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Dinosaur Rock Routes
Just looking to get on some rock we find good conditions at Dinosaur Rock. I manage my first lead of the season on The Left Seam, which is rated 5.10a but is easily cheated down to about 5.7. We run laps on that and Color Me Gone 5.9 until spent, then go home happy. We…
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Worldwide WordPress 5k – barefoot in Reno
My version of the worldwide WP 5k is a barefoot excursion through my favorite parts of Reno. If you know Reno you might be able to guess the route from 30 seconds of video: WP Feet Collective start Route Map
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Wall canyon sage grouse survey
I accept my first mission to find and count sage grouse. I’ll warn you that there are no sage grouse photos. It’s hard enough to spy on them through binoculars. I do learn a few things about my home region. I knew it was big and rough, but hoped we’d be able to drive to…
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Tule Peak (not)
We should know better than to underestimate a desert peak, but we casually decide to hike up Tule Peak near Pyramid lake and it hands us our hats. We don’t give ourselves enough time, food, water, or hutzpah for this 3,700-foot cross country ascent. There are great rock formations and views for us anyway, as…
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Pyramid Lake
Locals seem to regard this lake as ominous, rich in lore of drownings and water babies. Our first exploratory run results in no tragedies. We’re won over first by the multitudinous birds (pelicans, cormorants, grebes, coots, mergansers, and more), then by the multitudinous stars. Maybe it’s because we stick to the shore, as shown in…
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Top ropes at Book of the Red
The high crags are still snowed under, so Ann and I try a little cliff along the the east Carson river called Book of the Red. We find a warm and peaceful 40-foot corner to enjoy while listening to the river amble by. Until hordes of drunken partying teens show up. Their yells, especially “angry…
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Hunter lake road – Alum creek loop
Ann and I scout out a bit more of the area near her office, and also possible linkages for our summer pack trip. We get bouts of sun, wind, rain, and snow for variety. A track that looks a lot like a mountain lion track catches my eye, we pass some recent wreckage of a…
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Here comes the sun
Our first really warm hiking day of the year (over 70°F) tempts Ann and I to explore the northern reaches of the Mount Rose wilderness. We’re thinking of possible routes to reach the Tahoe Rim Trail from our house. This trailhead is about five miles up the Truckee river from us. We do some nice…
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A little moonlight on Ann’s birthday
Ann’s birthday, good Friday, and the full moon all coincide this year. After work we celebrate with a nice dinner at Soule Domain, then go for a moonlight snowshoe near Tamarack peak. It’s a great night for it. We make tea in the snow and get home after 1am, feeling young and rebellious. Good pictures…