Pebbles Journey

2010-11-17T20:59:00.002-05:00

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Ecuador Honeymoon

2010-05-24T21:13:00.006-04:00

May 1, 2010 we fly to Quito. Day 1 - What a great day walking around Quito Colonial with Cesar, taking pictures and admiring the churches (one lined on the inside with 18 karat gold throughout). Day 2 - hiking Pasochoa volcano I thought we were in the jungle, everything was so green and wet and lush. We had an Irish journalist with us who was doing an article about Ecuador for promotions in England. Day 3 - hiking North Iliniza in the rain. Glimpses of the mountain appeared through the cloud openings. It kept a mystery to the Andes for us.

Day 4 - mountain biking in Cotopaxi National Park passing herds of wild horses and eagles soaring eye level. The sky opened up when we got to our camp site that night...a beautiful, peaceful, spot by a lagoon surrounded by rolling hills and outside them are pastures of more wild horses. The best part was the view of Cotopaxi, the mountain we would climb next. Day 5 - we practiced with the crampons and a little ice climbing, had a hot meal, and went to bed early. Day 6 - wake up at midnight and start hiking. The best memory was seeing the glacier in the dim moonlight and all it's crevasses and caves. No one made it to the top that day as an ice bridge collapsed when the first guide crossed it.

Day 7 - rest day in Banos was spent canyoning down waterfalls in the jungle, 20 meters, 30 meters, 35 meters and lovin it, just to come back and sit in the hot springs. We were the only ones that spoke english. Day 8 - we knew we would not summit Chimborazo, but we still wanted to hike around the mountain. We stayed at the refuge 16,400 feet and woke at midnight to hear the winds howling. We were the only ones at the refuge. Not many people attempt this mountain. Wellington, our guide, said we would not make it past the ridge if this weather keeps up. We decided to wake at 3 to check, still no change. We woke at 5 and started to climb. Pellets of rock and snow blasted our helmets. It was a challenge to make it past the ice waterfalls and rock walls. Coming down was steep, but again we saw glimpses of the mountain through the fast passing clouds.
Canyoning in Banos

Eagle in Cotopaxi National Park
Hiking Pasochoa

Tombs below Chimborazo
North Iliniza refuge
A Vicuña in Chimborazo National Park
Wild horses in Cotopaxi National Park

The best camping spot in the world...the Santo Domingo Lagoon below Cotopaxi
Alpaca at La Alegria Hacienda
Los Chagras
Pasochoa farms
Chimborazo ridge line, our summit.

Chimborazo refuge 16,400 feet

Cotopaxi

Pasochoa
Quito Colonial and lastly Chimborazo panoramic...

Pictures posted in no order. Next stop...The Galapagos Islands

Las Vegas 2010

2010-03-30T20:32:00.004-04:00

I did it again. Decided I would go away on a trip... and left on a plane 12 hours later. When I got to Las Vegas with just a small backpack, Tim's friends picked me up from the airport to bring me to a bbq where I would surprise my brother. It was an awesome trip. He took me to Lake Mead for the first time (where I got the underwater pictures below to give comparison to the sky pictures). We went out a couple nights, which of course provides interesting entertainment. One day we did a hike out near Red Rocks. It was so green for being a desert with all the rain they've had. Tim and I
Carp kissing the air
Duck
Lake Mead
Grand Canyon

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony" ~Mahatma Gandhi

More pics to follow...

Jakarta - Indonesia

2009-10-23T22:35:00.014-04:00

Ancol - 7:00 am

Fisherman coming in with their days catch that you can buy straight from their decks.

The Vespa

Boats that will carry you out to the thousand islands.

Juice semangka, jeruk, belimbing, alpukat, all very good, I wish we had more in the states.

I tried it all, but was glad to come back to american food. Mostly it was the rice dishes with meat for breakfast that was too much. I like the simple pastry or cereal. Did love the 90 degree F weather though. Most people were covered though being a muslim country. Down in a little tavern I met up with my Australian friends. They kept me entertained as they took over the live band on stage singin' and playing the drums, and dancing till close.

People were very nice, even when being checked for security, mirrors under the cars, dogs sniffing, trucks opened, gloveboxes checked, bags searched, and lastly making you walk though a sensor, they would open the door for you with a smile. Bottled water was offered everywhere as you even had to brush your teeth with it.

Being at the beach at 7 in the morning and finding hundreds of people there already was quite a shock. Everyone out swimming in the beach pool, and what don't you see...one swimsuit. Needless to say my bikini stayed in my bag. I'll save that for Bali or the other islands I would love to visit some day in the future. Beautiful pinwheel flowers kept my camera busy.

I can't explain the image there as it went from two extremes. Hopefully some of these pictures do a little justice. So, until the next trip...

"Don't be afraid to go out on a limb. That is where the fruit is."

Vistas - September 2009

2009-10-23T21:53:00.005-04:00

The Black Forest Trail located in the Tiadaghton State Forest just north of Slate Run, PA. Dense hemlocks, steep ascents and descents, and beautiful vistas makes this the hardest trail in Pennsylvania and very rewarding.

