Costa Rica

Five students, two parents, and I went on a tour of the natural beauty of Costa Rica from June 17-25. It was a very active tour walking, ziplining, horseback riding, walking, swimming in the ocean and in a lake, walking, swam in hot springs, and kayaking. The walks were never long but the destinations were [...]

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Still Challenging and New

It took many hours last Saturday but we three found a new climbing area.  The rock type is quite different from any other we have encountered here and somewhat reminds me of rock at the Obed in Tennessee minus the large overhangs.  The site is literally in the corner of our county with thirty minutes [...]

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Colorful Treasure

I can’t always get out to the woods for a hike so on the weekends I enjoy the more rugged parts of the greenway by the river in our town.  I can’t say it is undisturbed because the environmental perturbation was and is causing far more briars, poison ivy, hedge, and honey suckle than ought to be.  However, there [...]

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South Mountains in bloom

The iris somewhat surprised me, not because of its presence but its ID. I had always thought is was the blue flag but this is blooming at the wrong time and living in far too dry a habitat. I am also amazed at the variety of plants called dog hobble.  All these plants show tremendous variety [...]

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Nesting

Have you heard the buzz?  A bald eagle pair and three freshly hatched eaglets 80 feet above the ground in Decorah, Iowa are being videoed for the whole world to see 24/7 by webcam, color by day and IR by night.  It’s cute and a bit gross (raptor feeding habits are a bit coarse).  But most of [...]

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In a neighborhood ditch near you

I wanted to take a walk and others I usually walk with were occupied.  So, I decided to be random and go off of the paved trail, take my camera, and see if there was anything worth seeing. A few others had a similar idea.  Snow on the ground for a full week is rare [...]

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Hawk’s Bill Panorama

I never get tired of mountain vistas, even if they are ones I’ve seen many times before. Today the snow and the atmosphere were exceptional. We had to stand off abit since the gravel road comes downhill, was snow covered, and I only have 2 wheel drive. That’s OK. We hiked in about a mile [...]

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White Snow

I’m happy that snow is white. In fact I don’t believe there is anything whiter. Paint store white, white white, ultrawhite don’t compare and everything else looks dingy. “‘Come now, and let us reason together’, says the LORD, ‘Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow…’” (Isaiah 1:18) “Purify me [...]

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Gorging on Beauty

It is referred to as simply the Gorge around here.  I’ve seen it from all angles in every imaginable weather with any number of people, though mostly my children.  It is a miniture of some of the greater canyons of the world but it is a compact bit of beauty and extremity.  Some of the [...]

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Washed, Rinsed, Eternally Clean

I made a new aquaintence in church today. We exchanged interests and learned that one was classical music and another was potentially poetry.  He wrote down a poem from memory and gave it to me at the end of church.  At home I sat down to read the poem.  I was really enjoying it, but [...]

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Gorge Swim

At least once a summer, the boys and I go to a great swimming hole and play until we are worn out or too cold to move.  The weather has been plenty hot enough to preclude the latter. There are many jumps into foaming deep water from heights of 5, 20, and 25 feet. There [...]

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9″ Snow

It was one of those “around the end” weather patterns that bring us the big snows.  When we more typically get a front come over the mountains, because we are in the lee, most of the snow is shed on the Tennessee side and in the mountains.  But when the cold comes over the mountains [...]

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A Long Simmering Tale of Past Adventure Half-Sought

During D’s Christmas break, he, P, and I went to the Linville Gorge here in our county . Well, I had a bushwhacking in mind, knowing the gorge much better than in previous years.  We went atop the ridge, down a narrow cut between 300 foot cliffs, waded the river without mishap, went upstream, waded the [...]

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Finally!

To say that snow is uncommon in my little town would be an understatement.  And when it does come it tends to fade quickly.  We had three inches last night and cold enough to retain it half a day today.  I am so thankful for its beauty and God’s creativity! Spring delayed                  Not bad sledding           Would [...]

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Sit Start

Starting from rest does not mean that what comes afterwards will necessarily be easy. Enjoy the rest and really recover and be prepared. A trivial example would be what is called in climbing a “sit-start”.  Notice the repose as the bouldering problem begins. And on video it may not look that hard but appearances can [...]

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Hanging in there

I went climbing yesterday, once of only twice since my three day trip in August. Over the last five years that is a long stretch to not climb for me, excepting winter of course. Life is full of details and I have more than a few with teaching at a new high school, trying to [...]

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Spiritual Lessons and Rockclimbing

Having trouble seeing the connection? I went climbing for three days at the Obed National Scenic River cliffs just northwest of Wartburg, TN. Below is a picture of me flashing a 5.11a on toprope. As I have improved as a climber my climbing mentors (Keith belaying me and Adrian  taking the picture) have emphasized key [...]

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Cools the body, mind, and soul

Day before yesterday I went with my two youngest sons and a friend of theirs to the waterfall pictured below. I was about 100 degrees F in the lowlands that day. The rock was so hot that it burned dry feet. The water was low from drought and not as cool as usual from being [...]

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Bouldering

As it says in “About”, I like climbing. Rock climbing, bouldering, sport and trad climbing, and top roping all qualify. It’s a jargon thing. The woods are peaceful, the challenge is intense, and the exercise is one of a kind. I’m so thankful to God to be healthy enough at 40 something to do this. [...]

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Why beauty?

The hues, the colors, the trees and mountains, the vastness and unobstructed view. This is where I see beauty!  But why do I see beauty here or at all?   Visit again for some  views and musing on the purpose and satisfaction of beauty.

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