nothing puts more self doubt, and ultimately satisfaction, than an arduous trek in the mountains. The first 2 km with your packs full of food and bodies adjusting to the weight are the most difficult...after about 3 days, your body is used to the weight, which has gone down from eating, and you feel like you actually could hike for 2 weeks straight.
We started off our trek at Sunshine Village, and crossed some grizzly bear meadows. On the way to our first destination, Og Lake, we passed several meadows, valleys, and uphill killers. At one point, which was likely about 5 pm, we reached a trailhead. We could go left and reach Porcupine campsite in 1 km, basically straight downhill, or we could move on and try to cover the 9.5 km left to Og Lake. We had already come some 13 km. But, we had our hearts set on Og Lake, and that's where we headed...
Finally, as it was getting dark, we came up over a rise, and there, in this picture above, we caught our first glimpse of the lake.,...friggin awesome, as we had had no water in at least 10 km, and ended up drinking out of a puddle...as well, it was getting dark, and no one wants to hike in Grizzly Country in the dark.
So, yeah, we made it 22.5 km the first day..great feeling at the end...torturous in between.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
Cowan Lake
Well, the ball tournament was everything that it should have been, and everything that I expected. Drunkeness, yelling, and general mayhem ensued, which can only mean good times, and a great cultural experience for ana, cause, yes, in small town alberta, that is culture.
In other news, we're heading out today to go trekking in the mountains for a few days, and then back this weekend to spend it relaxing etc before ana has to go already back to bs. as.
I'm considering moving out of here after 6 months, cause i want a place where I can have a pet, and my landlady is allergic to all things with fur....though she hasn't reacted to me yet, so that's a good sign.
It seems as though the rescue efforts of canadians are going more smoothly now. Canada had the most people out of any country to rescue, and there are likely thousands more to come. We had upwards of 40,000, whereas the states and britain were in the mid-20000.
I had written stephen harper last week to ask him to justify his response to the situation in the middle east, and though he hasn't yet written me back, i did get an email from his staffers...an actual written email..not just general email that would get sent to anyone who writes the prime minister....and they assured me he had read over the email...whether this is true or not remains to be seen.
In regards to my last post, I would like to make something very clear to everyone. I am not a racist or anti-semite. Maybe my word usage was wrong, but my intentions were very clear. I think that it is wrong for one country to bomb another country as Israel has done in Lebanon. The response was too strong, and too many innocent people have been affected.
I am not condoning in any way Hezbollah. I know that they are the ones who sparked this conflict, and have, over the years, inflicted terror upon the state of Israel along its northern borders. I can only imagine what it would be like to live in constant fear of missiles.
But, I cannot be convinced that this bombing of Lebanon was the best plan, and i'm sure i'm not alone. I know that they dropped leaflets telling citizens to leave, giving them advanced warning. However, what if the citizens can't leave, either because the roads are bombed out, they are too poor, or certain family members are immobile? What if they don't want to leave because it is their country, and no persons should have to vacate their houses so another country can potentially bomb them?
Family Bombed Trying to Escape
Kofi's response
CNN article on civilian children affected
UN Response
I think that, in the end, we would all like to see long term peace in the region, which may mean persuading Syriah and Iran to stop funding Hezbollah. In this respect, let it be heard that I agree with Tony Blair and Condi Rice. But, I don't think that the bombing should continue. It's too big a risk to civilians on both sides...a temporary ceasefire may be the answer, followed by a UN buffer zone along the border to allow the Lebanese government to reign in control of those parts of the country that were lost to Hezbollah.
In other news, we're heading out today to go trekking in the mountains for a few days, and then back this weekend to spend it relaxing etc before ana has to go already back to bs. as.
I'm considering moving out of here after 6 months, cause i want a place where I can have a pet, and my landlady is allergic to all things with fur....though she hasn't reacted to me yet, so that's a good sign.
It seems as though the rescue efforts of canadians are going more smoothly now. Canada had the most people out of any country to rescue, and there are likely thousands more to come. We had upwards of 40,000, whereas the states and britain were in the mid-20000.
I had written stephen harper last week to ask him to justify his response to the situation in the middle east, and though he hasn't yet written me back, i did get an email from his staffers...an actual written email..not just general email that would get sent to anyone who writes the prime minister....and they assured me he had read over the email...whether this is true or not remains to be seen.
In regards to my last post, I would like to make something very clear to everyone. I am not a racist or anti-semite. Maybe my word usage was wrong, but my intentions were very clear. I think that it is wrong for one country to bomb another country as Israel has done in Lebanon. The response was too strong, and too many innocent people have been affected.
I am not condoning in any way Hezbollah. I know that they are the ones who sparked this conflict, and have, over the years, inflicted terror upon the state of Israel along its northern borders. I can only imagine what it would be like to live in constant fear of missiles.
