Things I overheard: Tanner

An old post: originally written  8/2010.

Tanner loves to cook.

On one night, when it was just him and I for dinner, I asked what he wanted .

His response: salad. 

So we went to the store and picked out the necessary ingredients. 

He wanted: strawberries and blueberries

I wanted: nuts

Things I overheard:co-worker

Coworker: "I can not find this file."

Me: "Its in alphabetical order so it would be in the second drawer down."

Coworker: "Ohh, I am not awake yet. I can't count."

Me: "Must be time to spike the hot chocolate."

A month of T's (part two)

  

I am in there ... somewhere.

 Many months ago, I offered to do a half marathon with my friend Cyndee She wanted to do the Halloween Half. Now, normally... I don't run and so I totally found this kind of funny except that Cyndee does not run either. I figured "what the hell" I will be ok. Since, our marathon experience would most likely be more of a jaunt down the canyon in costume. Now, doesn't that sound lovely?

And it was, Cynd and I ran when the race was being documented by the professional photographers along the route but the rest of the way we chatted it up, stopped for a fifteen min potty break, took photos of our selves tossing leaves and posing at Bridal veil falls. Well, it was lovely except for Cyndee's quarter sized blisters on her feet. That part wasn't lovely at all.

Cyndee and I loved the photographers and worked it like no other every time we saw them. Some photographers even got a pretty good laugh. Because of this, I was pretty excited to see how well the photos worked out. I even paid $45 dollars to have full ownership of them. There are some more here on my flikr account. So make my money worth it and check them out. If you set the photos on the medium size and scroll through them fast we actually look like we are running. OMG! SO cool!

Our "Bitch'in 80's" jog



Our rendition of the "yellow brick road" this is towards the end of the 13.1 miles and we were thinking. "where in the hell are dorthy's red shoes? I wish I was home. I wish I was home"



Seeing with new eyes

This is the view from my office window. I took the image to document the changing weather.


I love this view. I have watched it for 7 years now. I get to see the weather change,  an occasional raptor or flicker fly overhead, a wagon at this is the place national monument run out of control... horses rearing...large dust clouds forming behind it... white canvas wagon cover billowing in the turmoil, mountain bikers and hikers, people play with their dogs, and (during this time of year) the European Starling flocks as they glide gracefully from the light posts, up and over the building, and then back.


European Starlings are gregarious in the autumn and winter months. Meaning, you can only see these wondrous flocks during this time of the year.  My sister in Law witnessed the intense beauty of a starling flock last year at her home in American fork. The starlings, sitting in her back yard, suddenly burst into the air. The sound of their wings filled the home as she watched them take off.  It must have been an incredible experience. And, it must have been a very large flock of starlings due to the sound she described. She seemed disappointed* when I told her what they most likely were. It was not rare or cool bird but, in my opinion, something rare would never be able to create the awesome display she witnessed.
*She was probably disappointed because I always follow with the identification of  European Starlings with "they are a highly invasive and introduced species**". The negativity I have for these birds is a learned response. It is the response of a birder.
** Starlings were introduced by a man who hoped to introduce any bird mentioned in shakespears plays. A romantic and devastating idea.
 

The European Starling is considered a pest in America. It destroys crops and spreads disease due to its massive numbers but it's also a  hole-nesting species which affects native, cavity-nesting species due to competition for nest sites. For example, in North America, the Purple Martin is now widely dependent on artificial nest houses put up by humans, which must be protected from colonization by European Starlings.

Side Tangent.  In one of my favorite books, one of my favorite authors, describes the Starling as something we see within ourselves.

"Perhaps we [the human species] project on to Starlings that which we deplore in ourselves: our numbers, our aggression, our greed, and our cruelty. Like Starlings, we are taking over the world....What makes our relationship to starlings even more curious is that we loathe them, calling in exterminators because we fear disease, yet we do everything within our power to encourage them as we systematically erase the specialized habitats of specialized birds. " Terry Tempest Williams, Refuge 

Side Tangent within a side Tangent: Starlings always remind me of my bushtits due to this e-mail.

