Children of Lysander and Lydia Robison Joslin

See the post "Lysander and Lydia Robison Joslin" for background information on the family.

Anna Eliza Joslin was born on 08 Nov 1844 in Whitley County, Indiana, died on 28 Jul 1885 in Jefferson County, Iowa and was buried in McDowell Cemetery in Jefferson County, Iowa. She married William Klingaman on 12 Oct 1865 in Whitley County, Indiana and had three children:

1. Charles Sherman Klingaman (1867-1955)
2. Olen Valerus Klingaman (1869-1951)
3. Frank Ellsworth Klingaman (1872-1950)

Mary Jane Joslin was born on 20 Jul 1846 in Whitley County, Indiana, died on 20 Mar 1850 in Whitley County, Indiana and was buried in Adams Cemetery in Troy Township, Whitley County, Indiana.

Elsy Ellen Joslin was born on 05 Aug 1847 in Whitley County, Indiana, died on 09 Mar 1850 in Whitley County, Indiana and was buried in Adams Cemetery in Troy Township, Whitley County, Indiana.

Lillia, Elcy, Esther, and Mary Joslin lie next to their great-grandfather, Bela Goodrich, in Adams Cemetery, Troy Township, Whitley County, Indiana.

Malissa Mariah Joslin was born on 24 Jun 1849 in Troy Township, Whitley County, Indiana, died on 30 Sep 1937 in Columbia City, Whitley County, Indiana and was buried in South Park Cemetery in Columbia City, Whitley County, Indiana. She married William Brubaker on 20 Apr 1871 in Whitley County, Indiana. They had two children.

1. Charles Romain Brubaker (1871-1945 my great grandfather, still need to write about him!)
2. Maurice Hale Brubaker (1886-1910)

Luther Marion Joslin was born on 02 Jan 1852 in Whitley County, Indiana, died on 18 May 1930 in Turkey Ridge, Pulaski County, Missouri and was buried in Colley Hollow Cemetery in Turkey Ridge, Pulaski County, Missouri. He married Phoebe Dorcas Elliott on 02 Mar 1876 in Whitley County, Indiana. Luther and Phoebe lived in Illinois, Kansas and Iowa as well as homesteading in South Dakota before moving to Missouri in the late 1920s. They had five children.

1. Ole Elsworth Joslin (1876- ?)
2. David Judson Joslin (1878-1880)
3. Flora Evelyn Joslin (1884-1983)
4. Virgil Newton Joslin (1891-1959)
5. Phoebe Dorcas Joslin Kutz (1893-1977)

Roxie Arminta Joslin was born on 04 Apr 1853 in Whitley County, Indiana, died on 05 Mar 1941 in Cardin, Ottawa County, Oklahoma and was buried in Baxter Springs Cemetery in Cherokee County, Kansas. She married Jacob Henry Parkison on 30 May 1874 in Whitley County, Indiana. Jacob was a half-brother of William Brubaker who married Roxie's sister, Malissa. Roxie and Jacob had nine children.

1. Wilbert Henry "Bert" Parkison (1874-1932)
2. George Thomas Parkison II (1876-1958)
3. Ida Maude Parkison Frazier (1878-1959)
4. Otis Garfield Parkison (1880-1925)
5. Andrew Franklin Parkison (1883-1910)
6. William Sherman Parkison (1885-1927)
7. Valetta Arminta "Letty" Parkison Strahan (1887-1946)
8. Benjamin Earl Parkison (1890-1962)
9. Gladys Roxie "Babe" Parkison Elder (1892-1982)

John Lafayette Joslin was born on 30 Nov 1855 in Whitley County, Indiana. He is listed with Lysander and Lydia in the 1870 federal census in Whitley County. The last record of John is in the family bible where it shows that he married "Mattie" on September 29, 1890. One family researcher indicates that John "went to California" but no further information is given and we haven't been able to locate him.

