Ken Campbell, Author at The Last Wilderness

Solstice

Posted by Ken Campbell June 21, 2010 0 Comment 1039 views

Not to put too fine a point on it, but if I didn’t know any better, I’d say it was winter solstice. Without the benefit of a calendar, and just going by the weather, it would be an easy mistake to make.

Dad

Posted by Ken Campbell June 20, 2010 0 Comment 1772 views

When it comes to Hallmark Holidays, Father’s Day has got to be down near the back of the pack. It doesn’t have anywhere near the mass and clout of Mother’s Day, which is, as far as everything I’ve learned, a holy day of obligation for anyone walking on two legs. Mother is the secular saint, […]

You never know who’s watching

Posted by Ken Campbell June 19, 2010 2 Comments 979 views

I met a man yesterday named Rick who lives not far from the Foss waterway in downtown Tacoma. During the course of our conversation, it came out that he had taken a photo of a paddleboarder on the Foss on a foggy morning in January which, as it turned out, was me. He said it […]

Senses working overtime

Posted by Ken Campbell June 19, 2010 0 Comment 1128 views

If I could only have four senses instead of five, which one would I choose to give up? I can’t help but notice that many people have already answered that question for themselves, sort of. It has become more common to see people walking, running or biking with earphones than without. Kayaking too. As they […]

Mittens recommended

Posted by Ken Campbell June 18, 2010 0 Comment 1041 views

If you’re looking for a snowball fight, you’ll want to consider Hurricane Ridge. There is still four feet of the white stuff left at the measuring station near the lodge, but it probably won’t be there too much longer. Most of the trail to Hurricane Hill is clear of snow already and what is left […]

Hydrotherapy

Posted by Ken Campbell June 17, 2010 0 Comment 1077 views

In skimming over the past few entries, I can sense a certain negativity and rather pointed self-pity in some of the things I’ve written recently. There’s a lot going on. It’s times like these, when life is an even mix of worry and trouble, that I head for the water. There is a soothing effect […]

Death of a salesman

Posted by Ken Campbell June 16, 2010 5 Comments 1925 views

I suppose I’ve always known it would happen. With new gear arriving every day and an optimistic feeling that maybe the economy is on the rebound, I wasn’t really expecting it to happen right now but when things end, I suppose it’s always a sudden rush. Backpackers Supply, the only privately-owned gear shop left in […]

The way of things

Posted by Ken Campbell June 15, 2010 1 Comment 1067 views

I’ve written a few times about the End-of-Sea-Kayaking-As-We-Know-It, but I still wasn’t prepared for this one. This tale happens to be set in Wisconsin, but it is happening everywhere. Maybe not as obviously as this, maybe not as unexpected, but in terms of participation levels, kayaking seems to be drying up. The demographics are skewing […]

Plasticized

Posted by Ken Campbell June 14, 2010 0 Comment 1154 views

I was thumbing through the paper the other day when I came across a story about plastic. More specifically, the story dealt with the tiny, virtually microscopic, pieces of plastic that are ubiquitous in the world’s oceans. Little specks of polymers, suspended in the water, that are eaten by fish, then by bigger fish and […]

Gone paddlin’

Posted by Ken Campbell June 10, 2010 0 Comment 1096 views

A quick dawn patrol on the Foss today, then it’s time to drop off the boy at his Grandma’s house and hie out to the Key Peninsula for a two-day trip leader seminar at a summer camp. I’ll have a group of about 6 camp counselors, the ones who will be leading the various kayaking […]