The Centennial Valley is an unforgettable place, a 50-mile long east-west rift in the Rocky Mountain crust bordered by snowcapped peaks and jagged ridges, a remote destination for outdoor enthusiasts like me.  I have fond memories of the valley, all reinforced by numerous visits over many years.  This visit was a reconnaissance mission to observe … Continue reading OF MOUSE AND MAN

I descended Todie seven or eight years ago, but it wasn’t entirely a pleasant experience.  I vaguely remember the route, a short canyon rim stroll, a rubble strewn descent, a labyrinth of large boulders on the canyon bottom, and finally, a turn-around moment, a 10-15 ft vertical pour-off formed by a resistant sandstone ledge.  I … Continue reading TODIE CANYON

I recognized Kelsey immediately.  Thin, agile, closely-cropped beard, cargo shorts, cap and bandana covering ears and neck, and that ubiquitous faded red t-shirt.  A water proof Pelican micro case was strapped to the front of his belt.  I own the sixth edition of his book, Canyon Hiking Guide to the Colorado Plateau.  I use it … Continue reading IT’S A MUD HOLE

According to Wikipedia, pie is “a baked dish usually made from a pastry dough casing that…contains a filling of various sweet or savory ingredients.”  In other words, crust makes the pie, and since the creation of flour and baked grains goes way back in time, pies are indeed very old.  Pie has been traced to … Continue reading PIES

I made numerous trips to the Chicago area to see my mom.  I usually flew, either because I lacked extra time or I just couldn’t deal with the boredom of interstate driving in the Midwest.  In March, 2009 I drove there.  Paula Dyman was in an assisted-living facility in St. Charles, Illinois, and I was … Continue reading STORMS

I was driving north on US-83 when I reached the North Dakota state line.  For some odd reason, I planned to visit Flin Flan and The Pas, Manitoba villages at the northern end of public highways.  I wanted to experience the true end of the road.  The sign for Strasburg, in Emmons County was just … Continue reading SCHMOOZING

I occasionally dream about rattlesnakes, not really nightmares, just strange tales of snake encounters.  This subconscious theater includes snippets of my real past, half baked and incomplete, often with real people I happen to know, or just strangers.  One real snake encounter in the early 1980s no doubt contributed to these dreams.  I was guiding … Continue reading RATTLESNAKES

I had a strange feeling I selected the wrong job.  This was a position with the Branch of Oil and Gas Resources I had been waiting to snag for 18 months while the wheels of government turned ever so slowly in my direction.  One new colleague ate lunch so slowly that the term lunch hour … Continue reading 3041