Austin and Karen in the Tournament

Last but not least are Austin and Karen.

I know firsthand how great they are together.

They had incredible games today. They were so consistently strong. I loved watching them play.

They ended up in the championship game, against Jack and Diane. They played incredible games today too. Which means this particular game was amazing.

They won a very tough game. I'm so proud of both teams!

Jack and Diane won the Runner Up position.



Which means Austin and Karen won the overall Championship! Awesome job, Karen and Austin! We are all proud of you!

Peppermint Candy!

After all that brushing and play all the horses got peppermint candy which they dearly love. (most horses love peppermint, along with carrots, and horse cookies) followed by an afternoon snack of hay. (Of course their not spoiled!)

The Grand Canyon :: Navajo Point and Desert View

Navajo Point is the last viewpoint before arriving at Desert View. Quite Spectacular. Indeed.





And a closer view of The River.



And this is how it looks from Desert View. The exterior of the Watch Tower was being renovated the last time I was here and this area was not accessible. I think the little blue wheelbarrow adds something to the picture, I'm just not sure what!





A slightly closer shot of the same view as above.



Each one of the stones used in construction of the Watch Tower was reportedly selected by the architect Mary Jane Colter. She also determined where each stone was to be placed.





I did go inside and was going to go up but after the first few steps, my legs cried out “no way” so I turned around. I was completely enthralled by the interior and took plenty of photos the last time, which you can see here.





The view to the east, looking out over the desert. The Little Colorado Gorge lies a few miles away and the terrain is still quite rugged.



And so, as the road to Desert View comes to an end, so too does this Journey of mine... I've made it safely back to Indiana. I'm Home Again. Thank you to everyone who has followed along, I'm so glad you could join me for the ride...



For those of you who are feeling the need for a bit of adventure, my cousins Sue & Fred will be hiking into the Grand Canyon in a few weeks. Then they will be traveling in the West and in May will follow the coast north and “driving” to Alaska via the Marine Highway. They will be spending the Summer Up North! I wish them well in their journey and will be following along virtually, as many of you have been following me...

500 Summits!

It has been in the works since 1975 and last week early on a Saturday morning, mountain guide George Dunn reached the top of Mount Rainier for the 500th time! He climbed with his wife Nancy, son Jeremy along with friends Phil Ershler and Eric Simonson.

On the way up they had to fight through some tough wind and lightning, but were able to push on to the summit, helping George break his previous record of 499 summits! This is by far the most anyone has ever climbed Mount Rainier and he doesn't seem like he will be slowing down anytime soon.

George has been guiding for the past 35 years and has led many climbing trips throughout the world. His knowledge of climbing and of Mount Rainier specifically is a great asset to all of us here. He is currently a co-owner of International Mountain Guides, one of three guide services that operate full time here on Rainier. Our congrats go out to George and his family on this terrific achievement.

For more information about guided trips on Rainier check out these links, and for more information on Georges climb, including photos and videos click here.

La Sportiva Hang5

La Sportiva's Hang5






Product: La Sportiva's Hang5



Length Tested: 178cm
Turn Radius: 23/30/23m


side cut: 145/117/135


camber: 7.7mm
Tip rocker: 425mm


Tail rocker:
0

Running length: 1510mm

Weight: per skis: 1900g / 4lb. 3oz.