BTit: "I had a thought to the other day I wanted to share with you.  It concerns the euro-trash and Garbage eaters :).  I was stuck in traffic one day watching pigeons mate*** under the freeway overpass and the thought occurred to me:  You know we (as humans) come in and drastically alter the environment.  We destroy food sources and shelters and water supplies, and yet amazingly there are a few species that not only survive, despite what we do, but thrive.  They are able to adapt and use our man made buildings for their shelter, and eat our food source (ie garbage).  Shouldn't we admire these species the most?  ....  Yet its these species that we consider pests, and obnoxious.  And its the fragile species that can't weather the change that we admire the most.  

*** not an uncommon occurrence, for pigeon matting and/or a birder to speculate upon it. 

Even though, European Starlings, are a pest they are also a beautiful and successful species that can create a visual and audible intensity not unlike what I saw in Omaha when I went to see the migration of a hundred thousand Sandhill cranes. 

A group of starlings has many collective nouns, including "constellation, "filth", "murmuration", "scourge", and "vulgarity" I think the polarity of the names is interesting since it reflects the diversity of how we feel towards them. For instance, although in the Americas we tend to think of them as pests and exterminate them, in Denmark they are seen differently. The flocks get so huge that it is actually a tourist attraction called "Black sun". Check out some images here. It's an amazing and beautiful natural phenomenon and is described on the visit denmark website as an "aerial ballet" where "enormous flocks of black starlings, sometimes hundreds of thousands, create fascinating patterns in the sky, virtually blocking out the sun" Doesn't that sound amazing? I want to go and see it. Perhaps my mom and I can work in a birding / genealogy trip. (I would even try to stay awake when you tell me all those stories about my family, Ma!)   

I guess, I realized while watching them out my window today, that I actually look forward to seeing them in the winter as they form their large flocks***** and this.... is my call to you, to not miss out on it. 

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. - Marcel Proust, 1871-1922

Guest post... Thankful

Casi and Mom's cute turkey place settings

 I mentioned to Casi that I want to do a Thanksgiving post and the next thing I knew ... she wrote it for me.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I hope you ate lots of pie! Cheers!

 Mom is thankful for:

My Niece; helping set the table

• Coffee
• Spell check
• her awesome Daughter
• spell check
• Stupid shows on bravo, late at night
• FaceBook
• her Iphone
• her awesome job
• birds
• spell check
• pie
• slippers
• wine
• spell check
• her totally ninja daughter

Big Snow

Tanner woke up this morning to a T.V. that would not work. So he decided to take advantage of the huge snow storm from last night.

A few minutes later Casi followed.

I then went after them with the camera. Getting a few photos before Tanner busted me. He called a warning shout to Casi so she could pelt me with snow balls.

A month of T's (part one)

"My 2010 story will obviously contain story's that reflect on the outside world. An existence of observation. This type of relationship with nature will always be a part of my life. Observing. Enjoying. Loving. Reflecting. But for 2010, I want to "up the ante" by adding a physical element. I have a few ideas in my head. Nothing new, though. Perhaps 2010 will be the year I find this missing detail." Managed Chaos, January 2010

That was my new years resolution for 2010. I know, I acted like it was not a resolution, but it was. It was hidden under a new title and format and I did not see it for what it was... until now. *

*Tangent. I have never done any type of new years resolution. Honesty, without truly knowing, I found them to be a waste of time ** New years resolutions, in my opinion tend to make people sad because what they planned did not happen. They also tend to forget about all the other wonderful things they had completed that year. I find this sad and so I have never done one before. Plus, I am lazy and writing one seemed hard. 

** I know its very ignorant of me to say this without ever trying it. 

But I wrote it and then... it hung over my head ... all year. To the point that when I was asked to ride in the 24 hours of Moab. I had to say "yes" because on January 18, 2010 I said I was going to add a "physical element" to my life.

A "physical element"? I knew what it meant. I wanted to do a mountain bike race. I think a year or two ago I realized how out of shape I was*** and I thought how sad it was that I never rode in a race. A long, long, long time ago (~a decade) I could have raced. I was in shape but I wouldn't race because I cared too much about how well I did. It was easier to do nothing than to try, and do less than I wanted.
***It was this day.


