"C'mon, stand up! Find a good place for your feet,and stand up! You got it, dont worry so much about your hands, watch your feet!" I say excitedly, as I have with so many others, as they begin their rock climbing lives with me as something of a mentor. "Just trust your feet, and remember that I've got you!"
Like just about everyone else I have put on a rope for the first time, I see the fear in his movements as I shout encouragement upward,with my head craning back to a point just beyond uncomfortable.
In so many ways, he is like everyone else with whom I have shared my passion. Scared, excited, and a little clumsy. But he is very different. He is different, because he's my son, and he has never known life without climbing. Only now it's me looking up at him as he climbs steadily higher,not only facing the challenges....But persuing them. Life is good, and I am proud.
This page will be a running record of what goes on in my head. Most of it will be gibberish with no value whatsoever, and the rest will be garbage with no value whatsoever.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Love of money
Who among us hasn't, at some time in our lives, uttered the words "I don't really care about money" or something with a similar point? I know that I have made statements like this dozens of times throughout my twenties, and even more often in adolescence. Well, I would like to go on record ,officially, that I now care about money, and I'd like to explain why.
POWER
Money is, above all other things to me, about power. The greater the financial resources of an individual, the greater the power held by said person. With that said, allow me to discuss power for a moment. If you are struggling to make ends meet and your child falls ill, you have only a limited number of resources at your disposal with which to work. With money, however, you are blessed with more power, in the form of the quantity of resources available to you and your family.
Humanitarianism is another avenue in which ones power is directly proportional to ones wealth. While, indeed, many people have done great things without the greatest funding, money can allow even the most ordinary person to make extra-ordinary contributions to society and mankind in general.
Time is without a doubt, our most valuable resource. Just think of all the time we spend away from the people and activities that make our lives richer and fuller, just so we can earn enough money to pay our bills, and continue with the "Money isn't really important to me" line. Now imagine if you had the kind of money that would allow you to double the amount of time you spend doing the things you truly enjoy. Now that's power!
FREEDOM
When asked about my long term goals, I have a long standing habit of answering first with, "freedom." Recently, I came to the realization that this was probably a little vague, so I decided to explain it, in writing, in a way that will make sense.
The first thing that comes to mind when I speak of freedom, is the freedom from a job. I hope to someday stop working, and the more money I have, the longer it will take for me to gain that freedom.
The second thing I think of, is freedom to relax. With poverty comes an intense level of stress over whether or not the bills will be paid, or how to fund Christmas. While people with money obviously still stress about things,the fundamental survival of their family isn't quite as heavy a burden as it is for the poor.
The third idea of freedom is the freedom to be yourself. We have all heard of the eccentricities of the wealthy, but how do we know they aren't just doing the things we'd all like to do, if only we didn't have to maintain our status in society. Think about it, a wealthy woman who wears strange clothing and behaves unusually is called eccentric, and is generally tolerated, and often adored. Take away that woman's money, and she is just weird, and generally ostracised.
To summarise, I think that every out there who says they don't really care about money, or that money cant buy happiness, should think a little harder. Money can give you time to spend with your family and Friends. Money can allow you to help people. Money can free you from many of life's burdens, and allow you to more fully enjoy this, the only chance you have at living this life.
POWER
Money is, above all other things to me, about power. The greater the financial resources of an individual, the greater the power held by said person. With that said, allow me to discuss power for a moment. If you are struggling to make ends meet and your child falls ill, you have only a limited number of resources at your disposal with which to work. With money, however, you are blessed with more power, in the form of the quantity of resources available to you and your family.
Humanitarianism is another avenue in which ones power is directly proportional to ones wealth. While, indeed, many people have done great things without the greatest funding, money can allow even the most ordinary person to make extra-ordinary contributions to society and mankind in general.
Time is without a doubt, our most valuable resource. Just think of all the time we spend away from the people and activities that make our lives richer and fuller, just so we can earn enough money to pay our bills, and continue with the "Money isn't really important to me" line. Now imagine if you had the kind of money that would allow you to double the amount of time you spend doing the things you truly enjoy. Now that's power!
FREEDOM
When asked about my long term goals, I have a long standing habit of answering first with, "freedom." Recently, I came to the realization that this was probably a little vague, so I decided to explain it, in writing, in a way that will make sense.
The first thing that comes to mind when I speak of freedom, is the freedom from a job. I hope to someday stop working, and the more money I have, the longer it will take for me to gain that freedom.
The second thing I think of, is freedom to relax. With poverty comes an intense level of stress over whether or not the bills will be paid, or how to fund Christmas. While people with money obviously still stress about things,the fundamental survival of their family isn't quite as heavy a burden as it is for the poor.
The third idea of freedom is the freedom to be yourself. We have all heard of the eccentricities of the wealthy, but how do we know they aren't just doing the things we'd all like to do, if only we didn't have to maintain our status in society. Think about it, a wealthy woman who wears strange clothing and behaves unusually is called eccentric, and is generally tolerated, and often adored. Take away that woman's money, and she is just weird, and generally ostracised.
To summarise, I think that every out there who says they don't really care about money, or that money cant buy happiness, should think a little harder. Money can give you time to spend with your family and Friends. Money can allow you to help people. Money can free you from many of life's burdens, and allow you to more fully enjoy this, the only chance you have at living this life.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Memorial day road trip, Part 1
This Memorial Day, my family and I joined the masses and took a road trip for the long weekend. After looking into a few different areas, we decided on the Colorado National Monument, just West of Gran Junction in Western Colorado.
