Random - The Sustenance of our Being

Howdy folks. Just thought I would pop in and give you your daily 500 mg. of Random. This first picture was taken on the third of December, 2005. This was a great time in our lives (cough, cough) but  I still don't know why this picture has survived this long.

This picture was taken after our hike to Swift Creek Canyon. As you can tell, we are just enjoying life... and the nasty, little fruit flies that get everywhere.

During late summer, we made the trek to Yellowstone and Grand Teton Nat'l Parks. Here are a few pics that show us at some of the generic sites.

This summer, we (me, Sara, Ryan, Mom, Dad, and Lauren) completed the Star Valley Half Marathon. I had fun chatting with Sara the whole time, and burned a few calories. Afterwards, nobody could walk  or bend their legs without emitting a blood-curdling scream and shedding a few tears. Also, I just wanted to add that the meal right after the half-marathon was excellent. I had a pastrami hoagie, cheese tots, and a 48 oz. PB&C shake, all via the Red Baron.

I also decided to go into the shoe making business. The sandals I made were actually quite comfortable, but they couldn't be worn outside. They would be reduced to a pile of soaked cardboard and felt.

I also completed my Eagle Scout project over the summer. Here are a few pics of the tedious experience. Can't you just feel the camaraderie and teamwork flowing through our veins.

Also, during the summer, Cubby decided to dye her hair bright red. It was so red that even Clifford was jealous. And Gerard Way. Let's not ruin this blog by talking about him. Here is Cubby and Kiki and the Red Hair.

I also had a great (and by great, I mean awesome) suit jacket that made everyone else jealous. Here is me wearing it at my fall orchestra concert.

While we are talking about and looking at things that are a few months out-of-date, check out this hairdo.

Oh, haircuts. Don't you love them.

I also became a master fisherman over the summer, as you may already know. We could only take one picture of me holding the fish because holding up it's colossal weight was impossible for me to do again. You are witnessing a feat in this picture that was previously impossible for man and beast.

Here is a picture of us at Christmas dinner. No, I did not overeat on smokies.

We also had some of the family up for Christmas. Here are "the boys" playing with the castle.

Now I am leaving you with these randomosities to brew around in your brain for a few days. I can't leave you on a cute/cuddly note, though. That would be impossible for me. Here is one downside of my summer.

I could've had you watch the video, but that would just be heartless. 

Now I really must leave you for I hear mother calling me from the kitchen. I must bezounce, really. I am sorry. Just remember this. Random is good. It the sustenance of our being. But never more than 500 mg. If you do overdose, you do become a bit, well, random.

2012 High Adventure

Hey there, folks!!!!! My sisters that blog regularly have inspired me to try something new, and here it is.   I know that it is late coming, but it was fun for me to look over and remember some fond times from last summer. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

2012 High Adventure

'Twas the July of 2012. Five young men and two adults awoke well before dawn, spit bathed, and choked down some last minute "real" food. Then they were off by truck to Pinedale.  They listened to Weird Al Yankovich and drank Hoback Junction's finest Mountain Dew Voltage. Then up the Elkhart trail they went, ready for fun, adventure, fishing, fresh air, and freeze-dried food. This is their story.

When we reached the first lake of the trip, we were excited. At about the size of Cottonwood Lake, it's waters looked refreshing to us sweaty boys. Then Jake Crosby (one of our leaders, CRNA, fire-arm junkie, and mountain climber) told us that this was a mere pond compared to some of the other lakes in the Wind Rivers.  We learned the truth of this statement when we reached Seneca Lake at about mile 6. We were all amazed by the sheer size of it. It was about one mile long and an average of 1/2 mile wide.

At about mile 13, I thought I was going to die. We were climbing one of the steepest trails I have ever seen. Oh yeah. I forgot to mention that this trail was at 11,500 feet above sea level.  Take it from me. The air up there is thinner than my father's hair.  When we reached the crest of the mountain, we saw the destination of our hike. Island Lake. I was truly happy to see that gigantic mountain lake.

This is a picture of Cameron Walker, Brigg Hoopes and me chilling at the beach (Island Lake).

We hiked around to the other side of the lake and set up our first base camp. All in all, it was a pretty good camping spot. It was about 100 feet from the lake and 50 feet from the trail that would take us into  Titcomb Basin. This picture was taken about where the water filter was located. Also, note the large rock outcropping behind the camp. Brother Hale took an early morning stroll the next day and hiked the outcropping. He tripped and almost slipped over the edge of the cliff. That was a pretty intense moment.

That evening we decided to go down to the lake and try our luck at some fishing. Down on the other side of the lake  was a "bay" of sorts. Feeding this bay and Island Lake was a waterfall that came down from the Titcomb Lakes. Trust me. It was a lot bigger and more thunderous when you are there in person.

We fished until nightfall and then went to bed. The next morning, we got up and ate our good morning oatmeal. Then we left for Titcomb Basin. Titcomb Basin is a world-renowned place for hikers, fishermen, and outdoorsman at large. This was our first view of it.

Within Titcomb Basin are dozens of lakes. Here is a picture of a random one.

Within Titcomb Basin is a lake that is known for it's high population of Golden Trout. Rightly named, Hidden Lake was off of the beaten path. While we were fishing, a fierce rainstorm came and we had to take cover. This picture is off all of us trying to fit under a cobweb-infested boulder.

This is a pond right above the waterfall. This is where I caught my golden trout. That is Fremont Peak in the background.

We stayed in that campsite for two nights. Then we hiked back to Seneca Lake, where we set up the second campsite. This is it.

This campsite was less level, and seemed to always procure a new rock to stick into the small of my back while I "slept".  That first afternoon we decided to hike to a lake that was about 5 miles off of the beaten path. While we were there (Lost Lake), we decided to take a little swim. For some reason, I was called the "bottom-dweller". I just found that the water got warmer quicker if you use this partially submerged technique.

This is the rapids that connects Lost Lake with Gorge Lake. Gorge Lake is an isolated watershed that can be reached by only two ways of travel. Kayaking down this rapids, or rappelling a 200 ft.              90 degree cliff that ends in the water.  Needless to say, we didn't go to Gorge Lake.

After that last night at Seneca Lake, we hiked back from whence we came. We drove back to Pinedale and ate some real food (well food that wasn't freeze-dried any way). Then we went home.              From this high adventure, we were better friends, better fishermen, and best of all, better people.