Talking Story Archives - Page 41 of 114

Tolmie Peak lookout

Posted by Ken Campbell September 22, 2011 0 Comment 1958 views

There is something special about a fire lookout. There aren’t many of them left – airplanes and satellites do most of the fire-spotting work now – but the ones that remain are monuments to a time that, to me at least, seems simpler, more human, better. It is no accident that these crow’s nests were […]

Only an observation

Posted by Ken Campbell September 21, 2011 2 Comments 1219 views

This is not a rant. Not meant to be, anyway. But here we go: I’ve been noticing that kayaking/paddleboarding/racing type events have gotten a whole lot spendier in the past few years. Where it used to be pretty common to sign up for a little club contest or a community race for ten bucks or […]

Epic

Posted by Ken Campbell September 20, 2011 1 Comment 1126 views

There are, when it comes right down to it, two ways to learn a new skill: you can learn how to do something or you can learn how not to do something. I went rafting on the Tieton this past weekend, in the hopes of getting some education on how to guide a raft. And […]

In praise of a lighter load

Posted by Ken Campbell September 19, 2011 0 Comment 930 views

“We found in the course of our journey the convenience of having disencumbered ourselves, by laying aside whatever we could spare; for it is not to be imagined without experience, how in climbing crags, and treading bogs, and winding through narrow and obstructed passages, a little bulk will hinder, and a little weight will burthen; […]

A Double-shot of car camping

Posted by Ken Campbell September 16, 2011 0 Comment 938 views

A month or so back, I took the boy over to the east side of Mount Rainier for a couple nights of car camping. The trip was part of a project I’ve been working on for visitrainier.com, a review of the campgrounds inside the National Park, and the latest installments have just been posted. So, […]

Tieton memories

Posted by Ken Campbell September 15, 2011 0 Comment 1108 views

The Tieton River runs out of Rimrock Lake. A trickle most of the time, but in September water is released from the dam in enough volume to turn the watercourse into a steady Class III. It’s not technically difficult, but there isn’t a lot of room for error either. The river resembles a pencil, running […]

Traveling without a net

Posted by Ken Campbell September 14, 2011 0 Comment 1007 views

“Abandon your mobile phone, laptop, iPod, and all such links to family, friends and work colleagues. Concentrate on where you are and derive your entertainment from immediate stimuli, the tangible world around you. Increasingly, in hostels and guesthouses one sees ‘independent’ travelers eagerly settling down in front of computers instead of conversing with fellow travelers. […]

Decade

Posted by Ken Campbell September 12, 2011 0 Comment 1023 views

For ten years now, on the weekend after Labor Day, I’ve had the opportunity to go kayaking with the same group of ladies. (Actually, I missed one of the years and the group has oscillated between 5 and 12 different attendees, but you get the point.) This past weekend centered around Deception Pass, the waters […]

If you can make it…

Posted by Ken Campbell September 9, 2011 0 Comment 1050 views

I can’t make it. I’ll be in the Deception Pass area, on a rare paying gig. I wish I could be there though, just for the chance to wear another little pink heart as I watch another installment of what passes for justice here in the US of A. The hearing is today in Port […]

Regrets?

Posted by Ken Campbell September 8, 2011 0 Comment 1064 views

It’s that time again. Apparently. Thinking of all the trips I didn’t take this year, all the places I didn’t go. That Highway 12 trip? Still out there. The Olympic Grand Circle? Aborted, and I’m still second guessing that one. Haven’t done much on any of the Olympic river trips, the “Summit-to-the-Sea” gigs that I […]