The Hike

The hike started just like any other hike. We started at Redbank Gorge and hiked to the Orche Pits (approximately 70 km away). The desert was absolutely beautiful and we only had a few hiccups, mainly blisters. I think the best think about the hike was the fact that we were the only two people on the trail. We didn't see another living soul except at the beginning, the end and one camping spot that have a sealed road to it and a ranger station. It was wonderful knowing that you were the only people around for km/miles. The other thing you realize is that you will do anything for water. As you look at the pictures you are see the diversity of the desert we hiked. No two days were the same, except the noon day sun.

The start of the 6 day hike across a small very diverse part of the red center.

Hill Top lookout. What do you see?

The view from Hill Top lookout. Mt Sonders.

Day three on the trail. Everything looks burnt.

The end of day three. Ormiston Gorge. Huge pools of water but no rain and no flowing creeks or rivers.

Day Four on top of the world.

Day Four

The morning of Day Five at Waterfall gorge camp site. Can you believe I had Katie up at 5am.

Palm trees in the gorge.

Well it looks like these are the only ones I can download at the moment. I will post more later. I hope you enjoy the beauty of the desert as much as I did. Or maybe as much as I enjoyed the shower after 6 days. Ahhhh.

I am now in Alice Springs. It isn't quiet what I expected. There are actual hills around the town. Anyway, I have been gearing up for the trail. I have everything bought except for the trail maps and food. I found out we are the last two to start the trail. This will definitely be some adventure. But I think we will be fine.
Off to the desert park to see all the animals that will be around us for the 6 days in the bush.

Off to the Red Center

Today I'm flying out to Alice Springs to take in the desert. Saturday Katie will join me and then we are off for a 6 day hike in the dry sun soaked desert.
As we are preparing for this adventure, I realize that 10 liters of water is heavy. Luckily, things will lighten up as the days progress.

I will write and post more pictures after the major hike or before if I get to Uluru.

Well it's Monday and I'm just about over my jet lag. Saturday and Sunday Katie, roxy and I spent time along the great ocean road. We were going to camp but it was so stormy and windy there was no way the tents would have stayed down. So instead we stayed in a beautiful B&B with an amazing view. I would completely stay there again if I ever go back to the great ocean road.

Roxy having fun in the south ocean.
Roxy is a wet puppy.

A room with a view B&B. How great is it when you are at a beautiful place and you get a rainbow.

On our way back to Melbourne, we stopped by some wonderful wineries and stocked up on some great Aussie reds.

Now I'm just chillin' at Katie's place trying to get use to the time zone and set things up for Alice Springs.

First Koala to see up close during this trip to Australia.

This is just a precursor to my next adventure. I'm still in Seattle but will be taking off for the island continent soon enough. I just needed to have an extended summer this year.
I hope everyone is doing well and having a great 2009. I will be updating this blog more often starting in about two weeks.

Enjoy my ramblings.

Costa Rica during the wet season

Hello all-

I know I haven't been good about keeping my blog up and i'm getting hounded by one person in particular so here is a little summary of my work trip to Costa Rica.

It was hot (mucho calor) and humid (humido). The project was really interesting and to see how drillers operate in a 2 to 2.5 world country was really fascinating. I learned how good the drillers here have it. It was pretty crazy.

enough about work... Since I was in the tropics i decided to complete my open water portion of my scuba certification there which was great. Once you get off the coast a little ways and head to the small islands and descend to a depth of at least 30 feet the ocean comes alive with really big tropical fish and lobsters. I also saw one eel and one small white tipped shark. Besides the scuba diving, sarah (the girl I was working with) and I went to Manuel Antonio Park. We actually saw a two toed sloth move, i didn't think that really happened.

Not much else to say about Costa Rica since 7 of the 8 days I worked. But there is one thing, Quepos is a really cute little town with lots of American sports fisherman.

The two-toed sloth climbing the tree

The monkey

The scuba diving island

Quepos, CR from the air

Edwardo the best bartender in Quepos

The drums at the parade in Quepos

The drillers and the rig at the Marina Pez Vela job site

more pictures from my trip

I'm back in Seattle and have been for a while. Things have been crazy here. I've been working like mad and trying to get back into the swing of regular life. So it's cold here too but not as cold as Utah, that was just burtal. But it was a great time. I loved seeing my friends and going skiing. The sundance film was great as well.
I thought I would keep posting some pictures so everyone not excessible to me can see some of my more favorite shots. Plus I never posts the Utah ones. I know it has been ages since I posted but I promise to try to be more diligent about it. Enjoy.

11,000 km from home on the northern tip of the north island, NZ

Dolphin mom and baby in the Bay of Islands North Island, NZ

The only Kiwi I saw in NZ.

From NZ summer to the Utah snow capped Mountains, Big Cotton Wood Canyon.