Snow Melt Geometry

After a day of blazing heat and stifling humidity at the forge, it seems only reasonable to be thinking about snow. This is another of Ray’s photos from Colorado and I find it interesting the way the snow melted and pine needles collected. There was quite alot of snow still piled up around the hut where this photo was taken, so we melted large pots of it on the woodstove for our dishwater, saving us a long and heavy haul from the closest creek.

Ray is an engineer and maybe the photo gives us a glimpse of how he sees the world.

Hardboiled Eggs and Bourbon

Yes, that’s a snow drift on July 20 at Hagerman Pass, Colorado, elevation 11,900 feet. And yes, I was pretty happy with the whole arrangement. Note the long sleeved shirt and long pants - in July. It must have been 60 degrees, which is all the warmer it really needs to get for me.

As for the hardboiled eggs, I think they’re the perfect backpacking food. They’d sit in the refrigerator at home for several months before I finally composted them, but they’re so perfect on a hike. No packaging or refrigeration necessary, you just dig them out of the side pocket of your pack, tap them on the closest rock and there you have it.

As for the bourbon, Ray and I find Bulleit to be our favorite while out and about in the middle of nowhere. Betsy prefers a sip of tequila, but I transfer the Bulleit to a plastic water bottle, crush the air out of it, seal it with a bit of tape and have a little nip at the end of the day. It’s well worth the added weight and tastes pretty good with the almonds and chocolate hidden in the stuff sack of my sleeping bag.

10th Mountain Huts

Less than a week ago I left the heat and humidity of Kansas for a little hut hiking trip near Leadville, Colorado. Our packs were heavy and the mosquitoes swarmed us, but this is the view from the 10th Mountain Hut. We could hear a stream running nearby and I don’t suppose the temperature got above 75.

This hut has beds for 18 people, I believe, but we had the place to ourselves on Thursday, which was a real stroke of luck. It was quiet and cool, with these gorgeous views in all directions. I had five perfect days of this, split between 10th Mountain, Uncle Bud’s and Skinner huts, all above 11,000 feet. Skinner even came with a shy mountain goat browsing around the front deck.

Five days of hiking and backpacking in this beautiful place with my friends is about as close to heaven as I’ll ever get, but the return to reality is certainly jarring.

And Now Iran?

To delight in war is a merit in the soldier, a dangerous quality in the captain, and a positive crime in the statesman. -George Santayana, philosopher (1863-1952)

My, That’s Refreshing

I’ve been preparing for My Big Backpacking Adventure by filling my brand new backpack with household goods and strapping on my brand new hiking boots for suburban rambles. The pack feels like it weighs about as much as I do, though it’s not even close. Right now it’s packed with 5 lb of flour, 4 lb of sugar, 4 lb rice, 2 cans of pureed pumpkin, 3 pairs of jeans and a partridge in a pear tree.

My friends have been keeping me company on these rambles and Priscilla went along tonight, after fixing me a fantastic dinner and reminding me to carry an ID in case the police think I’m homeless. Temp was in the low 90’s and the pack started feeling heavy well before the turnaround point. She refused several requests to carry the pack awhile. However, she made up for it by providing a Luigi’s Real Italian Ice as reward for finishing the walk. I’m not sure what flavor it was, other than red, but my, it was refreshing.

Pirate Ship

I was out and about with The Howe Sisters yesterday afternoon when we spied this lovely wooden boat parked in front of the library. It looked like a canoe from a distance, but as we approached we realized it had a flat bottom. The thing was beautifully built with some sort of pretty wood and copper rivets. All the pieces were carefully fitted together and it was perfect right down to the details. Plus, it had one of those wool blanket covered canteens and what I believe to be a pirate flag on a stick carefully stowed inside.

Mary’s curiosity pushed her to research it when she got home, since she is from a boating family, and she discovered that it is actually an Adirondack guideboat. You can follow this link for more information, but I still think it must make a perfect pirate ship, what with the flag and canteen.

http://www.adirondack-guide-boat.com/cedarguideboats.html

Plums

I find the Midwestern summer heat and humidity tough to live with, but there is some small reward to be found at the Farmers Market. This morning I bought fresh fennel, onions, new potatoes, eggs, hamburger, zucchini, beets, apricots and plums. Everything is grown within about 20 miles of Lawrence, by people who are eating the same food that they sell. It’s all wonderful stuff, but the plums are so sweet and juicy, just like a plum ought to be. Which reminds me of this poem:

This is just to say
I have eaten the plums
that were
in the icebox and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

            William Carlos Williams

 

 

Beef Fudge

I’ve been reading “My Year of Meats” by Ruth Ozeki and she offers this enticing recipe:

Beef Fudge

2 c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. ground roast beef
3 T butter
1/2 c. white corn syrup                                    
1/2 c. milk                           
2 oz unsw. chocolate
1/2 c. chopped walmuts                                   
1 t. vanilla

Cook all ingredients together without stirring in a heavy pot to 238 degrees F. Remove from stove and cool to room temperature. Add vanilla and walnuts. Beat until thick. Pour into greased baking dish, chill, and cut as for fudge.

It’s actually a great book, despite the fact that she offers only a few gems like this.

Sunday Drive

This is my friend Don Asbee and his 1941 Chevrolet pickup. Don’s a very good blacksmith and cook, and I think he can fix just about anything. He and his gal pal Martha put me up on Saturday night, fed me well and then took me for a Sunday morning drive around rural Missouri. It was great fun and I can understand why people used to go for Sunday drives. The truck doesn’t go all that fast, but almost everyone smiles and waves.

Home Sweet Home

My friends and family have for some time been requesting photos of my new home. I’ve been reluctant to do it until I finish up the landscaping and new bathroom, but the outcry pushes me to give a sneak preview.

I’m actually quite happy with the place, though it will be more comfortable when the outhouse is finished. The river is less than a quarter of a mile away and digging in that old river gumbo has really slowed me down. However, the neighborhood is generally quiet and I’ve enjoyed the outdoor dining there at the north end of the house. I have a nice solar shower just on the other side of the picnic table and a brand new ping pong table out in the shed.

The cloud of dust behind the house is from my neighbor, who was combining his wheat. He and his family have been very friendly and I know they’ll be more comfortable when they get a roof back on their house. What a windstorm we had back in April!