Raven Cone, the Newest Grand Canyon Flavor!

@ the Hopi House on the South Rim

Snow Dogglettes

I sank into the snow past my knees, but the Doxies were light enough to glide on the crisp crust.

January on the Bright Angel Trail

My father and I hiked out of the Canyon through an inversion from 3 mile house to the rim. He snapped this great picture of Ray packing up and out.

Merry Christmas, from Phantom Ranch!

@ the bottom of the Grand Canyon

K Max Heli Lift Truck at the Canyon

http://rainierheli.com/pages/Heavy_Lift/?PHPSESSID=1d67fa136bd503923a23d5b8c5afc052

Here are some pictures from the vehicle extrication at Grand Canyon National Park, on November 30th 2009.

High on the Canyon: Boundary Patrol

I have muled it in the moonlight, hiked it in deep snow and extreme heat, excavated its history, rafted its waters and swam through its rapids, but nothing made my love for it feel so large as a boundary flight patrol. Damn, I am in love with this canyon!

The Esplanade.
Prop effects.
Best High Ever!
I really do love my job.
Near Peace Ferry and Meadview.
The Meadview Strip with my Park's Patrol Plane.

Halloween 2009 Hike

I spent this Halloween on Tanner Beach, which is located at the bottom of, you guessed it, the Tanner Trail. I hiked in with my Ranger friend, Laura, who happens to be made of similar to mine own go-with-the-flow material. She should have been a big mean grouchy panted person, due to cold weather, a surprise upper respiratory infection, and oh, I don't know, being in the backcountry instead of in Vegas for Halloween, but man we had a great time! Even in a tent on sleeping pads, our matching synthetic 25 degree Kelty bags were not sufficient for 41 degree lows. We did not get out on the Beemer trail as planed due to, perhaps being too relaxed and enjoying out vacation too much, or we can blame the nasty chest congestion Laura woke up with on Day 2. I lost one half of my expensive Leki hiking poles down a gully in the dark night at the end of our hike and we then topped out in the chilly night air, to find my truck battery dead.

A BIG Thank you to Dutchy, for the late night Jump and last minute Dachshund Sitting.

http://www.smokeythepig.com/albums/Tanner/

Life on the Rocks

Crazy Screaming Man in my Yard Last Night

I woke up at 1:30 am this morning to the psychotic piercing screams of "Aaaaaaaagggggghhhh!" "F##k Youuuuu!" "Huh huh huuuh!" "I'm gonna get youuuuuuuuuuuuu!" "Come and get me Aggggh!" and etc. I called Park Dispatch, as did many other folks. We are used to the coyotes (and the occasional intoxicated resident en route home) hootin' and hollering in our woods but not some schizo or drugged out violent wacko. It's just not that kind of neighborhood. The Fuzz came and took him away to jail. Ha ha ha!

Paul Bunyan's Campsite?

While roving in Mather campground today I found this beauty. Really, who are these people?

36 CFR violations:

wood collection

burning wood outside designated fire ring

There was also a ring of ashes outside the fire ring. Seems the tree alone was not enough to keep these donkeys warm.

Desert Bighorn in the Canyon

Well, hello there, Lady!

I was checked out by 3 pairs of female Desert Bighorns on Grand Canyon's South Kaibab Trail in January 2009. This photo was taken at Tip Off.

Almost Heaven, Arizona!

Almost heaven, Arizona
Grand Canyon, Colorado River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze

Desert roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
Arizona, canyon momma
Take me home, desert roads

All my memories, gather round her
Trekking lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of tequila, teardrop in my eye

Desert roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
Arizona, canyon momma
Take me home, desert roads

I hear her voice, in the mornin hours she calls to me
NPR reminds me of my home far a-way
And drivin down the road I get a feeling
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

Desert roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
Arizona, canyon momma
Take me home, desert roads

(adopted from John Denver's Country Road by lil ol me)

My Albatross is an Empty Box

I floated out to a new world
on a paddle boat of excuses
lashed together with an inability to let go
made buoyant by an impenetrable arms length
of bubble wrap, wax and
imaginary kittens kept around another's heart.
I adjusted my sail
made out of the sensitive skin
shed when the rest flew away
stretched across the bones
which promised they would support my every move
they still do

The new land is green blue
brown and red
varied
lush
providing me with all I need
with promises never to live up to my expectations

Time stops for a moment as I contemplate
and appreciate my mode travel
I see it for its good and change
what I have made it into- loving it all the same
I launch my skiff into the largest
swiftest river
screaming with passion and joy at the newness and danger of it all
and look forward

My home is on the river.

LJS
09-28-07

A Little Bjork in the Morning Kicks Foldger's A$$!

A long time ago, when my world was black, I went through a phase of unceasing dissatisfaction. I had to listen to Bjork's Hyperballad (the Tibetan Freedom Concert Version) in order to get up out of bed, the tub or off the floor in the morning and continue living my colourless and spiritless life. My life was not perfect but the music was. I liked how it reminded me that material goods, like car parts and bottles and cutlery, were disposable, while relationships were not.

While more than one boi found the lyrics to be dangerous, I found them to be freeing. After living on the suicide destination of the Southwest, the rim of the Grand Canyon for five years, it was impossible for me to ignore the monumental choice I made, to live, every single morning. I imagined what my body would sound like slamming against those rocks, and invariably choose a path of endurance and adventure. My soul grew.

Now my life is my own private Hyperballad.

HYPER BALLAD
by Bjork
We live on a mountain
Right at the top
There's a beautiful view
From the top of the mountain
Every morning I walk towards the edge
And throw little things off
Like:Car parts, bottles and cutlery
Or whatever I find lying around
It's become a habit
A way
To start the day
I go through all this
Before you wake up
So I can feel happier
To be safe up here with you
It's early morning
No one is awake
I'm back at my cliff
Still throwing things off
I listen to the sounds they make
On their way down
I follow with my eyes 'til they crash
Imagine what my body would sound like
Slamming against those rocks
When it lands
Will my eyesBe closed or open?
I go through all this
Before you wake up
So I can feel happier
To be safe up here with you..

05-16-2007