Every Mother's Worst Nightmare...

QUEST!

February, 2010

Thanks to the photographic wizardry of Genesis Studio, my likeness now graces the cover of QUEST magazine's February edition... It seems I have at last "arrived."

A Photographic Journey...

February, 2010

Appalachian Trail, NC/TN

Our journey begins at the base of Yellow Mountain in Avery County, North Carolina. After getting Kenny's SUV stuck and unstuck several times (an adventure unto itself), we finally park and unload. Snowflakes are already wafting sideways, and the snow is 2-2 1/2 feet deep.

We hike in snowshoes, a necessity in the deep snow. And not that it is a huge concern in the Appalachians, but we all wear protective eyeglasses to guard against snow-blindness, a more dangerous threat to mountaineers. The ones you see above belong to a friend; they are authentic glacier glasses that eliminate glare and shield the eyes from the elements.

We hike 2 miles to the shelter and drop our backpacks. Then - as the skies clear - we hike higher. Looking back, you can see the Overmountain Shelter, where we'll stay over night. In the far distance, Roan Mountain touches the sky.

The Overmountain Shelter. Look closely and you can see the tracks where Will and Chris did some impromptu sledding on a plastic sheet!

The higher we climb, the more interesting the ice formations! Just one of many up there! In some places, there are "ice globs" the size of grapefruits hanging from branches! (See previous posts for photos of these).

We are running out of daylight but push on, regardless.

Kenneth looking intense, as usual!

As the sun sets, we must turn back. Here, Chris and Will admire the view amidst gently falling snow.

During the night, the temperature drops to 12 degrees, but with winds as powerful as 24 mph, the windchill factor makes the temperature -1 degrees! Snow pours through the wooden slabs and leave their frigid mark on our sleeping bags as we sleep not-so-peacefully. In the morning, we awake to howling wind and swirling snow clouds. We can no longer see the valley and decide to hike back to the car before things get worse. As we trek through the storm, the snow's average depth appears to be 4 1/2 feet. In some places, snow drifts tower above us, reaching close to 7 feet! We are relieved to find the SUV not covered in snow, and we're able to high-tail it outta there with our frost-bitten fingers and toes still intact!

Photo of the Week # 17

"White Sun Setting"

Appalachian Trail

Little Hump Mountain, NC/TN

Chris leads Will, Kenny, and I back to the Overmountain Shelter, where we'll spend a dangerous night amidst howling winds, swirling snow-clones, and temperatures far below freezing.

Photo by Sir Evan with Nikon Coolpix S570

The Week in Photos

January, 2010

So far, the new year is off to a good start! My friend, Kenny, and I recently took a day trip to Stone Mountain State Park in North Carolina. It was a beautiful day with prime weather conditions and plenty of solitude. It was also a perfect opportunity to try out my new camera! All of these photos were taken with the new Nikon Coolpix and edited with a Macbook. Enjoy!

(Kenny discovers the mountain)

(Raptors Swarming)

(Twisted vantage...)

(The "Hero Tree" standing tall on Stone Mountain...

Cedar Rock in the background)

(Reflective pool...)

(Kenny and Sir Evan at the foot of the Upper Falls)

(Don't make any sudden moves. Their vision's based on movement!)

(Kenneth of the Mountains)

(1984... a good year, the year I was born!

On the summit of Stone Mountain, NC)

(Sir Evan sin fedora)

The Motion Picture Event!

Welcome to the Adventure

I now present to you, Manventure '09: The Motion Picture, in all of its epic glory. Enjoy!

(enlarge to full screen for the best view)

And keep a watchful eye on the horizon: part III is still on its way!

Photo of the Week # 16

"Tim Bob & the Tooth"

November, 2009

Cove Mountain (Dragon's Tooth) in Roanoke, VA

Appalachian Trail

Considering he was the only one brave enough to actually climb that high, he has earned his rightful place among the photos of the week! You are welcome, Tim Bob. May we embark on many more adventures together!