Esther Joslin was born on 03 Sep 1857 in Whitley County, Indiana, died on 05 Nov 1858 in Whitley County, Indiana and was buried in Adams Cemetery in Troy Township, Whitley County, Indiana.

Minerva Fatima Joslin was born on 07 Jan 1859 in Whitley County, Indiana, died on 12 May 1905 in Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas and was buried in Old Cemetery in Iola, Allen County, Kansas. She married William John Knight on 16 Mar 1876 in Whitley County, Indiana.

1. Merlin Andrew Knight (1878- ?)
2. Nellie Gertrude Knight Sutton (1879-1947)
3. Hale Vernon Knight (1897-1947)

Andrew Hanable Joslin was born on 30 May 1860 in Whitley County, Indiana and died in 1921 in Arkansas. He married Elmina Viola "Minnie" Himes on 01 Jun 1891 in Elkhart, Morton County, Kansas. They had five children.

1. Lottie Mina Joslin Smith (1892 -1954)
2. Frank Andrew Joslin (1896- ? between 1920-1930)
3. Joseph Earl Joslin (1900-1976)
4. George Dimmick Joslin (1902-1993)
5. Rose Joslin Vickery (1908-still living in ..)

Lillian Arvilla Joslin was born on 20 Apr 1862 in Whitley County, Indiana, died on 20 Sep 1863 in Whitley County, Indiana and was buried in Adams Cemetery in Troy Township, Whitley County, Indiana.

Ida Blanch Joslin was born on 11 Jul 1863 in Whitley County, Indiana and died on 04 Mar 1937 in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri. Ida was married to John G. Dressler on 20 Jul 1882 in Barton County, Kansas but by 1900 they had divorced. Ida later married Sam Lewis and lived in Kansas City. Ida had three children:

1. Charles Joslin (1879- ?)
2. Elnora Dressler (1883 - ? Gravemarker with no date in Mt. Washington Cemetery, Kansas City/Independence, Jackson County, Missouri)
3. Joseph Dressler (1885-1961) moved to Torrance County, New Mexico before 1920.

Mandellie "Della" Joslin was born on 09 Dec 1866 in Whitley County, Indiana, died on 07 Feb 1943 in Hartsville Township, Darlington County, South Carolina and was buried in Fountain Inn Municipal Cemetery in Fountain Inn, Greenville County, South Carolina. She married James Downey " J. D." Quillen on 30 Jul 1884 in Barton County, Kansas. They lived is several counties in Kansas as well as Kitsap County, Washington before moving to Fountain Inn, South Carolina to live near their son Robert Quillen. Della and J. D. had five children.

1. Leroy "Roy" Quillen (1885-1917) It is not known where Roy died. He married Ana Wahl and they had a daughter Lorna, born in Lewis County, Washington 1907.
2. Robert Quillen (1887-1948) His full name was Verni Robert, but he was always known as Robert.
3. Lydia Elizabeth "Betty" Quillen Deason (1893-1983)
4. Marjorie Quillen (1903-1903)
5. Della Lucile Quillen Agnew (1909-..)

Elmer Joslin was born on 04 Jun 1868 in Jefferson County, Iowa and died on 30 Jun 1868 in Jefferson County, Iowa.

Elmus Robison Joslin was born on 04 Jun 1868 in Fairfield Township, Jefferson County, Iowa, died on 11 Aug 1928 in Helena, Lewis & Clark County, Montana and was buried in Highland Cemetery in Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana. Elmus sometimes went by the name of Elmer. He married Catherine "Kattie" Kelly on 16 May 1892 in Aspen, Pitkin County, Colorado. They had three children.

1. Fred Elmus "Freddie" Joslin (1893-1924)
2. Harry Lester Joslin (1894-1956)
3. Frank Allen "Frankie" Joslin (1897-1962)

Mesa Verde :: Spruce Tree House

The third cliff dwelling that I visited while at Mesa Verde was Spruce Tree House, which does not require a ticket as it is a self-guided tour. Rangers are on-site at all times to answer questions and keep and eye on visitors.