Having experienced a couple of National Parks, we were prepared for the crowds that were sure to block our every attempt at solitude. What we found, however, was a delightful surprise. Pulling into the ranger station, we were told that the campground rarely filled up, and that large crowds were pretty unusual here in this park. Thrilled by this news, we began the drive into the park.
As an avid rock climber, I immediately noticed the size and variety of the rock walls that formed the rim of the canyon. This was unlike any place I had seen. Hundreds of feet tall, with the reddish color that we Coloradans have become so familiar with, these rocks stood everywhere. The farther we drove into the park, the louder our “oohs” and “ahhs” became as every corner we turned revealed another majestic view with increasingly large rocks. After a few minutes of driving, we came upon the campground, and turned in its direction.
We decided to see what each loop had to offer before we decided on a space, and so we began the drive around each of the three loops. After going around loops A and B, we entered loop C with no expectation of what we were about to find. After spotting a couple good spots, we turned a corner and discovered the lookout over Monument Valley. Before us stood towers of sandstone that stood alone, hundreds of feet tall like some strange reminder of the giant dinosaurs that once roamed this area.
After we managed to pick our jaws up off the ground, we went back around and set up camp, as near the overlook as we could get, in anticipation of the next mornings sunrise photo-shoot we had planned. Within moments of our arrival in camp, we were greeted by a lizard that managed to show up and entertain us several times throughout the trip. Seeming to have no fear of us, it posed for photos, and did a strange dance for us, providing us with hours of entertainment
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Things I learned as an adult, about the things I learned as a kid
I have recently found myself questioning some of the things that I have considered true, based on lessons and experiences of my childhood and adolescence. This got me to thinking about all the other beliefs I once held, and have chanced since I entered the adult world.
Childhood belief #1 - Cops are assholes.
Adult perspective – So are many firefighters, doctors, carpenters and beggars. A person’s vocation has nothing to do with their personality. While many people say that cops often act too aggressively, I ask, wouldn’t you? If every person I encountered in my daily life was a potential enemy, I would be a little aggressive also.
Childhood belief #2 - The rich are greedy.
Adult perspective- So are the poor! In fact, I say the poor are even greedier. Most wealth in this country is first generation, meaning the rich guy made his own money. No matter if they made their fortunes with an idea, a business, or a novel, they had to compete with other ideas, businesses, or novels. In order to make their fortunes, their money making vehicle had to serve an ever increasing pool of people, or they would stop making money.
The employees of these companies, on the other hand, often expect to see their salaries increase regularly, often for no increase in productivity! In other words, while the business owner must constantly find a way to serve more of his product to more people for a more competitive price, the employee asks for more money while the change in their productivity often goes unchanged. I’ll bet the business owner would like to increase his income without increasing his output! So who’s really the greedy one?
Childhood belief #3 - I’m basically an adult.
Adult perspective- This might have been the dumbest thing I ever said. Ever. At 16 or 17, I thought that having a job, paying some bills, and making some rudimentary decisions on my own somehow signified adulthood.
Marriage, fatherhood, car payments, career decisions and a mortgage have all served to open my eyes to the reality of adulthood. This status of maturity is not as simple the ability to perform some basic requirements. The weight of your decisions increases significantly when the consequences of your actions begin to affect not just you, but your family, home, and future. I read somewhere that in ancient Jewish cultures, a man could not be a judge until he fathered at least two children. This was because only in fatherhood and marriage could one gain the maturity, empathy and compassion necessary to judge other people.
Childhood belief #4 – My friends are my family.
Adult perspective- No, they’re not. While indeed, some friendships may last a lifetime and grow continuously richer and more fulfilling, this is the exception. For the most part, as you grow older, your friends will slowly fade away, being replaced by new relationships in the form of romantic interests, professional associations, and new friendships based upon things more relevant to your adult life. The simple fact is, people change. With that change in our personalities often comes a resistance to the changes in others’ lives and perceptions. Eventually this leads to a decline in the regularity of communication, which further widens the gap between what were once very close friendships. Often when this gap grows too wide, it will sever the relationship entirely.
Obviously, these views are mine, and they probably don’t apply to you’re life. I think we all undergo so many changes in the course of our lives that we are often different people from one phase of our lives to the next. What do you think?
Childhood belief #1 - Cops are assholes.
Adult perspective – So are many firefighters, doctors, carpenters and beggars. A person’s vocation has nothing to do with their personality. While many people say that cops often act too aggressively, I ask, wouldn’t you? If every person I encountered in my daily life was a potential enemy, I would be a little aggressive also.
Childhood belief #2 - The rich are greedy.
Adult perspective- So are the poor! In fact, I say the poor are even greedier. Most wealth in this country is first generation, meaning the rich guy made his own money. No matter if they made their fortunes with an idea, a business, or a novel, they had to compete with other ideas, businesses, or novels. In order to make their fortunes, their money making vehicle had to serve an ever increasing pool of people, or they would stop making money.
The employees of these companies, on the other hand, often expect to see their salaries increase regularly, often for no increase in productivity! In other words, while the business owner must constantly find a way to serve more of his product to more people for a more competitive price, the employee asks for more money while the change in their productivity often goes unchanged. I’ll bet the business owner would like to increase his income without increasing his output! So who’s really the greedy one?
Childhood belief #3 - I’m basically an adult.
Adult perspective- This might have been the dumbest thing I ever said. Ever. At 16 or 17, I thought that having a job, paying some bills, and making some rudimentary decisions on my own somehow signified adulthood.