Pilgrimage in the Mountains: Lessons from Virginia's "Triple Crown"

Part II

A Rocky Start...

Saturday, November 7, 2009

The mountains are alive with sounds: birds squawking, leaves rustling, branches swaying, and distant,

mysterious murmurings. Nature's alarm clock has no snooze button. We crawl from the toasty security of our goose down cocoons and throw open our tent flaps, emerging into the crisp, mountain atmosphere at 3,000 feet. Dragon's Tooth beams down on us, the early morning sun glimmering at its perforated edges. After lowering the bear bag, we indulge in a healthy breakfast of granola, oats, and dried fruit, fuel for the day's daunting task. But first thing's first: we must explore!

After a slithering climb up a large crack and a slippery slab of granite, we reach the top of Dragon's Tooth. From here, we enjoy a spectacular view of the terrain that still lies ahead. In the distance, we see a piece of McAfee Knob, our immediate destination. Even further, we see Tinker Cliffs, just visible through the morning haze. For a few years now, I've maintained the opinion that mountains are deliberately misleading. Often, when one is certain they have hiked a mile, they have only traveled a quarter the length. Distance and time in the mountains cannot be judged by the sweat on one's shirt or the time on their watch. The mountains are unpredictable and always - without fail - more dangerous than they appear. For this reason also, distance and time cannot be judged by sight. Time and time again, the mountains have demonstrated their knack for misleading hikers up meandering paths with one false summit after another and no end in sight. So naturally I have the audacity to say, "Oh, yeah. We can cover this in a day. No problem, guys."

Committed

Today, we will cover 12 miles. We will also have to contend with steeper terrain than expected, and one team member's increasing bout with the seasonal flu. Already at the start of our journey, Robbie is not feeling well, but he's determined to push through and give the venture his all. And since backpacking is much like "going all in," as with a game of poker, Robbie doesn't have too many alternatives. As soon as we've taken down camp and loaded our backpacks, we hit the trail, retracing our steps from last night's treacherous climb. The Appalachian Trail is steep and rocky here and covered with slippery leaves, so we move slowly, at first, albeit faster than we did going in the opposite direction. Surviving several slips and near-spills, we arrive at Lost Spectacles Gap and continue, northbound, on the AT. For the next 9 miles, Tim Bob will lead the way, since he is the only team member who has already hiked this stretch of the trail. He sets a moderate pace, taking us up a series of switchbacks through dimly lit forest. Coupled with our knee-blowing descent from the "Tooth," this climb marks the beginning of our epic voyage through the Virginia countryside. "And it only gets harder from here, gents," says Tim Bob.

Over the course of the day, we travel across a wide array of scenery: obscure outcroppings, random "windows" to the surrounding valley, views of red-tinged trees, soaring raptors, abandoned barns, and open pastures similar to those seen in the lands of Tolkien's "Middle Earth." I cannot help humming the "Fellowship" tune as we march across the open meadows of Beckner Gap. "This is where it gets rough," Tim Bob warns. Great, we say. Guess it wouldn't be worth doing if it wasn't challenging, though... Right? We cross a number of stiles laced with electric fences, and Sherwin gets fried like a squirrel nibbling on a power line. Just kidding, although we joke about the possibilities, and Sherwin retaliates with strong dosages of sarcastic and self-deprecating wit. We cross the stiles unscathed and begin the long and tiring ascent up a massive hill. Later, we dub it "The Hill of Death." When we finally reach the top, we are red-faced and out of breath. Robbie, weakened by his illness, can hardly breathe in the first place. Then and there, we say if he can make it to McAfee Knob, he will live in infamy as a true mountain man. Truthfully, it's his only option aside from digging his own grave beside the trail. There is no easy way out; we must all stay committed. Already, I am reminded of the meaning of adventure and of how quickly plans can change in the mountains...