It is the third largest of the cliff dwellings and contains about 130 rooms and 8 kivas (kee-vahs) built into a natural alcove 216 feet wide at its greatest width and 89 feet at its greatest depth. It is thought to have been home for about 60 to 80 people.



The black areas on the underside of the rock were caused by smoke from the fires they used to cook with and keep warm.

Packed

"If your bike has couplers, or if you have a spendy bike case, or if you pay a shop to pack your bike, or if you have a folding bike, shipping a bike is still a pain in the ass for everyone involved."

That is what one of the wisest blog posts of all time has to say about mailing bikes, and I am sure they would apply the same to travel. Based on the stories I've heard about traveling with bicycles, it certainly seems to be more often a pain than not.


So I am going abroad again, and this time I'm taking a bike along. Never done this before and I'm getting really nervous! It almost feels as if I am doing something illegal by putting a bicycle in a suitcase. "Can I get away with it?" I find myself thinking as I glance over my shoulder furtively.




Well, I guess I am about to find out for myself how much of a pain it really is. Will write about it once I cross the Atlantic!

The Kennedy Space Center

In-between Sebastian Inlet and Anastasia Island, I made a stop at The Kennedy Space Center, near Titusville, Florida, about 50 miles east of Orlando.

I've always been fascinated by the thought of going into space. As a sophomore in high school I remember writing an essay for English class in which I was welcomed back to Earth as the first woman to walk on the moon. Quite a stretch of the imagination for someone who couldn't “get” algebra or trigonometry and disliked science immensely. Well, it was just a work of fiction. At any rate, The Kennedy Space Center was on my list of places to see.

The entrance fee of $38 (+ tax, making it $40 and change) is a bit high, at least in my opinion, but there is a lot to see and do. I got there at 9 a.m., which was opening time, but the bus tours and the Imax Theater presentations don't start until 10 o'clock. So I wandered through the outdoor displays of the different rockets, getting a refresher course in our quest to get to the moon and beyond.

I was reading the brochure that I received when entering and saw that they had something called the “Shuttle Launch Experience” that looked interesting so I headed over that way. It only lasts about 20 minutes but I had just 15 minutes until the Imax movie started so I decided to return later.

They offer two Imax movies but due to time limitations, I was only able to view one of them – Man on the Moon. Now, I've been to Imax movies before but had never experienced one in 3-D. It was magnificent. Really. It was almost worth the price of admission just to see this movie. Talk about in-your-face reality. It just can't be described. I wish I could have seen the other one about the building of the Space Station but it wasn't showing until later in the afternoon.

After watching Man on the Moon, I returned to the Shuttle Launch Experience. The brochure promised that I'd experience the same sensations and feelings that the astronauts do when they launch into outer space. Honestly, I wasn't disappointed at all. You may not feel exactly everything as they do, but you get the sensation of 3-Gs pushing you into your seat and you feel the shaking and bumping just as they would, only not quite as severe, obviously. And once you get “into space” you get that sensation of weightlessness too. This Experience, combined with the Imax movie, really is worth the price of admission!

But that wasn't all. They have guided bus tours to three areas of the Complex (an observation gantry, the Apollo/Saturn 5 Center, and the International Space Station Center). As you go from one area to the next, they show short videos and the bus driver keeps up a rolling commentary about what you are seeing. Once you get to the area they show an 8-10 minute movie and there are displays to see. (And at each stop there is a refreshment center and souvenir shop that they encourage you to visit.) Again, due to time contraints (I had to be at Anastasia State Park before sunset and it was a hundred miles away), I cut my tour short and missed out on the International Space Station Center portion.

