Again

Another weekend, another hike in Millcreek, another chance to smirk at nature.

Look at that air! People, you need to stop idling your cars.

Hiking With Skyler!

I went up Millcreek Canyon with my brother and sister-in-law and Skyler (in the backpack) yesterday. It was a perfect fall day! 

 

Skyler thought nature was pretty delicious. 

Camping For People Who Lie About Being The Outdoor Type (Or At Least Exaggerate It)

I can't even call this a day trip since we drove up Little Cottonwood in the morning to get a site, got breakfast on the way down the canyon and continued our day, and then came back at dark with soup and camping gear. City camping is the best! And my down bag is rated to at least 28 degrees, which was the low Sunday morning.

 

(Pictures from Sunday morning before we packed up and drove back to my place, where there was central heating.)

The F Word

I went back to White Pine Lake in Little Cottonwood yesterday to help me get my head around the beginning of fall. Of course, the lake at 10,000 feet was well into fall and moving on to winter, so that pushed me a little further along in my acceptance. Thanks, nature.

 

(The lake was so low--compare it to three months ago when I was there last.) 

 

At least fall is orange. It could be worse.

Getting My Zen Back

19.
Once at Cold Mountain [or Mount Aire], troubles cease -
No more tangled, hung up mind.
I idly scribble poems on the rock cliff,
Taking whatever comes, like a drifting boat.

(From Han Shan, the Cold Mountain Poems, translated by Gary Snyder)

Peace out, nature.

Outdoorsy

I spent Saturday being outdoorsy and going to White Pine Lake in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Look at all the gear we had--that must mean we're really Outdoor Types, right?

 Nature is hilarious

Yes, that's an ice axe.

Still partially frozen...

...but starting to thaw. 

On the way back down.

No Projects, Just Natural Stuff

This is what I'm doing instead of sewing lately:

(That's a frozen lower Red Pine Lake in Little Cottonwood canyon.)

And did you save your eclipse viewing glasses from a few weeks ago? Tonight you can use them to see the transit of Venus across the sun, which won't happen again for 117 years. So you probably don't want to miss it.

Still Hiking

"As long as I live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I’ll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I’ll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can.”

John Muir from Journal, 1871.

(The view from as far up Thaynes Canyon as I got yesterday. I still sometimes sing this song to myself when I have to turn around.)

Goose On The Roof

Toby saw something on the roof the other morning, and I assumed it was one of the pigeons that help themselves to the seed in the flat feeder and drive him bonkers. 

No, it was a goose, just hanging out on the roof, driving Toby extra bonkers. He'd never seen such a big bird!

It Is

This will make you happy--David Attenborough recites lyrics to "It's a Wonderful World" set to nature images.


An excellent way to start the week.

Proof

I went hiking with another person over the weekend (hi, Mom!) and got photographic evidence that I may actually be The Outdoor Type. At least a little.
Do I look like I've started using things like Dr. Bronner's and bar shampoo? Actually, that's just bed head.

I think the color in Millcreek peaked this last week, but it's supposed to be nice again this weekend. Be sure to get out and get your hippie on.

The Outdoor Type

Not to give you another emo post today (sorry about that), but I'm going to share another coping strategy I've discovered this summer: Exercise. (I know--who am I?)

I've always been pretty sedentary, beyond an occasional hike or an easy bike ride, but as I said Monday I've been exploring Millcreek nearly every weekend--and that's in addition to going to yoga once a week. I've bought actual active wear. I'm attending a "yoga retreat" at the Cliff Lodge this weekend. I replaced my old hiking boots. Last Sunday I even woke up and did an hour of yoga with an online video. (Needless to say, my inner hippy has never been happier.)

But as active and outdoorsy as all this hiking and yoga is for me, I still am nowhere near the trail runners I see, or even the backpackers, which is why this song made me smile.



(And yes, I heard it on KRCL while driving home from yoga this week.)

Ratty!

My suspicions of an r-a-t visiting the spilled food underneath the bird feeder were confirmed last night. I spent about fifteen minutes thinking I had to get rid of the rat, now, because...it's a RAT! But then I realized a few things:

1. Quail, doves, a blue jay, a family of raccoons, and a family of squirrels that live under the neighbor's garage all visit the yard. None of those bother me.

2. I know I don't have rats inside my house. Toby is probably a good guarantee that I never will.

3. The rat sat up bravely and watched me with its little face and it looked JUST LIKE THIS:



So enjoy the sunflower seeds, Ratty. But stay out of sight of sight of the landlord because I doubt he has a laissez-faire policy for rats.

Secret Parent Wisdom

So remember the new bird feeder from last week that the birds weren't going near? It was a topic of discussion on Sunday's visit to my parents. My dad asked me if the feeder had any glass, and I said yes, two sides of the feeder's rectangle were glass. Then he speculated that maybe the birds were getting a reflection when they approached the feeder, which was scaring them off.

Monday morning I filled the feeder up completely, thus blocking all the glass with seed. And now, on Wednesday, there have been at least three different brave birds eating from it, and a lot more doing a fly-by to check it out!

Seriously, first my mom saved the day with her cat knowledge, and now Dad is an amateur bird scientist. Does National Geographic have a special secret issue for parents? Or is it the fact that they have 30 years more experience than me?

Get With It, Birds

Last week the bird feeder I'd been using for 2.5 years here fell down somehow, which broke the glass and put it out of commission. So last weekend I comparison shopped and got a new, deluxe feeder, one that holds about a metric ton of seed and has a roof and drainage and even two baskets for suet cakes.

I thought the birds would be all over their upgraded feeder (and the suet), but no. In 8 days, no bird has landed on it. The sparrows' consternation the first two days was almost funny--while I assumed they'd get over it. Now it's just strange. I have taken to shaking all of that seed out of the feeder to the ground, where the birds will finally eat it.

I don't think I've lost any bird visitors--and the quail are really happy about all that seed on the ground--but what should I do? Just wait it out? Enter into a contest of wills with the sparrows? It says something about my mental state lately that I think that's a fine plan.