Marriage, fatherhood, car payments, career decisions and a mortgage have all served to open my eyes to the reality of adulthood. This status of maturity is not as simple the ability to perform some basic requirements. The weight of your decisions increases significantly when the consequences of your actions begin to affect not just you, but your family, home, and future. I read somewhere that in ancient Jewish cultures, a man could not be a judge until he fathered at least two children. This was because only in fatherhood and marriage could one gain the maturity, empathy and compassion necessary to judge other people.
Childhood belief #4 – My friends are my family.
Adult perspective- No, they’re not. While indeed, some friendships may last a lifetime and grow continuously richer and more fulfilling, this is the exception. For the most part, as you grow older, your friends will slowly fade away, being replaced by new relationships in the form of romantic interests, professional associations, and new friendships based upon things more relevant to your adult life. The simple fact is, people change. With that change in our personalities often comes a resistance to the changes in others’ lives and perceptions. Eventually this leads to a decline in the regularity of communication, which further widens the gap between what were once very close friendships. Often when this gap grows too wide, it will sever the relationship entirely.
Obviously, these views are mine, and they probably don’t apply to you’re life. I think we all undergo so many changes in the course of our lives that we are often different people from one phase of our lives to the next. What do you think?
Friday, May 4, 2007
Baby Boomers and HVAC
In approximately three years, the first of the baby boomer generation will begin to retire. With such a large portion of the American workforce phasing out of every imaginable industry, the younger generations must consider the implications on our own lives. This paper will focus on the future, as I envision it, of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry, and how it will affect technicians who are still in the early stages of their careers.
In a business that has already had a very hard time recruiting people, the loss of key personnel could prove devastating to many companies. As long time, highly skilled employees say goodbye, employers will have to deal with replacing them with much less experienced candidates. Advertising, hiring, training and then finally utilizing these new members of a given company will take considerable amounts of time, energy and money. All of which will only be profitable if the new employee proves to be capable and reliable enough to last awhile.
As a technician in the field the most notable effect of this will be demand. Long days, hectic schedules and consistently heavier workloads will be almost impossible to avoid. Unemployment in our industry will plummet for even the most unskilled techs and installers. Anyone who takes the time now to train themselves and develop skills will be able to enjoy job security in ways previously unheard of.
One of the most valuable tools on any job is experience. Even the most complicated troubleshooting problem can easily be solved by someone who has seen the same thing before. With the retirement of the baby boomers, uncountable years of experience and practical skills will be lost to our community. Having a problem with an electrical system? Put your phone down and figure it out yourself, because the guy you have been calling for help with this stuff is fishing. Need some information on that new thermostat? Remember the fishing thing.
Those of us who have already been involved in our trade for a few years will begin to see advancement opportunities opening up everywhere. Positions from project manager to lead man to purchaser will fall onto our collective shoulders. As fewer and fewer of the older workers will be available, the “generation Xers” will find little competition for the newly open jobs. The benefit of a few years experience needs no explanation in a field where practical skills are so valuable.
As manpower comes into greater demand, and the workload increases on existing personnel, technology will have to begin playing an even more important role than it does now. Building automations, remote operated control systems, will enable technicians to make minor adjustments via the Internet without having to drive to every jobsite. The ability and technical know-how to operate and utilize this technology will be of great value to any employer. Anyone capable of performing these tasks along with the common technician responsibilities will be virtually guaranteed a job with all but the smallest of companies.
While many of these changes may appear to be rather negative for entry-level personnel, we must consider the financial compensation. Right now, HVAC/R technicians are the most sought after tradesmen in the country. Take a look in just about any newspaper classified section and you will see a disproportionately large amount of ads seeking techs. People do not want to live without heat, air conditioning or refrigeration, and they are willing to pay for those things. Since the pool of qualified people who can install, maintain, repair and replace this equipment is shrinking, the cost is growing rapidly. In an already lucrative career, we can expect to see ourselves profit tremendously.
To summarize, I believe the retirement of the baby boomer generation is going to affect the HVAC/R industry in many ways. While some of these effects will result in our being greatly overworked and often over extended, those of us who continue to develop new and better skills will see a very comfortable future.
In a business that has already had a very hard time recruiting people, the loss of key personnel could prove devastating to many companies. As long time, highly skilled employees say goodbye, employers will have to deal with replacing them with much less experienced candidates. Advertising, hiring, training and then finally utilizing these new members of a given company will take considerable amounts of time, energy and money. All of which will only be profitable if the new employee proves to be capable and reliable enough to last awhile.
As a technician in the field the most notable effect of this will be demand. Long days, hectic schedules and consistently heavier workloads will be almost impossible to avoid. Unemployment in our industry will plummet for even the most unskilled techs and installers. Anyone who takes the time now to train themselves and develop skills will be able to enjoy job security in ways previously unheard of.
One of the most valuable tools on any job is experience. Even the most complicated troubleshooting problem can easily be solved by someone who has seen the same thing before. With the retirement of the baby boomers, uncountable years of experience and practical skills will be lost to our community. Having a problem with an electrical system? Put your phone down and figure it out yourself, because the guy you have been calling for help with this stuff is fishing. Need some information on that new thermostat? Remember the fishing thing.
Those of us who have already been involved in our trade for a few years will begin to see advancement opportunities opening up everywhere. Positions from project manager to lead man to purchaser will fall onto our collective shoulders. As fewer and fewer of the older workers will be available, the “generation Xers” will find little competition for the newly open jobs. The benefit of a few years experience needs no explanation in a field where practical skills are so valuable.