I highly recommend a visit to the Kennedy Space Center. However, there is no way you can see and do everything in just one day. If you are going to go I suggest making it into a two day visit, if possible. Your ticket allows for one return visit within seven days of purchase, which is nice (it has to be validated before you leave the first day though). Wish I had known that in advance, I would have gone there the afternoon that I got to Titusville instead of waiting until the next morning. Also, if you get there at opening time, go to the Shuttle Launch Experience first; it starts operating when the Center opens.

Astronaut Snoopy greets you at the entrance to the outdoor display area. Another one of those gray, gloomy days. It was actually a nice day though a little on the chilly side. The sky cleared a bit later in the day, but the clouds never went away.

The videos play as the driver takes you to another stop on the tour.

The business end of the Saturn V rocket.

The Space Capsule sitting atop the Saturn V rocket. You just can't appreciate the size of that assembly until you walk beneath it. It's huge!

As an extra bonus, which was (we were assured by the bus driver) a rare site for the average visitor, as we were heading back from the second stop, we saw them preparing to move the Space Shuttle to the launching pad for its next mission in early February.

Scarpa Phantom Ultra and Scarpa Phantom Guide updates

I got an email pointing out a mistake I made identifying the "Phantom Ultra" as a "prototype Phantom 6000" in Jon Griffith's photo of Steck on le Droites. Thanks for the heads up Will!





Way beyond the sales hype. Jonathan Griffith's photo of Ueli Steck soloing the Ginat on Le Droites early in in the super lwt version of the Phantom single, the "Ultra". Weight is down around 1600g in weight per pair for a 42, where the Guide is 1800g and the 6000 is 2000g in that size.











This boot is not currently available in North American but is in Europe and England. The over all weight is getting down to an ounce or so of the more traditional, bench mark, fabric "silver bullet" boot, La Sportiva's Trango Extreme Evo Gortex. With a full boot gaiter and better insulation the Ultra offers much more protection in nasty, wet, cold conditions. And most importantly once wet, dries faster than the Trango in my experience. The Ultra, by the numbers is 3.5 oz lighter in my size 45 and $30/40 LESS expensive than the Phantom Guide if you can find it. 3.5 ounces per boot in a size 45. Or another 7 ounces or 198g for the pair.

Part of the weight savings is using the thinner and lighter sole/mid sole system also used on the Phantom 6000 and noted in that review earlier. Lacing inside the Ultra is the same system that is used in the Guide. Slightly different material on the Ultra's inner boot for insulation and a different gaiter material for reinforcement and durability with crampons than the Guide. I get a better fit in my Ultra than my Phantom Guides. That could simply be the difference in specific boots though not boot models. The Ultra seems to dry faster as well. Again could be a subjective call but the inner boot materials are different between the two very similar Scarpa Phantom boots.While making inquiries about these boots, Scarpa NA and several retailers who stock the Ultra in England gave similar replies:"Re: The Ultra,Boot is less stiff and less warm than the Guide. Sole is very fragile. Sole is not as durable as the Guide. Only the Guide is available in 1/2 sizes." Me thinks they protest too much. As neither "less stiff or less warm" is true from my experience. No retailer wants to carry such a specialised alpine climbing boot in a full size run which would sell directly against the Phantom Guide even if the Ultra is $40. less expensive. I might even swallow the "less durable" issue with the boot soles as they are a lwt version also used on the Phantom 6000. Not a boot I'd use on a lot of rock but might well be a nice advantage to drop another half pound off your feet on alpine ice and mixed routes where you'd be wearing 'pons anyway.But the sole issue is important. The Ultra and the 6000 come with a new super low profile and I think sticky rubber sole. At least they seem as sticky as the La Sportiva sticky rubber available on some of the Trango series. Which is saying a lot. And it wears quickly. Has to be sticky the way I can walk boulder fields with them. The Vibram® Mulaz outsole, has an edging platform in the toe area and is the newest, super sticky, "Supertrek Rubber". The rear sole profile of these two boots is a vast improvement over the Spantik sole where you can collapse the foam mid sole when you flip up your crampon lever locks if you get carried away on how tight you want your crampons. "No can do" on the Ultra or 6000. Well done Scarpa! But the front of the sole is a super low profile toe area. I have yet to manage a perfect front crampon bail fit (and am using Petzl bails) to keep the crampon in one place. It isn't dangerous mind you just annoying. But don't let anyone tell you it is a great fit, it isn't without some real effort. My 'pons end up off center from French technique and a decent gap on the inside of the toe bale. If anyone has an answer to that let me know will you? And it is something the crampon manufactures will need to address sooner than later because the new low profile Scarpa sole profile is a really good improvement over all I think. The lighter weight sole profile boots (Ultra and 6000) are much easier to walk in than even the Guide. Of the 3 boots by far the Ultra fits my feet the best and is the easiest to lace for a good fit. Even though all three boots use a similar lace system and the Guide/Ultra system is exactly the same.

