I like big fat men like you. When they fall they make more noise !" — Tuco in The Good Bad & The Ugly
Falling was not an option on this epic winter route. The gullies were steep. (steeper near the summit) assuring trauma if we stumbled on descent.
The gullies as well as the surrounding slopes were subject to avalanche. The snow was not consolidated and the summit ridges above the gullies were corniced.
Rescue could not be dispatched until the following morning and a fallen climber would be left on the mountain for the night- chances for survival would be slim.
Escaladores:
Brian
Carlita
El Lobo
Summits nailed:
MT. Jepson
Gorgonio Peak
Twenty two miles and 16,000' of elevation gain/loss.
"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there." Lewis Carroll
Road Trip
My REI colleague and amiga Carlita left the Valley of the Sun Friday afternoon and arrived in Redlands, California five hours later.
The following morning we met Brian Hall.
Brian worked at REI in Phoenix but now lives in Southern California. Brian is a skilled, experienced mountaineer and would lead us to the promised land.
Where the Hell is Dry Lake?
At 7000' we lifted our fifty + lb. packs on our backs and started our trek at the South Fork trail head. Our tools included full crampons, ice axes and snowshoes. We left behind harnesses and rope .
Our base camp destination was Dry Lake, where we planned a Gorgonio South East ascent the next morning.
The weather conditions were great, we quickly shed layers and after two miles put on our snowshoes.
At a fork, we elected to follow some ski tracks and climbed to 9500' and dug out our snow camp. We had overshot Dry Lake.
During the snow melt operation we discovered that one of the fuel canisters was inoperable. This would put us short of water and cause us to turn back the next morning.
Brian studied the map and GPS data and a new plan was agreed upon. If we had enough fuel for water we would climb to a ridge line and survey the Jepson Peak bowl and make a decision on our plans there.
The fuel canister was put in the tent for the evening and successfully put into operation by switching stoves the next morning.
Morning has Broken
At the ridge line Brian surveyed the peaks and felt that getting back to Dry Lake would take too long for a Gorgonio ascent and that Jepson, although a very steep climb, was doable in our daylight time window.
At 11,205 feet Jepson Peak is the 2nd highest mountain in Southern California and offers some of the best snow climbs in Southern California. There are 3 main chutes or gullies that rise 1,300 vertical feet out of the Jepson Bowl on the north side of the mountain.
Jepson Peak
We chose to climb a spectacular ridge on the north side of the mountain from the Jepson Bowl directly to the summit.
The going was extremely strenuous.
"That which does not destroy me makes me stronger." (Nietzsche)
Carla climbing the North Face of Jepson Peak---"A Woman's Place Is on Top." — T-shirt from first American woman's ascent of Annapurna.
The view from Jepson was spectacular. We were all pleased with making this pure alpine climb.
Carlita quipped "Dry Lake-You Bastard" Although elated to get on top of Jepson, she was disappointed that she had not conquered Gorgonio. This was her second try. She had turned back last year during an adventure race. Gorgonio was unfinished business.
Brian surveyed the ridge line to Gorgonio and surprisingly announced that he thought that we could bag Gorgonio and get down in a daylight time window.
"Let's do it"
San Gorgonio Saddle/Jepson Peak
An hour later we hunkered down in a rock shelter on top of Gorgonio. The winds were bitter and strong.
MT. San Gorgonio, also known as "Old Greyback", at 11,490' it is the highest mountain in Southern California.
The goal had been met but the trek was only half done. Now we had to get down.
"Be careful when you go down a mountain. Remember, there's only one step but it's a big one !"
We headed back down the ridge line and Brian picked the safest route.
He went first and moved quickly but carefully. Crampons were balling up, so we had to rely on our footing and ice axe placements. This was really dangerous.
I followed and then Carlita.
Carla was spooked and moving tentatively but overcame her fear and made steady progress. We were both relieved when she joined us.
The rest of the descent went smoothly. We did some glissading.
Ancient bristlecone pines, (Pinus longaeva) the oldest known tree species in the world, peppered this exposed, windswept harsh environment. The oldest bristlecones usually grow at elevations of 10,000 to 11,000 feet.
At the bottom we looked up at the chutes, amazed of our accomplishment.
Brian's GPS gave us an inaccurate reading in the woods and we overshot our camp by climbing an unnecessary 600'.
Brian made the adjustment and led us into camp.
It was a beautiful sight.
The next morning we packed up and started out with snowshoes but quickly abandoned them. The snow had gotten quite slushy.
We were out in three hours.
"Well I woke up this mornin' and got myself a beer"--Jim Morrison (The Doors)
In Redlands, Brian took us to an old fashioned A& W where we gulped down draft root beers in icy mugs and devoured burgers & fries. It was paradise!
Carla the road warrior, drove all the way back to Phoenix that afternoon. I kept her awake by talking her ear off.
This was an outing, that none of us will ever forget.
Thanks to Brian for his patience, planning and expert execution.
Thanks to Carla for inviting me, and demonstrating admirable courage. She is one tough woman that more than held her own and defeated the fear within.
Thanks to both Brian and Carla for the time we shared.
Next year Brian has promised to put together a San Bernadino Ridge line trek----San Bernadino summit to San Gorgonio summit along the ridge line crossing East San Bernadino Peak, Anderson Peak, Shields Peak, Charlton Peak, Little Charlton, and Jepson.
Perhaps we will cross the wild new junction where skiing and mountaineering converge. I am thinking about a short, fat, light approach set of skis with alpine -touring bindings.
I would love to ski down one of those chutes. And I will.
Men, Women and Varmints Behaving Badly:
-A dirteeeeeeeee sweet toothed varmint that got into my food bag and ate my whole bag of cookies, leaving the rest of the food alone.
-The Sweet, innocent Carlita who again was using the vernacular of a truck driver.
-Dingo Dan & Zo who did not make this trip because they were afraid of their respective bosses-Richard & Jeanie
-Brian & Carla who were flaunting their new Patagonia "Puff"
jackets. Carla kept hugging hers like it was some small pet and mumbling something like "My Puff, My Puff-I Love You?"
-Carla for complaining about being down wind of Lobo and then stepping to the side and "tooted"
Why is it that women only toot? C'mon Carla you just plain farted!
A solo mountaineer/skier who said "right on" 15 times in the course of a 2 minute conversation.
Lobo and Carla for creating a scandal at their workplace by not only spending the night together in a cheap motel but spending 2 nights in El Lobo's den. (New Black Diamond FirstLight tent)
This could make the cover of one of the outside adventure tabloids!
Carla for claiming that she was not "hogging the tent" and that the ice floor was causing her to slide and take up most of the tent.
El Lobo spent his nights pinned to the wall of the tent.
10/15/2005
The Eagles
Veteran Cosmic Rockers,
Well I can now die a happy man. I finally was able to get to see the Eagles in concert and hear "Hotel California" live.
I have been to "THE" Hotel California in Todos Santos Mexico where there was plenty of room and dozens of old dusty suitcases left in room that have never been opened. ("You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave")
Hotel California was one of five number one hits for the Eagles and they played non-stop for 2 1/2 hours. The audio visual was fantastic.
Tickets were outrageously priced but worth every penny.
The night before I caught the Boxtops,(The Letter) Jay & The Techniques and Marrillee Rush (Angel of the Morning) at the Fort, for a Veterans Day concert. It was great! (and free)
I have attached for your enjoyment a copy of my lifetime concert list that includes over 200 artists/groups and 452 performances.
Please review and let me know if there are any groups that you have seen that are not on my list. (If there are any, I may have to kill you!)
Gerry has me trumped with The Beatles at Candlestick in August of 66. She also has the Troggs, Jefferson Airplane and Pete Seeger that are absent from my list.
Life is so unfair! I am so jealous!! I need them on my list!
I will sign off with this food for thought.
Was I really at THE Hotel California in Todos Santos or is the Hotel California a state of mind? What do you think?
Far out!!
"Stay Hungry Stay Foolish"
El Lobo H. Grande
Well I can now die a happy man. I finally was able to get to see the Eagles in concert and hear "Hotel California" live.
I have been to "THE" Hotel California in Todos Santos Mexico where there was plenty of room and dozens of old dusty suitcases left in room that have never been opened. ("You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave")
Hotel California was one of five number one hits for the Eagles and they played non-stop for 2 1/2 hours. The audio visual was fantastic.
Tickets were outrageously priced but worth every penny.
The night before I caught the Boxtops,(The Letter) Jay & The Techniques and Marrillee Rush (Angel of the Morning) at the Fort, for a Veterans Day concert. It was great! (and free)
I have attached for your enjoyment a copy of my lifetime concert list that includes over 200 artists/groups and 452 performances.
Please review and let me know if there are any groups that you have seen that are not on my list. (If there are any, I may have to kill you!)
Gerry has me trumped with The Beatles at Candlestick in August of 66. She also has the Troggs, Jefferson Airplane and Pete Seeger that are absent from my list.
Life is so unfair! I am so jealous!! I need them on my list!
I will sign off with this food for thought.
Was I really at THE Hotel California in Todos Santos or is the Hotel California a state of mind? What do you think?
Far out!!
"Stay Hungry Stay Foolish"
El Lobo H. Grande
PDOG goes down in Supai
Flash Flood News-Havasupai Grand Canyon
"People are strange-When you're a stranger-Faces look ugly-
When you're alone "-Doors-1967 Summer of Love
The following event recently sent shock waves through the Havasupai Tribe
in the Grand Canyon.
PDOG,(Patrol Dog) the alpha wolf and one of the largest dogs in the canyon got the stuffing beat out of her by "Stranger", a mellow, medium sized dog whom had wandered into the camp.
The tribal council had an emergency session to discuss if this was a bad omen and to determine if a message was being sent down from the spirits.
PDOG had successfully chased any and all dogs that had previously entered our camp, interested in the bountiful scraps that were being fed to PDOG.
P had shown no mercy in her hostile attacks of rivals.
But "Stranger" persevered and hung around and eventually one of the guides started putting out a plate for him. Even though PDOG always had a bountiful plate, she would viciously charge Stranger and take his plate.
Until---one day---- Stranger jumped out of the way while being attacked, jumped on top of PDOG and knocked the mighty P to the ground. The aging PDOG's size was no match to Stranger's youthful speed and agility. He took the big old girl down quickly. PDOG retreated, lucky to be alive.
Our client group of 17 Travel Writers stared in disbelief, they had witnessed a fine example of survival of the fittest.
The fur had flown and a Stranger had emerged as the alpha wolf.
.
PDOG during happier times
"Is it strange I should change? I don't know, why don't you ask her?"
Buffalo Springfield-1967 Summer of Love
Stranger and PDOG now peacefully coexist in our camp, both of them are well fed. Stranger has however, taken over PDOG's place sleeping on my tarp.
Note: PDOG is the helicopter pilot's dog. No one knows where Stranger came from.
PDOG going down is bigger news than TYCO Jeffrey in Supai
No more Toga parties for you dude!
The Havasupai Reservation is located in one of the most beautiful and remote areas of the western Grand Canyon. The Village of Supai, is located in Havasu Canyon, a southwestern branch of the Grand Canyon, and is accessible only by foot, horseback, or helicopter. The village is the tribal center for the Havasupai Tribe and is noted for its four blue-green waterfalls and camping facilities. Havasupai translates to People-Of-The-Blue-Green-Waters in English.
"People are strange-When you're a stranger-Faces look ugly-
When you're alone "-Doors-1967 Summer of Love
The following event recently sent shock waves through the Havasupai Tribe
in the Grand Canyon.
PDOG,(Patrol Dog) the alpha wolf and one of the largest dogs in the canyon got the stuffing beat out of her by "Stranger", a mellow, medium sized dog whom had wandered into the camp.
The tribal council had an emergency session to discuss if this was a bad omen and to determine if a message was being sent down from the spirits.
PDOG had successfully chased any and all dogs that had previously entered our camp, interested in the bountiful scraps that were being fed to PDOG.
P had shown no mercy in her hostile attacks of rivals.
But "Stranger" persevered and hung around and eventually one of the guides started putting out a plate for him. Even though PDOG always had a bountiful plate, she would viciously charge Stranger and take his plate.
Until---one day---- Stranger jumped out of the way while being attacked, jumped on top of PDOG and knocked the mighty P to the ground. The aging PDOG's size was no match to Stranger's youthful speed and agility. He took the big old girl down quickly. PDOG retreated, lucky to be alive.
Our client group of 17 Travel Writers stared in disbelief, they had witnessed a fine example of survival of the fittest.