Plan B

For the next several hours, we hike upon an undulating ridge line with frequent views of the adjacent valleys. These momentary glimpses remind us of what we're striving towards and embolden us to keep hiking, despite the difficulty. Regardless, by this point, we have made a group decision to not continue to McAfee Knob by nightfall. Since Robbie is ill and it has taken us longer to cover the mileage than expected, it would be unwise to "push it." Therefore, we'll stay at Johns Spring Shelter, just a couple miles beyond Route 311, and reach McAfee the following morning. This, everyone agrees, is more than suitable as a "Plan B."

The temperature drops, and shadows shift in the forest. It's almost 4 o'clock. We hear the low murmurs of an active highway and know we are close to 311. Moments later, we discover a wooden sign telling us we've traveled 9 miles since leaving Dragon's Tooth. The AT parking lot is crawling with hydrated hikers who stare at us forlornly, as we stagger out of the woods and stumble across the highway, rejoining the trail on the other side. To our shame, I wonder if we would have carried on had we left a car at this particular lot... Thankfully, though, for the sake of the enterprise and our reputations, our cars are miles away, and the only way there is by foot.

We have crossed several streams today and filtered enough water for the last few miles, but one major detail has slipped past me: Johns Spring Shelter has no water source. To find water, we must hike an additional mile (although, in the heat of the moment, we are so certain it is longer than that!) to Catawba Shelter. While an extra mile is not a terrible upset, considering how far we've already walked, it is a huge blow to our morale and Robbie's hope for survival. But we have no choice; our bottles are nearly empty. In the near-dark, we keep hiking. The AT winds steeply up Catawba Mountain. With a mile to go, Robbie, Daryl, Sherwin, and I lose sight of Tim Bob and Matt, who are - bone-dry - out of water and desperate to find a spring. The trail darkens before us, becoming a haunted 'night land' of unsettling quiet and eeriness. We are forced to retrieve our headlights. Now a funnel of light paves the way, and we 'up the pace,' anxious for the end.

At last, we catch up with our companions, who have also resorted to their headlights, and only

moments after rejoining them, we catch sight of Catawba Shelter, an old-fashioned lean-to, and another wooden sign, this one directing us to the spring! Everyone sighs in relief, and - as we reach the shelter - we drop our heavy packs and praise God for helping us through this trying day. Over the next hour, we filter enough water for a small army and drink most of it, too. Dinner consists of freeze dried ingredients and boiling water. Salt-saturated, meal-in-a-bags never tasted so good! We devour our dinners, topping the evening off with a fleeting fire, hot tea, and Japanese sake! Adding a little excitement to the evening, Matt - in his exhaustion, we'll say - manages to set a bowl of sake ablaze, nearly scorching his eyebrows, which leaves him with the well-deserved trail name, "Fire Water."

Later, we rest warm in our mummy bags, spread across the shelter floor. Reminiscing on the day's events is challenging, since we can only focus on the final day. We have traveled almost 15 miles since Friday night. Nine more await us... Robbie is rested, breathing adequately again, but understandably exhausted. We are sore, weak, and even afraid, but we are not defeated. We did not finish the day by our own strength, and it is the same strength that will see us through to the end of our pilgrimage in the mountains.

To Be Concluded...

Pilgrimage in the Mountains: Lessons from Virginia's "Triple Crown"

Part I

"Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean..."

~ John Muir ~

In Medias Res

We pass through a narrow, mountain corridor; the trail, barely visible under Autumn's crispy fronds, is laced with rows of fading grass blades that swish and sway against our thighs. Midday's harsh glare flares through the treetop canopy of chioanthus and draws the sweat from our pores like a leech to life blood. The forest rooftop glows radiant yellow as the sunlight spreads from one leaf to the next. We adjust our loads - tighten waist belts, yank on shoulder straps - and carry on through the ethereal mountain pass.