BTW, both the Ultraand 6000 boots I got this year came with Primaloft anda Outdry tag. There may be the reason they seem to dry faster and get less wet than my Guides but I am only guessing. Too limited on data to go any further. By the Spring of all three are suppose to be all lined with "Outdry" at Steck's suggestion, replacing the time proven Gortex liner.



Here is Scarpa's 12/20 responseon a reader's6000 query:



"Many thanks for your email. The Phantom 6000 has never been manufactured with a goretex lining so there will be no change in the way that this is produced over the foreseeable future. Check out the product review:

http://www.scarpa.co.uk/Products/Product.asp?ProductId=125



The waterproof membrane that it refers to is Outdry."

Not a huge amount of added info but I use the Mtn Hardware gloves that if believed are again Steck's designs and lined with Outdry all of last winter and was happy with them. Obviously someone knew a bit about climbing in the design process. I've not seen Goretex in a glove system do as well. OutDry seems to work exceptionally well. I have intentionally totally soaked Mtn Hardware gloves and only got the leather palms wet (which take forever to dry) and my hands have stayed bone dry inside the glove. If the boots only do so well.The gaiter? Between the La Sportiva Batura and the Phantom gaiter surprisingly the La Sportiva gaiter is better imo. It breathes better and is easier to fit with pants tucked inside. I found the Guides gaiter beginning to fully iced up internally and begining to give me cold wet feet as the c mlted lower in the boot in th cold windy conditions (-7C and lower) in the Canadian Icefields last week. Moisture from my perspiration wasn't getting out of the boot fast enough. In the same place and temps the Batura was solid, warm and dry for the most part. Easy fix is just wear the pants over the boot (Steck photo above) which keeps everything unfrozen and the boot breathing better. But I liked the Batura's option of doing either pant in or out. That option removes material from the bottom of the leg. Less chit to snag a 'pon on.

Iced up inner gaiter on a Guide that is now soaking my sox.

I have not seen a lot of feedback on these boots and used them just a bit myself so take my comments with a grain of salt here.This boot has been out a full year on climber's feet. Scarpa's professionals I believe..at the very least some very good climbers, most all European and British bad asses. I try a lot of different boots and don't always climb in what I really like because of it. My feet are difficult to fit as well. But I actually buy my own boots so this isn't some hype I am spewing for a "gift". And in this case it took a buddy making a big effort to actually get me a pair from Europe because they were unavailable to me in any easy manner here.I have one pair of Guides and one pair of Ultras so the comparison may simply be between different boots not between different models. The Ultra seems to have a bigger toe box and a narrower heel fit. The inner boot materials are different. A closer and more comfortable fit for me with the Ultra. Out of the box they walk well and climb well on steep water ice. More than enough ankle support for long bouts of alpine ice. I hardly noted the boot on my foot which is a good indicator to me just how much better they fit than the Guide and the difference the new mid sole makes walking.I don't have a huge experience base in the guide or the Ultra...way too early for that but I do have enough boot experience to make these comments. I was having a huge case of buyer's remorse on the Ultra as even I can't justify $500 for a 7 oz difference over a pair of Guides that are easy to procure and try on locally. But it only took me a few minutes just trying the Ultra on indoors to know there was a difference enough for my foot and worth the effort Will went through to get them to me...Thanks again Will!Walking and climbing in them just reinforced that first over all impression.

