Thanksgiving

So! This Thanksgiving break we decided that hanging around freezing-cold Provo was just soooo lame, and that a nice backpacking trip to warmer climes down south (Zion's National Park) would be most enjoyable.

We expected this:

Instead we got this:

And this:

And this:

But not this:

The plan was to stay three nights, but the backcountry ranger showed us the weather forecast, the most interesting part being a high of 17 on Wednesday. So we decided to skip out Tuesday evening. Even so, we got to enjoy a low of about 5 degrees Monday night. My camera's battery died that night, so Shtee will have to provide the photographic evidence after that.

Monday morning:

A tree:

View from Monday night campsite (Shtee's camera):

What we are looking at (seriously):

The end.

Update

Yes! I'm still alive.
Yes! I still plan on putting more stuff on this blog.
Yes! I know most people have forgotten about this blog.
No! My computer doesn't work yet.
Yes! I have some adventures to report on.

-Sam

The Verdict Is In, From A 3.97 Year Old

Kathleen: You have lots of hairs on your face.
Me: I do?
Kathleen: Yeah.
Me: Do you think I should shave them off?
Kathleen: Yes!
Me: Well, if you say so...
Kathleen: So!

The Glacier Lake Incident

Mid May. A day off, which we quickly turned into two. Three backpacks, one van, one tent and one stove (and some other things). It began innocently enough.













How were we to know the creeks would be flooded with ice melt? (Oh I don't know, Sam, maybe the snow still on the mountains, the temperature being about 60 degrees, the soaked trail, a season commonly referred to as SPRING...)


















The intrepid explorers cross a flooded beaver dam, two of them forced to cross in their underwear.














But what do you do if you can't find your pants afterward? Continue on valiantly, of course.







The end.

Sung to tune of "Song about Sibbie"

Don't you ever ever ever ever ever spend your money on a Sony.
And I will never ever ever ever ever spend...

Hey, what?? Where's that beat coming from?!

Using an employee computer in Copper Center, AK, pop 250 (hotel staff and guests easily doubling that). Heading back across Denali Highway tomorrow, after which I should be reunited with my repaired computer, allowing me to post pictures and things. Assuming, of course, they give me both enough time to sleep and do things of my choosing. End of post.

Pleasantly Surprised

Today, my day off, I decided it was time to get my computer fixed. The last time I attempted to get it sent in (it's still under warranty) I ended up wasting about two and a half hours with an Indian woman who simply would not accept that it was a hardware problem.

So I girded up my loins and prepared for battle. Claim numbers, warranty receipt and external hard drive in hand, I calmly explained my situation to the technician after navigating the call menu. I was shocked when he explained what was likely causing the problem with my screen, pleased when he told me no more diagnostics were necessary and thrilled when he asked for my address so he could ship me a box to send the computer in (for free).

It's nice to be pleasantly surprised.