The fur had flown and a Stranger had emerged as the alpha wolf.
.
PDOG during happier times
"Is it strange I should change? I don't know, why don't you ask her?"
Buffalo Springfield-1967 Summer of Love
Stranger and PDOG now peacefully coexist in our camp, both of them are well fed. Stranger has however, taken over PDOG's place sleeping on my tarp.
Note: PDOG is the helicopter pilot's dog. No one knows where Stranger came from.
PDOG going down is bigger news than TYCO Jeffrey in Supai
No more Toga parties for you dude!
The Havasupai Reservation is located in one of the most beautiful and remote areas of the western Grand Canyon. The Village of Supai, is located in Havasu Canyon, a southwestern branch of the Grand Canyon, and is accessible only by foot, horseback, or helicopter. The village is the tribal center for the Havasupai Tribe and is noted for its four blue-green waterfalls and camping facilities. Havasupai translates to People-Of-The-Blue-Green-Waters in English.
Climbing A Wet Needle
"But still they begin--Needles and pins"
Searchers -3/64
Climbers
El Lobo Grande
Zo
Our destination was Weavers Needle in the Superstition Wilderness. Weavers Needle is one of Arizona's most striking and famous landmarks.
This 4,553 -foot-high peak yields an easy but potentially dangerous four pitch ascent on crumbling rock.
The approach is somewhat of a bitch. It is four miles, starting from the Peralta trail head, with an elevation gain of 2800'. There is about a mile off trail climb on steep talus.
Rain was in the forecast and we left Phoenix with the attitude of giving it a try, and if nothing else checking it out for better conditions.
We free climbed the first pitch. The rock was wet and dangerous. Zo did not like the conditions. If it rained we would be screwed. It was time to back off. Zo belayed me down and we headed for a nice lunch at a water runoff into a large pool.
We will return when there is safer conditions. This is unfinished business.
Stunning wildflowers on the well used Peralta trail. Weavers Needle looms in the background.
The Needle-A cross country scramble before you start any technical climbing.
Dingo-Te gustan mes pistolas?
[Unable to display image]
Retreat
Men Behaving Badly
Lorenzo for yelling "I can't talk now" when Lobo called him at work to plan this outing. Geeeeeeeeeeez Lorenzo, El Lobo also happened to be under a lot of pressure, trying to learn how to use his new IPOD and watching the NCAA basketball game at the same time.
Lorenzo for missing climbing at the gym because he had to buy some Qtips and get a haircut after work?
Lorenzo for letting the foulest fart ever launched in Superstitions and claiming revenge. The full environmental damage has yet to be determined.
Lorenzo for flaunting the fact that he climbs 5.11s and stealing El Lobo's ATC
El Lobo for going back on the Soup Diet.
Searchers -3/64
Climbers
El Lobo Grande
Zo
Our destination was Weavers Needle in the Superstition Wilderness. Weavers Needle is one of Arizona's most striking and famous landmarks.
This 4,553 -foot-high peak yields an easy but potentially dangerous four pitch ascent on crumbling rock.
The approach is somewhat of a bitch. It is four miles, starting from the Peralta trail head, with an elevation gain of 2800'. There is about a mile off trail climb on steep talus.
Rain was in the forecast and we left Phoenix with the attitude of giving it a try, and if nothing else checking it out for better conditions.
We free climbed the first pitch. The rock was wet and dangerous. Zo did not like the conditions. If it rained we would be screwed. It was time to back off. Zo belayed me down and we headed for a nice lunch at a water runoff into a large pool.
We will return when there is safer conditions. This is unfinished business.
Stunning wildflowers on the well used Peralta trail. Weavers Needle looms in the background.
The Needle-A cross country scramble before you start any technical climbing.
Dingo-Te gustan mes pistolas?
[Unable to display image]
Retreat
Men Behaving Badly
Lorenzo for yelling "I can't talk now" when Lobo called him at work to plan this outing. Geeeeeeeeeeez Lorenzo, El Lobo also happened to be under a lot of pressure, trying to learn how to use his new IPOD and watching the NCAA basketball game at the same time.
Lorenzo for missing climbing at the gym because he had to buy some Qtips and get a haircut after work?
Lorenzo for letting the foulest fart ever launched in Superstitions and claiming revenge. The full environmental damage has yet to be determined.
Lorenzo for flaunting the fact that he climbs 5.11s and stealing El Lobo's ATC
El Lobo for going back on the Soup Diet.
Extreme Hot Springs
Awesome Nevada
Four days relaxing, visiting family and checking out our condo at Incline-now that's extreme!
Highlights of the trip included:
-Tahoe- What more need to be said
-Lunch at the Hounds Tooth overlooking the beautiful Genoa Valley near Heavenly Valley
-Lunch in historic, beautiful Markleeville California
-Soaking in the awesome natural mineral pools of Walleys Hot Springs-A Nevada Historic Site
-Genoa-Nevada's first settlement
-Hiking the Faye Luther Trail that connects with the Tahoe Rim trail
-Strolling the Carson Valley arts & crafts fair in Minden
-Awesome wedding and reception at Walleys for our niece Lindsay & new spouse John
-Champagne brunch at the Peppermill with my parents Wally & Thelma
Nevada and Walleys Rock!!
Respectfully submitted
J. Gordon Liddy (how long do I have to hold my finger over this match?)
Four days relaxing, visiting family and checking out our condo at Incline-now that's extreme!
Highlights of the trip included:
-Tahoe- What more need to be said
-Lunch at the Hounds Tooth overlooking the beautiful Genoa Valley near Heavenly Valley
-Lunch in historic, beautiful Markleeville California
-Soaking in the awesome natural mineral pools of Walleys Hot Springs-A Nevada Historic Site
-Genoa-Nevada's first settlement
-Hiking the Faye Luther Trail that connects with the Tahoe Rim trail
-Strolling the Carson Valley arts & crafts fair in Minden
-Awesome wedding and reception at Walleys for our niece Lindsay & new spouse John
-Champagne brunch at the Peppermill with my parents Wally & Thelma
Nevada and Walleys Rock!!
Respectfully submitted
J. Gordon Liddy (how long do I have to hold my finger over this match?)
Hola,
Hope all had a good weekend. It was a great one here. The weather is really nice for June and the activities were the best!
Concert # 448
Friday night Ger and I went to see Janis Ian at the Cave Creek Coffee Company. The Coffee Company is a fun place that serves world class wines and roasts all their own coffee. It is Arizona's version of "Austin City Limits" The ambiance can't be beat.
The show was fabulous, up close and personal, only 200 tickets were sold.
There were some dirteeeeeeee liberales there, caring about other people and accepting alternative life styles, but an obnoxious cowgirl in a mini skirt balanced everything out. MMMMMMMMMMMM
Janis has aged, but her voice and song writing talents appear even more refined than when she stunned New York folk audiences in the 60's.
In 1967, at sixteen years old and four foot seven, she shook the music industry with Society's Child, a composition about a white girl and black boy kept apart by an unfeeling society. The song was banned from many southern radio stations.
I remember it well. My girlfriend and I loved that song.
"Your name was never called, when choosing sides for basketball"
In 1975 Janis released a Grammy award winning album-Between the Lines that included the hit single At Seventeen that soared to number three on the charts.
This hit seemed to touch a common nerve with many young people, particularly the female gender.
Like a vintage wine, Janis flowed through the evening. Everyone loved the show.
.
Janis Ian is almost 60, Jewish and gay. She lives in Memphis Tennessee with her partner.
Society's child has made an important contribution to the world. God Bless her.
That is what Janis says that they say to her all the time in the south. They are still looking to convert her.
Gorging ourselves-Canyoneering the headwaters of Clear Creek
Dingo
Lobo
Jacobo
Jacobo & Dingo having a special moment together
West Clear Creek is the classic Mogollon Rim canyon. We descended steeply down the Maxwell trail to the Creek and boulder hopped and waded downstream where we enjoyed lush shade loving vegetation, clear pools of trout, crawdads and frogs, as well as petroglyph panels. The Coconino sandstone cliffs and narrows were spectacular. There are many deep pools where you can fish or huck your carcass.
Navajo Sandstone
We found much bear scat along the way but did not have an encounter. Brightly colored butterfly's fluttered by and hawks soared in the high currents.
This is one of the most beautiful places in Arizona. (or anywhere)
We all agreed that this would be a great area to pack into and do a little fly fishing.
Arizona or Hawaii?
Men & Woman Behaving Badly
Carlita for backing out at the last minute because "something came up"?? and then wanted a copy of the trip report! Some Nerve!
Juan for not going because he is afraid of his wife.
Zo (motorcycle boy) for not going because he was on a p*^*y motorcycle trip to Canyon De Chelle where he was sitting down the whole time.
Men Behaving Good
Dingo, Lobo, and Jacobo for getting along very well, enjoying special moments together and not fighting and insulting each other like everyone does when Juan and Zo are along.
Drewsky (Mr. Sony) who graciously got my precious digital camera repaired that I fried at Havasupai. Thanks Drew!! Wish that you could have made this trip!!
Hope all had a good weekend. It was a great one here. The weather is really nice for June and the activities were the best!
Concert # 448
Friday night Ger and I went to see Janis Ian at the Cave Creek Coffee Company. The Coffee Company is a fun place that serves world class wines and roasts all their own coffee. It is Arizona's version of "Austin City Limits" The ambiance can't be beat.
The show was fabulous, up close and personal, only 200 tickets were sold.
There were some dirteeeeeeee liberales there, caring about other people and accepting alternative life styles, but an obnoxious cowgirl in a mini skirt balanced everything out. MMMMMMMMMMMM
Janis has aged, but her voice and song writing talents appear even more refined than when she stunned New York folk audiences in the 60's.
In 1967, at sixteen years old and four foot seven, she shook the music industry with Society's Child, a composition about a white girl and black boy kept apart by an unfeeling society. The song was banned from many southern radio stations.
I remember it well. My girlfriend and I loved that song.
"Your name was never called, when choosing sides for basketball"
In 1975 Janis released a Grammy award winning album-Between the Lines that included the hit single At Seventeen that soared to number three on the charts.
This hit seemed to touch a common nerve with many young people, particularly the female gender.
Like a vintage wine, Janis flowed through the evening. Everyone loved the show.
.
Janis Ian is almost 60, Jewish and gay. She lives in Memphis Tennessee with her partner.
Society's child has made an important contribution to the world. God Bless her.
That is what Janis says that they say to her all the time in the south. They are still looking to convert her.
Gorging ourselves-Canyoneering the headwaters of Clear Creek
Dingo
Lobo
Jacobo
Jacobo & Dingo having a special moment together
West Clear Creek is the classic Mogollon Rim canyon. We descended steeply down the Maxwell trail to the Creek and boulder hopped and waded downstream where we enjoyed lush shade loving vegetation, clear pools of trout, crawdads and frogs, as well as petroglyph panels. The Coconino sandstone cliffs and narrows were spectacular. There are many deep pools where you can fish or huck your carcass.
Navajo Sandstone
We found much bear scat along the way but did not have an encounter. Brightly colored butterfly's fluttered by and hawks soared in the high currents.
This is one of the most beautiful places in Arizona. (or anywhere)
We all agreed that this would be a great area to pack into and do a little fly fishing.
Arizona or Hawaii?
Men & Woman Behaving Badly
Carlita for backing out at the last minute because "something came up"?? and then wanted a copy of the trip report! Some Nerve!
Juan for not going because he is afraid of his wife.
Zo (motorcycle boy) for not going because he was on a p*^*y motorcycle trip to Canyon De Chelle where he was sitting down the whole time.
Men Behaving Good
Dingo, Lobo, and Jacobo for getting along very well, enjoying special moments together and not fighting and insulting each other like everyone does when Juan and Zo are along.
Drewsky (Mr. Sony) who graciously got my precious digital camera repaired that I fried at Havasupai. Thanks Drew!! Wish that you could have made this trip!!
Brittish Invasion-Havasupai
"I have a rock in me bum and one in me tit!"
"OK Audrey, just step and grab and that will take care of it."
A few minutes earlier Audrey had removed her pants (too tight for climbing) and was ascending in her white panties up to the top of the Esplanade.
After taking 21 fun loving, crazy Brits for a week of adventure in the Grand Canyon I am tired, but fulfilled with a restored faith in the human spirit.
On Friday, after kayaking 18 miles on the Colorado , we celebrated the completion of their charity challenge at the great American Pub -Gordon Biersch, in Las Vegas.
All 21 were successful and was ready to parteeeeeeeeeee. Not that they had denied themselves down at Havasupai.
