12000'

Put your tin hat on

Quickly.

When the National Park Service begins to have a MONOPOLY! game based on their parks, I get a little nervous...

Now, everyone knows and agrees that unfettered capitalism works all the time. Sodexho already provides most of the food service in the parks, why not let the free market decide the fate of national flagships(which were, after all, mainly unable to develop or no important resource had been found prior to their establishment)? It just seems like a slippery slope to me.

Some days we wear stilts.

...for no reason at all

>9000'

First storm of the year finally hit the highest county in the country.

DE

2115'

Extreme Highline Boot Camp

Terminus

2300' starts today.

a long run

A team player. I'll miss ya.

Lady of the Mountain

So, Lady of the Mountain. The view of it from Deertrap Mountain can be seen in the previous post (top photo, right of center - before the shadow, which is the exit for Behunin and Heaps canyons).

A total elevation gain of 2670' in less than 1.5 miles, even after climbing it, it's hard to see where the trail would go. 2 Hours up, 1.7 hours down - I beat the sunset with plenty of time to go.

The hike was the first built in Zion that reached a rim, but, due to the number of rescues, was decommissioned in the late 70's, with the removal of two ladders and 2000' of cable. Thus, read that this trip may not require rope on the way up, but most likely will on the way down. Also, if you have serious concerns with exposure, it's probably best to avoid the trip entirely.

But you get treated to a great view at the top:




Also a nice alternate view of the other side of the 3 Patriarchs:












The astute observer could notice Behunin canyon, Angel's Landing, Cable Mountain, Deertrap Mountain and the East Temple in these photos.








<-And proof that I didn't go stealing these photos from some site online.

NOIZ

Back & Dangling

With Phoenix taking the WNBA Finals, it looks like there may be some turnaround of the fortunes for the professional sports teams here in the Valley of the Sun. With the Diamondbacks doing well, the nets of the foul poles needed to be changed out. How does one go about doing that?

The rumors

They're true. They let me back in, but not without a fight.

I sat for only 20min. on the bridge of no-man's land before the Customs Agents began to assert the freedom of the country upon me. After opening the back of my truck, they informed me that I would have to unload some of my gear so that they could see the whole way through the cab (very different from the last time I returned). So I pulled over and unloaded the top layer of the bed. After waiting 10 minutes, I caught the attention of another officer, that informed me that I would have to unload the rest of the truck for the dog to climb in.

Another 10 minutes waiting, sitting on the back of the truck, snapping photos and an officer informed me not nicely that I could not take photos and to delete them in front of him. I felt it wise not to discuss the legality of the issue, as I just wanted to reenter the freest of all countries in the world! Then the dog started having its search around - in the back, around the truck, in the front, in the back, in the front, in the front. All the while I was being questioned about the length of my stay down there, what I was doing, how I could afford it. I almost mentioned my allergy to drug-dog dander, but there went my head again. I was muttering for the dog to smell the spare tire - the Customs agent asked me what I said. Oh, nothing, just please do a thorough check of everything please. It seemed that the dog picked up a scent in the cab, that I can honestly say would have no relation to me whatsoever, and after carefully chosen words (the best possible after not sleeping for 24 hours), my passport and keys were returned to me. I paid the $1.25 liquor import tax and went about trying to get out of Texas. Back to enjoy the Freedom of the homeland that no living in the mountains of Mexico could ever afford. EVER. NOT POSSIBLE.

On another note, returning to the smells and sights of the Sonoran Desert has brought a smile to my face, although squatting in an empty house is a bit odd. One good thing is that you don't have to turn any lights on, because you won't run into anything.

Adjustments, reflections and the list to come...

Finishing up

So with under 4 days to go in a 5 month stint, one decides to visit the unseen attractions to which one has been so near or even directing people. Finally, a picture of the waterfall Cola de Caballo - the namesake of the hotel I stayed at. Due to all of the rains, it was flowing higher than usual.



Then I finally made it back to Parque Fundidora. The clouds don't do the place justice; but, neither did all of the construction going on in preparation for the world forum that kicks off in a couple of weeks or so. But I caught a glimpse of the zipline I put up there.






Here's the palace of the government in downtown Monterrey. They've got all the flags out for their upcoming Independence Day.