A caution. Few modern mtn boots can be laced as tightly and securely as the newest Phantom line....all three of them. It is easy to have operator error and over tighten the boots on the lower or upper and cut off circulation. For me to want to mention that fact in a boot review should give you an idea of how easy it is to do. This boot series is exceptional but like any gear you will need to learn what works and what doesn't for you. The Dyneema laces, btw, are nice. You won't be breaking them...ever.... I suspect.

"SCARPA announced they have teamed up with OutDry in order to make my all time favorite technical mountaineering boots even better. OutDry's waterproof breathable technology will appear in SCARPA's Phantom Collection for Spring .











Both SCARPA and OutDry worked with renowned alpinist and speed-climber Ueli Steck on the design of the new Phantom Collection. Steck wanted a technical mountaineering boot with improved waterproofness that would cut down on the boot's "wet weight" while climbing in wet snow conditions.



OutDry is currently used in gloves from Mountain Hardwear and footwear from Lafuma among others. OutDry uses a three-dimensional laminating technology to adhere a windproof and waterproof breathable membrane to the inside of the outer most layer of shoes, boots and gloves. The permanent membrane bond creates a flawless fit with no folds, seams or the requirement for seam-sealing tape.



The waterproof breathable membrane will be laminated directly to the inner side of the K-tech boot upper on the SCARPA Phantom technical mountaineering boots. The use of OutDry in the boots also allows the addition of Primaloft for increased insulation qualities.









OutDry will be featured in all the new SCARPA Phantom styles including the Phantom 6000, Phantom Guide and the Phantom Ultra."



By the numbers:

THE ULTRA

Features:

Multilayer uppers:



S-Tech outer fabric



Waterproof membrane



3D Mesh insulation



Felt reinforcement



Wicking mesh lliner



Dyneema Laces with Fast Lock



Sole:



Lightweight TPU crampon inserts allowing full crampon use



PU shock absorbing inserts in the heel and forefoot for added comfort



Vibrams Mulaz Outsole



High density microporous midsole



Pro Fibre XT insole provides proven stiffness with enough flex to ensure approach comfort



Last:



AG



Weight:



1600g pair of 42



Sizes: 37-48









THE GUIDE

Features:

Multilayer uppers:



S-Tech outer fabric



Waterproof membrane



Eva + Aluminium support and reinforcement



Felt reinforcement



Primaloft



Dyneema Laces with Fast Lock



Sole:



Lightweight TPU Midsole with variable thickness for walking comfort



PU shock absorbing inserts in the heel and forefoot



Vibrams Total Traction sole



Pro Fibre insole provides proven flex characteristics



Last:



AG



Weight:



1800g pair of 42



Size: 37-48 including half sizes



Colour: Orange







Read more and make your own comparisons:



http://www.scarpa.co.uk/Products/Product.asp?ProductId=124



http://it.scarpa.net/prodotti/high-altitude/phantom-ultra/





http://www.thegearcaster.com/the_gearcaster//08/scarpa-teams-with-outdry-for-phantom-collection.html#ixzz10iCmi1aH







Will's photos:

Ashley circular via Stoke Albany

Led by Barry. With Chris and Marion, Vera and Barrie, Gordon and me. Some dry ploughed fields made paths unclear. About 6 miles.





From Ashley opposite the George - the route is the same as the walk we did on July 8 , but without the diversion round Stoke Albany, and without the wrong turning after "John" Tugwell's grave. He has a fine new slate stone since our last visit. I didn't snap it, but from memory it finishes with "Right. I must be doing."




The paths are not so clear at this time as the rapeseed has been harvested, so we had a few dry ploughed fields to negotiate.