They came to the Grand Canyon to complete a challenge in order to raise money for several charities in the UK such as youth hospices and cystic fibrosis. All had been touched by the charity they were working for. Some had young children that had been stricken, some were suffering from a debilitating disease.
This group was the happiest, most caring, kindest people that I have ever met. They were brave and they all lived for the moment.
They invaded Havasupai and treated the Grand Canyon as if it was pure magic. Their eyes sparkled when they saw the blue green water.
They hiked 35 miles in the heat and paddled 18 in strong winds. They jumped off Navajo Falls into the deep pools. They showed much courage when they climbed down Mooney Falls.
All worked very hard helping the guides with every chore. They were most appreciative of our guide work and made you feel wonderful. Most had never met before but loved each other.
I can name that tune in three notes
On the road I played the oldies station and identified each song in less than two notes to the cheers of the entire van. They sang along with every song and knew all the words.
Patrol Dog
At our camp in Havasupai they met and fed "PDOG" (real name is Otis, although female) PDOG is the helicopter pilot's dog but spends most of her time at our camp and is very well fed with leftovers. Other Indian dogs like Yoda and Shadow also hang out and are subservient to PDOG but if the alpha wolf catches them eating any scraps she rips into them.
When we hiked out PDOG was up at the Supai village. She has an arthritic hip and sometimes can not make it down to camp.
Paradise?
"I go where the sound of thunder is." Alfred M. Gray
One night a monsoon blew in and the thunder rumbled through the canyon walls. The distant lightning was spectacular. It was eery and we were on alert for a possible flash flood.
The swimming was great
Simon, Clare, Dave and Georgia.
(It's a tough job but somebody's got to do it!)
How's this for a swimming hole?
Late Friday night I left the group at the Hard Rock Casino. They had 5 Pacificos lined up for me but I just had to get some sleep.
At the airport the next morning we all said our goodbyes. I was promised T-shirts from the Beatles shop in Liverpool.
There weren't many dry eyes and I found myself fighting back tears. It had been a privilege sharing time with these people.
"The road to hell is paved with adverbs".
The long drive back to Phoenix was pure hell. Just outside Vegas, at 65 miles an hour and in heavy freeway traffic, my trailer shimmied badly and I averted a serious accident by getting to the side of the road. I don't know how I did it. Upon examining the trailer, I discovered that the pin holding the hitch was gone. It blows me away to think how that could happen. Vandalism? Who knows?
A young man pulled off the Freeway to help me. He gave me the pin off his hitch and helped me lift the trailer back in place. Thanks to this act of generosity and kindness I was able to get back on the road.
When we got to Phoenix, I 17 was closed and I had an hour's delay.
Finally I made it to the AOA office. After cleaning the coolers and gear I as more than ready to get home. I jumped in my truck and was greeted with a dead battery. Of course I did not have my AAA card with me.
Somehow these events were met with perspective .
"Lets live for today"
EL Lobo H. Grande
"OK Audrey, just step and grab and that will take care of it."
A few minutes earlier Audrey had removed her pants (too tight for climbing) and was ascending in her white panties up to the top of the Esplanade.
After taking 21 fun loving, crazy Brits for a week of adventure in the Grand Canyon I am tired, but fulfilled with a restored faith in the human spirit.
On Friday, after kayaking 18 miles on the Colorado , we celebrated the completion of their charity challenge at the great American Pub -Gordon Biersch, in Las Vegas.
All 21 were successful and was ready to parteeeeeeeeeee. Not that they had denied themselves down at Havasupai.
They came to the Grand Canyon to complete a challenge in order to raise money for several charities in the UK such as youth hospices and cystic fibrosis. All had been touched by the charity they were working for. Some had young children that had been stricken, some were suffering from a debilitating disease.
This group was the happiest, most caring, kindest people that I have ever met. They were brave and they all lived for the moment.
They invaded Havasupai and treated the Grand Canyon as if it was pure magic. Their eyes sparkled when they saw the blue green water.
They hiked 35 miles in the heat and paddled 18 in strong winds. They jumped off Navajo Falls into the deep pools. They showed much courage when they climbed down Mooney Falls.
All worked very hard helping the guides with every chore. They were most appreciative of our guide work and made you feel wonderful. Most had never met before but loved each other.
I can name that tune in three notes
On the road I played the oldies station and identified each song in less than two notes to the cheers of the entire van. They sang along with every song and knew all the words.
Patrol Dog
At our camp in Havasupai they met and fed "PDOG" (real name is Otis, although female) PDOG is the helicopter pilot's dog but spends most of her time at our camp and is very well fed with leftovers. Other Indian dogs like Yoda and Shadow also hang out and are subservient to PDOG but if the alpha wolf catches them eating any scraps she rips into them.
When we hiked out PDOG was up at the Supai village. She has an arthritic hip and sometimes can not make it down to camp.
Paradise?
"I go where the sound of thunder is." Alfred M. Gray
One night a monsoon blew in and the thunder rumbled through the canyon walls. The distant lightning was spectacular. It was eery and we were on alert for a possible flash flood.
The swimming was great
Simon, Clare, Dave and Georgia.
(It's a tough job but somebody's got to do it!)
How's this for a swimming hole?
Late Friday night I left the group at the Hard Rock Casino. They had 5 Pacificos lined up for me but I just had to get some sleep.
At the airport the next morning we all said our goodbyes. I was promised T-shirts from the Beatles shop in Liverpool.
There weren't many dry eyes and I found myself fighting back tears. It had been a privilege sharing time with these people.
"The road to hell is paved with adverbs".
The long drive back to Phoenix was pure hell. Just outside Vegas, at 65 miles an hour and in heavy freeway traffic, my trailer shimmied badly and I averted a serious accident by getting to the side of the road. I don't know how I did it. Upon examining the trailer, I discovered that the pin holding the hitch was gone. It blows me away to think how that could happen. Vandalism? Who knows?
A young man pulled off the Freeway to help me. He gave me the pin off his hitch and helped me lift the trailer back in place. Thanks to this act of generosity and kindness I was able to get back on the road.
When we got to Phoenix, I 17 was closed and I had an hour's delay.
Finally I made it to the AOA office. After cleaning the coolers and gear I as more than ready to get home. I jumped in my truck and was greeted with a dead battery. Of course I did not have my AAA card with me.
Somehow these events were met with perspective .
"Lets live for today"
EL Lobo H. Grande
Born In The USA
"It stays with you, and it makes life feel so good!" Wolfman Jack on Top 40 radio
Hola cosmic rockers,
How was your fourth? I hope you all enjoyed our USA freedom to share time with friends and family, barbeque, catch some fireworks etc.
We caught a "free" (I love that word) concert under the stars at the Fort McDowell Casino and it was absolutely incredible as was the fireworks. The night before we enjoyed a fun barbeque at the Hofdahl Ranchero in Paradise Valley. Isn't it wonderful to spend time with good friends?
Note: Juan Hofdahl is a investment genius buying in PV. He got abused in the last trip report but he is one good friend and smart guy.
Back to the Concert
Gerry was not thrilled to be going to this concert. She is not the aficionado of late 50's early sixties music like I am. She preferred to stay home and listen to Mozart or Bach and watch the fireworks poolside. Also she thought that everyone that would be there lived in a trailer park in Apache Junction.
I don't know where she got this type of arrogant, rico Republican attitude. Once she got there she got caught up in the fervor of the moment, had a few Bud Lights and she was a Democrat again.
The groups that played are Rock & Roll Legends. The lead singer of the Diamonds, David Sommerville is now 72 years old. He looks and sounds great. There were at least one original member in each group. They are still carrying the torch. This music is eternal it will never die.
The Lineup
Opening Act
The Diamonds were a clean-cut white vocal group that had sixteen hits between 1956 and 1961, ten which were covers of songs sung by black R&B artists. Their biggest hit, LiL Darlin is in the top all time 100 of Rolling Stone's greatest hits.(#98)
Chills ran down my spine when he rolled into that one.
Next
The Marvelettes-One of the great Motown groups they hit number one on the charts in 61 with Please Mr. Postman. C'mon everyone knows that one! Beechwood 4-5789 played through my head while I was at Billinghurst Jr. High (you can call me any time) Other hits included Playboy and Don't mess with Bill.
They really got the geritol crowd of 4,000 going.
The Crystals
I am an aficionado of the girl group sound, and I believe that there can't be five acts more beloved than the Crystals. Their best-known songs, which include "He's a Rebel," "Uptown," "Da Doo Ron Ron," "Then He Kissed Me," and "There's No Other Like My Baby," are what I consider to be some of the finest examples of the best that American rock & roll had to offer in the period before the British Invasion.
The sisters were fantastic!! You go girls!!!
Closing
The Contours was a soul singing group on the Motown label during the 60's. Their biggest hit, "Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)", was a pop hit in 1962 (#3 on the charts) and was prominently featured in the 1987 movie, Dirty Dancing.
They brought down the house and then the great fireworks was the icing on the cake.
Ok that's it, concert # 452, & 206 different groups/artists seen in concert.
Hola cosmic rockers,
How was your fourth? I hope you all enjoyed our USA freedom to share time with friends and family, barbeque, catch some fireworks etc.
We caught a "free" (I love that word) concert under the stars at the Fort McDowell Casino and it was absolutely incredible as was the fireworks. The night before we enjoyed a fun barbeque at the Hofdahl Ranchero in Paradise Valley. Isn't it wonderful to spend time with good friends?
Note: Juan Hofdahl is a investment genius buying in PV. He got abused in the last trip report but he is one good friend and smart guy.
Back to the Concert
Gerry was not thrilled to be going to this concert. She is not the aficionado of late 50's early sixties music like I am. She preferred to stay home and listen to Mozart or Bach and watch the fireworks poolside. Also she thought that everyone that would be there lived in a trailer park in Apache Junction.
I don't know where she got this type of arrogant, rico Republican attitude. Once she got there she got caught up in the fervor of the moment, had a few Bud Lights and she was a Democrat again.
The groups that played are Rock & Roll Legends. The lead singer of the Diamonds, David Sommerville is now 72 years old. He looks and sounds great. There were at least one original member in each group. They are still carrying the torch. This music is eternal it will never die.
The Lineup
Opening Act
The Diamonds were a clean-cut white vocal group that had sixteen hits between 1956 and 1961, ten which were covers of songs sung by black R&B artists. Their biggest hit, LiL Darlin is in the top all time 100 of Rolling Stone's greatest hits.(#98)
Chills ran down my spine when he rolled into that one.
Next
The Marvelettes-One of the great Motown groups they hit number one on the charts in 61 with Please Mr. Postman. C'mon everyone knows that one! Beechwood 4-5789 played through my head while I was at Billinghurst Jr. High (you can call me any time) Other hits included Playboy and Don't mess with Bill.
They really got the geritol crowd of 4,000 going.
The Crystals
I am an aficionado of the girl group sound, and I believe that there can't be five acts more beloved than the Crystals. Their best-known songs, which include "He's a Rebel," "Uptown," "Da Doo Ron Ron," "Then He Kissed Me," and "There's No Other Like My Baby," are what I consider to be some of the finest examples of the best that American rock & roll had to offer in the period before the British Invasion.
The sisters were fantastic!! You go girls!!!
Closing
The Contours was a soul singing group on the Motown label during the 60's. Their biggest hit, "Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)", was a pop hit in 1962 (#3 on the charts) and was prominently featured in the 1987 movie, Dirty Dancing.
They brought down the house and then the great fireworks was the icing on the cake.
Ok that's it, concert # 452, & 206 different groups/artists seen in concert.
Salome Jug
"With the eyes of a child You must come out and see That your world's spinning round And through life you will be A small part of a hope of a love that exists In the eyes of a child you will see".
Our children's children-Moody Blues
"The Jug"-A spectacular granite gorge-5 miles round trip
Canyoneers-
Dingo
Bailey (Dingo's 13 year old niece)
Lobo
Zo
This was an absolutely fantastic day's worth of adventure.
This gorge is an amazing place with it's pink- hued polished granite, forming marble smooth walls. Salome Creek plummets down steeply and slippery slides often times were our only access downstream. At the bottom of the slides, rippling, deep, clear pools spanned from wall to vertical wall.
Bailey had an absolute ball sliding into these pools. It was wonderful experiencing "the jug" through the eyes of a child. (teen)
We all enjoyed wading and swimming through the gorge. With temperatures exceeding 100 the cool water felt so nice!! The pools are still chilly, and we all wore wet suits, and were glad to have them.
