We lost a notable hiker last week. Karen Sykes wrote a ‘Hike of the Week’ column in the PI and kept up a blog detailing various hikes throughout the Northwest. Her summaries were concise and guided hikers on how to get to the trailhead, what to expect, and generally made it easy to get out and hike. She also was an active blogger and served as an inspiration to many to stay active and get outside.
I recall one blog entry where she wanted to go up Mail Box peak (pretty much the steepest hike around here) until it didn’t hurt anymore. Up she’d go, down she’d come, and if she was sore the next day she’d schedule another trip up. She finally got to the point where she came down and wasn’t sore. She had, if memory serves, just celebrated her 65th birthday.
She was hiking near Mount Rainier last Wednesday and ran into snow at 5,000 feet. She hiked ahead of her companion as was her habit. Her companion waited for her but the appointed time arrived and then passed. He went down for help. A search was launched and they found her Saturday. She had died of hypothermia with heart disease as an underlying factor. Karen Sykes was 70 years old.
I started to think about how someone, who had hiked so much, was prepared like few others, wound up dying of hypothermia. I can only speculate. Should she have stuck with her companion? Maybe, but she was, by all accounts, an extraordinary strong and fast hiker. She would repeatedly forge ahead and come back just fine. It would have been a drag to hike slow – she would have missed many stories and many pictures if she stayed strictly within the safe cocoon that the books describe.
Should she have stopped when confronted by snow? I don’t know how steep the terrain was nor do I know if she had traction items like micro spikes or crampons. Snow, in and of itself, isn’t dangerous. Slope and equipment would be strong inputs.
In any outdoor endeavor, you are (or should be) constantly managing risk. Gauging your energy level, the conditions of the trail. Did she miscalculate? Maybe overconfident? Or, if there was some underlying heart disease, did she get it just right?
Managing risk doesn’t always mean you come out on the right side of things. Perhaps she just sat down and was more tired than she thought. Maybe she got a little sleepy and in an cold environment the judgment gets clouded.
Whatever the situation, she died doing what she loved. None of us get out of this life alive, and it’s the relative few who have peaceful endings pursuing their passion. Let’s hope that’s what happened.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Sunday, June 15, 2014
SAILING ON ADVENTURESS
Thursday night we sailed on the Adventuress. We found out a co-worker was on the board of directors for 'Sound Experience', the non-profit that owns the Adventuress and she invited Jodi and I on a sail aboard the ship.
I sailed aboard her before, but it was over 4 decades ago as a part of a cub scout outing.
More recently in 2011 we had an encounter with Adventuress that must have been a result of a higher power. I still don't think I can adequately describe it, but you can read about it here.
Adventures is a fixture on the sound and while I don't think I take her for granted (especially after August 2011), she's always been 'there'. Sailing up and down the sound, you never know when you will encounter her, but it's always a thrill to see her sailing -- sailing as she did 100 years ago with her traditional schooner rig and her 4,000 and something square feet of sail.
Stepping aboard with the group on Thursday night offered a different glimpse of the boat. She's 101 years old and just completed a $700K refit including replanking much of her hull over the winter. She serves as a platform for a broad educational outreach. Youth, many of whom are disadvantaged, are provided opportunities to sail on her, learn about Puget Sound and the environment. Adults use the ship for retreats to learn and grow. The vessel has a small professional crew supported by legions of volunteers.
One program they had just completed was taking 40 at risk youth, giving them a sailing experience while at the same time giving them a tutorial of marine related jobs. Tugs, freighters, ferries, and all the support functions require a wide spectrum of jobs, many of which are good jobs with advancement potential that don't require a college education.
We were sailing with the group that made it all happen. As the night unfolded, it was clear that Adventuress's ongoing existence was due to an amazing amount of effort put forth by folks we were sailing with. Their energy and passion was equaled by their collective abilities to 'make it happen'. Fund raising, maintenance, staffing, educational programs, scheduling, accounting -- it's not so much a sailing vessel as a floating antique serving as a school and business.
I got the sense that while Adventuress, for the moment, is in fine shape, it wasn't always so. After the sail we went for dinner with some of the present board members and learned there were pivotal times in the vessels history when hope was thinned by the realities of rot and maintaining an old wooden vessel. Grit, determination, energy and hard to find cash made the difference.
The Adventuress is a tribute to the wide spectrum of folks who support her.
At least half, perhaps more, of the invitees had done some serious sailing with many round the world veterans along with many who had sailed the South Pacific. A very able group.
We boarded the boat at Elliot bay and sailed up and down the Seattle waterfront. The wind was 12-15 knots and provided a good breeze for the old girl.
The lighting was pretty good and we met Betsy's "Glorybe" out in the bay.
All and all a good night on the sound.