Binding: Dynfit Radical Speed toe TLT Speed heel



Mount point: Mounted @ La Sportiva's suggested line



Ski
weight with bindings: 5lb evenper ski



Environmental
Conditions: early and late Spring skiing



Location of Test: Crystal Mountain Washington




Number of Runs: 15+days of spring skiing,



Snow Conditions: Early and late Spring skiing conditions ice to slush



Demo or Own: own















CONSTRUCTION TYPE: FUSION SIDEWALL - 70% Camber / 30% Rocker

SIDEWALL MATERIAL: ABS Thermoplastic

TOP SHEET: 0.5 mm Double Polyamide (ISO ICP8210) - Glossy

CORE: Vertical Laminated Light Karuba Paulownia Wood

LAMINATE LAYER 1: Tri-Directional Fiberglass

LAMINATE LAYER 2: Bi-Directional Carbon/Fiberglass mat

SPECIAL MATERIALS: Fiberglass Veil

REINFORCEMENTS PLATES: Under bindings

TIP AND TAIL REINFORCEMENTS: Rubber

BASE MATERIAL: P-Tex 2000 factory hand waxed

EDGE MATERIAL: 1,8 mm steel + rubber laminate

FEATURES: Tip and tail attachment holes, flat/notched tail

SIZES: 178, & 188

COLOR: 99H Yellow

PRICE: $825 USD



Tester Info:



Height/Weight:
6'1" 190lb



Ski
Days/Season: 30+



Years
Skiing: 30+

Aggressiveness& Moderate



Current
Quiver: Huascaran, Aspect, GTR, Lo5, Hi5, 112RP, 138, Broad Peak, 112RPC,
138. Praxis GPO and Protest



Home Area: Silver Mtn Idaho, Crystal Mtn
and Alpental WA.



Preferred Terrain: off-piste, trees,
steeps




1 (worst)
to 5 (best) star ratings

$ Value: *****







Durability: unknown at this
point but they still look good







Edge Grip: considering the 117mm
under foot *****







Maneuverability:****-







Performance:*****



From another fan of the Hang5 earlier in the winter:



"It's a bit of a charger, eh? Good skiers seem to love them. Not so good ones, not so much. You gotta stay on top of them. If youget in the back seat they'll throw you around. It's a way different ski than the Hi5. Is strange, but at 117 underfoot it was really more of an everyday ski for me this past winter. I can ride it inbounds all day and; then take it BC too. Much more versatile than the Hi5 IMO. Yeah, Iwassurprised at the lack of fanfare for this ski. It's my favorite."





I agreed whole heartilywith thoseobservations. Same things I saw. My favorite ski as well of the 4 GTR/Lo5/Hi5/Hang5.Although I now think the GTR is the other unsung ski that should have a cult following. It does with me anyway. Obviously all the la Sportiva skis are intended for different purposes. And I try to make that comparison to each ski in class.GTR fairs well. I put the Hi5 in the same class as the DPS 112. People love them. I am just not a big fan of either after a season on each.



Skiing the Hang5late this winter and Springin comparison with the Huascaran (same length), longer DPS RPC,and a Dynastar Cham 107 (184) and my Lo5s. Best comparison was the DPS RPC (192cm). The RPCskied very similar for me in our current spring conditions. Bothadd huge confidence under foot. Says even more for a 178cm ski I think. I found the Hang5 to be the ski I wanted to be on as we rotated through the day.



That is some dang good company for a 1st year ski.

Funny this: by late Saturday my legs were cooked and was skiing the Dynastar (which has gotten some rave reviews). I was hating them..really hating them. Decided if I skied so badly it was time to wrap it up. I got the Hang5 back on top of the hill and headed home. Much to my surprise, even with worn out legs the Hang5s still skied very well and seemingly made me stone sober.

They certainly make light of some terrible snow conditions, ice crust or boot deep slush.



Enough fluff :) Thought about this a lot over the first week I skied the Hang5s and bought a pair asap in the same 178 size.









Thoughts for the guys who also got a turn at my demo pair.



"I take them out for almost any moderate touring day. I find it to have less of a

new-school slarving personality as it needs to be stepped on to really charge. Lots of> energy return and super fun. Makes tight enough turns and is stable at speed."



"uncomfortable, too unbalanced front to back. Always felt like I was on a teeter totter."



"Too heavy and slow in tight conditions, not a ski that is much fun in jump turns"









"Nice ski, could easily be my all mountain ski, all winter ski even at 117 under foot."



My own take was interesting after forcing them off on friends. Most of them ski better than I as well so I valuetheir opinions even if it is notalways my own experience.






