I'm supposed to stick my hands where?

In there?

Here.

So you can see this!

Double Waterfall for Climbing Over Cancer

First outdoor climb of the season, for the reason of training for Climbing Over Cancer 

The way up - My first mixed route

View from the top

Unexpected Work View

Occasionally I get on a rooftop with a decent view

June In January

When In Doubt, More Cowbell

My first enduro race today. 90 miles of singletrack with some fireroad thrown in for good measure at the Cowbell Enduro in Mendocino NF.  Awesome.

learn about "minutes" "tests" "burning check points" "roll charts" "resets" and all that enduro jazz from some good folks.  Big Thanks to Austin for hosting everyone.
stay up till 2 getting bikes dialed in, ya know: rebuilding the engine, installing brake coolers, changing tires & sprockets, etc.  Big Thanks to Adam for letting me ride his bike.
wake up before 7 to overcast sky with snow/rain in forecast

RACE!

Nature threw its best at us: clouds, snow rain, hail...

Course Designers tried too: bike swallowing ruts (drag your handlebars!), roots, hill climbs, descents...

And we'll be back for more!

Top of the Contiguous USA

We woke up @ 3 am to hike to the top of the contiguous United States

looking back @ campsite area

breakfast @ 12,000 ft

after breakfast, the trail went straight up to the nano-sphere.  its called "99 switchbacks."  to the right of the switchbacks is "the chute" which was full of snow, and we could have avoided the switchbacks by donning crampons and heading up it.  

at the top of the switchbacks after climbing 1,000 feet, the trail crossed the snow field a few times.  the wind was gusting up to 50 mph at this time, but luckily the sun was shining keeping the snow soft.  Thanks to Nathaniel and his generous loaning of mountaineering equipment, we had no problem with this section.  

Once past the snowfields, just have to walk on the ridge with a 1,000 foot drop the the right, and a 1,500 foot drop to the left.  while the wind is blowing @ 20 mph and gusting to 50 mph.  no biggie.

view from the top to the east

Just when you think you've accomplished something significant, you meet someone who makes you think otherwise.  We asked a guy to take the obligatory top of the contiguous USA pose, only to find out he started hiking @ the Mexico border, and was on his way to Canada.  dang.  let alone the two guys we saw running down the mountain the day before.  they ran to the top, also. double dang.

By this time we were exhausted, sleep deprived, thirsty, wind and sun burnt and gulping as much oxygen as we could at 14,505 feet.  And now we have to walk back down?  Just want to sleep... altitude is a strong sedative.

We scurried down, packed up camp, and scurried further down.  Made it to the bottom as the propertier of the store @ Whitney Portal was turning the window sign to "closed."  He still sold us beer.  Celebratory!

next day blisters over the Kern River

We drove back via Bakersfield.  Kern River Valley below, quite the contrast of what water does for the region.

---next topic---- The Best Ideas

The best ideas never seem that great while they are happening.  They are always better when thought of, usually with a beer in hand; or when reminiscing with a beer in hand.  Anyone else see a pattern?

I don't know if you are aware, but Mt Whitney is the highest point in the contiguous United States (shout out for the big word).  160 people per day are allowed to hike to the top, but one needs to apply in February, when the mountain is still covered in snow.

So what happens when in mid-July the mountain is STILL covered in snow?  why, climb to the top of course.

sleepy mountain

good idea still? better think about it over coffee

lake @ 10,000' full of 6-12" trount

Thanks to some great advice from a co-worker who has some experience with altitude, we decided to camp @ Outpost Camp, located @ 10,000 ft instead of the higher, more popular campground.  It was a good choice, because narby there was a lake.  We spent the afternoon "acclimating" by reading books and catching fish next to the trail that people were huffing up and down with 50 lb packs.