Moving on

hey all, I've been pretty busy these days, so have decided to simplify a bit, redirecting my attentions and energies (and posting lags) to MADAPE.ORG, the blog that I sort of work on w/my bros. All posts will be done on that site in the future. I returned last night from Yakutat, having completed the Tat trip safely, which was great fun (pics forthcoming). Anyways, hope all is well with everyone, I'll be in touch soon!

-Peter

Take 'er Easy

September is filling up quick with events. With the Tatshenshini trip kicking it off tomorrow, a trip to Anchorage for FOP when I return, and the Klondike relay the week after that, life is looking a little busy right now. I called in sick for the first time in years today, capping what has been a specacular few days of weather with some rest and decompression. Taking the day off is also letting me pack unhurriedly, which is doing wonders for my stress levels. I finally have time to buy up some books and other treats for the river.

In other news, our pilots have been rocking out on our flights lately. We fly to and from a camp about 2 miles up the mendenhall glacier for work. Usually its just a really cool taxi run, but lately, they have been flying us all over the place up there, and I've had the priveladge of scoping some killer future hikes. One such thought is connecting Olds Mountain, Split Thumb, Nugget Peak, and Wrather, coming back down Nugget Spires and Bullard. Lots of rugged thoughts to chew on later, may be a good one on skis some fine spring weekend.

-Peter

opportunism, supported in part by brrraaaiiinnss

Bright Lights in the Panhandle*
(*warning, profane preserves are presented below)

After garnering a somewhat satisfactory set of 'good enough' grades in chemistry, I made the exodus from VT back north a little over a week ago. Regardless of a change of geographic location, life has continued its rabid pace. Since returning, there has been a spate of good times, jam making, job searching, and world perspectaving.

Needless to say, I have acquired gainful employment, but have broken what was an ongoing, half-serious pact with myself not to work for the tourist industry. However, I am a whore for helicopter rides, and will begin work as a 'glacier guide' for Temsco tomorrow morning. This is much less glamorous than it sounds, but still entails time on the ice, decent pay to fund my Tatshenshini R. trip in two weeks, and the likely purchase of a used firearm -just in time for hunting season. We're pretty much the wham-bangers of the ever-popular heli tour industry here in Juneau, but its a good crew and somewhat temporary.

In a more exciting relm, Collin, Dave, Nick and I headed up to the grandchild peaks last weekend to circumnavigate the Montanna Ck. watershed. This involves ~20 miles of ~4000 ft. ridgeline and peaks, topping out with Mt. Stroller-White (5150 ft.). A total of 7 peaks would be hit. The week before, Nick and I tromped around the Grandchild Peaks in a whiteout, and decited to bag it without having seen the terrain up there. Upon breakout from treeline this last week, it is definately not evident just how ambitious this trip is. While certainly do-able, we canned that idea in favor of exploring the new terrain. There are some amazing peaks up there, most of which are unnamed. We tropmed up all but two. Pics are posted up, and are pretty spectacular (Collin neglected to bump up the resolution on his camera, sorry!).

Finally, Dave and I went out yesterday picking blueberries and spent a few hours today (with Nick as support) to generate a killer set of products:

Big city & bright lights; the good life brings long nights.

-P