Lava Beds National Monument

Crystal Ice Cave
Originally uploaded by Wayne-K

I had the pleasure of visiting the Lava Beds National Monument near the California-Oregon border and touring the Crystal Ice Cave. The National Park Service rangers lead tours of the cave on Saturdays during the months of December though March. Because of the sensitive nature of the ice cave, the tour group is limited to six people. In other words, I was one of about one hundred people lucky enough to see the cave this year. So, thanks Faye for dragging my butt up to the Oregon border for a once in a lifetime opportunity!

We drove up from the Bay Area at o'dark thirty on Saturday morning, joined the tour at 1 PM, and then camped overnight on the park grounds. On Sunday, we did a self-lead tour of Merrill Cave, and then headed home.

Photography inside the Crystal Ice Cave was challenging because it's dark and being a ranger guided tour, I didn't want to hold up the entire group while I was positioning my off-camera flash unit. I did, however, have a chance to play with my flash at the Merrill Cave. Outside the cave, the lighting was obviously better, but it was snowing and overcast...not ideal light for landscape photography.

Here are a few photos at the Lava Beds National Monument and along the drive home. Much thanks to Faye for supporting my requests to "pull over, right here," so I could photograph the pretty landscape....making the long drive home a bit longer...

Outdoors

"Dear, he's taking our picture..."
Originally uploaded by Wayne-K

I've taken a photo each day for the last 324 days straight. One thing I've determined in the last ten and a half months is I enjoy being in the outdoors and I enjoy photography in the outdoors.

My master plan is to quit my crummy telecommunications job and work at REI in ten years. In ten years, the kids should be out of college and the house will be paid off. I'll work at REI, earn a modest income (and health care benefits), and interact with outdoor-minded people all day. On my days off, I'll hike, backpack, snowshoe, paddle, and snap some photos in the great outdoors. I may even spend my free time as a volunteer for the East Bay Regional Park District...

Desolation Wilderness

Lake Aloha Starburst
Originally uploaded by Wayne-K

I went backpacking with Faye in the Desolation Wilderness this past weekend. The weather was incredible and it was wonderful, trekking through the fresh snow. We parked at the Echo Lake Sno Park and snowshoed over Echo Lake toward Lake Aloha. We settled into camp somewhere near Tamarack Lake.

Aside from the snowshoes, most of my standard three season backpacking gear is perfect for winter backpacking. I do, however, need a warmer sleeping bag, some proper snow boots, and perhaps a down jacket.

Here are a few photos from the trip. I love winter photography because the trees and rocks contrast nicely against the white snow. I'm convinced Helen Keller could have come away with some incredible shots....

Happy Belated Chinese New Year!

314/365 - Backpacking Gear List
Originally uploaded by Wayne-K

Happy belated Chinese New Year! I would have written this yesterday, but I was busy shopping and packing for my backpacking trip this weekend, and totally forgot. Heading to the Desolation Wilderness for three days of snowshoeing. Oops, sorry for running off on a tangent....back to the topic.

Yesterday, this Chinese lady in the office came over and wished me a happy Chinese New Year. I said, "oh thanks, I didn't know it was today...but I knew it was sometime in February...."

She was surprised I didn't celebrate Chinese New Years. I was like, "duhhh, I'm not Chinese." She said most Asians celebrate the Lunar Year. I said, "wow, didn't know that. I'm fourth generation Japanese-American, so I'm not necessarily aware of all my Asian responsibilities (except bad driving, playing the piano, and being smart)." Just kidding, I didn't really say that.

Okay, so anyway, happy day after Chinese New Years! Coincidentally, we had Chinese take-out for dinner last night. Well, that's assuming kung pao chicken and sweet and sour pork qualifies as Chinese food. I'm thinking it's like calling Chef Boyardee Spaghetti-O's Italian food....but that's another story....

College Tuition

311/365 - College Tuition
Originally uploaded by Wayne-K

I don't subscribe to the local newspaper because I'm not old. I usually read it online for free. However, I'm a sucker for kids trying to make a better life for themselves....so I signed up for the paper today....and my wife's going to kill me for doing it...AGAIN!

The Tri-Valley Herald newspaper has a program where high school kids sell special newspaper packages for $20 and in return get $20 towards their college tuition. The kid at the door today goes to Antioch HS. He wants to go into law enforcement and plans on attending community college for a couple of years and then transfer to a four year university. I spent about 10 minutes talking to him about various scholarship options, including my elevator speech on ROTC scholarships.

For $20, I'm getting the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday paper delivered to my door for a year, and the kid gets $20 toward his college tuition and some free college advice.

