Merry Christmas--2009

Let me introduce you to my Christmas card photo for this year. I was alone in the woods with a hairy costume. What else was I supposed to do?

It's A Christmas Tradition.

This weekend was our yearly Christmas-time campout. We went into Turkey Creek through Klondike and the Araviapa Canyon. We came out at Mammoth, AZ. Not quite as cold as last year, but cold enough for me to envy the propane heaters my friends had in their tents. Maybe someday...

Trottin' With The Turkey

I can't believe it's actually Christmas time. This weekend was an extended version because of Thanksgiving Day. Although it was nice to have time to recover from my early run at the Annual Mesa Turkey Trot (>4000 people this year), I hope we never have Thanksgiving dinner at 4:00 PM again. It was worth a try, but I think it was too late in the day. Here are a few pictures from the race. Mac-Daddy got 3rd place in his division. My cousin Logan got second. They both got medals. I did not place, but I got a certificate that said I beat a guy running in a turkey costume. (It's harder than it sounds) Hoooraaaahhhh! Behold....

The Sweatiest Costum Imaginable

I dressed as Chewbacca for Halloween. I constructed a snorkel inside the mask so I could breath without suffocating. Some friends dressed as different Star Wars characters. See if you can guess which ones.

JayWalking is NOT a Crime.

This will make you feel good about yourself, unless you are dumb.

How Do You Know It's the "MIDDLE" of Nowhere?

Ride to DuPont Cabin. North East of Tonto Basin and Roosevelt Lake. About a 40 mile ride through beautiful forests and rugged deserts. One more reason I live in Arizona.

On Top of Ol' Smoky

Kimball Cody and I hiked to the top of Humphrey's Peak Wednesday. About 9 mi round trip. 12,633ft. Highest mountain in AZ -- with winds so cold, it makes your pants crap THEMSELVES!

http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/Humphreys_Trail_2620.asp

Above 11,000 feet, the hiking got pretty tough because of the altitude. The wind was 40-50 mph.

A Few Of My Favorites

If you can name every movie in this montage of clips, you win a prize. In February of this year, "I was injured, injured bad." With nothing better to do, I began taking clips from different movies I enjoy, thinking it would be awesome if I had clips of all my favorites. This is not ALL my favorites. Some of these movies are not my favorites, but the clip is. I lost interest, realizing that this was going to take too long. Someday, I'll add to it. Or maybe not. We'll see. (If I forgot any, let me know)

You'll Want To Check And See If Your Dad's On Here....

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I count 8 mustaches, 5 beards, 4 mullets, 1 weight belt, 1 pair of fingerless gloves, 1 Member's Only jacket, 3 poems and a pelt of squirrel fir.

Let Those With Ears Hear

Close your eyes and drink this in.

Roommate From Hell

Since I was 19 and went on a mission, I have shared an apartment or house with no less than 30 different roommates. I live by myself now. This song is dedicated to all those who have helped me pay my bills.

What's That Smell?

With the weather cooling off, Mac-Dad and I decided to take a little excursion on our ATVs this morning. The road we took has no formal name. I dubbed it "Stink-Pond Road", because of the putrid-pool-of-a-filthy-watering-hole for old-time ranchers. There is an old abandoned ranch house and spring further on. Great ride. Technical and challenging in places. Enough to rub your butt raw.

Super Powers

When I was a child, my nightly prayers sounded exactly like this: "My Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for my many blessings. Please bless that I will have Superman Powers, and a million dollars. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen."

I think that these Russian Circus Acrobats prayed with more faith than I did. See for yourself. (Watch the whole thing and you'll see why I say this)

It's Just Water....

Will Bradshaw, Chaz Woolf, Dallan Larson and I woke up before the butt-crack of dawn and went to Roosevelt Lake, AZ. The following video sums it up... almost.

I Think We Can Agree

No matter what our personal religious or political beliefs may be, I think we can all agree on one thing - this monkey is going to heaven.

How To Loose Ten Pounds In One Week

I just got back from the adventure of the week. I finished a trek on the Lares Trail in the mountains of Peru. I am happy to say that I had no negative experiences with urine, feces, or vomitus (mine or anyone else's) We hiked 7-10 topographically diverse miles a day for 4 days and ended up in Ollantayntambo, took a train to Aguas Calientes. Despite the name, this is where I took my first shower in five days... ice cold. The next morning we went to Machu Picchu and then hike to the top of WaynaPicchu. I could have tried chewing the coca leaves like some others in my group, but they commented on being "stoned" and also waking up every five minutes all night long.

Peru is an amazing place with incredible people. I'll go back. You should come!

(click pictures to enlarge)

Is This Stone Really Yellow?

I just got back from an incredible extended weekend trip. Flew to SLC, drove to Yellowstone. Spent a few days there being impressed. Drove to Jackson, WY. Spent a day and a half hiking and being awed. The first time in my life, I was chilly on the 4th of July. I am pretty sure I'm going to make a tradition out of it.

Going Where No Man Has Gone Before

Aravaipa Wilderness, Turkey Creek, Rug Road


This weekend was time to go on another 4x4 trip with my married friends. They make fun of me because of my lack of "full carnal knowledge". I make fun of them because they have to ask permission to go camping. (which I realize isn't a big deal) Dave Nelson, Rex Campbell, Mark Freeman, Kyle Mann, Eddie Johnson and I ventured into the Aravaipa Wilderness area traveling from Mammoth to Klondike by a very rough road (and I use that word "road" lightly).

You Won't Catch Any Fish If Your Bait's Not In The Water.

Black River, Apache Indian Reservation, Arizona is one of my favorite places to visit in May and June. Why? The beautiful hike, natural solitude... and the wily small-mouth bass. They are the yappy, little dog of the waterways. They think they are bigger than the really are. They are vicious fighters with hungry appetites. Which makes it possible for me to catch 68 of them today before I ate my lunch. This week's taste of retirement is over.