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Thursday, May 29, 2008
The first stage of death
I think I'm dying a slow, wet death. Seriously, it will not stop raining. I haven't seen the sun since Saturday. 5 days ago! I can handle this kind of weather in the winter only because it always means that it's snowing and the skiing will be fantastic. But in May? Nothing about 5 straight days of rain and clouds in May is fantastic.
Monday, May 26, 2008
By the numbers
Memorial Day weekend by the numbers:
Days off: 5
Days the weathermen got the forecast right: 0
Movies watched: 6
Miles biked: 10.2
Farmer's markets visited: 1
Weddings photographed: 1
Miles hiked: 5.4
Waterfalls viewed: 7
Hours of sunshine all weekend: about 8
Price of a gallon of gas at the Chevron near our house: $3.99
Days off: 5
Days the weathermen got the forecast right: 0
Movies watched: 6
Miles biked: 10.2
Farmer's markets visited: 1
Weddings photographed: 1
Miles hiked: 5.4
Waterfalls viewed: 7
Hours of sunshine all weekend: about 8
Price of a gallon of gas at the Chevron near our house: $3.99
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wrenchin'
I had the chance to volunteer at the Community Cycling Center this week and wrench on some old donated bikes for a couple of hours. We were trying to salvage parts from some junkers that had been donated.
The CCC partners with REI to collect donated bikes, refurbish them and then sell them in their shop or give them away to folks in the community through their many different programs. We were going through the worst of those donations and saving what we wanted (usually just reflectors and handle bars), recycling what we could (tubes and chains) and scrapping the rest.
A good night of demolition is always good for the soul.
Here's me about to cut the lock off a bike we were stripping for scrap metal.
Me heaving a frame into the scrap metal bin.
The CCC partners with REI to collect donated bikes, refurbish them and then sell them in their shop or give them away to folks in the community through their many different programs. We were going through the worst of those donations and saving what we wanted (usually just reflectors and handle bars), recycling what we could (tubes and chains) and scrapping the rest.
A good night of demolition is always good for the soul.
Here's me about to cut the lock off a bike we were stripping for scrap metal.
Me heaving a frame into the scrap metal bin.
Let's Go Camping!
One of my favorite REI-sponsored programs is Let's Go Camping. We partner with Oregon State Parks to take families camping for the first time. Maybe they camped when they were kids or before they had kids, or maybe they had never slept in a tent outside before. We provide the expertise and the gear, Oregon State parks provides the outdoors.
Last weekend, in the blistering 90 degree temps, we took 35 people camping at Milo McIver State Park for the very first time. It was a blast.
Here is the group on a scavenger hunt hike-- we taught them all how to use a compass:
Three of the cuties, Kaitlyn, Maryam, & the back of Violet's head.
We had a wide range of ages, ethnicities and camping abilities and the weekend was a huge success. When you can watch some kids eat a s'more for the first time and get paid to do it, you know you have a great job.
On a side note:
When I think about the obstacles companies like REI face in our effort to get more people enjoying the outdoors, the first thing that comes to mind is technology. We are competing with TVs/cell phones/computers/MySpace/video games for their attention. REI needs to think of new ways of making our seemingly low technology "old-fashioned" pursuits, relevant to today's generation of tech-savvy outdoor enthusiasts. One way to do this is with an activity known as geocaching.
For those of you who know your way around the woods and don't need a gadget to tell you where to go (anyone see the episode of "The Office" where Michael drives his car into the lake because the GPS "told him to"?), geocaching is basically a big scavenger hunt with a GPS.
The photo above is my first geocache. Wendi is to the left, Bob to the right. Bob is an avid geocacher and knew of several caches around our campsite over the weekend. I happen to think it is uber-geeky, but it is a hobby that is growing fast in this country and if it is getting people off their couches and into the outdoors, then I enthusiastically support it.
Last weekend, in the blistering 90 degree temps, we took 35 people camping at Milo McIver State Park for the very first time. It was a blast.
Here is the group on a scavenger hunt hike-- we taught them all how to use a compass:
Three of the cuties, Kaitlyn, Maryam, & the back of Violet's head.
We had a wide range of ages, ethnicities and camping abilities and the weekend was a huge success. When you can watch some kids eat a s'more for the first time and get paid to do it, you know you have a great job.On a side note:
When I think about the obstacles companies like REI face in our effort to get more people enjoying the outdoors, the first thing that comes to mind is technology. We are competing with TVs/cell phones/computers/MySpace/video games for their attention. REI needs to think of new ways of making our seemingly low technology "old-fashioned" pursuits, relevant to today's generation of tech-savvy outdoor enthusiasts. One way to do this is with an activity known as geocaching.