Welcome to the Appalachian Trail in Roanoke, Virginia. At 17 miles in, we are two men down and anxious to reach our destination. On this warm November day, my companions and I are backpacking across the "Triple Crown" of summits that border the Great Valley of Virginia in Roanoke. We have already been to Dragon's Tooth, a mighty rock monolith that reaches heavenward like a crippled, outstretched hand. McAfee Knob, renowned for "the anvil" rock outcropping that hangs some three-thousand feet above the valley surface, lies 2.5 miles behind us. The crowning achievement of our expedition, Tinker Cliffs - a half mile length of granite ledges overlooking the valley - is another 7 miles away. And we are already so tired.

Commence: Adventure

Friday, November 6, 2009

At 10 pm, the trail head is cold and vacant, a black hole to all who dare enter. We are six strong: Tim Bob, short but fearless; Matthew, eager to get underway; Sherwin, undaunted by the task at hand; Daryl, packing enough food to feed a small army; Robbie, his mighty "Moses" staff at the ready; and myself, anxious for adventure.

"Let's do this," mutters Tim Bob, his words oozing with concrete resolution. His L.E.D. headlight punches a funnel through the black of night, as he starts on the trail. We follow, in single file, up the Dragon's Tooth trail. Marked by rectangular, blue blazes every thirty yards, it is well maintained, and with our headlights illuminating the way, we have little trouble sticking to the path. In next to no time, we have arrived at the t-junction with the Appalachian Trail. "Where do we go from here?" someone asks. We go up.

From the intersection at "Lost Spectacles Gap," it is two and a half miles to the pointed peak of Cove Mountain, known to hikers as Dragon's Tooth. This section of the trail soon graduates from smooth to rocky, from gently sloped to precariously steep, from easy to strenuous in the same time it takes for our heart rates to surge and our blood to boil. We are no longer merely hiking, for the terrain before us demands our bodies' full attention. With each others' help, we jump over pitfalls, scale granite slabs, navigate hazardous ledges, clamber up rudimentary ladders hammered into the mountainside, and climb over one obstacle after another. Unhindered, we press on till midnight, when - at last - we approach the summit at 3,020 feet.

Ahead of us, the monolith rises to the star-splattered sky, its faint silhouette a sublime welcome to the great outdoors, our home and training ground for the next two days.


To Be Continued...

Sir Evan's Top 10 Heroes of Movies and Television: Part II

Five More to Go... Thanks for Your Patience

(Remember, in no particular order...)

6) Frodo Baggins

This is a difficult one, simply because his portly companion, Samwise, is quite the hero himself, as is their bearded, pointed-hat adviser, Gandalf the White. But when it comes down to it, Frodo Baggins, a Hobbit from the imagination of writer, J.R.R. Tolkien, later translated to the screen by Peter Jackson, is the ultimate hero of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Frodo, an unassuming simpleton with very few ties to the bigger world, takes it upon himself to deliver the One Ring to its fiery end in the pit of Mount Doom. No one forces him to shoulder this responsibility; he does it out of moral conscience. Over the course of his epic journey, Frodo (Elijah Wood) faces one life-threatening obstacle after another, and - by the story's end - he has given up practically everything but his very life, what little semblance of it remains... Frodo reminds us that heroism knows no greater definition than personal sacrifice.


7) Sir William Wallace

Speaking of personal sacrifice. How about giving your life? Sir William Wallace, portrayed by Mel Gibson in the film, Braveheart, is the ultimate "medieval hero," who leads his fellow Scotsmen in a rebellion against the tyrannical English during the Wars of Scottish Independence. A man who gives everything he has for the freedom of his country, Wallace is both a hero on screen as well as in reality. Whether wooing fair damsels or waging bloody combat on the battlefield, Wallace shows true passion, and he takes it with him to the film's tragic, yet heroic finale. You may not agree with all of my choices for best heroes, but you will never take "OUR FREEDOM!!!"