Fine views, and a good six-mile walk in great weather.



We did spot masses of tiny frogs heading across dry soil - towards the stream?

Chipmunk

Look hard and you can see the tiny chipmunk on the left side of the tree stump. We saw him last time we went to the mountains.

Wordless Wednesday :: Receding Tide

Near Pensacola, Florida. March 1974.
Copyright © 1974/.. by Rebeckah R. Wiseman

Putting it all together.

I love a good collage, who doesn't? All those pieces somehow related but somehow not complete.

That's S'matt up theremaking sense of a wild collection of very cool moves.

(click to enlarge)

Tibet

Here at jjobrienclimbing we are currently experiencing some technical difficulties with Blogger.I'm with you, I can't believe the good people at Google would let this happen to such a site.I won't be pushing this post, so welcome, if you found it. In the meantime sit back and reminisce with me a year after my visit to China and Tibet.







Enjoy this soothing image of our room at the Banyan Tree in Deqin in Yunnan province in China or Tibet, as you will. It would not be overstating it to say that Sandra liked this place.3,500M of altitude, nothing but yaks and snow. Absolutely beautiful.

The bathroom was downstairs. Wild yaks couldn't dragus away.











But, as always, there was climbing to be done. So I pulled on my Chinese volleys and sampled the local granite at Tiger Leaping Gorge. The route marking wasvelly helpful.

Climbers, don't tell my Red Chili sponsors you saw me climbing in volleys.

( Bouldering, doesn't count.)







Everest looms. Chinese base camp is just up the road. Thin air, bright sun, stillness, reverence.













Bike Rack Mountain, Central China.

I can't remember when I've ever had so much fun.

I didn't want to leave. Some of the stuff just made me laugh so much, it was so inappropriately dangerous.











Model wears: Prana 3/4 pant. I think the photo shoot reveals that the pants are aboutthree inches too long. Have your say.That guy has got a printer and a laminater in that box. His mate will take your photo. A few Yuan and it's yours.





Everest again.Remember Sheepy? My favorite black cashmere jacket?Everest tent hotel. How amazing is that?















Returning via Hong Kong

They are going to need a bigger sun

to get through that air.















Ah, back home at the jjobrienclimbingrainforest retreat.

Rolling

Traveler is the only one of our horses that insists in rolling in the manure pile. I don't know why.

The Infinite amount of snow

Today was another great day of climbing. Despite the 36" of snow that fell upon the Laurel Highlands, Joel joined Laura and I for some fun at SCII. As soon as we could see the cliffs, we knew we were in for a treat. The cold weather the past week had built up some great lines that were begging to be climbed. We slogged through the knee -to -waist deep snow down to the cliff. We were treated to some great climbing in a pristine setting. The clouds cleared and provided us with some bluebird skies on several occasions. The ice was new and untrodden, presented many challenges and left us all (except Laura) pumped. It was one hell of a good time. Dr. Bob and Regina showed up before noon, dropped a line on the centrals and enjoyed the fun as well. We were hiking out as it was getting dark... Heres the photos that Laura and I snapped during the day... Enjoy

Foothill Blue

Foothill Blue, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

I hope you like wildflowers, because you're going to be seeing a lot of them very soon...

These flowers are baby blue eyes. They grow in small patches along the Hite Cove Trail near Yosemite National Park. If you can get to Hite Cove, do so now, as the conditions are spectacular!

Leaning Tree over the Pigeon River

Yesterday I brought the kayak and went for an evening paddle on the Pigeon River in search of Moose. I did not see any Moose while I was on the river (although I did see a nice young bull in the dark on the drive home). What I did see, however, were several Beaver and some of the nicest clouds I've ever seen over the river. When I came upon this leaning Tamarack tree I knew I had to try and photograph the scene with the tree and the clouds overhead. Even though I didn't come home with any Moose photographs, I did come home with the memory of another beautiful evening spent on the river.