Finally, my friend and I before we went into the History of Mexico museum, which chronologically describes pre-colonial Mexico up to the present day. Filled with swords and spears used by the conquistadors, it's pretty neat, but sad in a way. The history starting with their Independence in 1821 up trough 1850 is also pretty bloody, with wars with Texas, France and the United States.


Don't worry, more to come...

política

On September 17, 1988, Hurricane Gilbert devastated Monterrey, Mexico. Flooding washed away streets and the people on them. In response, Proteccion Civil of the state of Nuevo Leon reorganized and updated its rescue services. One of the direct effects was a better rescue system for the canyons, especially Matacanes. Up until a few years ago, Proteccion Civil was in place every weekend in Potrero Redondo to check to make sure that each guide taking clients was certified by Proteccion Civil, and to check to see how many clients were in the canyon each day. They would then wait at Las Adjuntas to check off a list as each group exited. If somebody didn't exit, then rescue services were initiated. Then entered the politics...

Proteccion Civil of the municipality of Santiago has since insisted on its right to perform the rescues in Matacanes, and the State has ceded its control. No longer are the Proteccion Civil in Potrero Redondo or in Las Adjuntas. A month ago, after much rain caused high water conditions, Proteccion Civil told a group of guides that there was no longer a group in the canyon, leaving the guides to go perform the rescue of a group that was stranded without the proper swiftwater techniques to complete the canyon. I have been at the hotel a number of occasions recently on call to do a rescue if Proteccion Civil isn't going to do its job.

I almost want to discuss my current feelings of the roles of the individuals, the guiding companies and of rescue services in this situation, but they're too contradictory. So many of the 'guiding' companies can run the canyon under normal conditions, but have no idea what to do in high-water conditions. I don't want to be morbid, but I feel that something bad will happen here before things change... And I feel that if/when they change, it won't necessarily be a good thing.

Don't Watch This Video

"Promise me you'll never go bungee jumping in Mexico, they just don't have the regulations."
-The Cable Guy

Zen at 35ft.

Regresar

Some remaining good-ones from the trips. So the rains are finally arriving at constant intervals. The last trip was Willy Wonk-esque, just lacking Agustus Gloop. If they continue as such, we won't be going back with clients this season. I'll get the last up soon. So what more can you do? Await the list, as I've heard that some people are wont to make...

Window to Weight-Gain and Other News

What Krusty says is true. It's very easy to find a greasier sandwich than the 'Clogger' in Mexico. The famed 4x4: Double Everything. Double the Avocado, double the meat, double the ham, double the salami, double the cheese. They don't double the lettuce or tomato, however. I'll have to address this false advertising. And did they really kill Dr. Nick?









Other happenings: I once again hit magazines state-side. I was featured in a magazine down here for one of the canyons that we run. But, check out moosejaw.com. If you view their online catalog, there is a sexy picture of my leg on page 22. On page 27, you can check out my poor climbing form in the upper right hand corner. No, I didn't sign a photo release. Yes, I did trade climbing shoes with the model on the cover. No, I never smelled them (the shoes that is).

Back in Matacanes

As in New Zealand, the guides start experimenting when the same old jumps get old. Then the guides start to think that it might be time to go before they're not able to walk away from a job some day - think probability. Thanks to the resolution of YouTube, there is no resemblance of the individual jumping to the author of the page.

Not going South...

Thought I was going to get a chance to head down near Oaxaca or Vera cruz, but the gig fell through, so I spent my time today in some traffic taking care of preparatory tasks for this gig that no longer exists.

Nuestro Mirador

El Salto/ Laberinto

Last week I took a guide equivalence course by ICAN (International Canyoneering Association & Network). The first two days were at la Huasteca and the last two days we got to hang out in two other canyons close to Santiago.

Calobozo

Finally made it into El Calobozo as part of the ACA course that I was helping to teach. Not as good as it gets; I have to wait for the rainy season. But pretty enough.

La Huasteca

I've been helping teach some ACA courses in a park not more than 15 minutes from downtown Monterrey. As long as I have props, the students understand what I'm saying half of the time. I'm hoping to do some climbing and try out the via ferrata there soon.



























This is from last week, following all of the rain. Before Noah, I'm assuming that the physics creating a rainbow did not exist.

descansar

I'm taking a day without a harness today. Dropping the monkey suit, cleaning some clothes, joining civilization for a spell.

Not to worry, I'll regress soon.