We periodically would warm our wet bodies on sun warmed slabs of granite.
Head of the "Jug" --Dingo, Bailey & Lobo PIC by Zo (The Preacher)
The "Cathedral" PIC by ZO
Towards the lower end of the gorge there is a 20' waterfall with a long pool sitting at the bottom. Bailey had never rappelled before, but she showed 'no fear" and smiled all the way down. She is a great Kid-fun loving, interested, poised and focused.
Our theme song for this trip was "The Hanging Tree" (Frankie Laine) and she recited over and over one of the lines-- "to really live, you must almost die"
All good things must pass and we were disappointed to finish our last swim to find the smooth canyon walls ending and the Sonoran desert now surrounding Salome Creek. We had a steep hike in extreme hot temperature but everyone was in great spirits and joked and chatted all the way to the car. We were all still in awe of "The Jug."
At the car we enjoyed our customary cerveza ritual. Bailey had ice tea even though ZO behaved badly and offered her a beer.
Back in Scottsdale we had a pizza party at Lobo's Den to celebrate.
Thanks to Dan and Zo for helping to get me through the Jug, I have the best outdoor adventure partners on the planet.
Our children's children-Moody Blues
"The Jug"-A spectacular granite gorge-5 miles round trip
Canyoneers-
Dingo
Bailey (Dingo's 13 year old niece)
Lobo
Zo
This was an absolutely fantastic day's worth of adventure.
This gorge is an amazing place with it's pink- hued polished granite, forming marble smooth walls. Salome Creek plummets down steeply and slippery slides often times were our only access downstream. At the bottom of the slides, rippling, deep, clear pools spanned from wall to vertical wall.
Bailey had an absolute ball sliding into these pools. It was wonderful experiencing "the jug" through the eyes of a child. (teen)
We all enjoyed wading and swimming through the gorge. With temperatures exceeding 100 the cool water felt so nice!! The pools are still chilly, and we all wore wet suits, and were glad to have them.
We periodically would warm our wet bodies on sun warmed slabs of granite.
Head of the "Jug" --Dingo, Bailey & Lobo PIC by Zo (The Preacher)
The "Cathedral" PIC by ZO
Towards the lower end of the gorge there is a 20' waterfall with a long pool sitting at the bottom. Bailey had never rappelled before, but she showed 'no fear" and smiled all the way down. She is a great Kid-fun loving, interested, poised and focused.
Our theme song for this trip was "The Hanging Tree" (Frankie Laine) and she recited over and over one of the lines-- "to really live, you must almost die"
All good things must pass and we were disappointed to finish our last swim to find the smooth canyon walls ending and the Sonoran desert now surrounding Salome Creek. We had a steep hike in extreme hot temperature but everyone was in great spirits and joked and chatted all the way to the car. We were all still in awe of "The Jug."
At the car we enjoyed our customary cerveza ritual. Bailey had ice tea even though ZO behaved badly and offered her a beer.
Back in Scottsdale we had a pizza party at Lobo's Den to celebrate.
Thanks to Dan and Zo for helping to get me through the Jug, I have the best outdoor adventure partners on the planet.
Lowlands-Hilton Head
"Momma always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
Forest Gump
The park bench that Forest sits on for much of the movie was located in historic Savannah, GA, at Chippewa Square. The original bench was shipped back to Hollywood. I sat at the same location and pondered a box of chocolates/ life. What a great movie! What a great city!
Ger and I just returned from 8 fabulous days in the "lowlands." Pat Conroy is one of our favorite authors. (Prince of Tides, The Great Santini, The Lords of Discipline, Beach Music) His novels, set in this region, instilled a strong desire to someday feel the texture of the South Carolina Coast.
Despite Hurricane Wilma, the time was now.
Highlights of this trip include:
-Touring Savannah's storied historical district, enjoying the restored colonial homes and the city's original 24 green-leafed 1-acre squares.
-Staying at decadent 5 Star resorts (thanks to Clint)
-Visiting Fort Pulaski National Monument on marshy Cockspur Island . It was built with 25 million bricks. Union forces defeated the fort's Confederate defenders during the Civil War.
-Mouth watering low country cuisine-Shrimp & grits to kill for!
-Hanging out at well manicured Hilton Head Island resort area
-Exploring colonial Charleston, enjoying it's European charm, historic architecture and friendly residents
-Touring the storied Citadel in Charleston (Lords of Discipline) Scoring a Citadel climbing shirt and doormat for the front door at the gift shop.(El Lobo loves souvenirs!)
-Taking a boat to Fort Sumter National Monument where the first shots of the civil war were fired in 1861
-Strolling on Myrtle Beach
-Touring the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site. Pinckney was a principal framer of the U.S. Constitution.
-Wildlife sightings-particularly the gators and a beautiful red fox romping and jumping gracefully in a meadow in the woods.
Forest Gump
The park bench that Forest sits on for much of the movie was located in historic Savannah, GA, at Chippewa Square. The original bench was shipped back to Hollywood. I sat at the same location and pondered a box of chocolates/ life. What a great movie! What a great city!
Ger and I just returned from 8 fabulous days in the "lowlands." Pat Conroy is one of our favorite authors. (Prince of Tides, The Great Santini, The Lords of Discipline, Beach Music) His novels, set in this region, instilled a strong desire to someday feel the texture of the South Carolina Coast.
Despite Hurricane Wilma, the time was now.
Highlights of this trip include:
-Touring Savannah's storied historical district, enjoying the restored colonial homes and the city's original 24 green-leafed 1-acre squares.
-Staying at decadent 5 Star resorts (thanks to Clint)
-Visiting Fort Pulaski National Monument on marshy Cockspur Island . It was built with 25 million bricks. Union forces defeated the fort's Confederate defenders during the Civil War.
-Mouth watering low country cuisine-Shrimp & grits to kill for!
-Hanging out at well manicured Hilton Head Island resort area
-Exploring colonial Charleston, enjoying it's European charm, historic architecture and friendly residents
-Touring the storied Citadel in Charleston (Lords of Discipline) Scoring a Citadel climbing shirt and doormat for the front door at the gift shop.(El Lobo loves souvenirs!)
-Taking a boat to Fort Sumter National Monument where the first shots of the civil war were fired in 1861
-Strolling on Myrtle Beach
-Touring the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site. Pinckney was a principal framer of the U.S. Constitution.
-Wildlife sightings-particularly the gators and a beautiful red fox romping and jumping gracefully in a meadow in the woods.
My Backpages
"Ah but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now"
Byrds-1967 (written by Bob Dylan)
Hola,
Do you remember your first bike?
Of course you doI
Mine was a Schwinn that my parents paid a whopping $29.95 at Odens Cyclery on fourth street near downtown Reno.
Everyone in the neighborhood came out to see the shiny new bikes that my parents had surprised my brother and I with.
"We thought we were millionaires this afternoon and went out and bought the kids bikes"
I loved riding my new bike with playing cards flapping in the spokes. I often times cruised the neighborhood with a frog in my pocket that I caught in the Ore Ditch.
I wore Keds sneakers (you know "Keds, Kids, Keds" or perhaps you don't) and rode through empty lots often times getting a flat tire. A sagebrush sticker would be the culprit.
My bike also served as my "office" as I used it to deliver the Nevada State Journal Newspaper early in the morning. My paperboy job netted enough money to buy a new Fred Bear re curve bow. So Cool!!
Almost fifty years have now passed. Where'd they go? Fifty years I don't know I sit and I wonder sometimes Where they've gone
I have just received another new bike and took it for a test ride. Instead of Keds, I now wear Shimano specialty shoes with clips that fit in the pedals. The bike came without pedals and I purchased a pair of Crank Brothers Mallet C for five times the amount my parents paid for my first bike.
It is a super lightweight, high performance, engineering marvel equipped with all XTR components. The tires are tubeless. This bike is the equivalent of a Lexus with all options.
We live modestly and do not drive fancy cars. At first I was a bit uncomfortable having such a fancy bike. It retails for over $5000. Can you believe it? A bicycle for $5000!
I paid considerably less for it (at cost) thanks to my boss, Brian at Arizona Outback Adventures. But still......on my guide and REI salary it seemed like I was being extravagant.
Byrds-1967 (written by Bob Dylan)
Hola,
Do you remember your first bike?
Of course you doI
Mine was a Schwinn that my parents paid a whopping $29.95 at Odens Cyclery on fourth street near downtown Reno.
Everyone in the neighborhood came out to see the shiny new bikes that my parents had surprised my brother and I with.
"We thought we were millionaires this afternoon and went out and bought the kids bikes"
I loved riding my new bike with playing cards flapping in the spokes. I often times cruised the neighborhood with a frog in my pocket that I caught in the Ore Ditch.
I wore Keds sneakers (you know "Keds, Kids, Keds" or perhaps you don't) and rode through empty lots often times getting a flat tire. A sagebrush sticker would be the culprit.
My bike also served as my "office" as I used it to deliver the Nevada State Journal Newspaper early in the morning. My paperboy job netted enough money to buy a new Fred Bear re curve bow. So Cool!!
Almost fifty years have now passed. Where'd they go? Fifty years I don't know I sit and I wonder sometimes Where they've gone
I have just received another new bike and took it for a test ride. Instead of Keds, I now wear Shimano specialty shoes with clips that fit in the pedals. The bike came without pedals and I purchased a pair of Crank Brothers Mallet C for five times the amount my parents paid for my first bike.
It is a super lightweight, high performance, engineering marvel equipped with all XTR components. The tires are tubeless. This bike is the equivalent of a Lexus with all options.
We live modestly and do not drive fancy cars. At first I was a bit uncomfortable having such a fancy bike. It retails for over $5000. Can you believe it? A bicycle for $5000!
I paid considerably less for it (at cost) thanks to my boss, Brian at Arizona Outback Adventures. But still......on my guide and REI salary it seemed like I was being extravagant.
T-Shirts Cutoffs and A Pair Of Thongs
“T-shirts Cutoffs and a Pair of Thongs”
Reflections –July 2005
David Walechinsky wrote a book “Whatever Happened to the Class of 65?” It was published in 1975 and documented various classmate lives since graduation. He followed up with “The Class of 65, Midterm Report” published in 1985.
What really happened to the Reno and Wooster Classes of 65, the vanguard of the baby boom generation?
-Who has life been kind to?
-Where has each classmate’s life journey taken them?
-What successes and disappointments have occurred?
-Who left Reno right after high school?
-Who stayed in the comfort of Reno for all these years?
-Who stayed for a period and then left looking for adventure?
-Who left and came back?
-Who has lived life on their own terms?
-Who is no longer with us?
-How do we measure success?
It seems to me that success is relative to the individual. It also appears to be about where an individual started and how far that individual has progressed.
I guess that we will find the answer to some of these questions here at this reunion.
We entered high school over 42 years ago having spent our Freshman year as BD Bees, Vaughn Eagles, Central Panthers and Traner Vikings. A few came from the cow counties and California. Half the Billinghurst kids went on to be Wooster Colts and half to be Reno Huskies. We listened to songs on our transistor radios like “Poetry in Motion” and “The Image of a Girl”; full of romance, they put a voice to our imaginations, our dreams.
We all seemed to know everyone in both schools. Manogue was the only other high school in Reno at that time.
Our classes were perhaps not the best and brightest, but we went to high school during the best of times. Many of us lived the lives of the characters in the movie “American Graffiti.” We all knew a Kurt, Toad or John Milner. “I get around” characterized our fun activities. All the boys dragged downtown Virginia Street in pursuit of the blonde in the T-bird. I don’t remember anyone catching her. We would cruise downtown, to the Cow Palace, drive-in and then through the Frostop and then back again, all on 25 cents a gallon.
Many of us belonged to “Y Clubs”. The “clubs’ included, Barons, Cossacks, Gents, Pharaohs, Royals, Rogues, Seroyas and others.
One club was unceremoniously kicked out of the Y and letters were written to the parents identifying savage activities such as keggars at Pyramid Lake. All charges were false, of course.
Why were these the best of times?
I think that part of the answer was in the music. The potent combination of the Beatles and the British Invasion, Motown, Folk Rock, Junk Rock, Surf Music and the Beach Boys made these times more than special.
It may also have been the California culture spillover.
The Summer Jim Burgett dances up at the South shore of Lake Tahoe were fantastic! Tahoe was our Surf City. California Girls! Two girls for every boy!
The Beach Boys certainly had an impact on our young lives. All of their music had a positive thread. The evening after JFK went down on the expressway in Dallas and Camelot was destroyed by an assassin’s bullet, Brian Wilson wrote “The warmth of the sun”
Their music was what we related to-The car, the beach, the girlfriend, the boyfriend.
