Skiing, yo.

Skiing is awesome. Alfred, Zach, and Kerstin skied with me today. We went up towards Sacagawea Peak and skied some mellow, low-angle stuff. I went halfway off the road on the way up (operator error, not particularly treacherous roads) but Alfred, Zach, and Kerstin pushed the car back on the road while I floored the gas, a feat that was only possible because they are as strong as oxen. Then I got a flat. I fixed that and drove the rest of the road with non-full-size donut spare. We started skinning at about nine, which is a little late considering that we left the house at seven, but not bad considering that I had already gotten pseudo-stuck and changed a tire. The snow was variable, but the coverage was sufficient, and it was great to get back on skis. I'm still horrible at making telemark turns. Horrible meaning almost incapable. It was fun, and we found a protected gully full of soft snow which made everything okay. We got back into town a couple of minutes past noon, after driving back at about 35 with the hazard lights on. The world looks different at 35. Here are some lifestyle shots:

Hm

It's been a while since I updated this blog with anything worth saying. But that sentence is useless.

What I've been up to:
Reading a bunch of British novels and Western Literature, and a French novel about a North African immigrant living in Paris and the trials of her life. I've been thinking about these books, talking about these books, and writing analytical essays about these books. I'm really enjoying my classes, but they're somewhat demanding, so I haven't had time for much else other than work and school. Mountain biking season is officially over, but the snow isn't sincerely here yet. My brother skied last weekend in variable snow, which made me jealous. I went to a cabin with the French club, which was fun.

The plan is to go to the East coast over Thanksgiving to see my entire extended family on my mother's side. I'm looking forward to it, but expect the event to be chaotic.

The literature I'm reading is stimulating, and I'm sure I'll never think or write the same way again, which is encouraging. I'm at a point of development, I hope. It's a little like being adolescent and feeling intense pains in limbs that are growing, except it's my brain. The old adage holds true: the more we learn, the more we realize that we can never know. It is a horrible anxiety of confusion, a complete lack of understanding that can only come with understanding something.

I've started writing more, which makes me think even more about who I am and where I fit and what I want to do. I don't think these problems of identity and place have solutions, but what else is there to do but search them out?

I'm still doing my radio show, which is a lovely little part of my life that I enjoy furiously. I'm on this Wednesday at 6AM MST.

That's it, I guess, a short summary of where I think I am right now, without really summarizing anything. I'm not sure what the purpose of this blog is. It started as a place to brag about my exploits, but rapidly devolved into a place to dump words and pictures every month or so. Now I'm not so sure. It feels more like a diary, the type of blog that used to repulse me.

It is what it is, and this is it.

VOTE!

Seriously.

We live in a Democratic Republic, and the only opportunity we have to voice our opinions is on the ballot.

Don't cast a vote based on your own personal insecurities. Don't vote based on misgivings or on character attacks. Vote for the candidate that represents you, vote in the way the drafters of our constitution intended. Vote for a person who will make the decisions you would like to see made. Vote for the candidate who will do what you want done in Iraq, in our Economy. Vote for the candidate who will make the social policy changes you'd like to see made, for the candidate who will appoint supreme court justices that you would like to see appointed. Vote based on careful analysis of policy. Vote.

Creek Crossings

Since most (if not all) of the trails around Bozeman follow drainages up into the hills, creek crossings are abundant. This post is about them.

Here's Katie preparing to navigate a rocky crossing, on the way back down South Cottonwood.


This is Evan, braving the cold meltwater about a mile from Emerald Lake

Here's pat, ambitiously attempting a creek crossing on South Cottonwood. I've never seen anybody clean this. To be fair, there was an awful lot of water.



Here's me, on a log crossing in Big Sky's North Fork.



Also, random notes:

Helmet Hair is awesome:


Bike rack stability testing:



It shames me to say it, but I'm starting to get excited for snow. I'm still going mountain biking about twice a week, and will continue until the weather forbids it.

Oops again.

I keep forgetting about this thing.

