Teardrop Lake -- Oregon's highest lake, at least in years where it thaws out -- viewed from the summit of South Sister, 5 pm, September 18. Taken with a cheap Coolpix, this is a splendid shot in the sense that the crater area is actually quite a gentle slope and the slushy body of water is only 200 ft down or so. The hike up the mountain is murderous, however. Because of the moderate elevation of "only" 10,400 ft, I had ideas of climbing the mountain as a very long day trip from Portland -- forget about it.
The other two Sisters, technical climbs, viewed from the same vantage point (not from an aircraft, I swear). I wasn't really up for the traverse, though those blue lakes in the potholes look inviting.
Camp, between Lewis and Clark glaciers at about 9,000 ft. The forecast was for the days of backlogged clouds to the west to finally break on through and bring snow to elevations above 6,000 ft, but it never materialized. Inversion kept temperatures at no less than 28 F. In the morning the air reversed and there was a stiff breeze and clouds "falling down" from the summit. So -- no Mt. Adams like weirdness, just a typical night on the mountain.
**
The overnighter allowed me to see a little more of Central Oregon and Bend, the fastest growing part of the state and probably the whole US.
It's now pushing 80,000 souls while 10 or 20 years ago there was very little here. It's like a Colorado front range town. There is the same infinity of brush and buttes to the east, while the mountains rise abruptly to the west. It's at 3,500 ft. and has similar weather to Colorado. A lot of clouds right now, but I'm confident it's not going to rain much or at most maybe there will be some dry flakes of snow. The architecture of this well-heeled boomtown is also Intermountain West, with lots of low-slung, smart-looking new buildings with little idea of a city centre. So is the atmosphere and politics. It's young and outdoorsy with the typical acupunturists and spas and natural food stores and many ski and mountain shops in tasteful malls and "restored" riverside annexes, but it's not as crunchy as Boulder or as left-leaning and frayed as Portland. I'm roughing it -- strict diet of work, hike, and camp food -- so no breweries or restaurants for me. But I reckon there are some fine entries.
Bend: a smallish eastern Pacific city not afraid of jarring visual juxtapositions.
6 comments:
You're prior 2 entries left me speechless - since I can't say one intelligent word about computers. I was hopeful when I saw Fun with Windows - maybe he's writing about a good view or some bubbled or distorted glass - but no. My desktop monitor died yesterday -flickered like an old tv on the fritz. Luckily we had a spare monitor a tenant left behind and it works fine, though a little small. I think it's time for a new one, mine's older than Tom's and I'd like a bigger flat screen. My laptop is fun to use on the porch on a nice day, and, of course, I need it for meetings - but prefer the desktop for most things
Wednesday we did have "Fun at the Firehouse" though - and a real firehouse, you know the one. Once a year the United Way has a city wide "Day of Caring" when about 2500 people spend their day volunteering at a different place from where they work. They always love coming to the station and I finally figured out why. It's the only chance grownups get to climb up on firetrucks. Sure they brought their kids when they were little - but most of the men still seem to want to climb up in there,too - and on that day we invite them to do just that. This year one of my vols was a former Chville. school superintendent - he used to be my boss, now I was his - to be sure I had fun with that one!
You must be close to heading off on the last leg of your adventure. According to TTT we will see you guys here early in Nov. I want to get all the cousins (grandkids) together for a group shot - I've even bought them all turtle necks to wear - red for the 3 boys, red/white (candycanes)for the 2 girls.I hope with all the cameras we can get some cute ones. Jack, Morgan, and Evans are so close in age - and then Ella a little older and baby Soren.
Desktops for me are a thing of the past. Eventually laptops will be too, though I can't imagine what would replace the keyboard as the premier input device. Speech?
Fire engines. That's funny -- Walter Mitty funny.
Definitely, and we want you guys on a pic, too. We'll Photoshop you in if necessary. Maybe we can do a composite pic of both estranged sides of my family. Photoshop -- the new Parent Trap.
Phunny - photoshop! But no doubt the only way the "2 sides" will ever be in a picture together. Why would you want to put people together in a picture who have no use for each other in real life? But, we could also switch heads on everyone and that might be funny, too. Anyway, Jim P. offered last night to come and take the pictures so adults could be in them, too/ have family groups, etc. So that should work.
Why would you want to put people together in a picture who have no use for each other in real life?
Family tree?
Interactive tree where you click on each face and it brings up a window.
Stuff like that.
Now that would be cool! Then you could develop a whole profile/website for that person - pictures, interests, history, anecdotes from their childhood and yours, etc...that could be fun and great for reference for future generations. We'd participate, but from past experience I doubt the if "we" did "they" would ; )
Desktops still serve a purpose, in my opinion and I think will for quite some time. It is nice to have them in an environment with scanners, printers, and back-up drives ready, and not have to connect all those items when unfolding a laptop. Although I can't deny that laptops are equally functional in other ways, and is why we take them when we travel. Also I like the large display, and since Judy's CRT flickered and died, we are getting a new system with a 24 inch flat panel. And yes, with Vista Office :-) I have nothing against Apple besides unfamiliarity, and an ancient problem that software was limited way back when. I am sure that has changed, but now I am wedded to Microsoft and can move around in it pretty well. I still like the look of Macs. They're pretty. :-) And people who have them seem to love them.
As for photo shop, shop till you drop :-) It might be fun .
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