Scarpa Maestrale RS






The Hang5 is not a ski I like skiing in my TLTs. Although Jerry had no problem skiing his TLT Mountains on the Hang5.I much prefer a Dynafit One or the Scarpa Maestrale RS for the Hang5 even in the short 178 version. It is a lot of ski for me at 117mm under foot and 145 at the tip with no real or imaginative foo-foo design work to make it ski shorter or lighter.



That said I don't look for the Hang5 as my "first take" back country ski. It is fine in a skin track and booting as long as I am not doing a lot of either. If so I want a lighter ski. But on the down these things simply rock for me. They are ultimately stable, No teeter totter for me. Likely the one ski in my dozen ski quiverthat has a perfect mount point sorted out. And it makes a difference. For me this ski gives a 5 star ride in any conditions, powder to Spring ice and anything in between. I really, really like this ski. Enough so to over look its' weight. Mind you it still weights less than the vast majority of skis of this size and attributes by a fair margin.



The 178Hang5 is afull pound more per ski @ 4.25# than a 177Huascaran @ 3.25# . And the weight and ski stiffness/flex relates that as well. The 178cm Hang5 is a 1/4 pound per ski less than the 182cm Praxis GPO @ 4.5#. Good company imo all all three skis.



The Hang5 skis more like the Praxis GPO than the Huascaran or even my 192 RPCs..No question with numbers like 145mm/117mm/ 135mm teh Hang5is a BIG ski with a rather traditional flat tail, decent side cut and a slightly rockered tip. Nothing here really to give away the performance that I came to really value in the Hang5.



I skied them on the morning ice of a good Spring day and the resulting slush of a warm spring day. I skied them in a few tight rock lined gullies, soft bumps that were huge and everything in between. On typical cold Spring snow with its wash board effect fro a surface I loved them. For me once I had some speed going they were effortless and turned on a dime..exactly where I wanted and when I wanted. No effort involved. Not everyone one liked them 2:2 was the consensus I think. With 3:4 bias in most conditions on the plus side. But some what grudingly. Even the lone doubter was swayed soemby the end of the day.



It is a ski that likes to be driven. If you are comfortable on the ski and willing to work them I think the Hang5offers a lot of feed back and is super fun. And I don't work any ski very hard. More importantly to me it seems very confidence building and super stable even in the 178 size I first demoed and then bought.



The 177cm Huascaran was the first ski to turn me on to this size of ski (short 177cm and 115+/- under foot). I now have 3 pair of them, the Praxis GPO, the Huascaran and the Hang5. I generally prefer (or thought I did until recently)a 192 or bigger ski. I have and ski on several including a longer 196 Huascaran,192 DPS 112RPC, the 192 GPO, Protests and DPS 138.



But I don'tthink I own a more fun ski than the 115+/-mm under foot by178 cm. The Hang5s just reinforced that idea. Give them even a little bit of room to make a turn on, in any kind of snow,and this ski will rip and put a smile on your face allat the same time.









Of the "big" skis La Sportiva offers I think this is the sleeper of the bunch. By far my favorite ski between the Lo5, Hi5and Hang5 Series and does everything better than either of the other two imo.

At least two new skis coming from La Sportiva. A more resort driven Lo5 call the Mega 5 and a totally new lwt fattyI am really interested in,.



IMO the Hang5 best balanced ski in my own quiver of a dozen or so skis. The mount point is squared away for a very neutralride in my size 28/29 boots.Others were not so impressed with the ski. Preferring a few of the other offerings I have. I was impressed enough to buy a pair of Hang5safter just a couple of days of skiing on them. For me this is a "any mission ski". I wish it weighted less for packing around or skins. But I can live with the ski's weight. The performance is so high and so very predictable in any snow condition the weight is generally unnoticed unless it needs to be carried or skinning. Typical shite days at the lift when the snow is chopped up and only OK...this is going to be one of my "go to" ski.



I really like this ski. And the color as well :)



Hard to find a decent review on this ski or anyone that has skied it. If 117 under foot sounds like something that might interest you...the Hang5 is more than worth making the effort to try out. Be prepared to open the wallet if you do. I wasn't and had to pry the cash out for these after skiing them.



