Well guys, she made it! The big 184,000. She's traveled across the country , up and down, back and forth,this way and that way, up the mountains, through the rivers, and truly through the woods. She has got the wounds to prove it, but she is a great truck with tons of fight left in her.
In other news, Lunchcounter has been out of control for the last week. I have been switching back and forth between board and boat, and having a blast either way. There have been more surfers as the flow has droped, and it's too low for kayaking now, but it was sooo good while it lasted. I showed up ready to jump in my kayak and surf yesterday, met Russel from Utah and decided to paddle the run instead. Surfed when we floated down but just kept getting blown off the back. No pile, just a big green wave. After we ran the shuttle though, I cam back and surfed it with the board and had a few good waves. The run seems like it will improve with a little less water, but as far as Lunchcounter goes, not again until next year!
I have been camping out up in Curtis Canyon. Took a bath in the creek last night. In this dammed up pool. Was numbingly cold, but extremely refreshing after I had my sweats on. Bought some chicken from the store and grilled that up, and it was a nice change of diet. I also bought a tupperware thing the other day, and now I can save leftovers, which is nice not having to eat everything I cook right away. Had a whiskey and fell asleep in the hammock by the fire under a clear night sky.
Not sure whats in store for the weekend, but at the very least it's time I figure out how to catch a fish. I saw some guys sticking thier hands down in the river rocks trying to pull fish out, apparently they got some earlier, but I did'nt see it. But it's something to think about!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
sittin in a boat in a hole in the water in the river
So the wave they call "lunchcounter" is so sick right now for surfing. Apparently it's the first river wave to be surfed with surfboard in the good ol' US of A. Don't know about that, but it's good for sure. Nice soft right handed shoulder to carve up on, and a good steep face with a retentive pile on top. They had a pro flowrider dude surfing on Saturday. He was killing it for sure, but they were filming for research of the waves' hydro dynamics for future flowboard design. It was a beautiful day, girls on the rocks, tons of people watching, a good flow to the river and fun to be had by all. I started in my kayak and moved back in forth between my board and boat. I fair better in my boat though...for sure. Those other guys on boards are sick and most of them have the wave dialed. That night I'm camping up the Grey River, going to bed, brushing my teeth, looking around the darkness with my headlamp, and I see a pair of eyes looking right back at me. I banged a pot with a rock, threw logs, threw rocks, got in my truck with my brights on and tried to chase it off, and the thing jus goes a bit further back into the forest, but I can still see the two yellow eyes glowing back at me from the beam of my headlamp....I got in the truck and locked the doors...It was gone in the morning.
Yesterday was spent surfing and kayaking and I camped up Curtis Canyon again (it's got cell service), made chili dogs and went to sleep to a beautiful sunset behind the Tetons. A few hours later I awoke to thunder and lightning, and hail, and rain, and wind, and I was concived that this one tree was going to fall for sure, and smash my little truck into a million pieces. Through the rain soaked windows, I saw the lights of the tenters a little ways down the hill scrambling for thier cars. Looked like a bunch of little fireflys buzzing around the nighttime sky. Awoke this morning to a few downed branches but no real damage, or sign of the tenters.
Thats pretty much all for now, but don't worry, we'll talk soon.
Yesterday was spent surfing and kayaking and I camped up Curtis Canyon again (it's got cell service), made chili dogs and went to sleep to a beautiful sunset behind the Tetons. A few hours later I awoke to thunder and lightning, and hail, and rain, and wind, and I was concived that this one tree was going to fall for sure, and smash my little truck into a million pieces. Through the rain soaked windows, I saw the lights of the tenters a little ways down the hill scrambling for thier cars. Looked like a bunch of little fireflys buzzing around the nighttime sky. Awoke this morning to a few downed branches but no real damage, or sign of the tenters.
Thats pretty much all for now, but don't worry, we'll talk soon.
Friday, July 10, 2009
I take my showers in the river, how about you?
My last week has been spent up in the Gros Ventre Wilderness exploring, fishing, and trying to keep my truck from getting bogged down in a mud pit 30 miles from the closest paved road. I have been pushing the limits of the old Pathfinder almost on a daily basis. Hill climbs, river crossings, mud pits, pot holes from hell, or axle bending trenches, we do it all with style. She is a great truck, and truly an off road machine. The plants on the dashboard have ended up on the ground so much that I would probably be better off repotting them on the floor of the truck. I have sacraficed the yet to sprout lemon seeds for the bennefit of more soil for the cucumber plant.(Which is flowering and needs to be pollinated...and planted). So now it's just the cucumber plant, the cactus, and a few more lemon seeds that I'm trying in a new pot that I've invented not to spill. Hows that for responsibility? I have also had some questions regarding my personal hygene. Well, I will have you know, it is probably better now than it was before. I jump in the creek to get wet, lather up all nice and naked like and then jump back in to rinse off. It feels like a billion needles stabbing you all over the place all at the same time jumping into those icy cold creeks, but after the feeling comes back over your body you feel like a million bucks. The soapy clean smell is also a nice change from camp fire, but it only last a few minutes before the fire steals it right away again. Other than the plants, the truck, and my personal hygene, things are good, I have found a couple really sweet spots to camp out along the river and been learning how to fish.