We had a few surfers in our classes.
However, it wasn’t all good times.
JFK was assassinated in our Jr. Year. Reno had a basketball game that night. The team from Oroville was en route on a bus, unaware of the tragedy. The game was played and Willie Molini, Reno’s student body president, lead us in silent prayer.
Our Senior year, the Wooster student body was shocked when the undefeated basketball team was ambushed in the Zone tournament by the Fallon Green Wave who put on a surprise stall for the entire game and knocked the mighty Colts from the tourney.
These were also confused times. Vietnam was escalating; the Civil rights movement was taking shape. There was burning and anger in Watts.
Symbolic of the confusion in 65 “The Eve of Destruction”, a protest song by Barry Maguire hit number one on the charts and was followed by six months later with another number one hit-“The Ballad of the Green Berets” by SSGT Barry Sadler.
We lost four from our classes to Viet Nam-Bob Andrews, Loren Berger, Jamie Clark and Bob Minetto.
I think about them every Veterans Day and have found their names on the Viet Nam Memorial in Washington DC. They will not be forgotten.
After high school we went in lots of different directions. Many of us went off to college. If high school was American Graffiti, perhaps college was Animal House.
We even had our own Bluto. Although not on the three year plan in high school, conspicuously absent from the classroom, he is now a prominent physician and land baron in Eastern Nevada.
Louie, Louie-me gotta go
Sooooooooooo-forty years later:
The little old lady from Pasadena is now the little old lady from North Galena. She is the terror of Oddie Boulevard.
Go Granny Go Granny Go Granny go!
We have all lived lots of different lives. The kids are grown, many of us have grandchildren. We are back to young people going off to war. Some of us are still deciding what we want to do.
The Rolling Stones are still touring, Dick Dale is still playing his surf guitar and Paul McCartney will be 64 next year. At 15 when he wrote “When I’m 64” did he think a half century later he would be receiving “A birthday greeting and a bottle of wine?”
But regardless of the disparate paths taken all we have to do is put on Surf City and we are right back in the endless summer of 1965 in T-shirts, cutoffs, and a pair of thongs.
Surfers Rule!
El Lobo H. Grande
Reflections –July 2005
David Walechinsky wrote a book “Whatever Happened to the Class of 65?” It was published in 1975 and documented various classmate lives since graduation. He followed up with “The Class of 65, Midterm Report” published in 1985.
What really happened to the Reno and Wooster Classes of 65, the vanguard of the baby boom generation?
-Who has life been kind to?
-Where has each classmate’s life journey taken them?
-What successes and disappointments have occurred?
-Who left Reno right after high school?
-Who stayed in the comfort of Reno for all these years?
-Who stayed for a period and then left looking for adventure?
-Who left and came back?
-Who has lived life on their own terms?
-Who is no longer with us?
-How do we measure success?
It seems to me that success is relative to the individual. It also appears to be about where an individual started and how far that individual has progressed.
I guess that we will find the answer to some of these questions here at this reunion.
We entered high school over 42 years ago having spent our Freshman year as BD Bees, Vaughn Eagles, Central Panthers and Traner Vikings. A few came from the cow counties and California. Half the Billinghurst kids went on to be Wooster Colts and half to be Reno Huskies. We listened to songs on our transistor radios like “Poetry in Motion” and “The Image of a Girl”; full of romance, they put a voice to our imaginations, our dreams.
We all seemed to know everyone in both schools. Manogue was the only other high school in Reno at that time.
Our classes were perhaps not the best and brightest, but we went to high school during the best of times. Many of us lived the lives of the characters in the movie “American Graffiti.” We all knew a Kurt, Toad or John Milner. “I get around” characterized our fun activities. All the boys dragged downtown Virginia Street in pursuit of the blonde in the T-bird. I don’t remember anyone catching her. We would cruise downtown, to the Cow Palace, drive-in and then through the Frostop and then back again, all on 25 cents a gallon.
Many of us belonged to “Y Clubs”. The “clubs’ included, Barons, Cossacks, Gents, Pharaohs, Royals, Rogues, Seroyas and others.
One club was unceremoniously kicked out of the Y and letters were written to the parents identifying savage activities such as keggars at Pyramid Lake. All charges were false, of course.
Why were these the best of times?
I think that part of the answer was in the music. The potent combination of the Beatles and the British Invasion, Motown, Folk Rock, Junk Rock, Surf Music and the Beach Boys made these times more than special.
It may also have been the California culture spillover.
The Summer Jim Burgett dances up at the South shore of Lake Tahoe were fantastic! Tahoe was our Surf City. California Girls! Two girls for every boy!
The Beach Boys certainly had an impact on our young lives. All of their music had a positive thread. The evening after JFK went down on the expressway in Dallas and Camelot was destroyed by an assassin’s bullet, Brian Wilson wrote “The warmth of the sun”
Their music was what we related to-The car, the beach, the girlfriend, the boyfriend.
We had a few surfers in our classes.
However, it wasn’t all good times.
JFK was assassinated in our Jr. Year. Reno had a basketball game that night. The team from Oroville was en route on a bus, unaware of the tragedy. The game was played and Willie Molini, Reno’s student body president, lead us in silent prayer.
Our Senior year, the Wooster student body was shocked when the undefeated basketball team was ambushed in the Zone tournament by the Fallon Green Wave who put on a surprise stall for the entire game and knocked the mighty Colts from the tourney.
These were also confused times. Vietnam was escalating; the Civil rights movement was taking shape. There was burning and anger in Watts.
Symbolic of the confusion in 65 “The Eve of Destruction”, a protest song by Barry Maguire hit number one on the charts and was followed by six months later with another number one hit-“The Ballad of the Green Berets” by SSGT Barry Sadler.
We lost four from our classes to Viet Nam-Bob Andrews, Loren Berger, Jamie Clark and Bob Minetto.
I think about them every Veterans Day and have found their names on the Viet Nam Memorial in Washington DC. They will not be forgotten.
After high school we went in lots of different directions. Many of us went off to college. If high school was American Graffiti, perhaps college was Animal House.
We even had our own Bluto. Although not on the three year plan in high school, conspicuously absent from the classroom, he is now a prominent physician and land baron in Eastern Nevada.
Louie, Louie-me gotta go
Sooooooooooo-forty years later:
The little old lady from Pasadena is now the little old lady from North Galena. She is the terror of Oddie Boulevard.
Go Granny Go Granny Go Granny go!
We have all lived lots of different lives. The kids are grown, many of us have grandchildren. We are back to young people going off to war. Some of us are still deciding what we want to do.
The Rolling Stones are still touring, Dick Dale is still playing his surf guitar and Paul McCartney will be 64 next year. At 15 when he wrote “When I’m 64” did he think a half century later he would be receiving “A birthday greeting and a bottle of wine?”
But regardless of the disparate paths taken all we have to do is put on Surf City and we are right back in the endless summer of 1965 in T-shirts, cutoffs, and a pair of thongs.
Surfers Rule!
El Lobo H. Grande
10/14/2005
Grandview to Kaibab
Friday evening the magnificent 7 , met at the Cameron trading post, 56miles east of the GC, on the little Colorado. The group was a mix of fit andexperienced trail hikers, balanced by what turned out to be unfitgreenhorns.Two were last minute substitutes for injured regulars and weresupposed to be in shape and experienced. Two others are graduates of theGrand Canyon field institute expert clas that consists of taking ardous crosscountry canyon trips, ascending major ridges and hiking lengthy waterlessstretches. Their experience came in real handy - the last 20 miles of thistrip yielded little water.We had a great dinner at the trading post; most of the group consumed thefamous navajo tacos. Spent the evening at the Cameron trading post lodgewhich is a great alternative to staying at one of the lodges on the southrim. The Cameron lodge is a bit cheaper and a whole lot nicer.We arrived at the Grandview trailhead at 9:00 A.M. and shuttled a couple ofcars to the Kaibab trailhead. Started hiking about 10:00. The descent wassteep and took quite a bit of time by the inexperienced guys. Three of usreached our Grapevine destination around 3:00. When the others hadn't arrivedby 5:00, I went back looking for them and found them at a spring a couple ofmiles back. Todd, whom is highly excitable was freaking out about not gettingout alive and had the rest of the group spooked, with the exception of Jameswhom was trying to calm the others. Todd was shouting "Ive bitten off morethan I can chew and I am not going to get out alive"The greenhorns were spent and had let their minds get the best of them. Bythis time it was dark. The next day's destination was now 14 miles for them,and they wanted to go back and out over Grandview. I was able to calm Todddown and get them to rationally access their status. After the fear hadsubsided I finally was able to coax them into trying to get a good night'ssleep and getting up extra early for their start on the ole Tonto. Jamesdecided to go with me over to Grapevine in the dark. I felt pretty good andcarried his pack so that he could save his energy.The next A.M. the group showed up in good spirits at 7:00 A.M. and startedhiking with 2 gallons of water each, which was necessary. We broke camp at9:00 and caught them at 1:00 at Lonetree spring which had a little water.They had made great progress, but were really tired. We went on to ourdestination- Creamation and got there around 3:00, and to our delight, therest of the group arrived about an hour later. Spirits were high, now thatthey had the confidence that they could complete the trip. That eveningeveryone was jovial and I read Todd poetry by Gary Snyder to keep himtranquil. Todd is really a great guy; very funny, he just gets real excitedand has big mood swings. I had given him many demerits on this trip and Ibelieve that may have triggered his discontent. He was supposed to bring thebeer and refreshments for the finish and forgot, so he immediately startedout with 5 demerits!The guys started at 7:00 and we left at 8:00 to finish the tonto link andhead up the Kaibab. The Kaibab was steep but does not have the rough rocklike the Grandview , so I thought it was relatively easy going out. Uponexiting, I decided that there was enough time to cop a shower at the lodge,in one of the shared bathrooms. It felt great; however; upon completion Iopened the bathroom door and looked into the eyes of 4 oriental ladiespatiently waiting for me to finish with their bathroom. I bowed and left.Everyone knows that nothing embarasses me.I went back to the trailhead and Todd had arrived so I gave him a chance toredeem himself by bringing him to the store for refreshments. He ended up inthe plus column after buying tons of chips, candy and beer.The rest of the group got out fine and we met at EL CH------ in Flag fordinner and margaritas.Overall it was a pretty good trip. The weather was perfect-high 70s day witha slight breeze and high 40s at night.This stretch of the tonto is often not well defined and was difficult tofollow at times. There are several feral variations of the trail. You had toreally pay attention and look for the cairns and the distant trail,particularly when entering the many washes. This 18 mile section of theTonto sort of tortures you. You are tempted to take shortcuts up and overrather than over and around the meandering basturd. There were three greatviews of the river, but most of it is just hot desert hiking.Todd and the boys must attend GC institute for introductory wildernessstudies and psycological workshops prior to being allowed back in theCanyon.Overall rating B- only because, after all it still is, the Grand Canyon.