But, I cannot be convinced that this bombing of Lebanon was the best plan, and i'm sure i'm not alone. I know that they dropped leaflets telling citizens to leave, giving them advanced warning. However, what if the citizens can't leave, either because the roads are bombed out, they are too poor, or certain family members are immobile? What if they don't want to leave because it is their country, and no persons should have to vacate their houses so another country can potentially bomb them?
Family Bombed Trying to Escape
Kofi's response
CNN article on civilian children affected
UN Response
I think that, in the end, we would all like to see long term peace in the region, which may mean persuading Syriah and Iran to stop funding Hezbollah. In this respect, let it be heard that I agree with Tony Blair and Condi Rice. But, I don't think that the bombing should continue. It's too big a risk to civilians on both sides...a temporary ceasefire may be the answer, followed by a UN buffer zone along the border to allow the Lebanese government to reign in control of those parts of the country that were lost to Hezbollah.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Canadian Shield Sunset 2
Well, ana jumped in feet first to my family this weekend as we drove 1000 km to northern sask for a family reunion. we got the whole deal....t shirts, competitions between sides, beer, food, food, lefsa (we're norwegians). It was amazing to meet so many people from my family that I never had before...growing up an only child in alberta, away from my family, i never had a chance to meet many of them, and it was great.
My new car rules. I drove from calgary to an hour outside of saskatoon on a tank of gas. so glad i never got an suv..you're right, screetus.
alright...so, what the fuck is up with Israel????? More important to us, what the fuck is up with Stephen Harper backing Israel? Correct me if i'm wrong, but Hezbollah, Hizbollah, etc. kidnapped two israeli soldiers, and 7 others were killed in the event. So, Israel and its backers, Canada included, say that it's alright if 300 plus lebanese civilians die? that's ridiculous. its inhumane, and I would encourage everyone to write stephen harper and address his stance on this operation. 3 canadians were kidnapped in Venezuela....did we invade venezuela? I know we don't have the history that Israel does with Hezbollah, but this is not the right way out. I have lost all (and it wasn't much to start with) respect for harper over this, as well as the state of Israel. They keep Palestinians in 3rd world conditions, controlling their lives, giving them no options out, exerting force whenever necessary to quell them....it seems ironic that a group, such as the Jews, is capable of such human rights violations. I'm not anti-semetic, but I am in favour of human rights, and I know clearly now that harper and israel are not.
...note that bush is no longer worthy of mentioning in human rights tirades.
My new car rules. I drove from calgary to an hour outside of saskatoon on a tank of gas. so glad i never got an suv..you're right, screetus.
alright...so, what the fuck is up with Israel????? More important to us, what the fuck is up with Stephen Harper backing Israel? Correct me if i'm wrong, but Hezbollah, Hizbollah, etc. kidnapped two israeli soldiers, and 7 others were killed in the event. So, Israel and its backers, Canada included, say that it's alright if 300 plus lebanese civilians die? that's ridiculous. its inhumane, and I would encourage everyone to write stephen harper and address his stance on this operation. 3 canadians were kidnapped in Venezuela....did we invade venezuela? I know we don't have the history that Israel does with Hezbollah, but this is not the right way out. I have lost all (and it wasn't much to start with) respect for harper over this, as well as the state of Israel. They keep Palestinians in 3rd world conditions, controlling their lives, giving them no options out, exerting force whenever necessary to quell them....it seems ironic that a group, such as the Jews, is capable of such human rights violations. I'm not anti-semetic, but I am in favour of human rights, and I know clearly now that harper and israel are not.
...note that bush is no longer worthy of mentioning in human rights tirades.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Cold Lake
holy unupdating guy...well, truth be told, things have been crazy busy here lately. here are some significant events.
1. because my conscience wouldn't let me, i didn't go with anything suv-ish. i bought a new toyota matrix, which is amazing on gas, etc etc.
2. ana is here visiting at the moment and for about 4 more weeks.
3. we went to a wedding in cold lake, alberta this past weekend. debauchery ensued.
4. Kyle Macdonald is now the proud owner of a house in Kipling, Sask.
5. I went to the stampede. paid 12 bucks to get in. could have paid 4.50 for a corndog...didn't.
6. I'll be going to northern saskatchewan in a few days for a family reunion...should be fun times.
7. I got a contract to teach next year, so i no longer have to worry about employment.
and that, in effect, is the awesomeness that is my life. take care, all, and have a great summer
1. because my conscience wouldn't let me, i didn't go with anything suv-ish. i bought a new toyota matrix, which is amazing on gas, etc etc.
2. ana is here visiting at the moment and for about 4 more weeks.
3. we went to a wedding in cold lake, alberta this past weekend. debauchery ensued.
4. Kyle Macdonald is now the proud owner of a house in Kipling, Sask.
5. I went to the stampede. paid 12 bucks to get in. could have paid 4.50 for a corndog...didn't.
6. I'll be going to northern saskatchewan in a few days for a family reunion...should be fun times.
7. I got a contract to teach next year, so i no longer have to worry about employment.
and that, in effect, is the awesomeness that is my life. take care, all, and have a great summer
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