For those of you who know your way around the woods and don't need a gadget to tell you where to go (anyone see the episode of "The Office" where Michael drives his car into the lake because the GPS "told him to"?), geocaching is basically a big scavenger hunt with a GPS. The photo above is my first geocache. Wendi is to the left, Bob to the right. Bob is an avid geocacher and knew of several caches around our campsite over the weekend. I happen to think it is uber-geeky, but it is a hobby that is growing fast in this country and if it is getting people off their couches and into the outdoors, then I enthusiastically support it.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
King on the Mountain
Ever play "king on the mountain" when you were a kid? My brothers and I used to do it all the time. It didn't matter what "the mountain" was-- a pile of dirt, an actual hill, the back of the couch, a big rock-- we would scramble our way to the top and proclaim, "I'm the king on the mountain!" with our little arms thrust up in the air.
Well, in the big game of King on the Mountain, I finally concede victory to Scott, the eldest of the Olson siblings. Here's Scott on the summit of Mt. Hood early Tuesday morning:
I'm not standing next to him because B and I turned around early. We got up to the area called "The Hog's Back" and we both decided to call it quits. Call us wimps, or pansies, or whatever you like, but we both weren't feeling it Tuesday morning. Scott, you win. You so win.
Some more shots from the climb:
In the snowcat ready for our ride up to the top of the ski lifts.
By the light of three headlamps.......
Scott in the back, then me, Bryan bringing up the team right behind Geoff.
Those two black dots are Scott and Geoff, traversing The Hog's Back.
The view up The Hog's Back, Geoff getting out the gear to rope Scott up.
Scott, just below the summit, looking back down the south side of the mountain. 
Me, hiking back down.
The "quitters" unite for a photo before we start our descent. Like I've said so many times before, whatever we do, we do together.
Ever since Tuesday morning, I've been agonizing over my failed summit. It was supposed to be this great sibling moment for Scott and me. Braving the climb together, making our Naval submarine-bound little brother insanely jealous. But I wimped out, turned around, quit.
I'm normally a fairly hard-core girl-- I've summited Mt. Hood before, summited Mt. St. Helens, hiked the Wildwood trail, 32 miles end-to-end in one day, suffered through one excruciatingly long, wet 14 mile hike in the Trapper Creek Wilderness. But for some reason, after we stopped to eat just below the Hog's Back, I suddenly didn't want to be there. I wasn't tired-- I had actually slept really well scrunched in the back of the jeep. My body/muscles/joints felt fine-- contrary to popular belief, I am in pretty good shape right now. I just didn't feel right. My breath was getting super short and shallow, my head hurt, and to be perfectly honest, I was scared. I'm not sure of what because I knew exactly what to expect and trust Geoff completely to take care of us. I just didn't feel right.
I should really be proud of myself for knowing my limits and calling it when I did. But that little adventurous part of my heart aches.
I'm super proud of Scott. Just like he used to do when we were kids, he did something that made me think, "yep, that's my brother, that guy right there, the awesome one."
Well, in the big game of King on the Mountain, I finally concede victory to Scott, the eldest of the Olson siblings. Here's Scott on the summit of Mt. Hood early Tuesday morning:
I'm not standing next to him because B and I turned around early. We got up to the area called "The Hog's Back" and we both decided to call it quits. Call us wimps, or pansies, or whatever you like, but we both weren't feeling it Tuesday morning. Scott, you win. You so win.Some more shots from the climb:
In the snowcat ready for our ride up to the top of the ski lifts.
By the light of three headlamps.......
Scott in the back, then me, Bryan bringing up the team right behind Geoff.
Those two black dots are Scott and Geoff, traversing The Hog's Back.
The view up The Hog's Back, Geoff getting out the gear to rope Scott up.
Scott, just below the summit, looking back down the south side of the mountain. 
Me, hiking back down.
The "quitters" unite for a photo before we start our descent. Like I've said so many times before, whatever we do, we do together.
Ever since Tuesday morning, I've been agonizing over my failed summit. It was supposed to be this great sibling moment for Scott and me. Braving the climb together, making our Naval submarine-bound little brother insanely jealous. But I wimped out, turned around, quit.
I'm normally a fairly hard-core girl-- I've summited Mt. Hood before, summited Mt. St. Helens, hiked the Wildwood trail, 32 miles end-to-end in one day, suffered through one excruciatingly long, wet 14 mile hike in the Trapper Creek Wilderness. But for some reason, after we stopped to eat just below the Hog's Back, I suddenly didn't want to be there. I wasn't tired-- I had actually slept really well scrunched in the back of the jeep. My body/muscles/joints felt fine-- contrary to popular belief, I am in pretty good shape right now. I just didn't feel right. My breath was getting super short and shallow, my head hurt, and to be perfectly honest, I was scared. I'm not sure of what because I knew exactly what to expect and trust Geoff completely to take care of us. I just didn't feel right.