South Canyon
The latest adventure trip into the Grand Canyon proved to be the mostdifficult physical and mental challenge that I have negotiated. This wasthetoughest fourteen miles traveled by El Lobo. His paws are still very sore.I WILL ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY STAY OUT OF THE CANYON IN THE SUMMER!!!!!!!After doing rim to rim in July a number of years ago I should have knownbetter!!The temperature at the bottom was 108. We arrived in an extremelydehydratedstate and immediately dropped Into the Colarado.The water was an icy 48.Thebeach was like being in a furnace as the winds served up scorching air thatbounced off the hot walls of the canyon.Our destination was South Canyon, --Vasces Paradise at mile 32 of theColorado.Vasces Paradise is a gushing round waterfall surrounded by vines that comesout the middle of a layer in the Canyon wall. The water is over 1000 yearsold.We took a back road in the Vermillion Cliffs area called Buffaloe ranch for24miles to the trailhead?????My partner, Steve Yahner whom got the backcountry permit has been downthere3 other times, and twice his expedition partners took a ride out withRiverrunners to Phantom ranch because they were dehydrated and could not getbackout. Steve is a graduate of the Grand Canyon Institute's most difficultprogram and is a wild animal. He has difficulty finding anyone crazyenoughto go with him on his challenging expeditions. I went with him not knowingthat this particular route required expert outdoor skills and unlimitedstamina. El Lobo was again seduced by the Canyon.The descent is 2725', with the first 2000 going straight down. No traverseshere. We had to rope our packs 6 times. The next 6+ miles was boulderhoppingand scrambling down drainage. We ended up rimlocked twice and had to doubleback. On the way down I lost one water bottle and shredded my Mountainsmithinternal frame pack. I also had my watch ripped off and lost. The internalframe was not a good choice for this type of trip as it stayed flush on myback and my shirt was totally drenched. I also overpacked for this trip andcursed myself for the needless extra 5 to 8 lbs that put me carrying closeto50lbs. To really make things tough on myself I wore newly resoled bootsthatleft less foot space and infected two toes, constantly jamming them goingdown.After 6 miles, With only a 1/2 mile to go the drainage is obstructed bythreegiant boulders 20' to 25' not allowing passage unless you can climb overthem.A flash flood placed these little gems in our path. We did not attempt tonegotiate them and went back up and over to get to the river. This was anexrta 2 mile climb up and down and almost did us in.On day two we both spent the day resting and rehydrating, trying to putbackas much liquid as possible. We also ate as much salty stuff as we could putdown. At least the water from the river was nice and cold. The Colorado wasabeautiful pure green. It does not go brown with Silt until the littleColoradopours into it with its residue. We also scouted out Boulders 1 & 2 andaftermuch deliberation, decided to risk going out that way the followingmorning.In the afternoon some river runners stopped and invited us to dinner withthemif we would share our beach. They offered us a cold beer and I wanted itsooooo bad but could not put anything into my system that would cause anyfurther dehydration.We did enjoy a nice dinner and conversation with the river people.That evening while gazing at the stars I fought off thoughts that I mightnever see Gerry and Lucy again.The next day we started at first light and climbed over the first boulder.Steve would go first and then we would rope up and hoist the packs, then Iwould go. These little climbs required rockclimbing skills that I simply donot have but it is amazing what you can do and what small holes you canfinda finger grip to lift yourself over when you have to. Boulder 1 wentwithoutincident but Boulder two was completed at the expense of a severelystrainedYahner back. Steve pulled it out while hoisting one of the packs. The lastBoulder was a nice surprise as it was inverse and put us in the position ofpossibly being trapped as going back would be extremely difficult and loseusprecious time that would be spent in the midday sun. Steve got over and Iwasleft with no choice but to use every bit of strength left and pull and liftmyself over. All the time invested working with weights and improving myupperbody strength provided me with my finest ROI. Steve gave me a hardy embraceand I felt like beating my fists on my chest but didn't waste theenergy.Guything.His leadership and coaching really helped.When we finally finished the drainage and looked up at our ascent it lookedimpossible. It was now 100 out. Giving the choice of getting out orfrydyingmade it easier to psyche myself up and take care of business. We knockedoffthe climb in thirds. I have never sucked so much deep air as I did in thathour and a half. Every few yards would require a short rest trying to catchmybreath. All things must pass and we completed the last segment ratherroutinely.After a long rocky ride back to Marble Canyon we stopped there andshoweredand slowly drank a half Gallon of cold Dr. Pepper. Enjoyed a great lunchatthe Marble Canyon lodge----- Burger, fries, and Chocolate Shake. Reallyfeltgood about this one. It made the Boucher loop pale in comparison.EL LOBO WILL GO BACK IN THE FALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nankoweep Termination
"As long as there are canyons, man will be drawn to them"AnonymousLeaving work on Friday afternoon was quite challenging and stressful,howeverwe were able to make it to Marble Canyon Lodge around 7:30P.M. in time foranice trout dinner and a good nights rest.In the morning we got an early start to the connecting trailhead which wasa35 mile backroad drive. This approach to the Nankoweep trail is longer andmore difficult than the approach from forrest road 610, off the North RimParkway.The approach trail at the North Rim is shorter, and not as steep, butHighway67 from Jacob's lake was closed. This route is highly recommended over theone we took, if the road is open.Our route took us through the beautiful Saddle Mountain Wilderness. Weendedup taking the wrong trail a mile in. We took the Saddle Mountain trailwhichdoes not show on the trails illustrated Topo. It does show on the forrestservice map. This trail is a more distinct trail at an intersection with alight trail going into a drainage being the correct connecting trail thatweshould have followed. We spent much unnecessary energy on elevation gainandsome distance prior to determining that this trail was continuing NorthEastand we needed to go South.Lesson learned-Take off your packs and check out both trails prior to goingforward!Back on track, losing an hour, we ascended another 1200 feet to the top ofthe saddle where the Nankoweep trail begins. Lost about an hours time.Note: The other trail was the Saddle Mountain trail that goes 6 miles outandapparently offers incredible views of Marble Canyon.The Nankoweep trail is billed as the "scariest" (Arizona Highways) and thetoughest Canyon hike in most hiking books. It has the greatest elevationloss from rim to river in the Canyon.We cached water at Marion point ridge approximately 6 miles in and thenheaded for Tilted Mesa ridge. This is a beautiful trail, and certainly doeshave exposure, is difficult and demanding like many canyon hikes, butoverallto this point I felt the danger and difficulty was overrated. You do needtowalk carefully as the trail often has a very narrow passage withconsiderable exposure along the edge of the steep cliffs.We arrived at tilted Mesa -about 9 miles at 2:00. The next leg to Nankoweepcreek, our original destination is a steep 2000 foot drop in 3 and a halfmiles.It was at this point that my hiking partner Steve announced that he was alldone having fun. He had made the decision that he did not want to negotiatethe next phase and there was no changing his mind. Perhaps due to the factthat one of the masters of the Canyon had done this hike five times prior,itwas simply not worth it for him.Steve wanted to go back to Marion point? and hike out the next morning andgoback. This would cut our trip from 4 days to two. I really had no choicebuttry to make the best of it and go along with his decision. This wasdifficult, but El Lobo handled it.Soooooo we hiked back to Marion's Point and set up camp after logging 12miles with heavy packs and probably 3000 feet of elevation gain/loss.The campsite was nice with great views on a ridge, but really windy.We both had purchased new Walrus one person tents in lieu of using bivysacks and they worked out great!! We both really like them. Highlyrecommended-light and roomy!The next morning we rose early and was back to the car by 9 and at MarbleCanyon Lodge for the traditional shower at 11:00. El Lobo enjoyed a16 oz.budlight while Steve got his usual burger and fries.Made it back to Phoenix at 4:30, in time to have a few glasses of vino withClint & Jakes Mom, Gerry, whom already had been into a little winewhileenjoying a Mother's day luncheon with Clint.Even though not not getting to Nankoweep Creek was extremely disapointing,Irate the hike an 8 because it still is the Grand Canyon!!!This will give me the opportunity to get there another time via the otherconnecting trail, and to see a different part of the Saddle Mountain
10/11/2005
Nankoweep GC Hot sun hot feet hot tempers
"I asked for a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one" - Apocalypse Now
On Friday morning we looked down into the depths of the
Nankoweep basin. Record temperatures were forecast. The inner canyon would be a virtual oven. (100 degree +) We knew that we would be tested but had no idea that the conditions and events would threaten to drive a wedge between five very good friends.
Canyoneers
Zo (Rim 8840')
Dingo
Jacobo
Juan da Chacal
El Lobo Grande (River 2800')
The Nankoweep trail was constructed by Major John Wesley Powell, geologist Charles Doolittle Walcott, and others during 1882 so Walcott could study the Grand Canyon series of rock layers.
The one armed Major was one tough hombre.
The "trail" is perhaps the most difficult and demanding in the Grand Canyon.
Nankoweep has the greatest elevation loss from rim- to- river (6400') and often has a very narrow tread with considerable exposure, that corkscrews along the edge of plunging cliffs. It is hard for me to believe that Utah horse thieves took their horses down the Nankoweep and linked a route with the Tanner Trail.
"Take it to the limit one more time" Eagles 4/76
What is the motivation for such a death March into the inferno?
Juan loves the canyon and has precious little time to explore it. Zo loves the party and beer after the torture. Dingo loves to explore. Jacobo simply and innocently just wanted to see the North Rim of the Canyon.
Mine was unfinished business. The last time down the Nankoweep my trekking partner (donde esta steeeeeeve) arbitrarily decided that we were finished just below the Redwall. It was time to get this one done. Check!
We dropped down the south side of the Saddle Mountain saddle through the Esplanade Sandstone and contoured the Supai Sandstone for about three miles before descending through the Redwall on the West side of Tilted Mesa.
The stretch along the Supai Sandstone is dangerously exposed in two sections and takes inventive forks in two other stretches. We negotiated them with great care. No margin for error. At about five miles we found a slow
dripping seep. We put empty water bottles under the drips. They should be full when we returned.
Below the Redwall we descended steeply through the landslide, Limestone and Galeros formation. There is no shade in this stretch. We eventually got to the bed of Nankoweep Creek. The Creek was flowing mud brown and our hearts sank. We had little water and filtering would be a timely process. However,
we found a spring of clear water flowing from the Muav Limestone, and a nice campsite under some cottonwoods.
"And I was thinking to myself This could be Heaven or this could be Hell" Eagles-Hotel California
"I am tempted to write "my canyon" so possessive can that make one feel. But the canyon is not mine, nor any ones."
Edward Abbey
"You cannot see the Grand Canyon in one view, as if it were a changeless spectacle from which a curtain might be lifted, but to see it you have to toil from month to month through its labyrinths." John Wesley Powell
We broke camp early the next morning to try to beat some of the heat.
Our plan was to stop at the seep and make a decision to camp there or continue out in one day. We all knew that we would elect to get out that day.
Cervezas were waiting at the trail head.
Along the way we met a strange group of four. Their leader asked a lot of questions that apparently he already knew all the answers to. Adios asshole.
The rest of the return trip was very hot and arduous. Everyone's feet were killing them.
At the trail head we collapsed into our camp chairs ready for a well deserved rest and refreshments when a strange guy with the tightest shirt in the world jumped out of a small Subaru and started rambling about his misfortune and needed a jump to start the car. He was part of the group we met on the trail but he had turned back after a mile and had spent the night in the car. His group was not due out for three days. He had no water?
We gave him water and unsuccessfully tried to start his friend's car whom was the leader of the group. His dialogue was inconsistent and he did not make much sense. Juan was very uncomfortable with him. He wanted a ride back to the Cliff Dwellers Motel with us. We could not just leave him there so we agreed to take him. I told him to bring his gear because there probably would not be any rooms available at any of the three lodges. He ignored my request and I told the guys that he would want to be staying with us. He did not have a plan. Dingo was sure that they would make some type of accommodation for him. I was sure that he would be asking to stay with us. We were already overcrowded and this guy was a total flake.
The Buffalo Ranch back road is 30 miles long and our hitchhiker's (Jim) dialogue did nothing to make us more comfortable with him. He talked about picking up 20 year old girls on the trail? He said he was a professional guitarist that had not worked for 10 years.
Back at the Ranch
Sure enough -no rooms and he did not want to call a tow truck. Can I stay with you guys? What could we do? Our party time was now full of tension.
El Lobo was livid, Everyone was on a short fuse. Hard words were exchanged. This group that had gotten along together for so many years and outings were now at each others throats. Jake and I had never gotten into it before. Him and Lorenzo (the dynamic tag team) both chewed me out. One delivered a lecture blow on "someday you may need help" and the other delivered a "you are being a total asshole" blow.
They are lucky that El Lobo kept a cool head and did not knock them to the ground and bite their ears off. (like in a boy named Sue song)
Hey somebody had to be the bad guy and put up some parameters for "Uncle Jim" Jim needed to take ownership of this problem and not pass it on to us. Some of the boys did not see it quite that way. They have very big hearts-to their credit.
One option was to drive back to Phoenix thoroughly pissed off at each other
.
We ended up coming together and making due with the strange and difficult situation. At best case this guy would now want a ride to Phoenix or money. Worst case he was "the axe killer" and would do us all in.
We survived the evening and the next morning our unwanted guest
announced that he wanted to go back to the car and work on it?
We drew the line here-you are on your own on that one. He found someone that would take him back there for a fee but of course he did not have enough money.
The last we talked, he had a room reserved for the next two nights and called a friend in Tucson that was going to come up and get him back to the trail head. Adios Jim. Give my best to the trip leader.
Juan got us home by noon. Thanks for driving Juan.
Men and Thing behaving Badly
The entire pack for MMMMMMMing Jesse, Thursday's beer waitress with the bodacious tatas, and using her as inspiration through all the hard parts of this death march.
Juan the Rico Republican for being an overall management problem.
-For talking, talking on his car phone on the way to Vermillion Cliffs and trying to pedal bad software products to his clients.
