catbirdseat

My wife has a friend who lives in that area. It was a trip to visit her. Her friend is something of a phenom in the area of precious metal refining. I didn't get to climb, even though I had brought my shoes. I didn't have a partner and I didn't know there were any climbing areas nearby. I had the vague notion that there would be time to get up to Skaha, but I was deluded.

I was scrambling around trying to get a photo of a very rustic looking abandoned aquaduct in the Oroville area and encountered a nasty I hadn't met before. Jumping cactus. In the deserts of the Southwest, there is a cactus known as the cholla and that is sometimes referred to as "jumping cactus". That stuff is easy to avoid because by and large there is no grass around and it is tall. This stuff "hides". It is very hard to spot, even if you are looking. I was in shorts and tennis shoes. Suddenly there is pain in my calf. I look down and there is a piece of cactus stuck in my skin. This happened twice- one in the each calf muscle. It's only a few inches high, but when you step on it, it flings a piece upwards up to a foot off the ground. Eventually, I got to where I could spot the plant and avoid it. Amazing how quickly one learns in response to pain.

Sounds like my son. He'd forget his head if it weren't screwed on.

Nice job!

The people up there seemed really friendly. I think that if you are friendly, others will be friendly back. While I was up there I noticed an abandoned railroad right of way on the other side of the Okanogan River from the road between Oroville and Nighthawk. It looks like it would be a totally awesome mountain bike ride. There is even a tunnel. I am told it is closed and posted no trespassing, but that permission can be obtained (and key to the gates). Someone ought to write the Oroville Chamber of Commerce. They are sitting on a potential tourist draw that could bring more $$$ to the area. Here's the bad part of my weekend: I got home to find that my son had taken my truck without permission, without a license and wrecked it. It is in impound as I write and I have no idea how badly it is damaged. Isn't that just wonderful?

African cultural practices will have to change before the rate of HIV slows.

I'd rather have my wisdom teeth pulled without anaesthetic than to enter a mall. Oh, the horror, oh the humanity (or lack thereof). I feel so sorry for people who's lives are so devoid of meaning that they actually enjoy the mall.

Don't knock it until you have tried it.

I am up visiting a friend in the Okanogan in the beautiful mining town of Nighthawk. I couldn't help noticing some cliff faces East of Hwy 97 to the South of Oroville. Does anyone know if they have been explored? It appears that access would be problematic as there is a lot of private property all around. I can't see why anyone would drive all the way out here unless it was something special and I don't think it is, but regardless, I am curious.

It's the Blob. Run for your lives!

I just noticed something. As far as I can tell, MN has never started her own thread. Why is that?

"It fucking ain't loaded and I'll prove it."

W.C Fields is a goldmine. "I remember a time in the wilds of Afganistan. We lost our corkscrew. We were forced to live on food and water for many days. 'Twas a woman who drove me to drink, and I never had the courtesy to thank her for it."

This thread is a retread. Dru's been over this ground. Giant Squid are Taking over the World's Oceans

Trekking poles are no substitute for an ice axe when an ice axe is called for, which will depend on the steepness of the slope, the nature of the snow, and the consequence of a slip. That said, I sometimes use one pole on my down hill side and an axe on my uphill side. I've never used self-arrest poles, so I can't comment, but it sounds like a good idea and certainly some skiers depend on them.

It's a damn good thing you were climbing with double ropes!

I'm sad because I have to go to a meeting in Everwet and can't go to Pub Club. I'll be thinking about you folks and especially of the you are knocking back. (Sniff)

Nice pictures. There's no way I could stay awake that long. I'd fall asleep on my feet. I've done that hallucination thing from lack of sleep and it is scary.

There was something we saw on the ridge that I had forgotten about. A stone with a flat surface had been engraved with Japanese or Chinese Characters plus an unreadable English script that appeared to be a name or names. It was dated 1910. Does anyone know anything about it?

Greg and Marylou, we have more important things to talk about. We have to decide where to go to drink. Keep your priorities straight folks.

Veni, vidi, vici. --Julius Caesar

Good job. Glad it worked out.

Sounds pretty wild and wooley to me.

That quote is older than either of those fellows, but I can't recall who it was who first said it. He was British, no doubt.

I nominate Uncle Tricky's latest. Friction is Stranger than Truth. What's your favorite?