In addition to work and science, last week I spent some time ascending ice in Alaska! Rome and I rented a car and drove north from Anchorage to the Matanuska Glacier [map]. There we met our guide, got geared up, and headed into the white. It is amazing to see a 26 mile glacier snaking into the huge snow-capped mountains looming all around.
This Saturday a troop of friends made our way out of the concrete and steel that holds Atlanta together and ventured North in search of rocks, trees, birds, and waterfalls. We came to rest in the Tallulah Gorge. This place could still remember when it was an untouched natural wonder. Today, it’s hiking trails have been replaced by paved sidewalks and metal staircases. These staircases and hand-railed trials took us to see some beautiful waterfalls and overlooks, but also led us into the arms of danger…
This Saturday I took my second expidition into the earth. I went with ORGT caving on a trip into Cagel’s Cavern. This cave has an awesome entrance; a 160′ pit that goes straight down. Looking over the edge with nothing but a rope tied to a little tree to keep you from accelerating too quickly towards the bottom can get your heart pumping!
However, after a few rappels, you get the trick of it and you are flying down the ropes! What a rush. Inside, its a very nice view to the top. After enjoying that for a few minutes, we went exploring. I like the old quote from inside a hole in the cave somewhere, “Wow, its tight in here… hey… I don’t think there’s a way through… oh wait…. SWEET! Come on!”
We heard that a few times as we were making our way! This is a really cool way to spend a Saturday. Look out for more caving posts as the year goes on. If only there were cool caves that weren’t 200 miles away.
Earlier this week I returned from Phoenix, Arizona. I go there periodically to visit my father who lives there, but on this particular trip, I did something more. A friend of mine who works with the research group I was involved in during my undergrad (CATEA) published a paper to a conference in Phoenix.
The paper was the continuation (and improvement) of a project I started long, long, ago in 2005. In fact, you can check here for some info about it. This paper was so good that it was worth a free trip for both of us to present it at the RESNA conference.
Of course, I didn’t spend too much time inside, dressed up, talking about papers. I spent most of the trip visiting with my dad and his new wife. We relaxed in the back yard, checked out the pash shopping and dining of Phoenix, and hid from the 115 degree heat!
One day we drove North to a cool town called Sedona which has lots of great hiking and rock formations. Here’s me at the end of ‘Long Canyon.’ It was a nice little 10 mile hike, and where I’m standing in this picture is one of the several “Power Vortices” in Sedona. (I certainly felt more powerful than usual!)
This weekend, my buddies Ryan, Ian, and I went for a bonanza hiking/camping trip on the Georgia/Tennessee Border. Over the course of 24 hours we:
It was a great trip. As an exercise in ‘minimalist camping’ we took only 1 tarp and a blanket to sleep on. While it made the packs lighter for the hike, it certainly made it a wet night when it started raining and blowing fierce wind at the top of the ridge where we were camping!
Check out some of the pictures:
The tree of us on a rock.
Me in front of Jack’s River Falls.
Yikes! 25 Foot jump!
Mmmmm. Hot soup after a long day.
Today I returned from Phoenix, Arizona… isn’t it beautiful? 
This was a Spring Break trip for me and it was a lot of fun. I got to see my dad (who lives there), 
We enjoyed ourselves… as usual. A major highlight was the trip to Sedona. We did some hiking, visited some vortices, and met some interesting critters.
In Phoenix, we amused ourselves at the local improv comedy club, at supper clubs wathcing live jazz, and at the sushi bar where, “all the hot girls hang out.”
I always have a good time in Phoenix. This time was not different. It was a relaxing way to spend half of a spring break… now back to work!
This weekend I traveled to Stonington, CT to visit my uncle. He is the motivation behind my healthy diet choices. In fact he is working on a new website highlighting some of his research and experiences: harmonyearth.net. He is a great guy, and an excellent sailor… In fact, we spent the weekend on the water in his 14′ boat. 
Something about sailboats is romantic and poetic. Powerful and ancient. Harnessing nature to cut through the water as our ancestors have done for millennia. Slicing the air and sea faster than men can run. No motor, no complex cacophony of combustion. Just the wind, the sea, and a little bit of magic.
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