Unemployed

As of 5 pm today, I joined the ranks of the unemployed (albeit voluntarily). The last of my furniture is all gone (thanks Pam), my cable and internet is no more. No more dishes, Tupperware, utensils, pots or pans, work clothes or hangars. I've exchanged a stationary existence for a somewhat nomadic one.
Monday I head north to Yosemite. No finer way to start this adventure. . .

17 Again

I left home 15 days after I turned 17, with developing wanderlust that has lasted to this day. Now, 34 years later, I'm again heading off into the world, feeling a bit like 17 again. The frailties of the aging body hopefully have been offset by the wisdom and experience gained so far on my journeys.

Times might break you
God forsake you
Leave you burned and bruised
Innocence will teach you
What it feels like to be used

Thought that you'd done everything
You didn't have a clue

And it feels like I'm 17 again
Feels like I'm 17 again

Looking from the outside in
Some things never change
Funny how it seems like yesterday ... 
(thanks to the Eurythmics)

A Boy in the Woods Needs a Few Knives

I don't plan on chopping down trees or building shelters, but a guy needs his knives. The Victorinox Rescue Tool is a must have, especially the handy toothpick. 

• Large Locking Blade (liner lock)
• Phillips Screwdriver
• Window Breaker (removable)
• Strong Screwdriver/Crate Opener
• Bottle Opener
• Wire Stripper
• Reamer, Punch
• Seat belt Cutter
• Key Ring
• Tweezers
• Toothpick
• Disc Saw for Shatterproof Glass (removable)
• Luminescent Handles

 

My carry around all the time knife is the Columbia River Mt. Shasta, a high-carbon, drilled skeleton, stainless-steel construction folding knife.

And for when I'm kayaking, and there may be pirates about, I have the NRS Pilot Knife with the quick release sheath (firmly locks the knife in place and only lets it go when you squeeze both sides of the release). The blunt tip design protects against unintentional puncture of my gear or me!

 

Also, the Gerber Folding Saw very quickly cuts up branches, highly recommended.

 

Outrigger Testing

I took the kayak out this morning to Mariner's Cove to see how the outriggers performed. I installed them yesterday (very simple procedure) and got up early this morning so that if I sunk the kayak or did a header off the side while standing up, no one would see me and blog about it.

The outrigger gear allows for me to raise the pontoon just out of the water (for less drag and less stability). However, I didn't notice much difference in the drag when they were fully down or slightly above the waterline. The pontoons flow very smoothly through the water. 

I know you can't see me, but really, I am standing up. Very stable! Then I did a handstand, and a cartwheel. Okay, those last two are not true.
When stopped, the outrigger system stabilizes the kayak very well and should allow me to take pictures with a steadier hand. Lots of kayaking will tell how well they hold up, but so far I am very pleased with their performance and stability.

Now, I don't claim to know very much about boats, but this boat seems to be floating a bit low in the water. Maybe it's me. . .

No Sushi for Me

Well, maybe some raw salmon if I can catch one wandering by...
Otherwise, I have these to boil my water:
JetBoil makes a really cool ultracompact, insulated 1 liter unit that weighs about a pound. Lights with the click of a button, and boils water in about two minute. I can store the fuel canister inside as well. The MSR PocketRocket is my backup stove, should the JetBoil get uppity. The PocketRocket is very small and sounds like a jet engine when I light it!

The Pinnacle Soloist is a spiffy mug/bowl combo with a crushproof lid and an insulated sleeve. It all fits together and can accomodate a fuel canister in the welded stuff sack that also doubles as a sink.

The Sea to Summit X-bowls are neat, flattening down when not needed. Perfect for my morning gruel.

Res Ipsa Loquitur

I wonder if I spend too much time trying to get at the root of issues, conflicts and personalities of those around me. To try and find out what someone is really thinking, or what they meant when they said this or that. Does the quest for this understanding reflect my insecurity and my fears? Does it give me power or control to think I truly understand someone or something? Does this “knowing” I supposedly acquire validate me somehow?

But can I ever truly know? Or is it chasing wisps of smoke that keep slipping through my hands whenever I close my fist?

I have found some comfort lately in res ipsa loquitur, "the thing itself speaks" (or more often translated "the thing speaks for itself.") Actions of others (and of myself) can speak the words that I will never hear, or say.

I want to start to accept more what someone does as a true indicator of what they meant to say. Even if someone is unsure or conflicted, I need to hold him or her capable of coming to terms within themselves, and to define the correct course of action. I need this for myself as well, and let my actions speak my words so that I am not unclear or misunderstood.

My actions should be the best indicator of my life’s direction.

Help! and Where the Heck am I? Gear

What is a geek without his geek things?? Here are a few of my gadgets that I will use while mucking about in the Final Frontier:
Most importantly, should the poop hit the fan, I have the Fast Find 210. It is a powerful waterproof 406 distress beacon with a built-in integral 50-channel GPS for additional pinpoint location, further speeding up my rescue by the search and rescue folks. The 210 transmits the two signals simultaneously, one to the global 406 MHz satellite system, and the other (121.5MHz) is to speed up the local recovery response process so I can get pulled out of the water or off of the mountain quicker. Once activated, FAST FIND's signals will continue to transmit for at least 24 hours. It also includes a SOS LED flash light to further assist in night time rescues.
It will operate in temperatures down to -20°c and the battery lasts 5 years.