I'd like to say more. I cna't seem to do justice to what I really liek about this ski. The Hang5deserves it in spades.It does quick turns down the fall line easily and big ripping GS turns on any slope with ease for me. Saving a lot of effort in the process by being so stable under foot. And I do find it a stable ski. Enough tip rocker to fillet the crap snow you always run into on-piste and wide enough to slay any sort of pow or crust off-piste. What is not to like. Icy narrow gullies? Have to admit they are not the best ski there. Takes some speed to get them to turn around. But I will willingly ski them there just because they are so stable and forgiving.



One reviewer complained about turning a short Hauscaran short of Mach1!!?? Ha, ha, the short Huascaran is a gully ski for me. And I ski sloooowwwwwwwwwlllllllllyyyyy i nthe no fall zone..



I really like this ski! Few skiI can really say that about with some conviction. The reward of owning a Hang5was some of the best Spring runs off a lift and boot packing I had this year. Gotta give credit where it belongs. In this case it goes to the Hang5.

"Cold Cold World" climbing sacks

I went looking for a new larger volume climbing sack a few weeks ago. Of course anything I wanted would have to be sewed up to my size and a special order. I have lots of packs but the only company I own several of and continue to use every where, is the CCW stuff.

One of the best things that I have "seen" while at the Outdoor Retailer show in SLC is the pack shown below...that Randy shipped on Thursday for me. So I have yet to actually see it.

Built mainly from a black "spider web" Spectra rip stop, Choas in size, leashless tool attach and crampon bag included. A more detailed review to follow when I get home. But I am expecting a lot and CCW/Randy has never dissappointed.

Worth noting CCW retails (and still amazing to me) are less for a totally custom pack than others are for a production pack. And Randy's personal experience, actually out using the gear as intendeded, is second to none in the business. (3rd complete of Moonflower and 1st of Reality Bath come to mind...early solos of Slipstream..Tear Drop ect.) So if you need a guy who really understands your needs as a climber, he is THE go to guy imo.

Few times are the cutting edge practioners involved so directly with product design, manufacturing and development. When they are it shows.


Totally custom pack to my specs, with select materials, harness and accessories with the Chaos' volume. $245 and $10 shipping from the East coast to Issaqauh WA. And amazingly, a week after the order was placed it was shipped out to me. Freak'in stellar customer service!

Not the best know fact...but Twight, Belcourt, House and dozens of others have used "COLD COLD WORLD" packs off and on for years.

The one shown is a size Large with a 19.5 back.
Postal scale says 2# 4oz stripped (lid and foam off)
Tri folded 9mm Foam 3 or 4 oz (3/4 size and 22"x37")
mongo size...Lid another 8 oz

Just under 3# all added up and 4000+ cu in. for a size large. Extension is at least another 1500ci. 4000 in³ = 65.5482 L

Big enough to be used as a half bag if required and strong enough to stand in while hanging on the haul loops. Material is 500 denier nylon with a Spectra carbon fiber ripstop reinforcement woven into the fabric. So the pack could be made lighter using lighter weight materials. I was looking for something lwt weight, would look good in photos and tough, all without dropping a gazzillion $.

He's even sewn up a few "white" ones you've seen in the Patagonia catalog that another company just loves to take credit for :)

If you are looking for something really special for your own climbing you should make the effort to discuss your project with Randy @ CCW 603 383 9021 www.coldcoldworldpacks.com

Enjoying the blue hour at Bandon Beach

A shot of Jessica and I from our November trip out west. We had spent the day sightseeing and been in and out of rain all day long. As we drew near Bandon Beach just before sunset the clouds started to clear and it looked like sunset was going to be nice. And indeed it was! The sky lit up with glorious colors as the sun dipped below the horizon. We had a blast watching the changing sky and finding star fish and other sea life clinging to the sea stacks. After the sunset color faded from the sky we headed further down the beach to get closer to some of the sea stacks. From a distance they don't look very big but when you get close, WOW are they huge! I just had to get a shot of us posed in between these towering formations. It was a great end to a fun-filled day!