Got to get out on a longer tour this Saturday and though for most of the day we were mostly up in the clouds, the sun did break through for about 10 minutes and it was an immediate moral boost!  The snowpack is thin and the avy conditions very strange, but it was good to get out and above the bad air down in the city.

The full set of photos can be found on Flickr: Skiing 2010.

Nothing compares to dynamic light in the mountains.

Serenity part 1.

Serenity part 2.

The burst of light brought out smiles all around.

Skiing is fun.

Riding looks fun too.

Still Inspiring.

The Boston Globe’s The Big Picture photoblog has some images from NASA’s recent Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). Since high school I’ve felt that its unfortunate that my generation doesn’t have any well defined, well funded national goals like the moon program in its hey-day.  30 years later its still inspiring to me, despite that the collective will to accomplish something great seems to be lost to petty partisanship.

Tradition.

This is one of ways the holidays taste:

and finished:

For me the two required tastes for the holiday season are gingerbread cookies and Springerle (a German, anise flavored cookie), looking forward to these when we’re home for Christmas this year!

A Cold Walk

It was as cold as this looks:

Been trying to walk more to and from work lately even if it means dealing with the cold.  And bundling up in a scarf, gloves and a warm coat have made for a fun mini-tradition of unbundling when you walk inside.

These shots were all from a new lens, a 24mm ƒ/2.8 prime lens, that I’m really excited about because its small and light.  I find a lot more enjoyment in “zooming with my feet” than taking a walk with a zoom lens.  This lens isn’t the sharpest or fastest out there, but the idea of finding creative ways to deal with the imperfections seems more fun right now.

Thanksgiving 2009

We got to spend Thanksgiving day and weekend in Zion National Park this year with Polly’s whole family.  Somehow all the schedules aligned and we made it work.  One van-load of folks from Boise, a flight into SLC, and a car from California plus us.  The amount of vertical relief that makes up Zion Canyon is incredible, the walls aren’t as tall as say El Captain in Yosemite, but the canyon walls are so much closer in.  Had great time with the family.

Not the most amazing lighting, but gives scale of the place. The road is a 1000 feet down.

Polly’s hip was showing signs of recovery and she was able to hike to the top of Angel’s Landing!

Despite the hoards of people who do this hike every year, its still a really amazing summit. (More so for Polly since she did Prodigal Son up the east face).  The ridge-line that makes up the last 0.5 miles is very narrow with 1000 foot drops on both sides.

The chains that make it passible for non-climbers have been there a while…

Can’t complain about the view

More Tomorrow.

First switchbacks up the west side of Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park. Thanksgiving 2009.

Illuminated.

and

iMac as only light source. Really good to pick up the camera again, just for the fun of it.

Later on, we’ll conspire as we dream by the fire

and face, unafraid, the plans that we’ve made

From the song “Walking In a Winter Wonderland” via Jake Freedom, and he has a great way of looking at the lyrics and sums it up thus:

The dream life. The best possible things you can imagine.

That’s one thing.

And then to face, unafraid, the plans that you’ve made?

Well, that’s a whole ‘nother thing.

It can be hard to dream, to hope that there’s a way forward in this world because of the fear of failing or the fear of having that hope dashed.  Life = Risk.

Man. That’s where real life is. That’s where it lives.

Step out and do it. Don’t be all talk. Face, unafraid, the plans that you’ve made.

So exciting. Such a thrill. The possibility of making your future exactly how you planned it out, instead of just letting it happen to you, letting it fall out of on the table wherever it falls.

You do it. You make it happen.

I also found this last week:

A life free from risk is a life bereft of liberty, a life of bondage, and it kills the human spirit. This fact has never and will never change

Design View: Risk

This kind of risk-taking isn’t jumping off a cliff for the sake of trying to fly, its the kind that says I have a good dream, a good idea, something to fight for, and I won’t stop until I’ve tried everything I can to make it work.

Inspiration for the week:  There’s a guy in Canada whose going to attempt to climb ice for 24 hours this January to raise money and awareness for the dZi Foundation to help the poor in the remote Himalaya. But there’s not much climbable ice right now in Canmore, so apparently he decided to train all-out in his back yard. 16ft up. 16 ft down. 32 laps nets about 1000 ft of vertical. On, and on, and on…  (see previous posted video)

That’s trying everything.