I should really be proud of myself for knowing my limits and calling it when I did. But that little adventurous part of my heart aches.
I'm super proud of Scott. Just like he used to do when we were kids, he did something that made me think, "yep, that's my brother, that guy right there, the awesome one."
School of Snow
Our good friend, Geoff Lodge, is a guide for Timberline Mountain Guides and he agreed to guide us up Mt. Hood over the weekend since Scott was in town and wanted to try the summit.
Before Geoff heads up with any of his clients though, he takes some time the day before to go through Snow School. He shows them how to safely traverse a slope, self-arrest with an ice axe (stop yourself from sliding down the mountain if you fall) and how to rope up and travel as a rope team.
Since Bryan and I have some mountaineering experience and Scott is pretty much a brainiac and also a strong climber, Geoff gave us the Cliff Notes version on Monday morning in preparation for our summit try Monday night. It was a gorgeous day to be on the mountain doin' some learnin'.
Self-arresting is ridiculously fun. However, it's one of those things that you will only do when you are in major trouble. Sliding down a mountain in your Gore-tex at 40 mph or stopping your partner from falling into a crevasse, for example. It's probably the one fun thing I hope I never have to do.
We spent the rest of Monday afternoon chilling and people watching in the lobby of Timberline Lodge. Then it was off to bed around 7pm for our climb!
Before Geoff heads up with any of his clients though, he takes some time the day before to go through Snow School. He shows them how to safely traverse a slope, self-arrest with an ice axe (stop yourself from sliding down the mountain if you fall) and how to rope up and travel as a rope team.
Since Bryan and I have some mountaineering experience and Scott is pretty much a brainiac and also a strong climber, Geoff gave us the Cliff Notes version on Monday morning in preparation for our summit try Monday night. It was a gorgeous day to be on the mountain doin' some learnin'.
Self-arresting is ridiculously fun. However, it's one of those things that you will only do when you are in major trouble. Sliding down a mountain in your Gore-tex at 40 mph or stopping your partner from falling into a crevasse, for example. It's probably the one fun thing I hope I never have to do.
We spent the rest of Monday afternoon chilling and people watching in the lobby of Timberline Lodge. Then it was off to bed around 7pm for our climb!
When 5 becomes 12
My big brother Scott came to visit this weekend. This was his second trip to Portland, so there are many things we still need to show him, but we thought a hike in the Gorge on Saturday would be the perfect welcome.
Originally, we picked Angel's Rest-- close to Portland, only about 5 miles, but a great view at the top. On the way there, we decided to do a loop and connect Angel's Rest to Multnomah Falls, effectively turning our 5 mile afternoon into close to 12. Didn't seem like a bad idea until it started raining about half-way in. In true Hoybook "faith in the weather" style, we didn't bring rain coats and proceeded to get soaked. Here Scott and I contemplate our wet pants at the top:
But the trail ducked into some thicker trees so we'd be under a little cover from the rain if we kept going. Apparently, if it's raining, it's always a good idea to go farther away from the car.
Little known fact: hiking for miles in the rain can result in the loss of limbs.
We ended up having a gorgeous hike-- the Gorge really is a rain forest. When it rains, it just amplifies the green color of everything-- leaves, moss, ferns. It's kind-of like the beach, even when it rains, it a great place to be.
The wet hikers at the bottom of Multnomah Falls.
Originally, we picked Angel's Rest-- close to Portland, only about 5 miles, but a great view at the top. On the way there, we decided to do a loop and connect Angel's Rest to Multnomah Falls, effectively turning our 5 mile afternoon into close to 12. Didn't seem like a bad idea until it started raining about half-way in. In true Hoybook "faith in the weather" style, we didn't bring rain coats and proceeded to get soaked. Here Scott and I contemplate our wet pants at the top:
But the trail ducked into some thicker trees so we'd be under a little cover from the rain if we kept going. Apparently, if it's raining, it's always a good idea to go farther away from the car.Little known fact: hiking for miles in the rain can result in the loss of limbs.
We ended up having a gorgeous hike-- the Gorge really is a rain forest. When it rains, it just amplifies the green color of everything-- leaves, moss, ferns. It's kind-of like the beach, even when it rains, it a great place to be.
The wet hikers at the bottom of Multnomah Falls.
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