I think part of this was my friends fault. She not only inspired me to write the "new years resolution" but she ran a marathon. A fucking**** 26.2 mile marathon. That's huge. I don't want to ever do that. I accidentally "ran" a half marathon (more on that later) and I hurt for about a week. I think she is amazing for doing this.
****This is a well thought out word. I wanted to get your attention here because 26.2 miles is a lot and I felt that without that word no one would have noticed how amazingly long a marathon is.


I was really freaked out about riding in this race. I had not ridden in soooooooo long and the other girls on my team had long racing resumes and current skills. I guess I felt these things were important. Which meant, I definitely needed to do some training. And, I did train;  4-9- hours a week. Nick, Brandon, and Nate were my training partners and champions (I may have been a little whiny about my biking skills and fitness). Thanks Guys!

 The race is described (on the official web page of 24 hours of Moab) as:

Set in the enchanted, red rock desert, most of the course is on an old jeep trail, but it's technical enough that you have to pick your lines*****. All-in-all, it's a very fast course****** with several big-chaining sections where you can push 40+ miles an hour*******. Pro's consistently break the one hour mark on this roughly 15-mile course********. It has some gnarly down hills, 1,360 feet of climb per lap, and some of the most spectacular scenery in the world!******** So, join us on the dusty trail Behind-the-Rocks for one of the greatest mountain bike races on the planet!

My first wreck!

***** This is no joke. Yes you had to pick your lines or risk a 8 foot cliff (and "endo" see image) or exhaust yourself with a very unique grind up a technical course. (&)

(&) I had other wrecks too. My favorite wreck was my last because of my mentality when it happened and how I dealt with it. My mind was a bit off. My body was fraught with exhaustion and dehydration symptoms and so I keep getting a little ... spacey. At one point, I lost concentration and got to close to a huge sand berm that was taller than my head. The next thing I knew the sand berm consumed me as I tried to destroy it with my face and bike. When everything stopped, I was coated in wet sand. Without pause, I got up, wiped the sand off one side of my face with the backside of my glove, got on my bike and started peddling.

For the next 30 min, as the sand dried, it fell off behind me. Creating a small sandstorm as I rode. 

****** I "felt" fast...
******* I topped out at 25-30 MPH and I was peddling my tinnier legs off to do it. Large gear and a cadence over 90.
******** I am not a "Pro"
********* Spectacular scenery! On my first lap, I rode as the sun was setting. It was incredible. At every turn the sky melted with the surrounding landscape. I was definitely into it (and distracted by it). At one point, I turned to the guy next to me and mentioned the view. He looked at me like I was crazy for even noticing such a silly thing and I looked back at him with a look that said he was crazy for not noticing at all. 

 While at the 24 hours of Moab, I realized something about racing. I realized, that, once you are on the trail everything gets really.... simple. There is only one thing to do. No more planning. No more worrying. All you do is ride. Nothing else.********** You just put one pedal in front of the other over and over again. You dont worry about your training, what you ate earlier, or if you slept enough. You are in the moment. Thinking only about the section of trail in front of you.
********** Nate would probably say I should have also concentrated on drinking my water.


In some way, its kind of like having a baby. You plan, and plan, Then 2/3rds of the way in you start to worry about how you will get the baby out (or how you will do your next lap). But then, ultimately, the time comes. The day (or moment arrives) and the ability to worry leaves. You realize, there is nothing to do but have the baby. And so you do just that. And, now that the race / baby having is over, I think I am ready to have another! (*)
(*) Race, Mom. Not baby.