As manpower comes into greater demand, and the workload increases on existing personnel, technology will have to begin playing an even more important role than it does now. Building automations, remote operated control systems, will enable technicians to make minor adjustments via the Internet without having to drive to every jobsite. The ability and technical know-how to operate and utilize this technology will be of great value to any employer. Anyone capable of performing these tasks along with the common technician responsibilities will be virtually guaranteed a job with all but the smallest of companies.
While many of these changes may appear to be rather negative for entry-level personnel, we must consider the financial compensation. Right now, HVAC/R technicians are the most sought after tradesmen in the country. Take a look in just about any newspaper classified section and you will see a disproportionately large amount of ads seeking techs. People do not want to live without heat, air conditioning or refrigeration, and they are willing to pay for those things. Since the pool of qualified people who can install, maintain, repair and replace this equipment is shrinking, the cost is growing rapidly. In an already lucrative career, we can expect to see ourselves profit tremendously.
To summarize, I believe the retirement of the baby boomer generation is going to affect the HVAC/R industry in many ways. While some of these effects will result in our being greatly overworked and often over extended, those of us who continue to develop new and better skills will see a very comfortable future.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Monster
“Close your eyes,” he whispered, “and try to remember your life before I came along.” Smiling maliciously just inches away from her ear, the monster inhaled deeply of her expensive perfume and ran the edge of his knife along her shoulder.
Trembling with fear the woman obediently clamped her eyes shut and prayed he would not cut her again.
“Tell me what you see.” He demands.
I s-s-see my m-mom… She came t-to s-see my new apartment,” the woman stuttered, not sure if fear or cold was causing her to shiver. “W-we had l-lunch and AAAAHH!!!” she shrieked suddenly, as the monsters knife cut cleanly into her skin for the fourth time in as many hours. She barely feels the blood gliding down her back and bare buttocks, slightly increasing the size of the murky puddle on the hard wooden chair she had been tied to all morning. “Why are you doing this?” she shrieks, as her body tries in vain to buck foreword.
“Because you want it, need it, feeeel it…..” The monster groans, as though caught in the throes of passion. Running the callused tip of his dirty finger down this new wound, the monster pauses briefly when he reaches the small of her back and then suddenly steps away, leaving the room. The woman barely notices the dark patch on the front of his faded blue jeans.
Struggling to stay conscious, the woman studies her prison. The bare concrete walls of an unfinished basement surround her, with a single door behind her leading up a flight of stairs. Except for the chair she is tied to, and its mate witch still holds her predecessor, the room is completely without furniture. A single row of blinking fluorescent lights illuminates the room like a set for movies with scenes very similar to this.
Hearing the door open, she tries to shrink into the chair she straddles. As the monsters footsteps draw nearer, she turns and sees that he is still wearing the same pants, and he has a belt. The monster wields this belt menacingly close to her face, close enough that she can smell the curing oils in the leather. Suddenly she hears, more than feels the dry snapping sound of the leather striking her upper back. With a loud cry she rocks foreword hard enough to tip the chair onto two legs, stalling momentarily in the purgatory between crashing down on her face and gently rocking back into place. It is at this moment, the monster strikes her again, sending her face first into the blood stained concrete floor. Only the rich metallic taste of blood and the sound of the monsters heavy breathing followed her into darkness.
Awareness comes slowly to the woman. First, bringing the dull throbbing of a badly bruised body, then with light as she forces open the eye that didn’t hit the ground, the other too badly swollen to do anything but hurt. Scanning around the room she sees that she is again upright and her predecessor is gone. “At least I don’t have to look at her anymore.” she thinks, grasping for something to be positive about. “I wonder why she looked at me like that.” she wonders, thinking back to her first, and her predecessors last three hours in this room.
Stumbling, completely nude except for the bindings on her wrists, down the stairs and through the door, she sees her predecessor only peripherally at first, until the screaming started. Looking around, the woman immediately saw that the wailing was coming from a horribly beaten and lacerated young lady. “Nononononono” seemed to be all the lady could say while staring at the woman.
So entranced by the spectacle was the woman, she hadn’t noticed her hands and feet being bound to the legs of the chair in identical fashion as those of her predecessor. Snapping her out of this daze, a fire spread down her back as The Monster made a long cut down the middle of her back. “Oh my God!!” She screamed as the predecessor continued her one word monologue.
“I’ll be back for you every hour.” the monster said with a lazy smile, as he walked toward his other victim to begin the three hour series of deep cuts and brutal whipping that would drain the life and will out of anyone.
“I see you’re awake!” the woman hears the monster shout, snapping her back to the present. “Good, cuz I’ve got a little surprise for ya!” he says gleefully, as he turns and bounds back through the door and up the stairs.
Turning around at the sound of footsteps coming rapidly down the stairs, the woman feels her sanity snap back like a shade being pulled, as another woman enters the room.
Trembling with fear the woman obediently clamped her eyes shut and prayed he would not cut her again.
“Tell me what you see.” He demands.
I s-s-see my m-mom… She came t-to s-see my new apartment,” the woman stuttered, not sure if fear or cold was causing her to shiver. “W-we had l-lunch and AAAAHH!!!” she shrieked suddenly, as the monsters knife cut cleanly into her skin for the fourth time in as many hours. She barely feels the blood gliding down her back and bare buttocks, slightly increasing the size of the murky puddle on the hard wooden chair she had been tied to all morning. “Why are you doing this?” she shrieks, as her body tries in vain to buck foreword.
