Island Addiction

Lahaina Sunset

In this season, I reflect on my experiences and the far away places that I have visited. I am beyond greatful, never taking for granted the resources and technology that allowed those experiences to be obtained. I am truly one of the privileged few on earth, having the freedom to travel in the modern way.

Maui is a beautiful island in the Hawaiian chain, close to the center of the largest ocean on earth. In this way, the sea surrounding the island exhibits a pristine beauty and purity that other tropical destinations envy. Where the power of the sea pounds the forbidding volcanic cliffs and headlands, the heart beat of a dynamic world can be heard and felt.


The Road to Hana



Falls near Hana

Lake Waikaremoana

With darkness lasting longer than light here in the western US, I am reminded that spring is quickly unfurling in the southern hemisphere. One of the strangest experiences is to leave the northern hemisphere in the dead of winter, to arrive in the southern hemisphere at the height of summer. Leaving a place that holds 8 hours of sunlight, and arriving in a different place with 16 hours of sunlight is certainly an experience that will leave the body somewhat confused.

New Zealand is a country blessed with amazing beauty. Most of the country has been converted from ancient native forest, to various types of grazing land and timber land to support the commercial interests of land holders. Of course, the most beautiful and mysterious places in New Zealand lie within the protected confines of national parks.

One such place called Te Urewera National Park allows a visitor to witness ancient New Zealand nature as it mostly once was.



Lake Waikaremoana

It is rare to see water clarity as great as what I experienced while camping on the shore of Lake Waikaremoana. The lake is huge, the deepest on the North Island, and completely natural (no dam). The forest and vegetation around the lake are native, allowing one to sense the pristine state of nature from the days of old.




A hike through the local forests will provide incredible views of the native Kauri trees that once dominated the New Zealand countryside. A slow growing hardwood, the Kauri have long been a prized wood for building. Unfortunately very few kauri forests are left due to the over logging and consumption by invasive non-native possums.



Kauri Tree

The Racetrack

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
Ralph Waldo Emerson


Racetrack, Death Valley, CA

In the middle of nowhere, not too far from this place is a mysterious and desolate playa called The Racetrack. In the barren "wasteland" of Death Valley National Park, lies features that only the forces of nature themselves could conjure.



One theory explains that once in a great while, during a summer thunderstorm or a windy winter storm, the conditions are just right for the sliding of rocks across a slick, slimy film of lake bed clay. The rocks are pushed along by wind in sometimes shifting directions, leaving a smoothed path etched in the earth behind them. No human has ever witnessed the phenomenon, thus creating controversy as to how it could happen.



A visitor to this playa may sense a feeling of isolation resulting purely from the challenge of getting there.

Misty Valley

ODpassion would not be complete without a post from Yosemite.

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."

John Muir

A breaking spring storm unveils misting falls in full glory. Pictured below, is my all time favorite image of a waterfall;


Nevada Falls, May 2000

My passion for nature and the outdoors is wildly provoked when I view this image. I fall short when I try to describe what I feel. It's as if all of my life's experience and memories of the most beautiful places I have been come together and cry out with an ecstatic familiarity. I know from the writings of others that there is a spiritual connection humans have with nature. It comes from a source so deep that language cannot describe it. It must be felt. Rationalism is left scrambling for the exits in this arena of being. In my own existential terms, I feel as though I am viewing through primordial eyes at the awesome work of God.

Earth Sculptures 2

In honor of Earth Sculptures, and my explanation of the difference between Arch and Bridge, I had to conclude with this unique natural wonder;


Stream eroded Natural Bridge

Natural Bridges National Monument is a Federally protected area in Utah that operates much like a National Park. They state on the website that this area features the darkest skies in the country. Yep, its remote! You can feel it when you visit. Many archaeological sites in this area are still being discovered for the first time.

Earth Sculptures

The warm, red heart of western North America contains a land with an unexpected and strangely beautiful landscape. The shapes and geomorphic forms found here tell the story of an ancient earth, where dinosaurs and shallow seas once dwelled. Arches National Park is located north of the town of Moab Utah, and just east of Canyonlands National Park. A visit to Arches National Park will reveal the massive sandstone formations that have eroded over the millenia from the simple process weather. An arch is a feature that forms by the action of weather as opposed to a natural bridge which is formed from the erosional process of rivers, streams, lakes and oceans.