-For being too eager to get to the trail head, driving way too fast on the back road and getting a tire blow out. This delayed our descent to a much hotter time of the day.
-For being way too cheerful for the brutal conditions while the rest of the group was miserable.
-For F*#king with a rattlesnake and irresponsibly placing his pack so that it nearly rolled off a cliff. This incident almost reinstated the practice of El Lobo issuing demerits.
-For cheerfully talking way too long listening to the argumentive, asshole trip leader of a party of four met on the trail, while the rest of us were in the sun and then turning into a bleeding heart Democrat and giving them water without checking to see how much water the rest of our group had.
-For hanging around in his underwear at camp and being so excited about being there that he sprung a woody. (in the manner that a dog does)
Everybody run!
For taking advantage of being out in nature to show his hippie side by wearing his Grateful Dead tie-dye shirt and breaking out the patchouli oil to cover up the stink that his donker powder missed.
-For espousing his management philosophy on the long ride home. How long have you been managing Juan? Two years? How many people report to you?
Six? Save it for your corporate leisure suit colleagues!
Juan&Dingo on Friday for stopping at a shady spot that could only accommodate 2.
Juan&Lobo on Saturday for stopping at shady spots that could only accommodate 2.
Asshole hikers for replacing our water bottles at a seep with their own.
Jacobo for announcing at the end of the first day that he's no longer interested in going on the Tahoe Rim Trail trip.
Dingo for breaking out the infamous Red Dirt shirt for the millionth time. I hope his will states that's the shirt he wants to be buried in.
El Lobo for farting while Dingo was enjoying a Cliff Bar. Dingo for wining -"Wah, can't you see that I am trying to eat!"
Jim, the stranded backpacker, whose situation threatened to drive a wedge between the Jake-Lobo familial bond and Zo-Lobo climber (my life is in your hands) bond. Why blame each other when there's an easy scapegoat available!?
The androgynous Thing, a waitress at Lee's Ferry Lodge for being the Thing and giving El Lobo Grande the new moniker of "Pops" and calling Juan "Mr. Tie-Dye.
Doesn't she(?) know that El Lobo is a world famous guide en su cabeza? By the way, the beer selection and onion rings are excellent.
ZO & Jake (tag team) for separately jumping on El Lobo for fuming about giving Jim-in-need a ride to the lodge and because he correctly surmised that Jim-in-need would end up having to share accommodations with the group. All poor El Lobo Grande/World Famous Guide/Trip Leader/Pops wanted to do was look out for the best interests of the group.
Lobo/Jake/Dingo/John for volunteering poor Zo to be the sacrificial lamb to share the room with 2 single beds with Jim-in-need in case he turned out to be a mass murderer.
The pack for doing a death march in two days that normally takes four or five.
Entire group for being cantankerous after the hike and finishing every comment directed at someone with "you f*#$"
Jacobo for complaining to the secretaries at his office on Monday morning about how brutal the hike was.
On Friday morning we looked down into the depths of the
Nankoweep basin. Record temperatures were forecast. The inner canyon would be a virtual oven. (100 degree +) We knew that we would be tested but had no idea that the conditions and events would threaten to drive a wedge between five very good friends.
Canyoneers
Zo (Rim 8840')
Dingo
Jacobo
Juan da Chacal
El Lobo Grande (River 2800')
The Nankoweep trail was constructed by Major John Wesley Powell, geologist Charles Doolittle Walcott, and others during 1882 so Walcott could study the Grand Canyon series of rock layers.
The one armed Major was one tough hombre.
The "trail" is perhaps the most difficult and demanding in the Grand Canyon.
Nankoweep has the greatest elevation loss from rim- to- river (6400') and often has a very narrow tread with considerable exposure, that corkscrews along the edge of plunging cliffs. It is hard for me to believe that Utah horse thieves took their horses down the Nankoweep and linked a route with the Tanner Trail.
"Take it to the limit one more time" Eagles 4/76
What is the motivation for such a death March into the inferno?
Juan loves the canyon and has precious little time to explore it. Zo loves the party and beer after the torture. Dingo loves to explore. Jacobo simply and innocently just wanted to see the North Rim of the Canyon.
Mine was unfinished business. The last time down the Nankoweep my trekking partner (donde esta steeeeeeve) arbitrarily decided that we were finished just below the Redwall. It was time to get this one done. Check!
We dropped down the south side of the Saddle Mountain saddle through the Esplanade Sandstone and contoured the Supai Sandstone for about three miles before descending through the Redwall on the West side of Tilted Mesa.
The stretch along the Supai Sandstone is dangerously exposed in two sections and takes inventive forks in two other stretches. We negotiated them with great care. No margin for error. At about five miles we found a slow
dripping seep. We put empty water bottles under the drips. They should be full when we returned.
Below the Redwall we descended steeply through the landslide, Limestone and Galeros formation. There is no shade in this stretch. We eventually got to the bed of Nankoweep Creek. The Creek was flowing mud brown and our hearts sank. We had little water and filtering would be a timely process. However,
we found a spring of clear water flowing from the Muav Limestone, and a nice campsite under some cottonwoods.
"And I was thinking to myself This could be Heaven or this could be Hell" Eagles-Hotel California
"I am tempted to write "my canyon" so possessive can that make one feel. But the canyon is not mine, nor any ones."
Edward Abbey
"You cannot see the Grand Canyon in one view, as if it were a changeless spectacle from which a curtain might be lifted, but to see it you have to toil from month to month through its labyrinths." John Wesley Powell
We broke camp early the next morning to try to beat some of the heat.
Our plan was to stop at the seep and make a decision to camp there or continue out in one day. We all knew that we would elect to get out that day.
Cervezas were waiting at the trail head.
Along the way we met a strange group of four. Their leader asked a lot of questions that apparently he already knew all the answers to. Adios asshole.
The rest of the return trip was very hot and arduous. Everyone's feet were killing them.
At the trail head we collapsed into our camp chairs ready for a well deserved rest and refreshments when a strange guy with the tightest shirt in the world jumped out of a small Subaru and started rambling about his misfortune and needed a jump to start the car. He was part of the group we met on the trail but he had turned back after a mile and had spent the night in the car. His group was not due out for three days. He had no water?
We gave him water and unsuccessfully tried to start his friend's car whom was the leader of the group. His dialogue was inconsistent and he did not make much sense. Juan was very uncomfortable with him. He wanted a ride back to the Cliff Dwellers Motel with us. We could not just leave him there so we agreed to take him. I told him to bring his gear because there probably would not be any rooms available at any of the three lodges. He ignored my request and I told the guys that he would want to be staying with us. He did not have a plan. Dingo was sure that they would make some type of accommodation for him. I was sure that he would be asking to stay with us. We were already overcrowded and this guy was a total flake.
The Buffalo Ranch back road is 30 miles long and our hitchhiker's (Jim) dialogue did nothing to make us more comfortable with him. He talked about picking up 20 year old girls on the trail? He said he was a professional guitarist that had not worked for 10 years.
Back at the Ranch
Sure enough -no rooms and he did not want to call a tow truck. Can I stay with you guys? What could we do? Our party time was now full of tension.
El Lobo was livid, Everyone was on a short fuse. Hard words were exchanged. This group that had gotten along together for so many years and outings were now at each others throats. Jake and I had never gotten into it before. Him and Lorenzo (the dynamic tag team) both chewed me out. One delivered a lecture blow on "someday you may need help" and the other delivered a "you are being a total asshole" blow.
They are lucky that El Lobo kept a cool head and did not knock them to the ground and bite their ears off. (like in a boy named Sue song)
Hey somebody had to be the bad guy and put up some parameters for "Uncle Jim" Jim needed to take ownership of this problem and not pass it on to us. Some of the boys did not see it quite that way. They have very big hearts-to their credit.
One option was to drive back to Phoenix thoroughly pissed off at each other
.
We ended up coming together and making due with the strange and difficult situation. At best case this guy would now want a ride to Phoenix or money. Worst case he was "the axe killer" and would do us all in.
We survived the evening and the next morning our unwanted guest
announced that he wanted to go back to the car and work on it?
We drew the line here-you are on your own on that one. He found someone that would take him back there for a fee but of course he did not have enough money.
The last we talked, he had a room reserved for the next two nights and called a friend in Tucson that was going to come up and get him back to the trail head. Adios Jim. Give my best to the trip leader.
Juan got us home by noon. Thanks for driving Juan.
Men and Thing behaving Badly
The entire pack for MMMMMMMing Jesse, Thursday's beer waitress with the bodacious tatas, and using her as inspiration through all the hard parts of this death march.
Juan the Rico Republican for being an overall management problem.
-For talking, talking on his car phone on the way to Vermillion Cliffs and trying to pedal bad software products to his clients.
-For being too eager to get to the trail head, driving way too fast on the back road and getting a tire blow out. This delayed our descent to a much hotter time of the day.
-For being way too cheerful for the brutal conditions while the rest of the group was miserable.
-For F*#king with a rattlesnake and irresponsibly placing his pack so that it nearly rolled off a cliff. This incident almost reinstated the practice of El Lobo issuing demerits.
-For cheerfully talking way too long listening to the argumentive, asshole trip leader of a party of four met on the trail, while the rest of us were in the sun and then turning into a bleeding heart Democrat and giving them water without checking to see how much water the rest of our group had.
-For hanging around in his underwear at camp and being so excited about being there that he sprung a woody. (in the manner that a dog does)
Everybody run!
For taking advantage of being out in nature to show his hippie side by wearing his Grateful Dead tie-dye shirt and breaking out the patchouli oil to cover up the stink that his donker powder missed.
-For espousing his management philosophy on the long ride home. How long have you been managing Juan? Two years? How many people report to you?
Six? Save it for your corporate leisure suit colleagues!
Juan&Dingo on Friday for stopping at a shady spot that could only accommodate 2.
Juan&Lobo on Saturday for stopping at shady spots that could only accommodate 2.
Asshole hikers for replacing our water bottles at a seep with their own.
Jacobo for announcing at the end of the first day that he's no longer interested in going on the Tahoe Rim Trail trip.
Dingo for breaking out the infamous Red Dirt shirt for the millionth time. I hope his will states that's the shirt he wants to be buried in.
El Lobo for farting while Dingo was enjoying a Cliff Bar. Dingo for wining -"Wah, can't you see that I am trying to eat!"
Jim, the stranded backpacker, whose situation threatened to drive a wedge between the Jake-Lobo familial bond and Zo-Lobo climber (my life is in your hands) bond. Why blame each other when there's an easy scapegoat available!?
The androgynous Thing, a waitress at Lee's Ferry Lodge for being the Thing and giving El Lobo Grande the new moniker of "Pops" and calling Juan "Mr. Tie-Dye.
Doesn't she(?) know that El Lobo is a world famous guide en su cabeza? By the way, the beer selection and onion rings are excellent.
ZO & Jake (tag team) for separately jumping on El Lobo for fuming about giving Jim-in-need a ride to the lodge and because he correctly surmised that Jim-in-need would end up having to share accommodations with the group. All poor El Lobo Grande/World Famous Guide/Trip Leader/Pops wanted to do was look out for the best interests of the group.
Lobo/Jake/Dingo/John for volunteering poor Zo to be the sacrificial lamb to share the room with 2 single beds with Jim-in-need in case he turned out to be a mass murderer.
The pack for doing a death march in two days that normally takes four or five.
Entire group for being cantankerous after the hike and finishing every comment directed at someone with "you f*#$"
Jacobo for complaining to the secretaries at his office on Monday morning about how brutal the hike was.
9/11/2005
-Reno/Tahoe AreaMen Behaving Badly
"We advise outdoors men to wear noisy little bells on their clothing so that the bears are not startled unexpectedly by a human's presence. We also advise outdoors men to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter with a bear.
It is also a good idea to watch for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoors men should recognize the difference between black bear poop and grizzly bear poop. Black bear poop is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear poop smells like pepper and has little bells in it."
Montana Grizzly Bear Notice
Men Behaving Badly in the Reno/Tahoe Area.
-Zo for apparently mistaking the cinnamon colored black bear on the Tahoe RIM Trail for A Griz , thought that he could out run Lobo, leaving his partner to transform into bear poop. Zo did return and hid behind the wolf. El Lobo being a famous guide, held his ground, made eye contact (but did not stare and threaten) and the 450 lb. magnificent beast bolted up the mountain. (0 to 40 in 3 to 4 seconds) Note: Lorenzo is my climbing partner that I trust my life with.