“Because you want it, need it, feeeel it…..” The monster groans, as though caught in the throes of passion. Running the callused tip of his dirty finger down this new wound, the monster pauses briefly when he reaches the small of her back and then suddenly steps away, leaving the room. The woman barely notices the dark patch on the front of his faded blue jeans.
Struggling to stay conscious, the woman studies her prison. The bare concrete walls of an unfinished basement surround her, with a single door behind her leading up a flight of stairs. Except for the chair she is tied to, and its mate witch still holds her predecessor, the room is completely without furniture. A single row of blinking fluorescent lights illuminates the room like a set for movies with scenes very similar to this.
Hearing the door open, she tries to shrink into the chair she straddles. As the monsters footsteps draw nearer, she turns and sees that he is still wearing the same pants, and he has a belt. The monster wields this belt menacingly close to her face, close enough that she can smell the curing oils in the leather. Suddenly she hears, more than feels the dry snapping sound of the leather striking her upper back. With a loud cry she rocks foreword hard enough to tip the chair onto two legs, stalling momentarily in the purgatory between crashing down on her face and gently rocking back into place. It is at this moment, the monster strikes her again, sending her face first into the blood stained concrete floor. Only the rich metallic taste of blood and the sound of the monsters heavy breathing followed her into darkness.
Awareness comes slowly to the woman. First, bringing the dull throbbing of a badly bruised body, then with light as she forces open the eye that didn’t hit the ground, the other too badly swollen to do anything but hurt. Scanning around the room she sees that she is again upright and her predecessor is gone. “At least I don’t have to look at her anymore.” she thinks, grasping for something to be positive about. “I wonder why she looked at me like that.” she wonders, thinking back to her first, and her predecessors last three hours in this room.
Stumbling, completely nude except for the bindings on her wrists, down the stairs and through the door, she sees her predecessor only peripherally at first, until the screaming started. Looking around, the woman immediately saw that the wailing was coming from a horribly beaten and lacerated young lady. “Nononononono” seemed to be all the lady could say while staring at the woman.
So entranced by the spectacle was the woman, she hadn’t noticed her hands and feet being bound to the legs of the chair in identical fashion as those of her predecessor. Snapping her out of this daze, a fire spread down her back as The Monster made a long cut down the middle of her back. “Oh my God!!” She screamed as the predecessor continued her one word monologue.
“I’ll be back for you every hour.” the monster said with a lazy smile, as he walked toward his other victim to begin the three hour series of deep cuts and brutal whipping that would drain the life and will out of anyone.
“I see you’re awake!” the woman hears the monster shout, snapping her back to the present. “Good, cuz I’ve got a little surprise for ya!” he says gleefully, as he turns and bounds back through the door and up the stairs.
Turning around at the sound of footsteps coming rapidly down the stairs, the woman feels her sanity snap back like a shade being pulled, as another woman enters the room.
The Third
My alarm went off at 3:00 am and I violently slapped the snooze button as though it had offended me. Pulling myself out of bed I began the familiar routine of starting a climbing day. This, however, was going to be no ordinary climb. Today I would be climbing the third Flatiron, by far the largest rock I had attempted.
Gulping hot coffee and making last minute adjustments to the gear I planned to bring, I found myself becoming nervous. I knew I was going to have a few new experiences, and the butterflies in my stomach seemed to be turning into bats or maybe buzzards. Would I freeze up under pressure? Would I slip and fall? One way or the other I would find out.
By 4:45 am my partner, Steve, and I were at the trailhead and beginning the long and steeper-than-it-looked hike to the rock. Guided by moonlight and the dancing beams of our flashlights, we wove our way through rocks and trees until we arrived at “The Third,” as it is affectionately known. Still in near total darkness we decided to watch the sunrise over Boulder, Colorado.
By the light of the rising sun I got my first view of the route we planned to climb, and was awed by its beauty. Eight hundred feet of vertical sandstone, glowing in the reddish hue of daybreak, stood before me like some colossal dorsal fin. I felt as though I was gazing out at a sea of molten lava.
Beginning to climb, I quickly noticed two things. First, standing on a wall this big, all perspective was lost. After one hundred feet of climbing, I looked up to find the top seemingly no closer than when I started. Second, due to the nature of the rock, we climbed with none of our usual protective equipment. Although the climbing was very easy, I couldn’t help thinking about the horrendous fall potential.
Moving up the rock I could not help looking around and smiling to myself, thinking how much I pitied “normal people” who would never see or do anything like this. The trees that stood so high above me only a few hours ago were now small like some toy in one of my sons train sets. At some point I watched a peregrine falcon soaring below me, close enough that I could see the colors in its feathers shimmering in the sunlight. Even the feeling of the sun on my bare back, or the light breeze caressing my skin seemed different, as though being so high in the air made everything more vivid, more real.
Pleasant climbing, crystal clear skies, and good company had me regretting the sight of the summit. Sitting atop this massive stone, we opened our packs and had lunch. Lingering over our food, we spoke the way climbers always do at the end of an adventure. Jobs, spouses, children and bills are set aside and for a few moments, grown men would sound like boys if overheard.
“Dude, did you see that lizard?”
“Hey, check out the hawk!”
Rappelling off of the backside of “The Third” is said to be one of the highlights of this climb. Steep, dangerous, and intimidating are common descriptions in guidebooks. Leaning back on the first of three rappels, I could see why so many people seemed to find this awkward. Lowering myself down was made considerably more difficult by the angle of the rock below me, which jutted inward enough that I feared smashing my face into the upper section while trying to get my feet onto the lower section. After clearing this section of the descent I found myself dangling high above a large boulder field. Sliding down my thin rope I once again thought of “normal people” and how glad I was not to be one of them. As the weight of my body transferred from my climbing harness and rope, to my shoes and the ground, I smiled broadly and laughed, “That was so cool!”