Been sick with the flu, so I've been experimenting with my new flash indoors. Here's a shot of some tomatoes. I put the tomatoes on my flash and triggered it wirelessly...it made the tomatoes glow!

New Footwear

Shiny and New
Originally uploaded by Wayne-K

I'm starting to feel like Imelda Marcos. I ordered some new MSR EVO 22 snowshoes and they arrived today....I love the UPS man! That big brown truck, that handsomely pressed uniform, those socks pulled up to his knees....ooooh, I mean, I love him because he brings me all these cool toys!

Going snow backpacking next weekend and I'm looking forward to testing out these beauties. I don't think it'll be crowded....we'll be in the middle of nowhere....and it's Super Bowl Sunday. I'd be busy watching the game on the flat screen like everyone else, but the Cowboys stunk this year and didn't make it to the dance. So, they'll be watching the big game on the flat screen....and I'll be out in the snow!

The weather has been really nice the last few weeks and I've been taking advantage of it and jogging after work. Here's a shot of the arroyo from my jog this afternoon.

Friends

300/365 - O.S.F.M.D.A.I.W.H.T.T.L.S.L.T.A.
Originally uploaded by Wayne-K

I don’t know how to put this, so I’ll just cut to the chase. Faye sucks as a friend.

That Yosemite trip on Sunday ruined my entire week! My lunches were horrible (compared to sprouted grain bread, piled high with carved turkey breast, smothered with roasted red pepper hummus, and topped with cheese and spinach), it was tough getting motivated to shoot “normal” photos around town (refer to the toothbrush photo), and I couldn’t get any work done because I was daydreaming about the next trip into the backcountry. Thanks Faye…..Bitch!

Of course, I'm kidding! I just ordered some snowshoes for a snow backpacking trip in February....I'm looking forward to another great trip!

Yosemite National Park

Dewey Point
Originally uploaded by Wayne-K

The Sierra Nevada mountain range is incredible and one of my favorite places in the universe. I must admit I haven’t seen much of the universe, or even the Earth for that matter, but nonetheless, I think I can safely say the Sierra’s are a great place. The Yosemite National Park is a four hour drive from my house, but I rarely go there. Why? Well, everyone and their brother (or sister) goes there and for me, the massive crowds ruin the wilderness experience. But, there’s a great way to avoid the Yosemite crowd…go there during the winter time.

I went snowshoeing yesterday in Yosemite National Park, from Badger Pass to Dewey Point. Leading me was the future world renown explorer and wilderness guide, Faye. She’s competed in 50 km, 50 mile, and 100 mile trail races, backpacked hundreds of miles in the Sierra Nevada, completed rigorous treks in the mountains of Alaska and South America, and can be seen leaping tall buildings in a single bound. You might call her crazy....but I just call her Wonder Woman. Well, I call her crazy too…

It took us about two hours to snowshoe/cross-country ski the 3.5 miles up to Dewey Point. The weather was extraordinary, the views were magnificent, and the sandwich Faye made me for lunch was delicious. To elaborate on the sandwich, it had whole grain bread (with unsprouted something or others), several thick pieces of turkey, cheese, hummus, and spinach. The sandwich was incredible, but I had a few concerns. First, my typical, boring ham and mustard sandwiches were no longer going to cut it when I got back home. Second, how was I going to finish the massive sandwich. And lastly (and most importantly), I hope the bowels don’t need to move on the snowshoe trip out because I’m surrounded by snow, there are tons of people on the trail, and I have no toilet paper! Hey, high fiber and hummus can be brutal in the wilderness, you know!? Fortunately, the bowels stayed put and we made our way back to the truck without incident.

After Dewey Point, we drove into Yosemite Valley so I could take a sunset photo of Half Dome. Like all great friends, Faye kept me company in the middle of the meadow, patiently waited as I took a few shots, humored me by looking at a few photos on the camera’s LCD, made believe she was having fun standing in the snow as I set up yet another shot….and headed back to the truck to take a nap while I froze my gluteus maximus off for another hour, waiting for the bloody sun to set. Just kidding....it was going to be a long drive home and she needed a nap.

Anyway, here are a few pictures from the long, but incredibly fun day.

Softball Season - Coming Soon

283/365 - My Favorite Softball Player
Originally uploaded by Wayne-K

Girl's softball player evaluations are on Saturday. Kami, Angel, and I have been practicing softball after school this week to knock some of the rust off and prepare for the evaluations.

I considered volunteering to manage a team this year, but I think I'll stick to being an assistant coach. I love coaching the girls, but with a new job around the corner, I felt it would be best not to take on the responsibilities of the manager. If they don't need an assistant coach, I volunteer to be the team photographer....or the team mascot?

Happy New Year!!