First Week Back

First week back in the States started with there being very little snow and now it wont stop. Having bought a Telemark setup a while ago I feel a bit like I am learning to ski again but with more ability to cheat (Amber shouting "those arent tele turns" on saturday confirmed my level of cheating). Lots of skiing and a tiny bit of climbing and sorting stuff out has been my last week, great to be back in oregon and seeing lots of friends. I also managed a brief stop in holland on my way here to see Kate, Kees and Jack where my drawing skills were put to a serious test (Jack is 20months old and likes to tell people what to draw - snails = easy, goat = difficult (no really try drawing a goat!))

Sunrise from Kate and Kees's house (theres a windmill in there somewhere)

Chris about to start bbqing in the snow on friday night
Whitney skiing onto the top of hoodoo with Mt washington and the Sisters behind.
Rime iced trees with Washington and the sisters
Ryan being an extremely attentive belayer
A friend of Ryans (sorry - forgot your name) going for it at Smith
Kate and jack on the beach.

Just a couple more weeks before work so more skiing, maybe some mountaineering (if it ever stops snowing) and hopefully some climbing.

38 to 5 degrees C

Almost three weeks in Australia with Anna and Dad then my annual visit to the USA Embassy in London followed by a couple of days in the rough bounds of western Scotland. I now feel thoroughly confused about time zones, temperatures and generally whats going on. A mix of photos here from the last few weeks.

Ruaridh coming up onto the first summit of our traverse of the Munros North of Glen Dessary out to Loch Nevis (Heavy packs with the addition of a bag of coal makes for some heavy slogging through both snow and bog)
Sitting by the fire in A'Chuil bothy at the head of Loch Arkaig, we walked into here on the friday night and then on to Sourlies Bothy for the Saturday night.
The lower falls of the Pattack before it flows into Loch Laggan.
Snow on the beach by the Pattack as the swollen river rushes by.
A very wet (and slightly pissed off) stag by the side of the road on Loch Arkaig.
Anna teaching Dad how to drive in Mabel the Series 2 landrover
Sunset from the street outside Annas house in Cowaramup WA
Dad with a Snook (?) on a day our fishing (the only fish we caught)
Dad driving "Alfred" at Whalesback rock.

Tommorrow its off to Holland on my way back to Oregon then eventually some work in a few weeks. Before then hopefully some skiing, climbing and mountaineering......