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Bear Mountain Hike
We meet Dad at Pence Park with his friend Tom for an afternoon hike. The sky is full of clouds, but we start optimistically up Bear Mountain, and reach our favorite overlook there without rain. The rain and lightning are kind enough to wait until we’re a good ways down the mountain, where we soon…
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Movie: What the !@#$ Do We Know? (2004)
A hodge-podge of vignettes, computer animations, and clips of interviews with scientists and mystics questions the certainty with which we seem to regard everyday consciousness. It’s good that it argues that we know less thank we think (and I agree), because otherwise a coherent argument would probably be required. It’s also good that it has…
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Dinner at Rotary
Doug had the excellent idea to grill some dinner at Rotary Park after bouldering. It’s a great idea. The air is sweet, the sky dramatic, and the food tasty. A gentle breeze seems to take the cares of the day away with it.
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Another war?
I feel this statement correctly sums up the prospect of war with Iran. I’m not looking to start a debate here, just to express that I feel uneasy enough to send my representatives a message.
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Movie: The White Diamond (2004)
Wow, a documentary that presents real people the way the present themselves, complete with long pauses in dialog. The adventure of an explorer who has built an airship to explore the rainforest canopy in Guyana includes the intertwining stories of his own past, his hired help, and the filmmaker himself. I was touched by these…
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Arthur’s Rock
We introduce Doug and Liz to the beautiful trail to Arthur’s Rock. Last week Ann and Liz had to turn around due to unusual bear activity, and we see some large stacks of scat today, but no bear. We do the hike early, before it gets too hot.
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City of Rocks – The Wart
I’m still up for a single pitch or two in the evening, and Ann is tired but willing to belay. Heading to Elephant Rock we see the first evidence of the weekend crowds – the lot is full and a line of climbers marches toward the shady face. Rather than wait in line we head…
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City of Rocks – Jackson’s Thumb
After yesterday’s multipitch we’re hungry for more, so we start off in the morning to Jackson’s Thumb to climb Theater of Shadows, a four pitch low angle cruiser with lots of bolts for protection. I bushwhack up a steep, rocky, sagebrushy hill to the base where we can clearly the see the nicely constructed trail,…
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City of Rocks – Stripe Rock
We determine from talking to people and mining the guidebook that City of Rocks has a rare offering: easy bolted multipitch routes. Inspired to take advantage of at least one, we head to Stripe Rock to climb Cruel Shoes, a 3-pitch bolt party. It will be in the sun during the morning, but we hope…
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City of Rocks Camping
It seems like ages since we’ve camped for more than one night. We’ve eagerly prepared with a new cooler full of ice, beer, and food. The campsites here are really nicely spaced along the main road instead of clustered together. We have one of two sites next to King on the Throne Rock (#55). The…