The Garmin GPSMap 60csx has a high-sensitivity GPS receiver (excellent satellite reception even in heavy tree cover or deep canyons), an electronic compass and altimeter. It is waterproof (although Garmin says it is waterproof, they also say don't get it too wet...go figure). Built-in US autoroute basemap, including highways, exits, and automatic, turn-by-turn directions. More importantly, it also gives me tide data. Nice color display as well! I used it to get to Starbucks the other day by setting the GPS coordinates for the Starbucks at 5th and Robinson and bushwacking through Hillcrest. Pinpoint accurate. Magical.

My radio is the Icom IC-M2A handheld VHF radio (thanks John!). The radio has a rugged waterproof housing that's submersible in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes (take that Garmin!). The radio works with all 57 U.S., 61 Canadian, and 57 international channels (in case I get lost and find myself in Russia. I've heard you can see it from Alaska), along with 10 weather channels from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (the NOAA channels notify you when inclement weather is approaching).
The IC-M2A also searches through all the tag channels in sequence, has a priority scan mode that does the same but also monitors the distress channel (number 16), and a weather alert option that immediately switches the radio to the appropriate weather channel when a storm warning comes through. Icom says I will "dig the Dual Watch and Tri-Watch functions. The former lets you communicate on a channel of your choice while also keeping an eye on channel 16, while the latter monitors two channels-channel 16 and another channel-while receiving a third channel." Can't wait. :)

And for when the batteries or waterproofing fails, I will at least have a spiffy compass to keep me occupied. I have the Brunton 15TCDL compass with mirrored sighting, adjustable declination (accounts for difference between true and magnetic north), and a clinometer (for figuring out slope angles and to estimate danger on avalanche-prone slopes). I'm channeling back to my Boy Scout days, but not much is coming through on the compass training. Better practice and figure out what to use the mirror for besides shaving every now and again.

Outdoor Cuisine

Received my shipment from Pack Lite Foods today. They are supposed to be one of the better freeze dried food purveyors. I chose them because they have way (and I mean w-a-y) less salt than other freeze dried foods (and no msg). Salt is nature's way of adding flavor to food that tastes like cardboard. Lightweight Backpacker reviewed it: "You feel like you've had a home-cooked meal, not like you've been sucking on a salt lick."
These items, my protein drinks, GORP, fruit, and a boatload of Bear Valley Meal Pack and Pemmican Bars should keep me skinny enough so the bears won't want me. Oh, and Starbucks instant coffee of course. I mean, seriously. . .

Yellow

The more astute followers will notice my propensity to choose the color yellow for my kayaking gear. I picked yellow because Killer Whales (really just a very big dolphin) do not eat things that are yellow in Alaska. Enough said.

Maybe Hawaii next??

Maybe I will be off to Hawaii after Alaska so that I can kayak in my boardshorts, with no worry of freezing to death. Just saying. . .

Kayak Gear

I have contributed significantly to the stimulus program through my purchases for Patrick's Big Adventure. Especially to REI, Kokatat, and NRS. Pictured below:  Wilderness Systems Tempest 170; Kokatat Expedition Drysuit; Kokatat Bahia PFD; Kokatat Nomad Boots; NRS Endurance Splash Top; Werner Camano Paddles; NRS Reactor Gloves; and CastleCraft Hydrodynamic Outrigger. I have been told on numerous occasions that I should not go kayaking alone in Alaska because the water is so cold that if I were to flip my kayak, I would have about 15 minutes to get out of the water and back in my kayak before I passed out from hypothermia (and go on meet my maker shortly thereafter). So, because I am stubborn, I have listened and, also because I do not have a death-wish, purchased the outrigger system so that my chances of flipping are practically nil. Even if I do flip it, getting back on a kayak with outriggers is a simple, quick process. I promise to practice. Frequently. I may look like a sissy, but I will be a dry sissy. :)
I have oodles of gear, and will list it as time goes on.
Funny (at least to me) story about the Outriggers. I initially wanted outriggers from a company called Kay-Rak in Vancouver. I called them and spoke with the owner who said they were moving to a new plant and would start back up the first of April. I emailed twice in April and received no answer. I called and got a recording. I called again a few days ago and got the owner's voicemail. However, when he answered this time he used a different company name and didn't return my call. Soooo, on to plan B, outriggers from a company with people who will talk to you and send you things.

Apparently I can't bungee cord everything while camping. So I am practicing my knot tying. . .

A couple of pictures of Sitka

I found these pictures of Sitka in the Coast Pilot 8 book. Just around the corner at the top middle of the first picture is where I will be pitching my tent for a while.
The island connected by the bridge is Japonski Island (it means Japanese in Russian).
That is Mt. Edgecumbe (57°03′05″N 135°45′31″W), in the second picture. It is 3,201 feet tall and I am really looking forward to climbing to the top and having a cup of coffee.

And so it begins. Today I am 51 years old, paused at the crossroads of my life with the wind blowing gently through what is left of my whitening hair. I have given away, thrown away or sold most all that I have accumulated in the past 50 years. All I will take with me down this new road is what can fit in, or on, my car.
The process of assigning a value to my things was an interesting exercise. I found that what really mattered to me were those things given to me by those I love. The rest was just stuff. Over the next 50 years I will focus not on what I can accumulate, but what I can experience.


"Oh, it's a mystery to me
We have a greed with which we have agreed
And you think you have to want more than you need
Until you have it all you won't be free" 
(thanks to Eddie Vedder-"Society")

 I am heading North to Sitka, Alaska (57°3′10″N 135°19′54″W), on May 4, 2010. On the way, I will be stopping at Yosemite, California (37°38′51″N 119°43′07″W), Silver Falls State Park, Oregon (44°51′23″N 122°36′31″W), Seattle, Washington (47°36′35″N 122°19′59″W), then catching the Ferry from Prince Rupert, British Columbia (54°18′44″N 130°19′38″W) to Sitka.