Talking Story Archives - Page 92 of 114

A Complex kid (Part 1)

Posted by Ken Campbell May 21, 2009 0 Comment 1100 views

It is a fine line between feral and domesticated, between wild and tame. The difference between tearing raw meat from the bone and quietly noshing on a cucumber sandwich is not as great as you might believe and, once that line has been crossed, it is difficult, maybe impossible, to return. On September 4, 1880, […]

"A Good time in the mountains"

Posted by Ken Campbell May 19, 2009 0 Comment 1229 views

In Chinook jargon, the word Klahhane can mean a variety of things: “out of doors,” “without,” “outside.” There is an implication within the word that describes not only a place, but the pleasure of being there. My favorite translation of Klahhane is “a good time in the mountains.” Klahhane Ridge, not far from Port Angeles, […]

Growing older but not up

Posted by Ken Campbell May 18, 2009 0 Comment 889 views

There was once a reasonable man by the name of Ashley Montagu. A social scientist, back when the term conveyed an understanding of both science and society. Montagu was a pioneer in the realm of popularizing scientific topics, bringing the edges of science into the mainstream of society. (Think Margaret Mead or even Rachel Carson.) […]

If you haven’t already made plans for today…

Posted by Ken Campbell May 17, 2009 0 Comment 913 views

My father used to tell me, “Son, it isn’t often that you’re right, but you’re wrong again.” I was sure that this year’s Puget Sound Sea Kayak Symposium would be a bust: other recent symposiums in Port Angeles and Port Townsend had poor attendence, the person at Tacoma Parks responsible for this event left a […]

What was that name again?

Posted by Ken Campbell May 15, 2009 0 Comment 910 views

The Duckabush River, on the eastern slope of the Olympics, takes its name from the Indian word “do-hi-a-boos,” which comes out as “reddish face.” Whether the name refers to the ochre hue of the mountain bluffs in the region or is a Twana Indian reference to the chief of the mythical salmon people is a […]

Huck, Jimmy and me

Posted by Ken Campbell May 12, 2009 0 Comment 920 views

I remember being about 10 or 11 years old and feeling quite excited at the idea of being Huck Finn. Floating all day on the mighty Mississippi, doing petty crimes with his best pal Tom: his life seemed to me to be a fine one, one that I would like to have as well. As […]

Staircase memories

Posted by Ken Campbell May 11, 2009 1 Comment 973 views

Before there was an Olympic National Park, there were a number of private lodges and resorts that operated in various spots around the peninsula. Enchanted Valley and Olympic Hot Springs come to mind. Also Staircase. I don’t think about Staircase as wilderness exactly, there is too much activity for that. Still, not nearly as much […]

Road work

Posted by Ken Campbell May 9, 2009 1 Comment 1145 views

At the moment, there are several significant ghost roads that lead into Olympic National Park. When I say “ghost roads,” what I’m talking about are the many miles of roadway that were once open to vehicles, that have since been closed as a result of slides, washouts and other rain-related injuries. Two of the most […]

A Warming trend

Posted by Ken Campbell May 7, 2009 0 Comment 970 views

The road to Staircase, Forest Service Road 24, was reopened last week after its winter closure. It’s been shut down just past the Mount Rose subdivision since last October, but according to the Park Service, there is now full access to the Staircase area. The road closes in the winter now because of what is […]

How young is too old?

Posted by Ken Campbell May 6, 2009 0 Comment 1060 views

I have been thinking a lot lately about trees. More specifically, I’ve been thinking of climbing them. Not all of them, just one big one, on the right day, climb it to the top, or as close as I can get. Is it juvenile of me to be running this daydream? Is climbing trees an […]