With hiking in the dark, huge lengths of unprotected climbing, and an infamous rappel behind me, I chuckled at my nervousness of the morning. As we hiked back to the trailhead, making frequent stops to stare at the behemoth we had just scaled, I found myself looking forward to my next bout of anxiety.
Gulping hot coffee and making last minute adjustments to the gear I planned to bring, I found myself becoming nervous. I knew I was going to have a few new experiences, and the butterflies in my stomach seemed to be turning into bats or maybe buzzards. Would I freeze up under pressure? Would I slip and fall? One way or the other I would find out.
By 4:45 am my partner, Steve, and I were at the trailhead and beginning the long and steeper-than-it-looked hike to the rock. Guided by moonlight and the dancing beams of our flashlights, we wove our way through rocks and trees until we arrived at “The Third,” as it is affectionately known. Still in near total darkness we decided to watch the sunrise over Boulder, Colorado.
By the light of the rising sun I got my first view of the route we planned to climb, and was awed by its beauty. Eight hundred feet of vertical sandstone, glowing in the reddish hue of daybreak, stood before me like some colossal dorsal fin. I felt as though I was gazing out at a sea of molten lava.
Beginning to climb, I quickly noticed two things. First, standing on a wall this big, all perspective was lost. After one hundred feet of climbing, I looked up to find the top seemingly no closer than when I started. Second, due to the nature of the rock, we climbed with none of our usual protective equipment. Although the climbing was very easy, I couldn’t help thinking about the horrendous fall potential.
Moving up the rock I could not help looking around and smiling to myself, thinking how much I pitied “normal people” who would never see or do anything like this. The trees that stood so high above me only a few hours ago were now small like some toy in one of my sons train sets. At some point I watched a peregrine falcon soaring below me, close enough that I could see the colors in its feathers shimmering in the sunlight. Even the feeling of the sun on my bare back, or the light breeze caressing my skin seemed different, as though being so high in the air made everything more vivid, more real.
Pleasant climbing, crystal clear skies, and good company had me regretting the sight of the summit. Sitting atop this massive stone, we opened our packs and had lunch. Lingering over our food, we spoke the way climbers always do at the end of an adventure. Jobs, spouses, children and bills are set aside and for a few moments, grown men would sound like boys if overheard.
“Dude, did you see that lizard?”
“Hey, check out the hawk!”
Rappelling off of the backside of “The Third” is said to be one of the highlights of this climb. Steep, dangerous, and intimidating are common descriptions in guidebooks. Leaning back on the first of three rappels, I could see why so many people seemed to find this awkward. Lowering myself down was made considerably more difficult by the angle of the rock below me, which jutted inward enough that I feared smashing my face into the upper section while trying to get my feet onto the lower section. After clearing this section of the descent I found myself dangling high above a large boulder field. Sliding down my thin rope I once again thought of “normal people” and how glad I was not to be one of them. As the weight of my body transferred from my climbing harness and rope, to my shoes and the ground, I smiled broadly and laughed, “That was so cool!”
With hiking in the dark, huge lengths of unprotected climbing, and an infamous rappel behind me, I chuckled at my nervousness of the morning. As we hiked back to the trailhead, making frequent stops to stare at the behemoth we had just scaled, I found myself looking forward to my next bout of anxiety.
Renewable energy ideas
So, today my family & I went to the museum, in part to check out the renewable energy expo that was being held in honor of Earth day. Walking around and talking to some of the people who are involved in these areas, I found my self thinking about ways to use some of thes technologies for a business of my own.
One thing that became immidiately obvious, was the focus on the heating and air conditioning of homes. Apparently, housholds makeup a very large potion of our countries "carbon footprint." With my experience and background, going back into the HVAC business seems a rather obvious choice. Selling and installing only high efficiency systems would allow me to make a living, while simultaneously making a difference in the use of our natural resources. I would, however, have to go back into working and getting dirty, which I'm not sure I want to do.
The second thing I noticed about the show, was the number of new products on display that could be used to make people more comfortable while either using less energy, or using some other type of energy altogether. This got me thinking about maybe getting into retrofitting homes with solar hot water, air mixing ventilation, solar lighting or even photvoltiacs. This would enable me to use my HVAC background, electrical and plumbing knowledge to give some of these ideas a larger market, and hopefully, help make the market profitable enough to encourage increased funding of these technologies.
Lastly, I noticed the interest of so many people on the subject of creating and using non-traditional energy sources. This got me to thinking about all the people who either havn't considered the idea, or are against the idea of change, for whatever their reason. Of these people, I am sure there are many who hold the belief that the whole global warming craze is just another fad, or maybe it's part of some liberal agenda.
I wonder, are there arguments being made for conservation that make sense to all who are involved?
One thing that became immidiately obvious, was the focus on the heating and air conditioning of homes. Apparently, housholds makeup a very large potion of our countries "carbon footprint." With my experience and background, going back into the HVAC business seems a rather obvious choice. Selling and installing only high efficiency systems would allow me to make a living, while simultaneously making a difference in the use of our natural resources. I would, however, have to go back into working and getting dirty, which I'm not sure I want to do.