Everything is done by hand. No winches.
Monday, June 9, 2014
A SHORT WALK WITH THE CAMERA AT SUNSET
A very short walk, but grabbed the camera 'just in case'.
Nice way to end the day.
Friday, June 6, 2014
SNIPPETS FROM THE WEEK
MONDAY
Monday evening we took a kayak jaunt around the breakwater. This is Jodi's standard route. Head north inside the breakwater, round the northern tip, then come south on the outside, round the southern tip, and up and down a few long docks to add to the mileage then back to the boat. It's just about 2 nautical miles.
There was a race Monday so scores of sailboats were out. A slight breeze was blowing and the temperature was exactly neutral. Neither hot nor cold. Probably 72 degrees or so. Perfect weather. Secret beach, on the outside of the breakwater was completely covered by the high tide.
TUESDAY
Jodi picked up at work at 4:50 and we fought the southbound 405 traffic then headed east on 90. Traffic predictably thinned, especially after leaving Issaquah. By 5:20 were on the trail headed for Tiger Mountain, west peak. 3 miles up with 2,000 feet of vertical elevation gain. Wonderful for an after work pant.
Jodi did better than I on the way up. She established a pretty good pace and I struggled a bit to keep up. Fortunately just shy of the summit, Ken called and had Jodi in stitches. It's hard to hike fast when you are laughing. Just the break I needed to get to the top first.
Jodi had made a great snack -- a sandwich with peanut butter, banana and one strip of bacon. Surprisingly good. The camp robbers were there, winged rats really, to snag any scraps. And just when I felt pretty good about getting to the top, a young very fit gal opened her pack and proceeded to empty 3 or 4 gallons of water she had carried up. She was training for Rainier and was headed up to Garibaldi this weekend for a training climb.
WEDNESDAY
We had left my car at the club the previous evening so I walked to the bus in the morning. Just past Rays, the sidewalk comes close to the water. The beginnings of the canal are there on the saltwater approach side of the locks. As I walked on that path at 5:30 in the morning I heard a commotion in the water. There was a seal in very shallow water splashing around. Just as I wondered what it was doing, a big bald eagle swooped down and grabbed a fair sized salmon from the water right in front of the seal.
The salmon was too big for the eagle to fly, so the eagle hopped and flapped and got the Salmon up on the bank where it proceeded to have a fine breakfast. The seal's day hadn't begun so well, the salmon fared worse, but the eagle seemed pretty pleased with the situation. As long as my day is better than the salmon's, it'll be a great day.
THURSDAY NIGHT
We had dinner aboard with friends. Jodi made her amazing salmon toast then we bbq'd a pork tenderloin. Man that was good. As was the sunset.
It was also Porter's day to walk. He took his first steps earlier in the afternoon. We didn't see it, but he seemed pretty proud of himself.
So proud he wouldn't go to sleep and proceeded to humidify himself (and the aft cabin) with the contents of the de-humidifier.
We hadn't seen Andy and Jill in a few weeks, so it was fun catching up. Porter is becoming quite active -- so great to see him grow -- at an arms length distance!!
Monday evening we took a kayak jaunt around the breakwater. This is Jodi's standard route. Head north inside the breakwater, round the northern tip, then come south on the outside, round the southern tip, and up and down a few long docks to add to the mileage then back to the boat. It's just about 2 nautical miles.
There was a race Monday so scores of sailboats were out. A slight breeze was blowing and the temperature was exactly neutral. Neither hot nor cold. Probably 72 degrees or so. Perfect weather. Secret beach, on the outside of the breakwater was completely covered by the high tide.
TUESDAY
Jodi picked up at work at 4:50 and we fought the southbound 405 traffic then headed east on 90. Traffic predictably thinned, especially after leaving Issaquah. By 5:20 were on the trail headed for Tiger Mountain, west peak. 3 miles up with 2,000 feet of vertical elevation gain. Wonderful for an after work pant.
Jodi did better than I on the way up. She established a pretty good pace and I struggled a bit to keep up. Fortunately just shy of the summit, Ken called and had Jodi in stitches. It's hard to hike fast when you are laughing. Just the break I needed to get to the top first.
Jodi had made a great snack -- a sandwich with peanut butter, banana and one strip of bacon. Surprisingly good. The camp robbers were there, winged rats really, to snag any scraps. And just when I felt pretty good about getting to the top, a young very fit gal opened her pack and proceeded to empty 3 or 4 gallons of water she had carried up. She was training for Rainier and was headed up to Garibaldi this weekend for a training climb.
WEDNESDAY
We had left my car at the club the previous evening so I walked to the bus in the morning. Just past Rays, the sidewalk comes close to the water. The beginnings of the canal are there on the saltwater approach side of the locks. As I walked on that path at 5:30 in the morning I heard a commotion in the water. There was a seal in very shallow water splashing around. Just as I wondered what it was doing, a big bald eagle swooped down and grabbed a fair sized salmon from the water right in front of the seal.