SheMullet Team number: 303 class: Just For Fun      16th Annual 24 Hours of Moab  12 laps completed  Distance Travelled: 178.92 miles  Elevation Gain: 16320 ft  Class place: 32  Overall place: 230 Rider Laps Completed: Sarah Cookler 3 Angie Branch 3 Kathryn Dennett 3 Kelly Sauder 3 Overall Splits Class Splits Team # - Name Split Time # of Laps Last Lap Finish Time Team Ahead 45 - Paul Romero 0:11:35 12 Sun 11:49:03 AM Current Team 303 - SheMullet 0 12 Sun 12:00:38 PM Team Behind 135 - Trans-FrontRange Masters Express 0:12:13 12 Sun 12:12:51 PM Lap # Rider Idle Time Start Finish Ride Time Lap Time 1 Kathryn Dennett 0:00:00 Sat 12:00:00 PM Sat 1:56:01 PM 1:56:02 1:56:02 2 Kelly Sauder 0:00:02 Sat 1:56:03 PM Sat 3:39:58 PM 1:43:55 1:43:57 3 Sarah Cookler 0:00:17 Sat 3:40:15 PM Sat 5:18:41 PM 1:38:26 1:38:43 4 Angie Branch 0:00:04 Sat 5:18:45 PM Sat 7:08:09 PM 1:49:25 1:49:29 5 Kathryn Dennett 0:00:11 Sat 7:08:20 PM Sat 9:24:16 PM 2:15:56 2:16:07 6 Kelly Sauder 0:01:12 Sat 9:25:29 PM Sat 11:51:06 PM 2:25:37 2:26:49 7 Sarah Cookler 0:00:05 Sat 11:51:11 PM Sun 1:48:48 AM 1:57:37 1:57:42 8 Angie Branch 0:00:05 Sun 1:48:53 AM Sun 4:03:34 AM 2:14:41 2:14:46 9 Kathryn Dennett 0:00:03 Sun 4:03:37 AM Sun 6:20:39 AM 2:17:01 2:17:05 10 Kelly Sauder 0:00:04 Sun 6:20:43 AM Sun 8:21:58 AM 2:01:15 2:01:20 11 Sarah Cookler 0:00:03 Sun 8:22:01 AM Sun 10:06:33 AM 1:44:33 1:44:35 12 Angie Branch 0:00:02 Sun 10:06:36 AM Sun 12:00:38 PM 1:54:02 1:54:04

2010 24 Hours of Moab Team: SheMullet   #303From: Salt Lake City, UT USA Class: Just For Fun Sarah Cookler (Team Captain) From: Brighton, Utah - US Race Age: 28 (Female) Angie Branch From: Sandy, Utah - USA Race Age: 36 (Female) Kathryn Dennett From: SLC, Utah - USA Race Age: 26 (Female) Kelly Sauder From: Sandy, Utah - USA Race Age: 36 (Female)

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1.03.01

Anniversary

Today is the anniversary of the passing of Proposition 8.

I remember where I was as I sat and watched President Obama elected into office. I sat and watched the election in my home with Nate. I was elated. Then I watched proposition 8 pass in California and my stomach sank. I literally felt ill. I could not believe what I was seeing. On the same day, within the same moment,  I watched one wall of inequality crashed down and another built.

Here that same day is remembered on another blog.

Equally, I will never forget where I was, 2 years ago today, when I learned that Proposition 8 had passed, taking that freedom away.

The following night, feeling powerless and alone, I attended a candlelight vigil on the steps of City Hall in San Francisco, after which I jotted down my experience of that evening, after the speeches had ended:

Over the murmur of the crowd, someone began singing “we shall not be moved”, at first a single voice, then another, and then a group. As flame passed from candle to candle, from stranger to neighbor, someone raised their candle above their head, others joined in, and 2,000 tiny lights lifted up for a common purpose. In that moment, I found my voice again, within the community; we all found our voices once more.

The whole article can be read here.

HaPpy (belated) HaLloWeEN!

It has been such a crazy few months. After the 24 hours of Moab (which I still want to post about) I went into October with a huge list of neglected items, Halloween around the corner, and the promise I gave a friend to do a half marathon. I dont know what I was thinking.

Now as I sit here, I am happy to see that I am through October. I am excited to enjoy the season, rake leaves, and prepare everything for winter.

 But before I leave October I felt the need to share some of our costumes.

Casi, this year, was what I call a "contemporary or teen tink". This costume almost did not happen. It is extremely difficult to find tink green in an army green world. Apparently its the popular green this year and Casi does not like army green AT ALL. I finally resorted to a trip to Walmart where we found our first green item. Then later than week the costume evolved further with sporty green shorts and blue and green striped socks from Target. Casi and I made the skirt.I think she turned out adorable. 

