It's boatin' season!

Ski Binding Story

Melanie's friend Kelly is visiting from North Carolina this weekend and since I am such an awesome boyfriend I agreed to drive Kelly up to the mountain on Thursday and ski for a bit. We had a great time in the sun and spring conditions. Then, this really interesting thing happened. Something I have never seen or heard of. If Kelly were not there to witness this event nobody would believe me.

The Story:
I was just skiing along, making beautiful tele turns, when this guy comes flying past me. He was totally out of control, in that half tuck position, sort of making turns. Anyway, you get the picture. I didn't see him crash, although I wish I had. It would have been entertaining and it would make this story even better. I stop and he is slightly up-hill from me lying face down in the snow. He slowly gets up, slightly dazed and I realize that one of his skis is nowhere to be seen. I turn to Kelly and ask her if she sees this guy's other ski. We don't see it and we can see for quite a ways. I notice that the guy is ski/hop/flailing toward us on his one remaining ski, when he asks, "Hey man, can I get some help?" I tentatively give a positive reply expecting to be engaged in a search for the missing ski until all the snow melts. He then busts out with, "You gotta get this binding out of my ass!" Whoa, that was out of left field. Sure enough, when he turns around, he has a ski binding dangling from the seat of his ski pants. I extracted it. When this guy fell he completely ripped his binding off his ski and the brake punctured his ski pants and two layers of underwear then re-traced it's path in complete fish-hook fashion. I really wish I had a picture. It was amazing!

Back to Oregon

Graham on Thursday night


Jake, Garrett and Lisa shortly before I joined them and we sank the canoe.

Mel and I returned to Oregon over the weekend. The excuse, Graham and Greta's wedding. I flew in Thursday evening just in time for some bachelor party schenanigans in downtown Portland. We got Graham pretty drunk (see photo). The wedding itself was successful as well, although Greta looked pretty shocked when the pastor started talking about Jesus. Some good dancing followed with cameo appearances by Jaz & Lou up from California plus Garrett and Lisa down form Montana. Phil will be pleased to know that Molly caught the bouquet. Later in the evening; Brian Melvin (Graham's little brother) cut his face badly on a broken wine bottle, Jake stole the golf cart for a little drunken joyriding, and 4 of us sank the canoe in the pond with all our dress clothes on.

The highlight of the trip home was spending time with family and friends. I visited professors at OSU and spent some quality time with my grandparents and brother. It was a great trip and made me miss Oregon, although my allergies were happy to get on the plane.

No Job Yet

Looking North toward Dinosaur Mountain and the Third Flatiron.


Corey placing some gear in the sweet finger crack.

The approach to this climb is easy, just roll out of bed, pull on your shoes and walk half an hour to the crag. No driving. I can't say enough about how nice it is to hike directly to the crag. Best of all, it is far from being the only climb within easy hiking distance from our front door. Hundreds of cool routes and boulder problems await.