The salmon was too big for the eagle to fly, so the eagle hopped and flapped and got the Salmon up on the bank where it proceeded to have a fine breakfast. The seal's day hadn't begun so well, the salmon fared worse, but the eagle seemed pretty pleased with the situation. As long as my day is better than the salmon's, it'll be a great day.
THURSDAY NIGHT
We had dinner aboard with friends. Jodi made her amazing salmon toast then we bbq'd a pork tenderloin. Man that was good. As was the sunset.
It was also Porter's day to walk. He took his first steps earlier in the afternoon. We didn't see it, but he seemed pretty proud of himself.
So proud he wouldn't go to sleep and proceeded to humidify himself (and the aft cabin) with the contents of the de-humidifier.
We hadn't seen Andy and Jill in a few weeks, so it was fun catching up. Porter is becoming quite active -- so great to see him grow -- at an arms length distance!!
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
RAISE THE ROOF WEEKEND
THURSDAY
After a busy day, caught the 6pm ferry by a slim margin. One of the last on board. Slept the entire way over and got up just in time to drive off at Friday Harbor.
Maren and Kylie had been at the house for pretty much the full day and I had a quick meal then settled into the guest cabin, the small cabin with the great view.
Grandma used to stay here and the view is unchanged in the near 50 years the guest cabin has existed. As I sit typing, I'm looking down San Juan channel. On the AIS app I can see a ferry between Shaw and Lopez, headed for Friday Harbor -- the 8pm ferry I would have been on had I missed the 6. It's just beyond my sight line, but I know where it's going to pop out. It's gray out. The sky light gray, the water a medium gray and the islands varying shades of dark gray. And way in the distance, perhaps 7 nautical miles away, a light emerges around the western end of Shaw. The electronically anticipated ferry.
It's nice up here in the islands. Quiet and peaceful.
The weekend will bring plenty of activity!
Time to get a good nights rest.
FRIDAY
The goal of the weekend was to replace the roof on the garden shed. It's a fair sized shed, 18 or so feet in length. The shingles had done their part protecting various tools and other odds and ends for over 25 years. Lichen and other plants sprouted and it was was time for it to be replaced.
Maren and Kylie were already at the cabin, having arrived Thursday morning. Brad, Scott and Bev were coming up on the 2 something ferry, Jodi was flying in on Kenmore air, the final leg of her journey that had started in Nashville earlier in the day and Devin was aiming for the 6pm ferry -- a ferry he usually misses by about 10 minutes.
52 years earlier, my Father, along with Glen (Bev's husband and Brad's father) built the first cabin on the property. Both Dad and Glen have passed and it was up to Brad and his childhood friend Scott to help replace the roof on the Shed. Both had spent time up on the property in the 60's as teenagers, but while Brad had been here a couple of times since, Scott had not.
Friday, for me, was spent clearing out the shed. Years of accumulation had resulted in having to duck going into the shed -- it was packed with stuff. Everything from an old Avon Redcrest inflatable to tools (including a PeeVee and a Froe). Maren and Dad had cleaned a portion of it out several years ago and I'm sure a couple of things were thrown out or re-purposed, but there were plenty of items with no value whatsoever.
After cleaning it out, then off came the shingles. Slow at first, I picked up steam when I remembered the shovel technique of shingle removal. It was still tough work and I was running out of steam with the 'A' team arrived, Brad and Scott. Just as my energy flagged, they rolled in and attacked the remaining nails, of which there were hundreds, if not thousands. Dad loved to hold things down with nails. If one was good, more was better. When the shingles were off, the remaining roof bristled like a porcupine with all those nails.
After a couple of hours, they had cleared the remaining nails and felt, ready for construction the following morning.
In the meantime, Jodi was winging her way up on her final (and best) leg from Nashville on her first seaplane ride. Here are a few pics from that adventure.
Friday night we had Jodi's vegetarian chili. Pretty good for being in the air all day!!
Saturday everything came together. Devin had rolled in later in the evening (once again missing the 6pm boat by 12 minutes!) and we developed a rhythm of working that lasted all day. Scott and Devin on the roof pounding away,Brad making the cuts and ensuring all was done correctly, and myself filling in where needed and focusing on the interior of the shed. It all worked.
It was a time of reflection. Brad and Scott were 60, but memories of visits 45 years earlier were strong. The cabins were still there as was the view. Modern appliances had replaced the original equipment but in many ways it was just the same as when we were teenagers. We were older. Much older, but aside from the soreness, didn't feel that much older.