So about that fishing...The other day I camped along the river, and there was a little creek that sounded like it may be kayakable so I got in my boat, grabbed the fishing rod and ferried across the swift current to the other side. I scouted the rappid (class V+/unrunnable), and scrambled up the rock walls and jumped from rock to rock just to continue upstream. Anyway, I'm up this little tiny creek, decide that it is a good place to do some fishing. Rig up my rod and throw a few casts. Just a few moments later I threw a cast, and next thing you know I see the fly comming right for my head. My first thought is that my reaction was too late, the hook is going to get me right in the face. Second thought was, I wonder where the fly is, because I didn't feel it hook on anything. I quickly come to the conclusion that the caddis fly that I had just tied on my leader is now in past the barb and I am rocking a new eye lid piercing. I put my hand under my eye waiting for the blood...No blood, thats a good sign...Then I wait for the blindness, but I can still see. Thats also good news. I look around, realizing that I am litterally in the middle of nowhere, out in the back woods of Wyoming. There is no one to help, I have to do this myself. I cut the leader (trying to save as much line as possible for future fishing), hike back down the creek, scramble back down the rock walls, jump rock to rock back down the unrunnable rappid, into my kayak, ferry back across the creek in my kayak, manage to make it back to my truck and get a good look in the mirror. It wasn't good! Sure enough the caddis was hooked through my eye lid. I knew I had a pair of wire cutters...but where? My whole life is in the back of my truck, how am I going to find this little pair of snips. After looking everywhere they could be I began to loose hope. I'm thinking...Shit, I am going to have to drive into town just to find someone with a pair of snips, but just then I realize where they are. They're right in the side pocket of my pack (in case I needed them for just such an emergency). So I set my little compass mirror up on my dashboard in the fading evening light, pry my eyelid open with my knuckles, hold the tweasers with one hand, and with the blurry vision of an eye with a caddis fly hooked in it, I snip the hook blindly trusting in the universe to not let me cut my eye lid right open. I eventually am able to push the barb through the other side and extract the hook with my trusty tweasers. I tried to record the surgery with my camera, but since this incident, it has ceased working. If I can recover any of the footage you will be the first to see. Hindsight suggests maybe sunglasses are a good idea. It makes me sick to think of how close I came to being blind in that eye. Were talking fractions of an inch. Chalk it up to experience though. Fishing...go figure.
Other than that, boated a little creek, fun but fast, did it twice. Been doing a fair amount of hiking, and just refining my camping skills. I was hiking along a game trail and found a nice steamy pile of bear shit a little close for comfort to my campsite. No tracks or bear sightings just yet though. Since Scott shot the bear mace off in the trunk a few weeks back, another can may be a good purchase. In other news, I got a part time job, which is good news for my survival, and this wave called Lunchcounter is running good, which is good news for my kayaking, so for now, the woods of Wyoming are nothing but fun.
So I have been recieving alot of questions as to when are we going to hear more about this Jesse Reuter guy. Well, the whole story would take months, maybe even years, but for now just know that he is my friend and mentor. When I am in a tough spot, our friend Jesse always has words of wisdom for me, and he offers me nothing but encouragment and guidence to continue my daily, boring, monotanus life. To sign up for him to mentor you, and guide you through your daily life, please direct emails to kane726@comcast.net. Hurry though, he is only accepting applicants on a limited time basis and in order to reserve your mentoree position you must act soon.
As always, keep checking back for updates, for now it's back to the forest.