Near Pine Creek we started on 09/19/09 backpacking for two days the dark virgin coniferous forest making a small loop out of the 42 mile trail. Camping in Naval Run by the creek we had a bonfire that night, a bag of boxed wine, salmon mashed potatoes with wasabi, and cool fresh air (as Mark and I decided not to set the tent up yet again that night).

California Trip 2009 New Year

2009-01-07T19:31:00.007-05:00

December 30th, 2008 Mark and I flew to California to start the new year off right...skiing Mammoth Mountain with my uncle John. As you can see it was blue bird skies, unlimited acres to ski, warm weather, and great company. New years eve we got off the mountain early to drive to Bishop where Galen Rowell's gallery is. Amazing photography. We ended up walking town early and getting a pizza to go back to the hotel and sit in the hot tub. We celebrated to New York New Year and headed to bead early. New Years day was a bit more special on the mountain. Same conditions, skiing harder and longer than the day before, of course taking as many pictures as possible. Near the end of the day we went to the back side to ski some of the softer snow, and as we got split up from my uncle, Mark stopped, took his skis off, looked at me and told me how much he loved me. He pulled a little box out of his pocket and told me he wanted to give this to me. I opened to find a beautiful titanium ring with a lazer cut down the middle holding a small diamond. He asked me to marry him and I nodded yes. We have been giddy ever since. This is where he proposed...

We drove back to Oxnard that night to spend time with my family. We took walks on the beach, watched the surfers, barbequed with the cousins, and played the new wii. Saturday Mark, John, and I decided to hike Mugu Peak along the coast. It had just rained that night so everything was turning green and glistened in the sun. We talked about how that was the oldest know trail in the US that the settlers used to go from their valley to the ocean. It means so much to be with family and talk about life and celebrate it too. What I learned from them will always be remembered...to unpack your bags before starting a new journey...that the eyes can fool you...that time can heal...and time is precious.

I leave you with yet another quote..."Your fears limit your freedom." ~Warren Miller

Presidential Traverse - White Mountains - NH

2008-07-23T22:02:00.008-04:00

Well we couldn't see the hut 20 feet from us through the fog or the mist, but we kept on. First day 2,700 feet elevation gain in 3.1 miles! First night spent about 15 hours in the tent...no no...the rain fly as Mark did not think we needed to set up the inside...due to heavy rain, thunder and, of course, lightening.

The second day was the actual traverse across the "Presidential Range" in the White Mountains in New hampshire. We left our packs at the Madison Hut as we climbed half a mile up Mt. Madison. After picking up our packs again we took off towards Mt. Adams. Every step took all my energy to make. Huge boulders, heavy mist, full packs, and vertical climbing hand over foot. Honestly, we were thinking we would not make the hut that night. I broke down physically and mentally. The fog made it deceiving as there were no views and we could not see any progress we made.

After much perserverance we summited Adams. Again this was not satisfying because for the second time, there were no views. We decided to stay on the Appalatian trail and not summit Jefferson or Clay due to time restraints and unexpected diffaculties.

We did make it to the top of Mount Washington where the highest wind speeds have been recorded on the planet. The day we made it up, the wind gusts were up to 69 miles per hour. Hurricane wind speeds start at 75 to give a reference.

Again, no views. In fact we hiked along side the cog railway when the train was blowing it's horn, and we still couldn't see the train. Such a surreal feeling like you are in another planet.

On our way down from Washington, elevation 6,288 ft, the skies started to open just enough to see our cabin in the suns' rays with the two surrounding lakes naming it "Lakes in the Clouds Hut". It lived up to it's name that day. We were going on pure repetition and determination to lay down in a dry flat bed. To top it off, the crew had cooked us a complete turkey dinner witht the fixings ready 45 minutes after we got there.

We sat with retired cops from Conneticut at dinner. They had been knocking off one peak at a time every summer. This year...Monroe, which was to be our first peak in the morning. Here we are trying to do them all in three days.

In the morning we took off with swollen knees, scrapes, bruses, blisters and sore muscles knowing we still had a few summits to climb and about an 8000 ft decent out of the wilderness. Luckly we had a second view of the range we had been on. Finally!
What made it worth it was the small delicate life we saw covered in a glaze. The snales sharing a mushroom for breakfast. The moose by the side of the river. The tall forest in a carpet of moss.

The Quote of the Trip...
"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." ~Buddha
And for the kinder, gentler quote...
"When the morning's freshness has been replaced by the weariness of mid-day, when the leg muscles quiver under the strain, the climb seems endless, and, suddenly, nothing will go quite as you wish - it is then that you must not hesitate." ~Dag Hammarskjold
And one last one...
"Even after the heaviest storm the birds come out singing. So why can't we delight in whatever good thing remains to us?" ~Rose Kennedy

Ricket's Glen

2008-06-21T23:17:00.015-04:00

3 hours east of Oil city lives Ricket's Glen State Park with over 20 named waterfalls. This hike is beautiful with a great elevation drop and rugged terrain. Best time to go is in spring when the falls are rushing with snow melt.