I was inspired by Casis costume and decided to be a dark pixie. I love a costuem that involves wearing socks on your arms, big blue eye shadow, my old "club'in leather vest", Casi's dress, sparkles, and my favorite color.... black. This is the costume I wore for my work costume and chili bake off party. Sadly, I still did not win the trophy. Ahh, but it was a HUGE upset and there are plenty of people that felt I was robbed.

Tanner, for the longest time, wanted to be a gargoyle. I was a bit stressed over the costume since it would involve painting muscles onto a gray outfit, devil horns on his head, and huge wings. I found one costume available for purchase but it was over a thousand dollars and did  not include shipping. After weeks of research, however, I had put together a plan and wanted to start putting it together.Tanner and I got in the car and drove to the nearest Halloween store where Tanner proceeded to the rows of bagged costumes, picked one out, and told me that he wanted to be Zombie scream. I did not know whether to be relieved or sad. After driving home with him in his mask and seeing his excitement, I decided to be happy since he was happy.

I just love the holiday and I will miss trick or treating when Tanner moves on with his friends. I am running out of years. This year Trick of treating was fun in the rain. Tanner and I were soaked through after a few mins with an umbrella. we were the only ones out there and everyone seemed excited to see a trick or treater so they doused him with candied gits. It was fun to watch. On Sunday (the real Halloween) we went to Park city and enjoyed Main street, people watching, and the dressed up pups!

Hope everyone had a great holiday.

CraZy HaIR DaY: Tanner

Tanner took the crazy hair prize this year in support of red ribbon week, with this masterpiece by me. This year it was close but in the end he beat some girl who's hair did a good representation of Halloween by incorpoorating spiders and a web. Tanners impression of volume meets height was simple and effective. Oh, and don't do drugs.

To: My LDS friends and family:

I am troubled.
I am troubled by Elder Boyd K. Packer’s General Conference speech on Sunday. It was the one message I heard from General conference. I wish I had not. The uproar from LDS members and non-members is everywhere, so it was not hard to listen. Each day another person gives an opinion on the topic. Today I add my thoughts. I want to start by saying that I think the general authorities are good men who try their best. I even believe that they are and can be inspirational. They definitely do good things. But, they are also human with their own biases and opinions. So I ask, can they be wrong? Of course, the answer is yes. I could list tons of examples where the LDS leaders and the church  has altered its views; even changing a view "that the church [has] been saying for the last 2 decades. Yep DECADES!!" And so could you. But this, is not about what was said. It is about how it was said.

And that is why  I am confused.
I am confused because, Packard’s speech, for me, was contrary to what other LDS leaders have been doing and saying. It was contrary to how I feel the church and its members are.  It was contrary to what I had been observing after prop 8.  Prop 8 and the LDS involvement scared and hurt neighbors, wards, and families. Due to this, some LDS members brought groups together to educate and resolve these hurts. At one meeting where 13 gay and straight Mormons spoke “There was sobbing. There were tears. Elder Jensen also shed tears as he listened and took notes to share with other General Authorities back in Salt Lake City. At the conclusion of the hour, he apologized for the pain he was witnessing.” LDS leaders cried alongside a group of LDS and gay youth. Loving them for who they are. Observing and listening to their struggles. Gaining greater understanding for the gay individual and the LDS families that include gay and lesbian individuals. You can find more to this story here.  This does not mean that I thought the LDS church changed its views but this behavior better reflected how I feel these contradictory beliefs, between the LGBT community and yours, should be handled. Unfortunately, Elder Packer's talk seemed determined to change that and for what?

His speech only caused pain.
Packard gave a “license to hate” homosexuals or to at least look down upon them. Some have said, “He did MUCH more damage with his talk to more people than he helped. A heterosexual married person certainly wasn't helped by his talk. A gay LDS boy struggling with feelings of inadequacy was certainly harmed - hopefully not to the point of suicide - but it was a bad, demeaning talk.” I think this is true. It will have an affect on those struggling with who they are, what they believe of themselves, and how society accepts them. This struggle took 3-4 young boys last month as they ended their lives. Unable to go on and face the hate and lack of acceptance from those who surrounded them. The words Packard spoke were preached as living scripture; a message from god. There is a great weight to any word he speaks and he sent a message to be interpreted and used as fuel to the bigots and prejudice among us against. And its already starting "There's no such thing as gay people. It defies the laws of nature. It's like defying gravity, don't you know?" I read this in the news regarding gay rights. These are Packard's words. Would you say this statement to anyone you know? Now, how about a gay or lesbian child? And yet, we accept these same words from a church leader who is responsible spread the word and represent the love of Christ. The weight of this, for me, hangs heavy.

