Ginnylynnpeterson: Wyoming

Showing posts with label Wyoming. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Devils Tower, Wyoming and the Biggest Harley Davidson Flag in North America!

Devil's Tower....Well, I'm still digesting this place, as it kinda gave me the eebee geebees.......I think it was a combo of everything.....debate about whether you should really be climbing it or not; as it is a place of prayer for the American Indians.....very odd, strange people wandering around that all seemed to have a 1,000 questions for you.....turkey vultures riding thermals that seemed to actually be following you.....(ok they were actually really cool)........the odd story of the man who parachuted to the top and was stuck up there for 9 days.....

The climbing actually was super amazing, but a little spooky at the same time.....run out with old school ratings, i'm still trying to figure out where the 5.5 pitch was supposed to be.................or maybe the place just has something to do with Close Encounters of the Third Kind......

Regardless, I'm left feeling that the place is just a little odd......

And regardless of being odd, it sure was beautiful at the top!

We just happened to hit the same week as Sturgis, the big motorcycle rally....we were told the flag that is flying is the largest Harley Davidson flag in North America.....

Sunday, August 2, 2009

So long Jackson.....Hello Yellowstone!

Once again it was back to Jackson for some chips, salsa, beer and relaxing in the sun......It really was a great time in Jackson....I met a ton of really amazing folks, spent time with Evan's family (who were all so wonderful), visited Browse and Buy, ate bagels, ate the BEST chocolate cake - after a REALLY amazing dinner (thank you yet again Zach!), runs at the Elk Refuge, passed the hotel I lived in years ago....it was just really nice to see the place in the summer and reminisce.........(OK, enough of that)

Long story short, Evan didn't have to go back to work and was trying to get to New York.....so it worked out to give him a ride to Chicago....First stop Yellowstone! (Thanks for making the detour Evan!)

Old Faithful was still doing its thing!

It actually was a pretty miserable day with a lot of Gortex involved.....(and a cute skirt of course).......and if I remember correctly it was hailing, but that was no surprise! But we still walked around....its so cool to walk so close to the geysers and feel the warm air blowing across them, or randomly see water shooting into the air, and the colors the algae turns the pools, (bright blues, orange, yellow) is just amazing...........I still find it all very impressive and beautiful.......

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Teton Climbing - Jackson, Wyoming

Ever since I spent that winter season in Jackson, I've been itchy to climb in the Tetons.....So after a couple of really nice in town days (including a ride on the Zipper at the fair!) Evan and I were off and climbing again. (above Irene's Arete)

Climbing the Grand Teton was more spectacular than I ever thought it would be.....

Alpine start (YES! I did get up!), beautiful sunrise, windy @ windy corner, and just warm and sunny on the summit....and the way down.....hail......did I mention it hails in Wyoming?

It was impressive how quickly the clouds would move in swirly, chaotic motion across the sky.....

Certainly a place where you could spend a lifetime climbing and not climb it all.....looking forward to revisiting the "hole" at some point in time...........Enjoy the slide show!

Friday, July 31, 2009

Cirque \ˈsərk\ noun 1. circle; ring. 2. a bowl-shaped, steep-walled mountain basin carved by glaciation, often containing a small, round lake.

Perhaps, I could say Cirque of the Towers
is one of the most incredible places I have ever visited.
Perhaps there is no perhaps.....
It makes the top three with no doubts.

After Banff I finally made my way to the lower forty-eight to meet up with my friend Evan. We headed out to the Cirque for a week of just amazing beautiful scenery, endless amounts of hiking and alpine climbing....truly just amazing!

Perfect weather for the first half of the week,
and afternoon hailstorms for the second half....
little did I know it hailed so much in Wyoming.

Evan being a goofball! I think this was just after one of the hailstorms....
Did I mention it hails in Wyoming?

Evan cruising the K Cracks up Pingora.

Walking the plank on Wolf's Head.....Easily I could have spent another week there, and most certainly it is on the list of places to return. It was an amazing first time in, recon-ish, getting a lay of the land.....routes still ride heavy on my mind.....till next time!

Meet Joe Black Quote

"Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived"

To Lucy Barfield (The dedication in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)

My Dear Lucy,
I wrote ths story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand, a word you say, but I shall still be

your affectionate Godfather,
C.S. Lewis

Ithaka

When setting out upon your way to Ithaca,wish always that your course be long, full of adventure, full of lore.Of the Laestrygones and of the Cyclopes,of an irate Poseidon never be afraid; such things along your way you will not find,if lofty is your thinking, if fine sentimentin spirit and in body touches you. Neither Laestrygones nor Cyclopes,nor wild Poseidon will you ever meet,unless you bear them in your soul,unless your soul has raised them up in front of you.

Wish always that your course be long;that many there be of summer mornswhen with such pleasure, such great joy,you enter ports now for the first time seen;that you may stop at some Phoenician marts,to purchase there the best of wares,mother-of-pearl and coral, amber, ebony,hedonic perfumes of all sorts--as many such hedonic perfumes as you can;that you may go to various Egyptian townsto learn, and learn from those schooled there.

Your mind should ever be on Ithaca.Your reaching there is your prime goal.But do not rush your journey anywise.Better that it should last for many years,and that, now old, you moor at Ithaca at last,a man enriched by all you gained upon the way,and not expecting Ithaca to give you further wealth.
For Ithaca has given you the lovely trip.Without her you would not have set your course.There is no more that she can give.

If Ithaca seems then too lean, you have not been deceived.As wise as you are now become, of such experience,you will have understood what Ithaca stands for.

Constantine P. Cavafy

I am Vertical - Sylvia Plath

But I would rather be horizontal. I am not a tree with my root in the soil Sucking up minerals and motherly love So that each March I may gleam into leaf, Nor am I the beauty of a garden bed Attracting my share of Ahs and spectacularly painted, Unknowing I must soon unpetal. Compared with me, a tree is immortal And a flower-head not tall, but more startling, And I want the one's longevity and the other's daring.

Tonight, in the infinitesimal light of the stars, The trees and the flowers have been strewing their cool odors. I walk among them, but none of them are noticing. Sometimes I think that when I am sleeping I must most perfectly resemble them --
Thoughts gone dim. It is more natural to me, lying down.
Then the sky and I are in open conversation, And I shall be useful when I lie down finally: Then the trees may touch me for once, and the flowers have time for me.

Thoughts....

When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion -- when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing - when you see money flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors - when you see that men get richer by graft and pull than by work, and your laws don't protect you against them, but protect them against you - when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice - you may know that your society is doomed.

Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged (1957)

A friend of mine just shared this with me and I thought I would pass it on!

Myself
by Edgar Guest

I have to live with myself, and so, I want to be fit for myself to know;I want to be able as days go by, Always to look myself straight in the eye; I don't want to stand with the setting sun
And hate myself for the things I've done. I don't want to keep on a closet shelf A lot of secrets about myself, And fool myself as I come and go Into thinking that nobody else will know The kind of man I really am; I don't want to dress myself up in sham. I want to deserve all men's respect; But here in this struggle for fame and pelf, I want to be able to like myself. I don't want to think as I come and go That I'm for bluster and bluff and empty show. I never can hide myself from me, I see what others may never see, I know what others may never know, I never can fool myself -- and so, Whatever happens, I want to be Self-respecting and conscience free.