Simer's Trip Report

“NICE!!!!”

“OMG....awesome!!!!
...thanks for sharing!!!”

“I was the instructor for the final 24 days of the students' 95 day semester. The course culminated in a 110 mile trek through the canyons of southern Utah, the students got to use all of the skills they had acquired throughout their course and took almost total control over this section, which ended up being entirely non-technical, though we attempted a technical decent of a slot canyon, the weather prevented us from progressing past the first rappel. The weather was incredible, I didn't use my rain coat or sleep inside a tent for the entire section. The section/course ended with a 5 day independent travel expedition through the Dark Canyon Wilderness, bringing us back to where we started, just outside of Natural Bridges National Monument.

All of the pictures can be found here: http://travel.webshots.com/album/569445295VyCPlP”

“I will post a sampling of pictures soon, so only the very dedicated have to sift through all 217 pics.
last edited: 1/01/09 7:14:50 PM”

“Nice. Looks like you came a long way since TC2.”

“Day One - There's the students, and my co-instructors.


Exploring an Anasazi Ruin


Hiking through White canyon, My hiking group for the day in the foreground, another student hiking group in the background


Oachomo Bridge


A snowy Morning


Firelit campsite


Site with a view


Technical Decent of a Slot Canyon Attempt


I have to include some sunset pics







Moonrise


Dark Canyon


Photography


Hiking in Dark Canyon

last edited: 1/01/09 8:38:19 PM”

“Hey simer
Cool pictures. I am signed up for another NOLS trip. This time winter outdoor educator. Next Wednesday I am flying to Denver. Stay there a couple of days and then onwards to Idaho Falls. The course starts 11th Jan.
Looking at the huge backpacks (in the first picture) makes me feel sick though. Had that on the Wind River trip and I remember it wasn´t fun to carry.”

“Heck yeah, those are big freaking packs! What's in them? How much do they weigh?

On that slot canyon pic, was that after a recent rainstorm? I can't remember a time when I voluntarily entered a slot canyon during or after recent rain activity. I usually stay out of the desert entirely then.”

“Packs on a course are always huge, there's almost no avoiding it, unless you're on a fast and light course - even then it's not possible to get the pack as light as I might be able to on a solo weekend trip. It's something you get used to though, What's in there? Enough gear for a month - most of the bulky stuff is school provided group gear, not exactly designed to be light and compact, mostly designed to be durable and last several courses per year. Packs generally weigh between 40 and 50 lbs.

We were not in the slot canyon after recent rain activity, well recent is a relative term - but that particular canyon is almost always wet in that section, most slot canyons are very rarely ever dry entirely - the water evaporates slowly.”

“I just posted the pics and very short TR from my NOLS course of this fall, I have talked some about the road trip that I did immediately following that trip, which was awesome. The first Section of this trip kept us in the area I was for the NOLS course, we saw many of the same things, but did some of the technical stuff I wasn't able to do on the course. We did some canyoneering, and backpacking down into the canyons in and around Natural Bridges before heading over to Zion and doing some more technical slot canyons there.

Utah Pics: http://travel.webshots.com/album/569468057uZLjUD

Then the trip brought us into Nevada, where we checked out as many Hot Springs as we could before doing some climbing at Red Rock outside of Vegas. Pictures: http://travel.webshots.com/album/569466815KJdTFF

After that we made our way into California, did some more climbing at Joshua Tree, Did a quick drive through of sequoia and yosemite before heading to the coast to check out the redwoods, then we drove home in a snowstorm. I'll have pictures of California uploaded later.”

“Bonnaroo!

Incredible, Amazing, Awesome - I can't say enough. After 14 hour drive and 9 hours in line I finally made it to my site along with 80,000 others. Bummed slightly that I missed the Hockey set, but still had enough time to catch Chairlift, People under the stairs and Midnite before Heading to bed early at 3am.

Lazed around all morning before hitting the cinema tent for some airconditioned relief from the relatively pleasant 85 degrees outside, watched half of Cold Souls - only after catching most of the Gomez set. Came back out for Animal Collective, Saw Bela Fleck, TV on the Radio, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Beastie Boys, David Byrne, all before setting up for an incredible set by Phish.

I started saturday with a more intimate setting at the sonic stage with a set from chairlift. Caught the Heartless Bastards, Booker T, Bon Iver, and Gov't Mule, before making it to Wilco. Amazing. Caught the end of Mars Volta, and then went to Bruce Springsteen, where I laid on the lawn and enjoyed a nap. Ended the night with NIN, MGMT, and eventually passed out after partying hard with Paul Oakenfold for several hours.

Sunday began with myself in the front row for Cage the Elephant! Incredible. Watched Ted Leo, Citizen Cope, Todd Snyder, Andrew Bird, Coheed and Cambria, and half of the set from Snoop Dog before skipping out, on the final Phish set in order to make the 26 hr drive to Lander WY in time for my briefing.

Pictures and a few Videos: http://entertainment.webshots.com/album/573076126KroKAg”

“wow... not a bad way to kick off a trip to the Winds!”

“Man, you live the life. Enjoy that month in the mtns!”

“hippies hate death metal, all we have to do is get to the sound stage, put in this slayer album, and they'll start to disperse!!!”

“LOL”

“roam around.....god damn it I love you!!!”

““hippies hate death metal, all we have to do is get to the sound stage, put in this slayer album, and they'll start to disperse!!!”
OPIE
12:06:54 PM
6/18/09

Cartman did the same thing last night on South Park when the town was overrun with hippies.

LOL


Kerry King, Slayer's lead guitarrist, said that he found the episode humorous and expressed his interest in the show, mentioning it in an interview, saying "It was good to see the song being put to good use. If we can horrify some hippies, we've done our job."
last edited: 6/18/09 8:07:47 PM”

“Cheers to all the TTers out there!

Just rolled into the snowy MN from 6 weeks on the road. A personal trip that involved myself and 9 others during various times. We started with a week of canyoneering in Utah (with only one epic, unplanned bivy), followed by a week of climbing at Red Rocks outside of Vegas(with an epic, planned, 21st birthday in Vegas). This was followed by some climbing and canyoneering through Arizona, and even a couple days of caving. After everyone went their separate directions, I spend a week in texas doing whatever I felt like doing(involving some epic disc golf). Then I drove home. Pictures will be uploading throughout the night:

http://travel.webshots.com/album/576029506vTOCCj”

“Stint ye jangle! This be a backpacking site - nay canyoneering and climbing! lol.

Sounds like goooood times.”

“nice way to spend your leisure time.”

“holy cow, what great pics. no I am not jealous you bastard!!!

So glad to hear your doing well and a Happy delayed Birthday!

PS, has Forest retired? I did not see him on this road trip. of is he on vacation in Fla :)”

“I viewed the pics, too. I dare say you lads could stand a little more sun - bless your hearts!”

“Happy half birthday you mean?

gojo - the backpacking was included in the "unplanned bivy" we tried this ultralight thing:



Ah, poor forest, he wanted to come along so bad - He's not very good at climbing or rappelling, to minimize hassle he kept my mom company. Funny you should ask though, he did retire, retired from flyball, he's had a chronic limp since he was young, as far as the vet can tell me, there's nothing physically wrong with him, but it looks like he's done racing.”

“aww too bad. well give the old (but still young at heart) pooch and wet kiss from me.

oh and you too !”

“I enjoy seeing these TRs every year. Thanks for sharing.”