Overland Training Pt. 3

Disturbing.

Even more so.

Some of the best people you could ask to work with.

Nothing like emerging in a field in the middle of nowhere after hiking out.

Overland Training Pt. 2

Up in the Veterans War Memorial Tower, Greylock Mt.

Even with the overcast skies, it was impossible to get any shots with the windows in view. Hence the different perspectives here.

Drying out in the lodge.

Looking south across the Berkshires.

Matt, ready to descend.

Everyone in the area, both hikers and bikers, converged on the peak that morning. Corey was pretty happy, but this isn't the face he actually makes when he's happy. Just looking jovial for the camera, I suppose.

Overland Training Pt. 1

Much of our training trip was spent sleeping. Sleeping, eating, and hiking.

Melissa, Allie, Adam, Riley, Kiira, Emily, and Matt

Peaks with public access always make for interesting encounters. Washington takes the cake though.

Eating SCRAMMPFCOB (spelling?)...

I should probably know how to spell whatever Melissa is about to throw in her mouth. It's a mix I created, and it contains dried cranberries, almonds, M&Ms, peanuts, peanut M&Ms, Cracklin' Oatbran, and more.

Kiira was one of my leaders for COOT (outdoor orientation) my freshman year of college. She was also one of my leaders for training this summer with Overland, effectively bookending my college career with amazing times.

Amazing.

Some Thoughts on the Past Five Months

The following 100 or so photos that I'm about to post represent some of the difficulties I've had while photoblogging. First, there is the issue of time on a large scale. These photos date from as far back as June 19th. It's now October 22. But if you look through my old posts, I wouldn't say I've been slacking off. Second, there is the issue of time on a smaller scale. Nearly 50 of these photos were taken in a two day period. Combine that large quantity of photos with a dearth of internet access, and there is going to be a problem of getting posts up in a reasonable period of time. Third, I think I've lost sight of exactly what it is I want to post, yet I'm fine with that. I don't consider every photo posted here to be of great artistic quality, but a lot of them have a certain story to tell. Sometimes, it seems like it's a story better told in image than in words.

Once I've finished posting all of these, I'll get back to posting more current photos. Hopefully I'll have reliable internet access to continue doing so.

Time in California

Sydney didn't pose for Uncle Byron on this one. Being cute comes naturally for my nieces.

Marlee at gymnastics.

I was meeting up with Max, Seth, Mather, and Cheit for my last night in Freedomland, so I caught one of the BART trains into San Fran.

I heard this guy playing in one of the stations. (I can't remember which one is was, but it was definitely one off of Market.) He was an excellent guitarist and really seemed to be enjoying himself.

Yell Fire Pt. 2

Close up #1

Close up #2

Donny O'Day, legend.

Brandon Zollino, also legend.

Another shot.

All of that in the foreground is beautiful mud.

Yell Fire Pt. 1

The underside of one of the dock sections. All of our attention was focused on winching them out of the water when Stephanie noticed that Gum Boot was on fire.

Stephanie went right for the phone to call the fire department, Darcy grabbed whatever extra fire extinguishers we had inside, and Brandon and I went straight for the boat.

Using the extinguishers from the boat itself, Brandon sprayed into the seat compartment while I lifted the hatch with an oar. Every time I lifted the hatch, the flames leapt out wildly, and within a matter a seconds, we exhausted the smaller extinguisher. After a couple minutes though, we had it under control.

Without a doubt, the fire started in or around the electrical box and was probably smoldering for some time before.

Epic fail. Successful reaction though. I didn't get any photos of the firemen, since I was driving our other boat over to the marina and out of harms way. As I was the last one on the boat, the fire department took my name down. Thankfully, I have neither a record of arson nor of negligence.