Devin swung a hammer pretty good and can look at that roof in the future and reflect 'I helped put that on'. The roof should last another 30ish or more years. He will be about my age when it needs to be replaced again.
As Saturday wound down, Jodi cranked up the appetizers, starting with her 'Salmon Toast'. OMG, it was great. The chicken followed and the group descended into eating, chatting, and enjoying the wine and each other's company.
Sunday morning Brad and Scott took an early pre-breakfast hike up Mount Young. Not bad at all for a couple of 60 year olds that had worked hard the previous day. We tidied up the job and geared for departure.
What a wonderful weekend.
Video to follow in a couple of days
After a busy day, caught the 6pm ferry by a slim margin. One of the last on board. Slept the entire way over and got up just in time to drive off at Friday Harbor.
Maren and Kylie had been at the house for pretty much the full day and I had a quick meal then settled into the guest cabin, the small cabin with the great view.
Grandma used to stay here and the view is unchanged in the near 50 years the guest cabin has existed. As I sit typing, I'm looking down San Juan channel. On the AIS app I can see a ferry between Shaw and Lopez, headed for Friday Harbor -- the 8pm ferry I would have been on had I missed the 6. It's just beyond my sight line, but I know where it's going to pop out. It's gray out. The sky light gray, the water a medium gray and the islands varying shades of dark gray. And way in the distance, perhaps 7 nautical miles away, a light emerges around the western end of Shaw. The electronically anticipated ferry.
It's nice up here in the islands. Quiet and peaceful.
The weekend will bring plenty of activity!
Time to get a good nights rest.
 |
| Sunrise Friday Morning |
FRIDAY
The goal of the weekend was to replace the roof on the garden shed. It's a fair sized shed, 18 or so feet in length. The shingles had done their part protecting various tools and other odds and ends for over 25 years. Lichen and other plants sprouted and it was was time for it to be replaced.
Maren and Kylie were already at the cabin, having arrived Thursday morning. Brad, Scott and Bev were coming up on the 2 something ferry, Jodi was flying in on Kenmore air, the final leg of her journey that had started in Nashville earlier in the day and Devin was aiming for the 6pm ferry -- a ferry he usually misses by about 10 minutes.
52 years earlier, my Father, along with Glen (Bev's husband and Brad's father) built the first cabin on the property. Both Dad and Glen have passed and it was up to Brad and his childhood friend Scott to help replace the roof on the Shed. Both had spent time up on the property in the 60's as teenagers, but while Brad had been here a couple of times since, Scott had not.
Friday, for me, was spent clearing out the shed. Years of accumulation had resulted in having to duck going into the shed -- it was packed with stuff. Everything from an old Avon Redcrest inflatable to tools (including a PeeVee and a Froe). Maren and Dad had cleaned a portion of it out several years ago and I'm sure a couple of things were thrown out or re-purposed, but there were plenty of items with no value whatsoever.
After cleaning it out, then off came the shingles. Slow at first, I picked up steam when I remembered the shovel technique of shingle removal. It was still tough work and I was running out of steam with the 'A' team arrived, Brad and Scott. Just as my energy flagged, they rolled in and attacked the remaining nails, of which there were hundreds, if not thousands. Dad loved to hold things down with nails. If one was good, more was better. When the shingles were off, the remaining roof bristled like a porcupine with all those nails.
After a couple of hours, they had cleared the remaining nails and felt, ready for construction the following morning.
In the meantime, Jodi was winging her way up on her final (and best) leg from Nashville on her first seaplane ride. Here are a few pics from that adventure.
Friday night we had Jodi's vegetarian chili. Pretty good for being in the air all day!!
Saturday everything came together. Devin had rolled in later in the evening (once again missing the 6pm boat by 12 minutes!) and we developed a rhythm of working that lasted all day. Scott and Devin on the roof pounding away,Brad making the cuts and ensuring all was done correctly, and myself filling in where needed and focusing on the interior of the shed. It all worked.
It was a time of reflection. Brad and Scott were 60, but memories of visits 45 years earlier were strong. The cabins were still there as was the view. Modern appliances had replaced the original equipment but in many ways it was just the same as when we were teenagers. We were older. Much older, but aside from the soreness, didn't feel that much older.
Devin swung a hammer pretty good and can look at that roof in the future and reflect 'I helped put that on'. The roof should last another 30ish or more years. He will be about my age when it needs to be replaced again.
As Saturday wound down, Jodi cranked up the appetizers, starting with her 'Salmon Toast'. OMG, it was great. The chicken followed and the group descended into eating, chatting, and enjoying the wine and each other's company.
Sunday morning Brad and Scott took an early pre-breakfast hike up Mount Young. Not bad at all for a couple of 60 year olds that had worked hard the previous day. We tidied up the job and geared for departure.
What a wonderful weekend.
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