Talking Story Archives - Page 97 of 114

The mountains are out

Posted by Ken Campbell March 12, 2009 0 Comment 980 views

It’s a clear day again today, clear and cold. The wind isn’t packing the power that it had yesterday, but it’s just as icy. It was blowing more yesterday morning, and the juxtaposition of the freezing temps on one side and the azure skies and eye-numbing sunlight on the other was unsettling. It looks like […]

Back to the Lion

Posted by Ken Campbell March 11, 2009 0 Comment 970 views

I just confirmed the times and dates for my classes and presentations at the Port Angeles Sea Kayak Symposium, April 17 -19. It’s a kayaking rendezvous that I try to get to every year, even though it’s not the biggest or the most convenient one on the calendar. The reason that I enjoy it as […]

Lurching forward

Posted by Ken Campbell March 8, 2009 0 Comment 981 views

I remember one time, when I was eight or nine, it snowed at a church picnic I went to. In July. But that was Newfoundland, where the only two seasons are Winter and July, and some years you may not actually get the second season. Here in western Washington, the forecast calls for snow in […]

What else can’t I take?

Posted by Ken Campbell March 7, 2009 0 Comment 956 views

I first started exploring the idea of ultralight backcountry travel last summer, with a hiking/climbing trip to the high point of the Dosewallips watershed. It was a new experience for me, and the lighter load allowed me a great deal more freedom. There were sacrifices in comfort – the ultralight sleeping pad, ¾ length, presented […]

The Ides of March

Posted by Ken Campbell March 5, 2009 0 Comment 945 views

What was, overall, a rather benign February has been changed into the typical boisterous March. Or so it seems to me. If there are blue streaks in the sky, it is because of the icy winds blowing gashes through the clouds. This month often seems to be nature’s way of reminding man and beast that […]

Recess

Posted by Ken Campbell March 4, 2009 0 Comment 980 views

I was listening to the radio last week and I heard an interview with Philippe Petit, the Frenchman who first hit the public consciousness with his 1974 high-wire traverse from one of the World Trade Center towers to the other. The interview was wide-ranging, with comments on Petit’s other exploits as well as his assertion […]

Puget Sound Challenge – Day 2

Posted by Ken Campbell March 3, 2009 0 Comment 822 views

I suppose the conditions could have been worse, but they were plenty bad as it was. After the long, hot ride of day one, where I glided on glassy water smooth as oiled velvet, this second day on the water was quite the contrast. Then again, just getting on the water was an epic in […]

Revising distance

Posted by Ken Campbell March 2, 2009 0 Comment 922 views

About a hundred years ago, or so it seems to me now, I went on a little kayak trip around Bainbridge Island. My paddling partner was Jason Boone, a good friend of mine who had just finished building his own kayak, and wanted to take it someplace interesting for its maiden voyage. I suggested Bainbridge […]

Puget Sound Challenge – Day 1

Posted by Ken Campbell March 1, 2009 0 Comment 781 views

I couldn’t have wished for better weather, especially here at the end of February. The sky was pure blue, shot through with puffy clouds out of the south. The air was warm and the water was calm. I had driven out to Menard’s Landing, out past Tahuya, and left the van in a parking area […]

More details later

Posted by Ken Campbell March 1, 2009 0 Comment 903 views

Stand Up for Watertrails Part I Belfair – Dawatto Bay Feb 27 Belfair State Park – Menard’s Landing 12 NMFeb 28 Menard’s Landing – Dewatto Bay 6 NM Came up a little short today. Brutal shuttles both days, but today especially. Yesterday was like a dream… perfect calm water, blue sky. I jumped in twice […]