News:
-My radio showtime has changed. I am now doing a show every other week from 6-9AM Mountain Standard Time, starting September 24.

This past month or so:

-I celebrated a birthday (by combining road biking and hiking to create an 8-hour psuedo-adventure)
-Mountain biked (more) including The North Fork in Big Sky and Lost Cabin Lake in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge area (pictures follow), as well as the more local haunts.
-Participated in another alleycat (2nd place, same day as Lost Cabin Lake)
-Set up a home shop area in the garage (for bicycle repairs, of course)
-Helped my brother build a mountain bike.
-Developed a crippling addiction to parentheses and dashes.

Not particularly noteworthy, but pretty fun stuff. Excellent summer, all around.

Pictures to follow when my internet connection stops being a pain.

Why Montana?

Everytime I find myself in a conversation with somebody that I have either just met or don't know that well but feel obliged to talk to, my choice of University is always a topic. I have finally developed the perfect answer to this question.



[Person I don't know that well]: Why did you choose to go to school in Montana?

[Me]:

Oops.

It's been over a month since I updated this blog, which I don't feel so guilty about since I've probably got about two readers.

I don't have photos, because lately I've been making a habit of forgetting to bring important things on my adventures (like cameras), but here's a short list of stuff that I've done in the past month:

-Visited my parents in Texas
-Applied for a daytime radio slot (fingers crossed)
-Gone mountain biking every Saturday and Sunday without fail, and also some weekdays. Trails included:
*Emerald Lake
*Truman Gulch
*History Rock to South Cottonwood
*The Bangtail Divide
*Little Wapiti Creek
*Hood Creek
*Mystic Lake
-Bruised my thigh (guess how)
-Employed the services of a plumber to fix a broken hose bib
-Contacted the tech guys at MSU to figure out why my school email was disabled (it's fixed)
-Met Kassy's Parents
-Gone yardsale-ing most every Saturday morning, and even found some treasures like a waffle iron and a three-piece suit
-Painted my room
-Built a new bicycle (yes, another one)

Kassy's Father (Dr. Bill Lynass): You sure tie up a lot of money in bikes.
Me: Well, I've been saving since February for this one, but yes, it's kind of a priority.

It's a Surly Cross Check built very much like an older road bike, with modern conveniences. I had the opportunity to ride a bike that wasn't perfect for me for about two years, and in doing so learned what I wanted and didn't want in a bike. The first issue was the size - my old bike was far to big for me. The skinny tires gave a harsh ride, and only a rear fender left my feet soggy and filthy. The fixed gear was fun for cruising around town, but extremely impractical for longer distances. I loved the feel of the steel frame, the Brooks Saddle, and the shape of the handlebars, so those are the things I carried over to this bike. Every other component choice was a strategic decision made to eliminate past problems. This is the result:


The cranks, pedals, derailleurs, handlebars, and saddle were all either on my previous bike or spare parts that I had lying around. I chose downtube shifters because they're simple, reliable, and they look good. The full length fenders were chosen for near-perfectly dry riding in the rain, and wide tires for maximum comfort on bumpy roads and maximum control on gravel & dirt. Most of the components are sensible and Japanese.

I've been getting more comments on the handlebar tape than anything else about the bike. The tape looks like leather, and while Brooks does make leather tape, it costs $70 a roll, and it wasn't in the budget. The tape is Cinelli natural cork tape ($12-$15) coated with three coats of amber shellac. I learned about this trick from Rivendell bicycle works - a bunch of retrogrouch cyclists who advocate high handlebars, wide tires, full fenders, and a leisurely pace. The shellac keeps the tape from getting grimy, repels water, and makes the tape look like glowing leather.

Needless to say, I'm thrilled about it.

Also, I've been listening to a shameful amount of new music. My favorite over these past few weeks has been a band called Meho Plaza. They play electro-noise punk, similar to No Age and HEALTH, but with incredible melodies. Their new album is self titled, only about 35 minutes long, and great.