Here I stand to the left of the highest waterfall at about 90 feet tall. So for all my friends who have yet to come visit me, this is what you could see. This is where you could be. This is...livin' the life!

Quote of this journey,
"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs." ~Maclean 104

Back in Colorado

2008-06-21T22:10:00.006-04:00

January 2008 I took a trip back to Colorado. It felt like coming home to my freinds, to my old life style, to where my heart remains in so many places. First stop...Fly Fishing show in Denver with Nate. Next day was the first day up on the mountain, snowboarding at Loveland. This was the start of the 25 year storm. Ten feet had dumped in California and was making it's way here.

Everyday is good when I ride with Nate. Next day I took off to Aspen. Highlands Bowl was closed when I started to head up from the base of the mountain. When I got to the top, they just opened it. Coming from the flat lands, being by myself, thinking I just left CO yesterday, wasn't a smart move, but I couldn't let an opportunity like this pass. The snow was deep, the view was slim, the hike was dizzying, and there was no cat to bring you up that day.
Stopping for a picture or few, I made it to the flags on top. A few of us went down together. One fall and you would have dissapeared in powder. I laughed out loud the whole way down. Surreal. Epic, That true natural high. A few thousand vertical feet of wide open terrain.

On the way back I snapped a picture of my frozen hair. The week didn't end as I skied Ajax once more going out of bounds and then went back to loveland for a few days. Sad to leave such a beautiful land behind, I was happy to know I am adventuring into unknown land with Mark, and that makes me smile.

Quote of the Trip

"It's okay to let yourself go, as long as you can get yourself back." ~Mark Twain

South America

2008-06-18T23:04:00.008-04:00

April 2008 I visited South America. First stop - Lima, Peru. I walked the markets and viewed the local art work. We stayed along the ocean front.

Second stop - Barranquilla, Colombia. We enjoyed a refreshment at an outdoor club. It was hot here...tank and shorts for the evening. When we were heading to the airport at 5am everyone was out getting their walk in before the heat comes. It was still dark and people were running, walking their dog, and then take a 2 hour siesta at lunch.

Third stop - Bogota, Colombia. Everyone wore suits and if in jeans they were imported and wore italian leather shoes. Ladies wore skirts and heels. The city was "americanized" and had the second largest American Embasy. That was the first time I was "searched" by guards at the airport.

Fourth stop - Quito, Ecuador. This is my favority city and I WILL go back one day to climb Cotopaxi. It sit up high in between snow capped volcanoes. Armed guards stand on the corners protecting the people from beggers and pick-pocketers. All store fronts are geared towards adventuring. You have your 20,000 ft peeks, the amazon to the east and the Galapagos to the west. Extreme beauty of Land, Water, and Air. Cesar has offered to set up the trip for us when we decide to come back for more than a day. I WILL!!!

Fifth stop - Guayaquil, Ecuador. We headed to the beaches of Ecuador...Las Payas. I had 'seviche' with seafood and rice. My crab came to me on a wooden cutting board with a gavel. The sun was warm, the waves were big, the fishing boats were coming in from their early morning jaunts and vendors were walking the beach.

We had an old fasioned crushed ice with frosting on top for 25 cents. Everything was done by hand. The boats ran a shore as fast as they could throwing everyone to the front of the boat. They would then roll them up on shore with logs. A new sidewalk was being built as the men rolled the cement and used a wheelbarow to transport it. I loved the simplicity of it all.

"Quote of the Trip"

"A person travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." ~George Moore

Pine Creek Float

2008-06-18T21:14:00.005-04:00

May 2008 - We started at the north end of the Grand Canon of Pennsylvania and put in. 10 minutes into the float we saw the biggest Bald Eagle perched in a tree on the banks. Temperature about 70 degrees F and sunny. The fish were jumpin' out of the water. Mark and I had an obstacle course of fly fisherman. Class I-III rapids continuously mid rise. We did an average of 10 miles a day.

Not one flip...as we pass those who dumped everything playing catch with the beers that floated by. We found an island to camp on the first night. Very buggy. I fly fished as Mark cooked up some soup on the FireLight...hot chocolate on the JetBoil. Second day had little paddling. We walked up on the trail to see another Bald Eagle and met up with a photographer looking for the nest. We saw the little eaglettes with his binoculars.

There isn't many better feelings than waking up along side a river, packing up all you have with you, and taking off to new paths to do it all over again. No where to be. No one around. No banjos playing. Just beautiful waterfalls, fish swimming underneath the Old Town Guide 157, and in the end...I caught a rainbow trout, a stripped bass, and all I brought home was Mark.

Quote of the Trip
"He who binds to himself a joy does the winged life destroy. But he who kisses the joy as it flies lives in eternity's sunrise."
~William Blake