In the Eye


Perspective

Wizard Pool

Deep in the Desert Wilderness of Death Valley National Park lies a very remote and beautiful valley surrounded by towering mountains and rocky escarpments. Saline Valley seems cut off from civilization like very few places on earth. In the days of man over nature, mining of all sorts was the interest of this area of California. The old mining roads are still used to access the area. The nearest civilization of any sort is located about 85 miles at the town of Lone Pine California. In the north east corner of Saline Valley lies one of nature's rare gems, a hot spring.


Wizard Pool

There are several tubs at this extremely primitive Park campground. Although you must be forewarned, as with any primitive hot spring area, the tubs may contain outdoorsy folk in their most natural form. A great retreat far from the constraints and stresses of modern life. The stars shimmer a little brighter out here....

Surfing The 'Shivermouth'

On the central coast of California, just south of Monterey Bay is a majestic place called Big Sur. One of the most wild sections of coastline from Canada to Mexico, Big Sur is truly a taste of heaven on earth. For the outdoor minded, a "must see before you die" place in this world.


Where the pristine Big Sur River meets the sea

On a very cold November morning, in the early light of dawn I prepare to brave the chilly brackish water formed by the mixing of the pure Big Sur River with the Sea. Local surfers call this place "Shivermouth" for a reason, as the river water in the late fall and winter is often much colder than the ocean!

The little known Cispus River

In the very heart of Southern Washington State lies a river that most folks have never heard of.

Washington is a state graced with an abundance of clear running rivers that originate from the Cascade Mountains. Moisture laden storms from the north Pacific pound these mountains for a majority of the year creating a vast watershed envied by most other parts of the world.

Cispus River low flow

In one of our common ditch the bikes at the 'take-out', then drive up to the 'put-in', paddle down to the bikes, then ditch the kayaks, then ride back to the truck scenarios, we paddled a 7 mile stretch of the Cispus River.






The unique setting of this river makes it extremely remote feeling and incredibly beautiful. Below is a picture of camp after a great day on the river.


River of dreams

Mt Rainier

"Fear not, therefore, to try the mountain-passes. They will kill care, save you from deadly apathy, set you free, and call forth every faculty into vigorous, enthusiastic action. Even the sick should try these so-called dangerous passes, because for every unfortunate they kill, they cure a thousand." John Muir



Mt Rainier is 14,410 ft
25 icy glaciers hang from it's flanks

August 15, 2007
Rob and Rachel, Dave and Allison
6 mile hike to Mt Fremont Lookout
See trail map

Before the hike, Rob, Dave, and Allison do a quick 3,000ft mountain bike descent down a nearby Rainier haloed ridge on loamy singletrack that made grown men cry sweet tears of joy.


Trail to heaven

All made possible by the grace of an angel named Rachel aka. shuttle driver.


Mtnfever

The hike made us feel small, and our worldly problems even smaller. Memories made from time spent with great friends in the company of huge mountains are never lost.

Yodel eh, we've seized the day!!!

At the destination of our hike, a classic 30's era fire lookout greeted us. Apparently the great pacific northwest storms of 2006 blew the roof off. The original roof could be seen half a mile down the mountain side.


Looking a little suspicious


Departing Shot

Pathways through nature

Rivers are natural pathways through landscapes sometimes not easily accessed by humans. A warm August day along such a pathway reveals little known secrets of a truly enchanted land.

McCloud River, California
Thursday August 2, 2007
Party; Dave and Allison Diller
Run; Lower Falls to McCloud Reservoir, 11 miles


Near the put-in

The McCloud river starts out as a small stream, and ends up as a sizable river by most standards. In the summer, the river is mostly spring fed by groundwater originating from volcanic Mount Shasta. Our adventure started at the Lower Falls campground located 10 miles east of the town of McCloud. After checking stream flow at Lower Falls (and wondering if it was too low), we decided to run the Mccloud river down to the the Mccloud Reservoir. This stretch of river is considered a technical class III.
We dropped our kayaks at Lower Falls Campground and drove our rig down to the reservoir. With the help of some very nice fisher folks just leaving the lake, we were able to hitch a ride back up to our boats and were finally able to set off down the river just after noon.