8) Luke Skywalker

As far as epic conflicts between good and evil go, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is my favorite good guy. Anxious for adventure, Luke is a young man at the start of his space odyssey. From the Star Wars saga's inception to its climactic conclusion, audiences witness young Luke emerge from his identity as a lonely farm boy to a brave and skillful hero of the Rebel Alliance. Unwavering in his quest to face the dark and mysterious Darth Vader, he embarks down the path of the Jedi Knight, learns to use the force, and confronts the Dark Lord of the Sith in a grueling lightsaber duel. Twice! And let's not forget he sort of saves the galaxy from the Dark Side and brings hope to humanity. Not bad for a whiny kid who just wanted to "go to the Toshi Station to pick up some power converters!"


9) John McClane

"Another basement, another elevator. How can the same sh** happen to the same guy twice?!" He's one of those guys who always happens to end up in the wrong place at the right time. The average cop with the mean streak and the independent fervor to kick some real a$$! With 4 movies under his belt (Die Hard, Die Harder, Die Hard with a Vengeance, & Live Free or Die Hard) and a potential fifth, Bruce Willis has proven that his hero, John McClane, is a good guy to have in a fight. A sort of cowboy or a loose cannon, he has a hard time restraining his aggressive impulses, but in the kinds of situations he often finds himself in (hijacked airport in a blizzard, hostage situation in a high-rise office building, etc.), these characteristics actually come in handy. And don't mess with his wife or kids; he's a family man.


10) Harry Potter

The ultimate kid hero, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) of J.K. Rowling's famous novels, has faced the evil and nearly immortal, Voldemort, on numerous occasions, and lived to fight another day. And he isn't done yet. Six films down, two to go. The 7th installment in the series will be split into two, for sheer magnitude of content. Sounds good to me! Over the course of the Harry Potter books and films, readers and audiences have seen the boy wizard develop in maturity and skill. He shows courage in the face of great adversity and bears a load far greater than most teenagers... It isn't every day a 14 year old must face a fire breathing dragon, combat traitorous wizards, and duel the cruelest sorcerer in the world. He wields a wand and sports a nifty lightning bolt scar on his forehead. Let's face it. Scars are cool. And there is this prophesy that says he's "the chosen one" who must defeat the evil lord... Talk about responsibility...


Welp, that's it for now, folks. Sir Evan's top 10 heroes of movies and television. There are obviously many others, but I had to narrow it down to my personal favorites. Feel free to agree or disagree! Let me know what you think! And thanks for reading!

There and Back Again...

Adventure in the Mountains

JUST how epic was Manventure '09, you ask?

THIS EPIC!

Yes, yes. This is me in a hospital bed. The full story is on the way, but for now I will say our time in the mountains challenged us in unexpected ways! The terrain was tougher than predicted; the weather was warmer than one would expect in November; and water was scarce. But it would not be an adventure if we always knew what to expect, now would it? As always, God helped us to push through, and He might have even sent a guardian angel or two to join us... I believe this Manventure will find its home in the annals of legend! Stay tuned for the complete story with photos and videos. For now, I leave you with this teaser...

Manventure '09 Has Arrived!

ADVENTURE RETURNS!

On this brisk November weekend, I'll be backpacking Virginia's "Triple Crown" of views along the Appalachian Trail. Joining me are good friends. Team Adventure consists of the following:

Tim Bob, aka. Sleepy Time

Robbie, aka. Moses

Sherwin, aka. Asian Thunder


Matt, aka. Silent Fox


Sir Evan, aka. Dodge


and Daryl, who needs a trail name!

We'll be hiking 24 miles, from Dragon's Tooth to McAfee Knob to Tinker Cliffs, in Roanoke, VA! Stay tuned for an update when we return!

Modern Day Explorer Comes to Winston-Salem!

Columbus, Magellan, Lewis & Clark... Meet Jon Bowermaster

I think most of us generally think of "explorers" in the past tense, as if there is nothing left on the planet to be discovered! How 'big' of us, right? I know I'm guilty as charged. There are still plenty of unexplored corners of the world, and tomorrow, October 26th, residents of Winston-Salem, NC, will have the opportunity to meet a modern day explorer. Jon Bowermaster is a National Geographic Explorer/Adventurer and award-winning writer and filmmaker. It has taken Bowermaster a decade to complete his film project, "OCEANS 8," and - tomorrow - he will present two slide shows, the first at Forsyth Country Day School, a local private school, and the second at Wake Forest University, on the effects of climate change in Antarctica.

