2005 September

This is one of my favorite pieces of music, definitely my favorite choral piece. Based on a collection of secular poems collected by the monks of a Bavarian monastery in the 18th century, it sounds to me almost like a satire of Wagner, very funny, while still supplying a dizzying array of excellent music and ripe human sentiment. With a huge choir (maybe 160 singers?) and also a boys’ choir, it has to be a much less profitable and more difficult piece to perform than the nice two-piano Mozart concerto, featuring the conductor Jeffrey Cahane as one of the pianists, that was the introductory piece. So I’m surprised that the Carmina Burana is performed as often as it is – I’ll definitely jump at any chance I have to see it again.

These bright red, berry-like fruits have been abundant everywhere we’ve hiked in the past month. I’ve sampled a few, and they’ve been slightly sweet and mealy so far, but supposedly they improve with a frost or two. I’ve seen so many I’ve considered harvesting a bag to see if they make good snacks dried. Know what they are?

We don’t go for many Monday night shows in Boulder, but we didn’t want to miss this one. Marie Daulne, the founder of Zap Mama, has explored her musical roots in Zaire and taken them in amazing new directions. Ann has always enjoyed Zap Mama’s many reminders of her childhood in Zaire, and I’ve liked her since my mom introduced to her in 2001.

The stage setup was sparse except for a huge drum set on one side and a DJ table on the other. Bass, guitar, and keyboards adorned the edges of the stage, leaving the center for the singers. From the first note the audience was hers, and she kept us enthralled for the next two hours with incredible rythms, impeccable musicianship, and an astounding array of vocal sounds. That would be enough by itself, but for Zap Mama it is only the medium for a message that is unfailingly clear and uplifting without being the slightest bit preachy. I left feeling truly thankful and inspired.

You may not know that all the writing on the hobolog has been run through a language filter that translates the content to be “appropriate for good clean american families with a mid-sized vocabulary.” If you want to see what the original content looks like, use this link, but don’t blame me if you find it offensive…

Near East Albany, WY

We rise early and set off bravely through the fog to Vedauwoo, where the frosty weather inspires us to take a nap in the car. We’re woken pleasantly by the sun, and we pack off happily towards Walt’s Wall. In the pay-parking area four climbers dart off as soon as they see us without so much as a wave. Sure enough, we find them on Edward’s Crack, the climb we were headed for. We make sure to be extra nice to them.

Instead of Edwards, I climb the first pitch of Walt’s Wall, 5.4, and put a toprope on the Mantle Route, 5.9. This proves to be an excellent warmup, and it becomes clear why this one-bolt wonder is not often lead. The mantle that is still a move below the bolt is an awkward, dicey contortion. Next I set my sights on Friday’s Follies, 5.9+. This route was the scene of my only lead fall in high school, a cheese grater that turned my hands into pizza and left me with a permanent fear of the route. It feels good to give a solid, if not completely quiver-free lead.

Next we hang a toprope on In the Out Door, 5.10a, a route that was bolted from the ground up in 2002. It’s a superb, sustained slab route. Each move seems better than the last, and you are posed with interesting choices. It’s protected well enough with four bolts, but would be a nailbiter of a lead nonetheless. Someday.

Near Bellvue, CO

Not many people were out hiking today, perhaps due to some clouds earlier, so we have this temperate, sunny afternoon on Arthur’s Rock to ourselves. It’s the perfect hike for the day, the grass is long and yellow, the leaves are starting to turn, there isn’t a breath of wind, and the trail climbs just enough to keep us filling our lungs with fall air. We see a baby rattlesnake, the first we’ve seen on our outings in Northern Colorado. Probably because we don’t have the noisy trekking poles along today. Jezze is back to chasing things after recovering from a limp, but thankfully leaves the snake alone.

More Photos

Near Centennial, WY

Dave, Lisa, and Dyson join us for this classic hike from my Laramie days. Despite the familiar territory I miss the turn to the Lake Lewis trailhead. Soon I recall that I always started from the dirt road a little further east to avoid the $5 parking fee at Lake Lewis.

It’s a bit windy, but some wind is required to get a proper impression of the Snowy Range, I think. It doesn’t mar the beauty of the high cliffs and scattered cold lakes below Medicine Bow Peak. Everyone, dogs and baby Dyson included, seem to appreciate the place. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of this area, where my mom tells me I wandered even before my birth.

I let my camera battery run dry, so no pictures this time .

Near Livermore, CO

A lazy, disorganized start to the day gets me to the crag without my climbing shoes. By the time I find the Ra area we don’t have much time left anyway. Ann steps up to the plate and leads the first pitch of Warm Beer and Cold Women, 5.8. It requires the placement of a big cam before she reaches the bolts, and after a few tries her placeent looks solid. She becomes quite calm and focused, with a little nervousness creeping out on one move with a slopey foothold. I enjoy watching Ann expand her climbing experience.

In the end she said the climb was fun for her, but nothing she’d go out of her way for, and pretty easy. We leave still feeling uncertain about climbing in the Poudre Canyon, one of our closest crags.

A greasy sausage of a documentary that follows two promising bands, The Dandy Warhols and Brian Jonestown Massacre on their adventures in the 90’s music industry. Watch this only if you want to see what’s inside.

Referred by Netflix.

These attractive berries have been abundant everywhere we’ve hiked in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming recently. They look tasty, but most of them have a strong astringent flavor. The seeds and leaves can be mildly toxic and shouldn’t be eaten. Dried, the berries were a distinctive ingredient of pemmican.