out here:

http://www.dan-jer.com/video/sc2005vbr.wmv

Hidden Lakes Peak, Father's Day ski

Read all about it here

Duck Dodge, Lake Union

My friend Paul invited me to crew on his boat Tuesday night for a race known as the Duck Dodge out at Lake Union. We cast off the dock from SYC at 6, sounded the air horn to the University Bridge master at 6:30 to raise the draw bridge under which we proceeded out to the Lake. I've always thought this was a small lake; imagine it packed with racing boats. While I have sailed before, Paul's entire crew was novice to this boat and his captaining style. Still we managed to do as Paul likes to do; we did well.

The highlights of the evening included the play of light and shadow, the perspective from being perched more than half way up the mast, and the end of race raft-up-soiree. Winding down, wind in my hair, wine in my soul, I then changed out of my sail sandles, back into my bike cleats, and pushed off the dock on the two wheels well after 11PM. Another not-so-urban urban adventure. I love this city!

Back on the bike

The humidity breaks

into droplets slow

and surprisingly warm.

The smell of ozone rises

from speckled pavement

beneath my bicycle wheels.

The sound of crinkling

on my helmet.

Somehow I sneeze

and send a flock of pigeons

into the bright gray sky.

Dusk Patrol, Alpental

06.06.06
A triple perfect number. A perfect evening.

After seeing Dave's post from their Saturday blitzkrieg I invited Dave and his son Brett to join us on a planned dusk patrol. Dave phoned Monday night to encourage me to push the start time to earlier; I thought perhaps to accommodate the middle school(er) schedule. Being Brett's Science teacher, I easily obliged.

In class, I asked Brett if I was going to have to chase him up the mountain. Later as I climbed in his family VW van, I turned to him in the w a y back and promised that I wasn't going to make this outing a lesson: although he should probably pay attention to the Newton's three laws of motion as it related to skiing. (I do have a bias about the development of science education and a connection to the outdoors :)

In the blazing sun at about 4:45 pm, we were stunned by the backlight leaves of the scrub and brush dominating the lower slopes of Alpental. Brett schooled me and selected a fine line over creek crossings and up the limited remnant snow patches. At the flats, the R's busted out their snack bag before beginning our skin up Deb's Gold to the base of chair 2. Snow, continuous from here on, was soft and sometimes slippery. New construction is underway on the access ramp of Chair 2. I skinned above into the little bowl and took about a dozen turns while Dave and Brett dined on dinner. The view of Red Mountain was lovely.

We skied the main line on Deb's Gold and found the snow sticky and s l o w. Pine pollen got gloppy on the bases of our babies. We hauled ourselves out on a block of concrete, like seals seeking some sun and dry land, to dry off the skis and reattach our soaked skins. Just then, Cass, Kelvin, and Mark arrived, from their ascent up Sessel, as we had planned.

Introductions made, we skinned again the same route. Brett got frustrated with his floppy wet skins and called it a wonderful night about half way up. Nice job Brett! We bid Dave and Brett farewell and continued higher. The guys headed to Denny. I gained the ridge to the cat-track and enjoyed the simple solitude and silence of snow.

We all skied out the couloir skier’s left (Eisenfallen). Lovely turns and little gladed "gate" opportunity. Crossing the snow bridge on the major creek crossing, Kelvin discovered the melt-out find of the season. He emerged from behind the huge rock with a snowboard strapped to his pack and a huge grin stuck on his face. This made for a good beacon to follow through the brush in the fading light. True to dusk patrol style, we hit the bridge in the darkest of dusk and the glow of the little lights, which paled in comparison to the moon.

more photos here and here

name in lights

Pike Market Street Fair

On June 3, I mentored a Youth in Focus freelance student photographer on assignment at the Pike Market Street Fair. Working off her shot list, I made a few pictures of my own. This is my favorite from the day: kids racing their gussied up zuchinni on wheels in the Zuchinni 500 at Peter Steinbruck park.

Mallardy Ridge, Memorial Day Hike

Janice offered to drive. She said we could turn around at the meadow instead of the full trail hike as described in her Best Hikes with Kids book. She was scouting for her summer class. Yet, half way up the mountain dirt road, I noticed that the trail was best recommended for July to October.

The little red car couldn't make it to the trail head. So we walked in about a mile to the trail head, and proceeded up the narrow, wet trail. About two miles in, we lost the trail due to the snow. The terrain flattened out and I thought maybe this is the meadow.

Sure enough, beneath the ten foot walls of snow was the meadow stream babbling away. Marsh marigold (Caltha spp.) were blooming in the banks. Other botanical beauties spotted on this jaunt: colts foot, british soliders (lichen), and early droopy leaves of the vine maple.

Ahh! Spring.
 

Addtional trip photos