Film

I just got my developed film back from the lab! I bet it's been a while since most folks have been able to say that. It's been about 9 years since last time I did.

I shot a few rolls through a 1965 Minolta Autocord just for fun. It's a twin lens reflex medium format camera that exposes 6cm*6cm negatives on the ASA25 film I was using. Quite a change from the zooming, color, instantly-gratifying, 5 frames-per-second, hand held computer I've been toting for the last few years.

Pete skinning it up Mt. Healy last spring.

Sleeping on the bus as we pass all sorts of amazing wildlife and scenery on our way into the park.

A new-fangled digital photo of me operating the old camera.

Us near the top of Mt. Healy.

14 Camp

Two posts in one day, holy crap!

Last week, after several failed dates due to weather, I was able to make it to 14,000ft base camp on Mt. McKinley to set up some monitoring equipment. I felt like a big cheater (or maybe a rockstar) showing up via helicopter amongst a hundred or so people who had busted their asses climbing 7000ft to get there, but it was an amazing experience. Camp is a real international affair with people from all over the world who are acclimating, fortifying tent sites from wind, resting before the next push, or recuperating on their decent.

Flying straight from sea level to 14k meant no acclimation for me! I was definitely feeling it digging the holes for the snow anchors, and before being plucked from camp we measured my RESTING heartrate to be 135bpm!

It was a super cool place to see and I'm really lucky I had the opportunity.

I'm writing tonight from my hotel room in Denver, CO and will be on my way to Rocky Mountain National Park tomorrow for a workshop this week. I think I was 14 when I was there last. Should be fun!

Looking worked after coming down from the top of North America.

Captain Yellowshirt is back!

Around camp.

Setting stuff up.

What you get when you stick your camera out the window up there.

Cheri in Alaska

Cheri came for yet another visit on your (taxpayer) dime a few weeks ago. Several fun things and one not so fun thing happened. First the fun things. We started out big by climbing Mt. Healy on the first day. 4000 feet of vertical with quite a bit of snow toward the top and it took us about 8 hours. Then she went to work for a few days at an army base up near Fairbanks. After that we set out on a good 2 day backbacking trip in the park. The weather was really nice and we made it out into some big snowy mountains. Then we packed up the car and drove 120 miles out the (gravel) Denali Highway and camped out at Tangle Lakes. The disappointing thing was that I managed to wreck my knee on the Mt. Healy downclimb which led to me having a lot of trouble hiking and we had to cut our planned 4 day backpack into a 2 day. On the bright side though, the Doc says it's just a cartilage issue and not structural, so doesn't need surgery. He gave me a brace to wear which should help prevent a repeat performance.

Does this mean I'm getting old?

Kick-steppin' to the top of Mt. Healy

Was a little windy.

Ready to jump in the river.

We made it up into the headwaters of the river in the background.