The second thing I noticed about the show, was the number of new products on display that could be used to make people more comfortable while either using less energy, or using some other type of energy altogether. This got me thinking about maybe getting into retrofitting homes with solar hot water, air mixing ventilation, solar lighting or even photvoltiacs. This would enable me to use my HVAC background, electrical and plumbing knowledge to give some of these ideas a larger market, and hopefully, help make the market profitable enough to encourage increased funding of these technologies.
Lastly, I noticed the interest of so many people on the subject of creating and using non-traditional energy sources. This got me to thinking about all the people who either havn't considered the idea, or are against the idea of change, for whatever their reason. Of these people, I am sure there are many who hold the belief that the whole global warming craze is just another fad, or maybe it's part of some liberal agenda.
I wonder, are there arguments being made for conservation that make sense to all who are involved?
Thursday, April 19, 2007
winter activites
INTRODUCTION
Live in any area where cold weather is common, and sooner or later you are likely to hear someone complain about the snow. Some times, this complaining is about the winter driving, sometimes the snow shoveling, and often, it is about being cooped up in the house for long periods of time. This “cabin fever” is often felt by people who, otherwise, spend large amounts of time outside, hiking, biking, camping, or just enjoying the solitude that only nature has to offer. Counting my self among this group, I have, from time to time, contemplated the idea of moving to one of the desert states, where snow is rarely, if ever seen. Gone would be the days of looking out my window, seeing snow, and dreaming of open spaces in which I could be free to explore the worlds many treasures.
I no longer feel as though the winter weather has me, or my adventurous ambitions, held hostage. Sometime last year, I had something of a revelation. Why not find a way to actually enjoy the winter? So simple was this idea, that it actually stunned me a little. How had I let something so obvious pass me by unnoticed?
I decided then and there that, since I lived in Colorado, it only made sense to begin skiing or snowboarding. Oh, wait, that was very expensive and therefore pretty unlikely that I would do much of it. And then….I drew a blank. What does anyone do with themselves in the winter besides ski, snow board, ice fish or snowmobile? As I had already found a problem with the first two, and had no interest in the second two, I decided I had to start looking a little harder.
Having spent some time exploring the options, and trying a few of them, I have found that I no longer think of winter as something to “get through,” so much as an opportunity to see to outdoor experience from a whole different angle. As quoted by Kent and Donna Dannen (2002), Enos Mills once said, “In winter I discovered solitude, boiled down, refined, and twenty-two carat.”
Take a walk
During the warmer months, I will often spend hour upon hour strolling with my wife and son through one of Colorado’s countless trails. In the winter, we have found that this doesn’t have to change. Early this year, I and my family discovered “perhaps the ultimate winter activity for families,” according to Clair Walter (2004). Snowshoeing has provided us with a way to spend time together while still getting some exercise and enjoying the outdoors.
One thing that must be mentioned about snowshoeing is that it is, well, pretty easy. Having spent time involved in many other sports, I was almost suspicious at how quickly one can learn to maneuver with these strange baskets on your feet. With time, though, I have found that there really is no catch, it is just an easy sport that anyone can learn with little time spend thinking about technique or complicated equipment. All you have to do is dress warmly, and walk.
Even the introduction of a small child doesn’t seem to complicate things too much. I found that pulling a small sled works wonderfully. As soon as the kid gets tired from stomping around in the snow, he can sit and enjoy the ride for a few minutes, that is of course until something interesting catches his eye! The only draw backs to taking kids on snowshoeing trips are that you must, obviously, be vigilant in your observations of their well being, and often the trips must be kept somewhat short. You should absolutely familiarize yourself with the signs of frostbite and hypothermia, as well as dehydration and fatigue. Any one of these signs should be enough to call it a day and head to someplace warm for some hot cocoa.
Dig a hole
I have often thought of the irony behind people going outside to sleep in the elements, which centuries of technology, development, and instinct have taken us out of. Never the less, I have always enjoyed camping, and after having tried camping in the snow a couple times now, I am almost certain that winter camping is my favorite time of year for sleeping out doors.
Craig Connaly (2005) states that “…the best shelter for winter mountaineering, or whenever there’s movable snow, is a snow cave…They are warm, quiet, and storm proof.” To this, I would like to add that snow caves are also pretty fun to build, as long as you are prepared to get wet….Really wet! I have also found snow caves to be surprisingly warm, and according to Tawrell (2006) “a lit candle can raise the temperature to 40 degrees Fahrenheit”, which I have found pretty comparable to a tent during the fall.
While small children may not be well suited for the life inside as snow cave, teenagers may find it quite enjoyable. In fact, during the construction of our three-man snow cave, I heard my 17 year old sister on several occasions say how much fun she was having. Even during the coldest hours, she didn’t seem to have much of a problem staying warm in her sleeping bag. Admittedly, though, she did seem much more comfortable once she had a couple foot warmers on.
While digging a snow cave may not be terribly convenient, there are some aspect of living in one that make up for this. One major benefit to camping in a snow cave is dealing with wildlife. During the winter, bears are hibernating, and even the rodents seem to be dormant. For us as humans in the wilderness, this translates into greater ease in regard to food storage, cooking and eating. Just keep your food, cook, and eat in your cave. Compare that to all the hassles involving your food during the warmer months!
Conclusion
Over the course of the last winter, I have finally found a way to not only deal with the winters of Colorado, but to revel in them. By focusing this paper on activities that can be done with kids, and for relatively little money, I hope to encourage people to go out and try something new this winter. While the overpriced ski resorts continue to raise prices beyond what many families can afford, there are still plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy some good company, and the great outdoors.