I am happy to hear that Packers speech has already been altered on the LDS website. The words softened but the message still clear. Like I said... its not what was said that has everyone upset. It was how it was said.

Angie

24 minuets of Moab: Tanner style

Waiting.

Getting Instructions for the race.

Tanner is so casual about the whole thing. Everyone is tense and excited and Tanner is going, "Yea. Ok. Whatev."

In their start positions

Can you see the gradient of commitment from all the runners? I think I can even see a little elbow action too. Then there is Tanner in the back row... thinking "Yea,  I could sit up there and jockey for a position with you guys but, why, when there is all this room back here.?"

Getting on their bikes.

I guess being last isn't so bad. There Tanner is, politely, waiting for everyone to get on their bikes and move out of his way.

And then finally, the race!

I wasn't there to see Tanner race so these are my interpretations of the photos. I had to eat and prepare for my first ride so I missed his. Nate went, though to support Tanner and take pictures. The story is, that Tanner won when two boys collided in front of him. Tanner then maneuvered around them and took third. Wished I could have seen it. Luckily, Nate's photos are a good second to the real thing.


Good job Tanner!

Tanner

Tanners teacher asked the parents to write a letter to introduce our child to her. I thought it was a neat idea and can appreciate her desire to want to know about our awesome kids!

Dear Miss Walker,

Tanner is so excited to be in your class.

Currently, Tanner's biggest concern is how hungry he gets before lunch. I was wondering, since lunch is so late in the day, if he could bring a snack to school. Something healthy; like crackers or apple slices. No candy. Our old elementary did this and it was very successful. If not, I will continue to stuff him as full as possible in the mornings and hope he holds through.

Tanner has a passion for the the "X-sports". He skateboards, mountain bikes, boulders, and snowboards. He is not very competitive, though. I think this is why he does not excel in the more traditional sports. In soccer, for example, he had issues taking the ball away from the other team if the other player "barely got it". This is one of many examples where he manages to put other people before himself. This is a neat trait but I wonder if he forgets too much of himself.

Tanner loves the ocean. Well, he has an intense curiosity towards all creatures but the oceans creatures are definitely his favorite. Ask him about sharks and he will probably tell you all about shark week on the discovery channel or talk of something he learned from Zoo books. His favorite fact is that "sharks are made out of cartilage just like your nose".

Tanner is not the most excited reader.  I wish this was otherwise. Reading is one of my favorite things. I keep thinking it will come, eventually. Perhaps, he loves moving and making strange noises too much to give such a quite process much thought. He does better in reading if he can be creative; reading in a sing song voice or monster growl usually helps. He also will read better if the book is funny. We started reading the diary of a wimpy kid series and he is excited about those books. Any suggestions for other (more appropriate) funny books would be very  helpful in teaching him the value of reading.

Tanner loves math. He relishes in the numbers and adding and subtracting them from each other.  He loves art and using his imagination to create all sorts of large teethed creatures. He came home yesterday and drew a mean growling bear. He said something about how you guys are drawing it in class. His bear had huge teeth. Are all boys so fascinated with large sharp objects?

If I had to choose one thing that Tanner loves the most, I would have to say being silly. He loves to make people laugh. He is constantly making strange noises and saying funny statements that I am sure gets laughs from the boys and girls his age.

Thank you for letting me write this letter. I have had so much fun putting to words all the things I love about Tanner. Here's to a wonderful school year.

Regards,
Tanners Mom

Tanner with missing front teeth.

Blog neglect

I have been neglecting my blog. My posts have been random and poorly written and... I am sure that I am not the first blogger to post these things. The main reason I have been too busy to write is that I am in training.