Big Spring entering in from river right

After 1 ½ miles of plastic kayak biting rock pinball, we made it to the first sizable riverside spring. Please refer to the picture, as this is no ordinary spring! The new water entering the channel increases the river to about three times the flow that we have been “paddling” to this point. Also, the overall water temperature drops some 20 degrees downstream. The spring gushes out of the river bank some ten feet above the channel from a basalt (ancient volcanic lava) fissure. The water is so cold, clear, and pristine, that I had no hesitation to drink a quart of it from my hands. To think of it, nowhere in my travels have I ever felt comfortable drinking straight from a river! This was truly a primordial luxury that modern man rarely experiences.


Modern man drinks from primordial source

Now the river is much more navigable. We are passing the steeper rapids with ease, avoiding most of the abraisive, rough textured river rocks. After another half mile or so, we come to the second spring that is much more impressive. The water comes in from about 50 feet above the river and cascades down to the main channel.


Earthfalls

Now I feel like an Elf in a Tolkien world. This is truly amazing! The river now doubles again in size, and the McCloud now flows in full glory. The guide books tell of great fishing here and now I understand why. The river is no more than 40 degrees and highly oxygenated which makes for perfect trout habitat.


Spring charged McCloud River, about mile 5

Another aspect of the McCloud river that makes it so unique is that 9 miles of this run flows through private land owned by the Hearst family. Thus, the river must be accessed from the Lower Falls put-in, which at that point flows so low most of the time that only the adventurous river runner will even attempt it.


Wyntoon

The Hearst family opulence can be witnessed at about ¾ of the way through the run. There are many medevil European style Chalets along the river bank. Without navigable water laws, we would never see so closely into the private lives of this American Aristocracy.


Where are we?




The other Hearst Castle


The run ends at the Reservoir with the grand finally of the Hearst exentrism, which actually can be seen from any power boat on public Lake McCloud when lake levels are high.




Lady of the Lake

This is now one of my all time favorite river runs in terms of pristine beauty and seclusion. That day, we did not see one other person on the entire 11 mile journey.

Kill Your Televsion!!!

Ever heard that term? Before I attempt to inspire passion for the outdoors, nature, and abundance; I first must address the problem of the biggest time sink in our culture - TELEVISION. Television should be classified as anything portrayed on a screen (movies, videos, Ipods, and yes, even most of YouTube) that does not challenge the mind. In my opinion, television is the biggest single killer of creativity. Want to be a sheep? Want to think like everyone else? Want to be mediocre? Just do what everyone else does.... In order to nurture creativity and individuality, and have the time to put that creativity to work, one must unplug from the tube.

Read more on why TV is bad for you.
Read why TV is bad for your wallet.



What did they do with the children?

Photo courtesy of Oregon's Photostream


Average daily allotments of household and individual television viewing increased from the previous year to reach all-time highs during the 2005-06 season.
"These results demonstrate that television still holds its position as the most popular entertainment platform," said Patricia McDonough of Nielsen Media Research. "At this point, consumption of emerging forms of entertainment, including Internet television and video on personal devices, seems not to be making an impact on traditional television viewing."
The total average time per household in 2005-06 was eight hours and 14 minutes per day.
-- Reuters (September 22, 2006)


My Blog attempts to look at life on the positive side, but this topic is, in my opinion so incredibly serious that I must conclude with the following thoughts:
Time spent watching Television is simply a way of voluntarily shortening your life. Time is the essence of life. Life is far too precious to squander time in such a mediocre manner.

Ending with a favorite quote;

“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checked by failure...than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”
-Theodore Roosevelt

Celebration of Life, Nature, and Abundance

"To the dull mind nature is leaden. To the illuminated mind the whole world burns and sparkles with light."--Ralph Waldo Emerson



Dare to follow this exploration into the natural world that has been set before us. Dare to wonder and dream of the places you have never been. Discover the hidden treasures that lay just outside your door!