Works Cited
Connally, Craig, (2005), The Mountaineering Handbook, Ragged Mountain Press/McGraw-Hill, 376pp.
Dannen, Kent and Donna, (2002), Best Easy Day Hikes Rocky Mountain National Park, Falcon, 134pp.
Tawrell, Paul, (2006), Camping & Wilderness Survival, Paul Yawrell,1080pp.
Live in any area where cold weather is common, and sooner or later you are likely to hear someone complain about the snow. Some times, this complaining is about the winter driving, sometimes the snow shoveling, and often, it is about being cooped up in the house for long periods of time. This “cabin fever” is often felt by people who, otherwise, spend large amounts of time outside, hiking, biking, camping, or just enjoying the solitude that only nature has to offer. Counting my self among this group, I have, from time to time, contemplated the idea of moving to one of the desert states, where snow is rarely, if ever seen. Gone would be the days of looking out my window, seeing snow, and dreaming of open spaces in which I could be free to explore the worlds many treasures.
I no longer feel as though the winter weather has me, or my adventurous ambitions, held hostage. Sometime last year, I had something of a revelation. Why not find a way to actually enjoy the winter? So simple was this idea, that it actually stunned me a little. How had I let something so obvious pass me by unnoticed?
I decided then and there that, since I lived in Colorado, it only made sense to begin skiing or snowboarding. Oh, wait, that was very expensive and therefore pretty unlikely that I would do much of it. And then….I drew a blank. What does anyone do with themselves in the winter besides ski, snow board, ice fish or snowmobile? As I had already found a problem with the first two, and had no interest in the second two, I decided I had to start looking a little harder.
Having spent some time exploring the options, and trying a few of them, I have found that I no longer think of winter as something to “get through,” so much as an opportunity to see to outdoor experience from a whole different angle. As quoted by Kent and Donna Dannen (2002), Enos Mills once said, “In winter I discovered solitude, boiled down, refined, and twenty-two carat.”
Take a walk
During the warmer months, I will often spend hour upon hour strolling with my wife and son through one of Colorado’s countless trails. In the winter, we have found that this doesn’t have to change. Early this year, I and my family discovered “perhaps the ultimate winter activity for families,” according to Clair Walter (2004). Snowshoeing has provided us with a way to spend time together while still getting some exercise and enjoying the outdoors.
One thing that must be mentioned about snowshoeing is that it is, well, pretty easy. Having spent time involved in many other sports, I was almost suspicious at how quickly one can learn to maneuver with these strange baskets on your feet. With time, though, I have found that there really is no catch, it is just an easy sport that anyone can learn with little time spend thinking about technique or complicated equipment. All you have to do is dress warmly, and walk.
Even the introduction of a small child doesn’t seem to complicate things too much. I found that pulling a small sled works wonderfully. As soon as the kid gets tired from stomping around in the snow, he can sit and enjoy the ride for a few minutes, that is of course until something interesting catches his eye! The only draw backs to taking kids on snowshoeing trips are that you must, obviously, be vigilant in your observations of their well being, and often the trips must be kept somewhat short. You should absolutely familiarize yourself with the signs of frostbite and hypothermia, as well as dehydration and fatigue. Any one of these signs should be enough to call it a day and head to someplace warm for some hot cocoa.
Dig a hole
I have often thought of the irony behind people going outside to sleep in the elements, which centuries of technology, development, and instinct have taken us out of. Never the less, I have always enjoyed camping, and after having tried camping in the snow a couple times now, I am almost certain that winter camping is my favorite time of year for sleeping out doors.
Craig Connaly (2005) states that “…the best shelter for winter mountaineering, or whenever there’s movable snow, is a snow cave…They are warm, quiet, and storm proof.” To this, I would like to add that snow caves are also pretty fun to build, as long as you are prepared to get wet….Really wet! I have also found snow caves to be surprisingly warm, and according to Tawrell (2006) “a lit candle can raise the temperature to 40 degrees Fahrenheit”, which I have found pretty comparable to a tent during the fall.
While small children may not be well suited for the life inside as snow cave, teenagers may find it quite enjoyable. In fact, during the construction of our three-man snow cave, I heard my 17 year old sister on several occasions say how much fun she was having. Even during the coldest hours, she didn’t seem to have much of a problem staying warm in her sleeping bag. Admittedly, though, she did seem much more comfortable once she had a couple foot warmers on.
While digging a snow cave may not be terribly convenient, there are some aspect of living in one that make up for this. One major benefit to camping in a snow cave is dealing with wildlife. During the winter, bears are hibernating, and even the rodents seem to be dormant. For us as humans in the wilderness, this translates into greater ease in regard to food storage, cooking and eating. Just keep your food, cook, and eat in your cave. Compare that to all the hassles involving your food during the warmer months!
Conclusion
Over the course of the last winter, I have finally found a way to not only deal with the winters of Colorado, but to revel in them. By focusing this paper on activities that can be done with kids, and for relatively little money, I hope to encourage people to go out and try something new this winter. While the overpriced ski resorts continue to raise prices beyond what many families can afford, there are still plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy some good company, and the great outdoors.
Works Cited
Connally, Craig, (2005), The Mountaineering Handbook, Ragged Mountain Press/McGraw-Hill, 376pp.
Dannen, Kent and Donna, (2002), Best Easy Day Hikes Rocky Mountain National Park, Falcon, 134pp.
Tawrell, Paul, (2006), Camping & Wilderness Survival, Paul Yawrell,1080pp.
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