For a race.

A mountain bike race.

This race.

 I am riding on a 4 person, all girls team. 

It started randomly. A girl, I barley knew, asked me to ride on a team she was trying to put together.  I said "yea".

Immediately after I said yes. I regretted it. I have not ridden in 7 years and with only 8 weeks to prepare. It seemed hopeless that I would be ready. I started reading and planning and riding. Riding. Riding. Riding. And then, rode some more. I bought a new bike. Dropping  over $2K. I even dreamed of riding. Not winning, or loosing, just ridding.  The throbbing of my thighs teasing my conscience into a dream where I rode.

But now,

I wait.  5 days, 19 hours, 30 min, and 45 seconds, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40...  And I am excited. Excited to try. To see what I can do.

If you have 6 min. This video explains the race pretty well.

On a side note: Nate has posted on his blog. Check it out. And the critter making all those nut filled holes in the previous post are my squirrels.  

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1.03.01

Who done it?

The Grey squirrels and/or Western Scrub Jays love our mulch for food storage. They have filled our Gambel Oak understory with holes the size of a fist. These freshly dug holes are at a pace of every square foot and every day there are a few more. Some of the holes contain raw Gambel Oak nuts and some don't.  I wonder why one hole is better than another and therefore gets the nuts. I am also curious to know who is making and filling the holes. Is it a squirrel or a Jay? Both? Any ideas?

Happy Fall!

The Subway: Zions NP

[A] mystical journey... [that] involves route finding, plunging cautiously into chilly pools then sloshing, sometimes frantically, through frigid water over and through difficult obstacles.

All quotes were taken from the Zions NP Website here and here.

Brandon, Nate, Nick, Steve, Me, and Casi at the beginning
 of the hike into Russel Gulch; Wildcat Canyon trailhead

I have wanted to do the Subway hike since Nate and I did the Narrows for our anniversary in September 2001; a few days after the 9-11 attacks. It was also our 6th year anniversary.  This year is our 15th anniversary. It seemed appropriate and somewhat deja vu-ish to return to the orange colored walls of Zions canyon to celebrate 15 year of marriage.

As the sun rose it colored the slick rock with shadows and dept. 

Heading across the slick rock towards the descent into Russel Gulch.

Casi and I not ignoring a great photo opportunity

The first view of Russell Gulch.

The route down into Russel Gulth
looked daunting

300 vertical feet went quickly as we
descended down the chute

"The trail then ascends a short distance and traverses for a couple hundred yards before the steep, final descent into Russell Gulch. Watch for the pine tree next to a slab of rock on the right. This seems like an improbable chute to maneuver, however, by carefully stepping down the "rock and root stairway and picking through the loose rock for 300 vertical feet,"

When we reached to bottom of the chute we were welcomed by a cute little pool shaded by rock and tree. We stopped here for snacks and rest.  While there I kept looking in the water to see some form of life. I was hoping for a Tiger salamander. This salamander is supposed to be everywhere in Utah but I have never seen it.; in part due to introduced fish exterminating the salamander with in many Utah lakes where it used to be seen.
As we were leaving, however, Casi pointed out the small toad below. I picked it up and Brandon and Casi started taking pictures.

After I got home I identified the toad as a:

Red Spotted Toad (Bufo punctactus)

Red-spotted toads are a small flat toad with round parotoid glands, and are pale gray to brownish tan with numerous small red tubercles (wart-like bumps). The can reach up to 3 inches in length. Red-spotted toads do have parotoid glands (which can be seen as bulges behind the eyes). Amphibian skin is full of glands that not only secrete a protective mucus but also toxins. This is a defensive tactic to make them less palatable or even deadly to predators. These toads are most active at twilight

Which made me realize that I should not pick up everything I little critter I see.

We then started down the left Fork of North Creek. 300 yards later our first obstacle appears; a large boulder spans the small canyon. Nate secured a rope in a sling anchor on the right side of the 12 foot rock and we hand repelled down. It was a sloppy repel, into a small cave formed by the side of the canyon and the underside of the boulder. It is said that some choose to jump this repel and earn broken legs for doing so. We, then had to cross a shallow pool of water; getting our shoes saturated. It was funny how much we hesitated to cross the pool, it would  not be long until we were wet head to toe.