So about that fishing...The other day I camped along the river, and there was a little creek that sounded like it may be kayakable so I got in my boat, grabbed the fishing rod and ferried across the swift current to the other side. I scouted the rappid (class V+/unrunnable), and scrambled up the rock walls and jumped from rock to rock just to continue upstream. Anyway, I'm up this little tiny creek, decide that it is a good place to do some fishing. Rig up my rod and throw a few casts. Just a few moments later I threw a cast, and next thing you know I see the fly comming right for my head. My first thought is that my reaction was too late, the hook is going to get me right in the face. Second thought was, I wonder where the fly is, because I didn't feel it hook on anything. I quickly come to the conclusion that the caddis fly that I had just tied on my leader is now in past the barb and I am rocking a new eye lid piercing. I put my hand under my eye waiting for the blood...No blood, thats a good sign...Then I wait for the blindness, but I can still see. Thats also good news. I look around, realizing that I am litterally in the middle of nowhere, out in the back woods of Wyoming. There is no one to help, I have to do this myself. I cut the leader (trying to save as much line as possible for future fishing), hike back down the creek, scramble back down the rock walls, jump rock to rock back down the unrunnable rappid, into my kayak, ferry back across the creek in my kayak, manage to make it back to my truck and get a good look in the mirror. It wasn't good! Sure enough the caddis was hooked through my eye lid. I knew I had a pair of wire cutters...but where? My whole life is in the back of my truck, how am I going to find this little pair of snips. After looking everywhere they could be I began to loose hope. I'm thinking...Shit, I am going to have to drive into town just to find someone with a pair of snips, but just then I realize where they are. They're right in the side pocket of my pack (in case I needed them for just such an emergency). So I set my little compass mirror up on my dashboard in the fading evening light, pry my eyelid open with my knuckles, hold the tweasers with one hand, and with the blurry vision of an eye with a caddis fly hooked in it, I snip the hook blindly trusting in the universe to not let me cut my eye lid right open. I eventually am able to push the barb through the other side and extract the hook with my trusty tweasers. I tried to record the surgery with my camera, but since this incident, it has ceased working. If I can recover any of the footage you will be the first to see. Hindsight suggests maybe sunglasses are a good idea. It makes me sick to think of how close I came to being blind in that eye. Were talking fractions of an inch. Chalk it up to experience though. Fishing...go figure.
Other than that, boated a little creek, fun but fast, did it twice. Been doing a fair amount of hiking, and just refining my camping skills. I was hiking along a game trail and found a nice steamy pile of bear shit a little close for comfort to my campsite. No tracks or bear sightings just yet though. Since Scott shot the bear mace off in the trunk a few weeks back, another can may be a good purchase. In other news, I got a part time job, which is good news for my survival, and this wave called Lunchcounter is running good, which is good news for my kayaking, so for now, the woods of Wyoming are nothing but fun.
So I have been recieving alot of questions as to when are we going to hear more about this Jesse Reuter guy. Well, the whole story would take months, maybe even years, but for now just know that he is my friend and mentor. When I am in a tough spot, our friend Jesse always has words of wisdom for me, and he offers me nothing but encouragment and guidence to continue my daily, boring, monotanus life. To sign up for him to mentor you, and guide you through your daily life, please direct emails to kane726@comcast.net. Hurry though, he is only accepting applicants on a limited time basis and in order to reserve your mentoree position you must act soon.
As always, keep checking back for updates, for now it's back to the forest.
Monday, July 6, 2009
wait, so does a bear shit in the woods?
Well I made it into Jackson friday morning. Had a surf on the play wave, and then went into town to get a job. Everyday since has consisted of about the same thing. I am living outside, out of the back of my truck, and the amusing thing is that most of the people I have met here, are, or have done the same thing. Everyone is super cool, and I have alot in common with the average person here.
The outdoors is right at my fingertips, or under them depending on how close you look, but the weather is great, and times are good. Everytime I turn around I see something new. A huge snow covered peak, a sheer cliff face, an enormous lush green valley, a little creek, or some critter walking through my camp. The Tetons are such an impressing mountain range and everytime I gave to the north I am left in awe of the amazing mountains.
In case you're wondering, I alternate my sleeping between the back of my truck and my hammock. Both are surprisingly comfortable. I have a whole box of food that I've managed to keep from the Bears and Mountain Lions, and I am begining to figure out this whole camping thing. The dude at Sports Authority sharpened up my axe right nice on thier grinder at the store, so that makes my life a lot easier come time to set up camp.
Basically, life is great, I am living everything outdoors, but it's a nice time of year for it, meeting all sorts of new folks, and trying to get my ass a job. I am thanful for a good life and with where I'm at.
Feel free to come visit, bring your own hammock.
The outdoors is right at my fingertips, or under them depending on how close you look, but the weather is great, and times are good. Everytime I turn around I see something new. A huge snow covered peak, a sheer cliff face, an enormous lush green valley, a little creek, or some critter walking through my camp. The Tetons are such an impressing mountain range and everytime I gave to the north I am left in awe of the amazing mountains.
In case you're wondering, I alternate my sleeping between the back of my truck and my hammock. Both are surprisingly comfortable. I have a whole box of food that I've managed to keep from the Bears and Mountain Lions, and I am begining to figure out this whole camping thing. The dude at Sports Authority sharpened up my axe right nice on thier grinder at the store, so that makes my life a lot easier come time to set up camp.
Basically, life is great, I am living everything outdoors, but it's a nice time of year for it, meeting all sorts of new folks, and trying to get my ass a job. I am thanful for a good life and with where I'm at.
Feel free to come visit, bring your own hammock.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Surf Wyoming!
Well folks, thats all she wrote down here in Santa Fe. The margaritas are going on hold, time to break out some whiskey! Next stop, Jackson Wyoming! Wish me luck. I'll let you know how it works out when it works out.
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