For his "OCEANS 8" project, Bowermaster and his team explored bodies of water near the Aleutian Islands, Vietnam, French Polynesia, Chile/Argentina/Bolivia, Gabon, Croatia, Tasmania, and lastly, Antarctica, the focus of his slide shows and the capstone film to his project. "Terra Antarctica" is currently a finalist in the Blue Ocean Film Festival. View the trailer for some stunning footage of this arctic landscape:



The presentations are sponsored by National Geographic, Mountain Hardwear, and Great Outdoor Provision Co. Since the slide show at Forsyth Country Day School is limited to students and faculty, you should try to make it out to the one at Wake Forest (assuming you are a Winston resident...). It will be held at 7 pm in the Annenberg Forum in Carswell Hall.

Bear Grylls and How He's Changing Everything

Mission: Renaissance

Bear Grylls is mostly known for performing outrageous stunts and eating disgusting foods in his survival series, Man vs. Wild, which I frequently bring up on this blog. A while ago he suffered some weighty criticism when the media labeled him a fraud and blew the reality behind his show way out of proportion. While the negative media attention was pretty strong, Grylls handled it well and was honest with people about the "behind-the-scenes" life of filming an outdoor survival show. To make a long story short, it takes 12 days to film an hour's worth of adventure, and he generally spends 2 of those 12 days literally "surviving" in the wild. It is television, after all. There are liability concerns and logistics to deal with.

Luckily, he recovered from the conflict and so did Man vs. Wild, which continues to put out quality episodes on the Discovery Channel.When push comes to shove, the quarrels about authenticity and production techniques are really beside the point. The show is designed to entertain, and while he can't vouch for the television executives, Gryll's motivations are sound and noble. Bear Grylls is the real deal, a man concerned with the future of children across the world. His show has inspired hundreds upon hundreds of young people around the world to venture into the unknown again! And these days the "unknown" is as close as the backyard. Grylls, the new "Chief Scout" in the UK, is a role model for children (and some adults! can I get a show of hands??). It also seems, as time goes by, Grylls becomes ever more comfortable discussing his Christian faith, which you can witness in the video below. Here is a guy - incredibly famous - yet giving the glory to God... and on national television!



I will never forget the episode when he is stranded on a plateau somewhere in the wilderness of Patagonia, sheltered behind a rock. The stars are out; it is windy and nearly freezing; and he's got a fire going. Alone, he pulls out the hand held camera and talks about his faith in God and how nights like this one remind him how small he is while also revealing how big his God is... As he says on occasion, he "cherishes" these experiences and looks to God for his strength.

In the next video, Grylls talks about his new book series for young adults, which gets me very excited! Not that I intend to read them - although I wouldn't rule that out necessarily, because I imagine they are pretty fun! - but it so encouraging to hear him talk about these books, what they mean to him, to children, their focus, and what he hopes they will accomplish.



In this technology driven culture (exhibit A, right?) we need more people like Bear Grylls. We need to inspire optimism and activity. We need to get young people (and ourselves) outside, away from the computer screens (MUST-BLOG-LESS, UGHH) and into the fresh air. There is so much joy to be found in the simple things of this world.

Thanks, Bear, for reminding us.

Bear vs. Cougar

From "The Bear" (1988)

The other day at school, a co-worker sent out this video to show to our students. I ended up showing it to every student I had that day on the grounds that it is AWESOME! Exciting, educational, and really well made. If you have a minute, check it out. You will not be disappointed.

Photo(s) of the Week # 13

October, 2009

Grayson Highlands State Park, VA

Sugarland Overlook

(Note the massive Christmas tree farm!)

(Wild pony near Mt. Rogers)

Both photos by George Moore (Genesis Studio Photography)