We continued down the canyon, following the water way. Entering many pools of water at depts from chest to over our heads. Brandon was often our Guinea pig; testing out the pools for depth and underwater rocks.

The water in the canyon is ice-cold, even in the middle of the summer, but in spring and fall it can be dangerously cold. Even when it is hot outside, it's best to wear quick dry clothing and keep other clothing dry to put on in the shady and cool Subway section. Navigate through or around the potholes. Never jump into a pothole! Also note that each flash flood changes the character of the route and the depth of the pools. 

Me showing tons of Grace as I enter the
waist deep pool

Brando testing out the pool

   

The Second Obstacle; a chokestone in the now narrow slot canyon and 8' drop to a small ledge and then another 3-4' drop into the pool below. A submerged rock just 3' below the surface of the water kept everyone from jumping in. We hand repelled into the water.  Swimming was required. We are now cold and wet. Casi  and I in a constant shiver.

Our cameras are packed in dry bags and so there are not many photos of this section of the canyon. Right after the chokestone obstacle we hit our third and final swimming obstacle; Keyhole Falls.

As we reached the falls, Casi looks over the boulders into the tight, water-filled,  slot canyon, the end of which we could not see. She started whimpering and saying "Mom. Mom. I cant do this." over and over. I knew she could do this. Not like we had a choice otherwise. She was already, cold, wet and shivering and so could not fathom how she would finish this obstacle.  She entered the slot canyon and I followed quickly after with our dry bag. 

Keyhole Falls - Yet another large boulder obstruction in the narrow slot will necessitate the use of a rope. The drop is only 8' to the water, but, once again, submerged rocks make jumping dangerous. To the right, an old bolt with a hanger is used as an anchor that allows a handline or rappel through the crack. Another bolt extends over the pool below results in an easier rappel, but this choice requires reaching out several feet to grab the anchor.

Casi and the realization of accomplishing something
 she thought she could not do.

We then started this crazy, bumbling, shivering, dog paddling, slow dash to the end of the 30-40 ft long pool of freezing water. Speaking was difficult but we of course tried anyways, through chattering teeth to communicate different things. I was constantly focused on one thing, getting Casi through the canyon before hyperthermia started. Saying things like, "you have to move" or "the dry bag is right here" since Casi was using it as a flotation device and, "you can do this". Where Casi said things like "Mom, mom, your chapstick",  and my favorite "Mom, Mom, look a frog". Apparently we had different agendas while in the canyon or one of us had lost some of her mental capacity due to the cold water. Hard to tell. 

After Keyhole falls with dry clothes and gear added for warmth, at least for Casi and I this was a definite necessity.

 The Subway - The quarter-mile passage through the Subway is the most charming segment of the adventure. Deep inside the tubular tunnel glimmers of sunlight trickle into the darkness, allowing algae to grow in the water filled potholes. The green flora creates an eerie turquoise glow that radiates throughout the spectacular chamber. Finally, the crystal clear water splashing through this picturesque setting meanders over polished rock to the open canyon below.

Inside the Subway, just past the third obstacle, is the log chamber. It's amazing how long the log has stood within this canyon. There is also an small arch above the canyon but we did not stop long enough to remember it was there and missed it all together. As they say, you got to save something for the next time. And I do think there will be a next time. Perhaps when Tanner is old enough to do it with us. After a final obstacle we entered the most photographed sections of the Subway. 

 

We then started the long treck out of the Subway. Following the water until we reached a saddle in the surrounding canyon walls that enabled us a way out. 

Trying to "waterslide" down the canyon. 

Canyon Tree Frog (Hyla arenicolor)
This frog is plump and warty, with a toad like appearance. It has olive to brownish-grey skin with darker blotches present in most populations. A very distinctive feature of this frog is what appears like suction discs on each toe. Primarily nocturnal; often seen along water course. During the day it can be found hiding among rocks or in stony crevices near streams, camouflaged by its color.

The last mile of the hike scrambles up to the top of a basalt ridge.

Enjoying the ice cold beverages we left in the car, this morning, before we left.