Ken Campbell, Author at The Last Wilderness

Quick time

Posted by Ken Campbell May 15, 2011 0 Comment 1212 views

There’s an article in the latest National Geographic about climbing in Yosemite, and part of it deals with the difference between the way that climbing is now and what it was back in the early days in the park. During the 50’s and 60’s, the dinosaur days of big wall climbing, it might take days, […]

Legislating fun

Posted by Ken Campbell May 12, 2011 0 Comment 1443 views

It was only a matter of time before the old school got the new religion. After looking over the curriculum, I find that I’m unable to care much about organized certification programs, especially SUP requirements that look like they’ve been cut-and-pasted from some ancient kayaking course. Could this be more hokey? And, more to the […]

Tranquilo

Posted by Ken Campbell May 11, 2011 0 Comment 1159 views

No words today. Not many, anyway. I’m looking at the calendar, trying to visualize the next few months and how crazy it will all be. There is much to be done and so little time in which to do it. I thought the picture might bring some serenity.

The edge of the day

Posted by Ken Campbell May 9, 2011 0 Comment 1088 views

The transition from day to night is a powerful span of time. Dusk, twilight, sunset, whatever you call it. It’s the one part of the day that people all over seem to make a point of catching a glimpse of, if there’s any way they can. Living at Salmon Beach, it’s a ritual, standing on […]

Boating season

Posted by Ken Campbell May 7, 2011 0 Comment 1129 views

It is cold up here, or it seems pretty chilly anyway, after a few weeks in southern California. I’ve always thought it’s a funny thing to have an official “Boating Season.”(Not “ha-ha” funny, strange funny.) But here, in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve got one. And it starts today, apparently. So that’s exciting. I’m going to […]

The Crying lady

Posted by Ken Campbell May 6, 2011 0 Comment 4154 views

Just south of La Push is a stack known as Crying Lady Rock. It’s an easy walk-out at low tide and at higher water levels, it can provide kayakers with some sporty waves and rips as the sea comes and goes around it. The name comes from the shape of the rock (which is alleged […]

Feliz

Posted by Ken Campbell May 5, 2011 0 Comment 1205 views

I’m thinking about making a run to the mountain tomorrow, maybe take the boy, just for the day. The beginning of May at Mount Rainier can be any season: spring maybe, winter probably, but it’s just as likely to be sunny and hot. The best way to find out is to go. For now though, […]

Boomerang travel

Posted by Ken Campbell May 2, 2011 0 Comment 1164 views

It’s flat today. No swell and the wind is picking up as the day goes on, straight onshore, pushing down what few waves there are. Still, it’s 83 degrees and postcard beautiful, and I’m not completely sunburned yet, so I went out anyway. Ledbetter again, and really, the lack of good waves is probably the […]

May Day

Posted by Ken Campbell May 1, 2011 0 Comment 1105 views

Here’s a sign you won’t find in the Pacific Northwest. The waves were perfect this morning. Shoulder-high, green and glassy, wrapping around the point at Ledbetter in clean sets going off in succession down the beach. There were about 20 of us in the lineup, but it seemed like everybody had room. I had some […]

Camino Cielo

Posted by Ken Campbell April 30, 2011 0 Comment 1697 views

It’s been blowing all week, and with gusts on the water forecast to hit 50 knots yesterday afternoon, I decided that I’d go for a drive. West Camino Cielo, the Highway in the Sky, is a rugged track that follows the crest of the mountains behind Santa Barbara and points west. I drove out to […]