-Robert Levy while hiking with us on one segment, continuously let loose with the most rancid smelling farts ever launched in this pristine environment. Rob would laugh hysterically after each and every one. Although knocked to his knees, Lorenzo took great pleasure in El Lobo's sensory discomfort. Zo seemed to think that this was some kind of frontier justice?
Rob Levy quote in a little afternoon thunder shower-"Given the current conditions should we not turn around and go back?" C'mon Rob, you wuss, keep hiking!
Wally Corey for subscribing to Playboy Magazine, and passing on dirty old man genes to El Lobo.
Tia Juana Corey (Wally's sister) for snitching on Wally to El Lobo.
Zo for stubbornly refusing to take El Lobo's navigational advice three times, resulting in traveling many extra miles. No Zo, we do not want to go towards Winnemucca!
Zo for wanting to listen to crap and not wanting to hear classic mellow 50's & 60s music on El Lobo's IPOD during the road trip.
Lobo and Zo for flaunting their new Hennessey Hammocks on the trail.
TF Spook and El Lobo at our class reunion for MMMMMMMMMing at some of the old broads that still looked decent,
TF Spook and El Lobo for having a post reunion evaluation and subsequent ranking of the old broads.
Jack Gardner for expressing his right wing conservative views at the class reunion with quips such as "Power to the People"
TFSpook who continues to blame poor El Lobo for "cutting the cheese" and clearing the dance floor at the previous reunion. He even expressed great relief that it did not happen this time. C'mon Spooooook It was Jim Littlewood-not El Lobo!
TFSpook for consistant measured and mature behavior reflecting "A well respected man about town,doing things so conservatively'. A big believer in a balanced life, Spoook apparently believes that this course of action is necessary to achieve balance after behaving so very badly during his HS and College years. (Like the rest of us)
Zo , El Lobo and Ralph for following the legendary advice of Bluto-in Animal House--"Drink heavily" and consuming countless pitchers of Fosters each night.
Roger, (Ralph's roommate) whom was very quiet until he found something (anything) to drink and then became "electric" and would not shut up.
And lastly-all the trucker (good buddy) dudes that stopped at the cat houses on the long stretch of highway between Vegas and Reno.
It is also a good idea to watch for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoors men should recognize the difference between black bear poop and grizzly bear poop. Black bear poop is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear poop smells like pepper and has little bells in it."
Montana Grizzly Bear Notice
Men Behaving Badly in the Reno/Tahoe Area.
-Zo for apparently mistaking the cinnamon colored black bear on the Tahoe RIM Trail for A Griz , thought that he could out run Lobo, leaving his partner to transform into bear poop. Zo did return and hid behind the wolf. El Lobo being a famous guide, held his ground, made eye contact (but did not stare and threaten) and the 450 lb. magnificent beast bolted up the mountain. (0 to 40 in 3 to 4 seconds) Note: Lorenzo is my climbing partner that I trust my life with.
-Robert Levy while hiking with us on one segment, continuously let loose with the most rancid smelling farts ever launched in this pristine environment. Rob would laugh hysterically after each and every one. Although knocked to his knees, Lorenzo took great pleasure in El Lobo's sensory discomfort. Zo seemed to think that this was some kind of frontier justice?
Rob Levy quote in a little afternoon thunder shower-"Given the current conditions should we not turn around and go back?" C'mon Rob, you wuss, keep hiking!
Wally Corey for subscribing to Playboy Magazine, and passing on dirty old man genes to El Lobo.
Tia Juana Corey (Wally's sister) for snitching on Wally to El Lobo.
Zo for stubbornly refusing to take El Lobo's navigational advice three times, resulting in traveling many extra miles. No Zo, we do not want to go towards Winnemucca!
Zo for wanting to listen to crap and not wanting to hear classic mellow 50's & 60s music on El Lobo's IPOD during the road trip.
Lobo and Zo for flaunting their new Hennessey Hammocks on the trail.
TF Spook and El Lobo at our class reunion for MMMMMMMMMing at some of the old broads that still looked decent,
TF Spook and El Lobo for having a post reunion evaluation and subsequent ranking of the old broads.
Jack Gardner for expressing his right wing conservative views at the class reunion with quips such as "Power to the People"
TFSpook who continues to blame poor El Lobo for "cutting the cheese" and clearing the dance floor at the previous reunion. He even expressed great relief that it did not happen this time. C'mon Spooooook It was Jim Littlewood-not El Lobo!
TFSpook for consistant measured and mature behavior reflecting "A well respected man about town,doing things so conservatively'. A big believer in a balanced life, Spoook apparently believes that this course of action is necessary to achieve balance after behaving so very badly during his HS and College years. (Like the rest of us)
Zo , El Lobo and Ralph for following the legendary advice of Bluto-in Animal House--"Drink heavily" and consuming countless pitchers of Fosters each night.
Roger, (Ralph's roommate) whom was very quiet until he found something (anything) to drink and then became "electric" and would not shut up.
And lastly-all the trucker (good buddy) dudes that stopped at the cat houses on the long stretch of highway between Vegas and Reno.
7/11/2005
“Tall and tan and young and lovelyThe girl from Ipanema goes walkingAnd when she passes, each one she passes goes – ah”
Getz & Gilberto 5/64
Latin Triangle-Rio de Janeiro, Foz Do Igacu, Buenos Aires-12 days
There were several reasons not to go on this trip. Foremost, was Gerry's broken foot. Somehow, we managed to pull it off, and it was fabulous.
We traveled in business class and stayed in nice hotels, but really had the most fun when we got away from all that crap and mingled with the locals whom we found to be open and friendly.
In Brazil we would throw out Spanish to see if it would stick, and often times it did. The Portuguese has similarities to Spanish but also has some major differences. It was fun to learn some Portuguese.
Highlights of this trip include:
-Morning runs on Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches
-Sipping caiprinhas on the beach and watching all the pretty people
-Hanging out at sexy samba and tango clubs
Tango at a street cafe
-Taking in the spectacular views of Rio from the tops of Sugarloaf and Corcovado
CopaCabana
-Soccer madness at Maracana the world's largest stadium
-Hanging out at Garota de Ipanema restaurant where the famous song was
penned (The girl from Ipanema)
Great song!
-Screaming through Igacu Falls on a speed boat
WOW!
-Viewing Blue Morph butterflies, Macaws, and Tucans
-Exploring the colorful La Boca and Recoleta neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. Dining on the best beef in the world. Shopping at sidewalk street artist fairs and visiting Cenentario de la Recoleta where Eva Peron rests, along side dozens of generals and doctors. This is clearly the cemetery of choice for Buenos Aires elite.
-Strolling through the splendid museums. Quintella Martin was our favorite.
Rio
Occupying one of the most spectacular settings on the planet, the Rio De Janeiro we saw was a city with the beaches, mountains,skyscrapers and favelas all woven into the landscape.
Favelas are ghettos growing up from individual shantys that crawl up the sides of Rio's mountains. People that live in the favelas are "squatters" that tap into the city's electrical and water systems at no cost.
Far from the favelas was our hotel, strategically located between the storied Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches. Here, are where the beautiful people play. Most everyone really takes care of themselves and is a splendid physical specimen.
Alas-El Lobo' washboard ABS have been smothered by a thin layer of fat. It's time for the soup diet!
We traveled from one spectacular setting to another. Igacu falls was simply awe inspiring. The roar of 275 different massive waterfalls plunging 250’ into the Rio Igacu was deafening. These are the world’s largest waterfalls crashing over the mountains of Parana.
We took a short trip to Paraguay to get a closer look at the Cataratas and Itaipu Dam, the world’s largest hydro electric power plant. I hate Damns!
"Don't cry for me Argentina"
We loved the elegant European buildings of Buenos Aires and the river walk, but our favorite was the atmospheric Cafe Tortini where we experienced tango up close and personal.
The Argentines bottle some very nice wine, best with beef. You can have a great steak dinner (much better than Ruth Criss) for under $5 US dollars.
Men & Women Behaving Badly (Blame it on the Bossa Nova)
-Gerry for being seduced by “Emerald Madness” at H. Stearn in Rio. After blowing our travel budget on a killer ring, she regained consciousness and let loose of the matching earrings that she had a death grip on.
El Lobo for getting “T-shirt madness” and going to Hard Rock Cafes in Rio and Buenos Aires to add to his world’s coolest T-shirt collection.
-Gerry for exclaiming “That’s the most action” I've had in two weeks!” after the speed boat ride at Igacu Falls. Hmmmmmmm, I wonder what she meant by that?
Hey Dude! That's my woman!!
Gerry for not responding to the hotel elevator alarm that El Lobo kept ringing when trapped inside a death chamber for an hour just down the hall.
She was icing her foot, annoyed by the incessant ringing of the alarm, but not getting up to check it's source.
El Lobo for perhaps enjoying the "scenery" (Brazilian models)on the beaches a bit too much and being constantly reminded that being a dirty old man is not an attractive trait.
Getz & Gilberto 5/64
Latin Triangle-Rio de Janeiro, Foz Do Igacu, Buenos Aires-12 days
There were several reasons not to go on this trip. Foremost, was Gerry's broken foot. Somehow, we managed to pull it off, and it was fabulous.
We traveled in business class and stayed in nice hotels, but really had the most fun when we got away from all that crap and mingled with the locals whom we found to be open and friendly.
In Brazil we would throw out Spanish to see if it would stick, and often times it did. The Portuguese has similarities to Spanish but also has some major differences. It was fun to learn some Portuguese.
Highlights of this trip include:
-Morning runs on Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches
-Sipping caiprinhas on the beach and watching all the pretty people
-Hanging out at sexy samba and tango clubs
Tango at a street cafe
-Taking in the spectacular views of Rio from the tops of Sugarloaf and Corcovado
CopaCabana
-Soccer madness at Maracana the world's largest stadium
-Hanging out at Garota de Ipanema restaurant where the famous song was
penned (The girl from Ipanema)
Great song!
-Screaming through Igacu Falls on a speed boat
WOW!
-Viewing Blue Morph butterflies, Macaws, and Tucans
-Exploring the colorful La Boca and Recoleta neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. Dining on the best beef in the world. Shopping at sidewalk street artist fairs and visiting Cenentario de la Recoleta where Eva Peron rests, along side dozens of generals and doctors. This is clearly the cemetery of choice for Buenos Aires elite.
-Strolling through the splendid museums. Quintella Martin was our favorite.
Rio
Occupying one of the most spectacular settings on the planet, the Rio De Janeiro we saw was a city with the beaches, mountains,skyscrapers and favelas all woven into the landscape.
Favelas are ghettos growing up from individual shantys that crawl up the sides of Rio's mountains. People that live in the favelas are "squatters" that tap into the city's electrical and water systems at no cost.
Far from the favelas was our hotel, strategically located between the storied Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches. Here, are where the beautiful people play. Most everyone really takes care of themselves and is a splendid physical specimen.
Alas-El Lobo' washboard ABS have been smothered by a thin layer of fat. It's time for the soup diet!
We traveled from one spectacular setting to another. Igacu falls was simply awe inspiring. The roar of 275 different massive waterfalls plunging 250’ into the Rio Igacu was deafening. These are the world’s largest waterfalls crashing over the mountains of Parana.
We took a short trip to Paraguay to get a closer look at the Cataratas and Itaipu Dam, the world’s largest hydro electric power plant. I hate Damns!
"Don't cry for me Argentina"
We loved the elegant European buildings of Buenos Aires and the river walk, but our favorite was the atmospheric Cafe Tortini where we experienced tango up close and personal.
The Argentines bottle some very nice wine, best with beef. You can have a great steak dinner (much better than Ruth Criss) for under $5 US dollars.
Men & Women Behaving Badly (Blame it on the Bossa Nova)
-Gerry for being seduced by “Emerald Madness” at H. Stearn in Rio. After blowing our travel budget on a killer ring, she regained consciousness and let loose of the matching earrings that she had a death grip on.
El Lobo for getting “T-shirt madness” and going to Hard Rock Cafes in Rio and Buenos Aires to add to his world’s coolest T-shirt collection.
-Gerry for exclaiming “That’s the most action” I've had in two weeks!” after the speed boat ride at Igacu Falls. Hmmmmmmm, I wonder what she meant by that?
Hey Dude! That's my woman!!
Gerry for not responding to the hotel elevator alarm that El Lobo kept ringing when trapped inside a death chamber for an hour just down the hall.
She was icing her foot, annoyed by the incessant ringing of the alarm, but not getting up to check it's source.
El Lobo for perhaps enjoying the "scenery" (Brazilian models)on the beaches a bit too much and being constantly reminded that being a dirty old man is not an attractive trait.
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