Mountain Weather

We just finished the mountain section of the 50 day Instructors course with some of the most variable weather I have seen in Oregon. The crews set off in snow storms which gradually turned to torrential rain for a day (on top of 2 ft of powder!) before the sun finally showed its face. It seems to have been a great educational experience for everyone with challenging navigation, snow condtions and just staying warm and dry. We are now headed off for the final section - a run of the Owyhee in far eastern Oregon.

The Sisters from the top of the Snow Creek drainage (you can see the groups trail in the left side of the picture). Levi and Trevors crew camped near here with spectacular views for a couple of nights
Trevor and Levi cooking in camp.
The view out of my snow hole on my last night in the mountains - I had been a bit cold in my tarp so thought this might be warmer. Luckily the clouds moved in a little adding to my warmth.
Levi baking some birthday brownies for a student at 930 at night. (For those of you not used to "fry bakes" the fire is on top of the pan to help bake the food properly - its meant to look like that)
Trevor and Levi snow shoeing with North Sister behind
The ladies in Meagan and Lenka's crew showing off their hat hair only 4 days in!
Cailin valiantly slogging it out with a sled helping me resupply the crews with food and fuel. She's actually crossing Green Lake in the this picture on our biggest (10mile) day with the sleds. We were both struggling to stand when we made it to the van as it seems that 100lb (50kg) sleds don't move too well in deep slushy snow.
Broken top from park meadow.

Twelve Thousand Cubic Feet per Second

Just got off the first river section of the Wilderness Educators Course. Lots of snow and some warm days set us up for a massive volume of water in the Deschutes. We put on the river at around 8000cfs (the rivers normal flow is 4500-6000) and it rose every day timing the peak perfectly for the biggest rapids. Rapids that we would normally swim through (Buckskin Mary Rapid) had holes that could stop and surf a paddle raft. Some rapids were no longer present along with campsites and boat ramps. We saw a huge amount of debris in the river including fishing platforms, benches, tables and broken boats. We also saw the Deschutes at one of the best times of year (if you have a dry suit), large water, green grass and amazing wildlife. The crew have one more day on the river before we take them too the mountains (which could be interesting given that the oregon mountains have got an average of about 4 inches of snow a day for the last month!)

Levi pulling through the bottom of a very different looking Boxcar Rapid (Class 3)
Oak springs (Class 3 - 4) at high water - for the oregon folks you can just see the entry to the far left line.
Another one for the oregonians, the top rock of Wapanitia (class 3) with the whole left side washed out.
The boat ramp at Wapanitia (you might be able to guess what nadia is saying to Justin across the parking lot and see a floating picnic bench)
A beautiful morning at Davidson Flat
Rafts tied up at Redside in the evening light
Leaving Davidson Flat with a storm behind.

Black and White World

Today was my first real day back at work for the year though I seem to have made more days into work days recently (when the weathers bad) which will hopefully pay dividends later. Bad weather or rather cloudy skies have made me try and understand black and white photography a little more so here is a selection of black and whites from the last couple of weeks (as well as a sneaky one from Scotland in January). This spring I am again working the Oregon Wilderness Educators Course for 50 days this time joined throughout by Levi and selected appearances from others as the days progress. The last couple of weeks have been great to catch up and climb and ski with lots of people and slowly get ready for the long block of work ahead.

Looking back down the ridge from Three Fingered Jack toward Mt Washington on a dark and lonely ski up through the old burnt trees.
Max leading something (?) at Trout Creek - a new climbing area for me - in the bitter cold (there was snow on the ground!)
Amber pulling through the top move of "Voyage of the Cowdog" (5.9) at Smith Rock with the Crooked River far below. (this is the third and final pitch)
Classic central oregon, Big Old Truck for Sale in a beautiful place (the Three Sisters behind)
Thad leading "JR Token" (5.10) at Trout Creek
The Scottish one - Buachille Etive Mor on a very cold morning with lots of Ice in the Etive river
Steve Baume climbing "Teddy bears picnic" (5.10) at Smith Rock.

First up for work will be the 9 day rock camp at the beautiful Smith Rock.

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......

The last couple of weeks

The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind in lots of different ways. Back home in Scotland over Christmas and Hogmanay (new year) playing in the snow and ice and am now in Australia with my sister (more about that with the last photo). My couple of weeks in Scotland culminated with a great two day ski trip above Loch Callater, lots of snow, my first time on Tele skis and even a warm fire in the lodge.

Bob, Lucy and Robin about Loch Turret on the day of new years eve

Bo

The crew at Hogmanay - Clare, Bob, Ann-Marie, Me, Ruaridh, Lucy, Robin and Ali (the other one) in Robins kitchen

The host in the kitchen again

Bob in the col between Ben Vorlich and the Stuc a Chroin

Looking North towards the Cairngorms on our two day ski trip above Loch Callater

Toby and Ruaridh (with ski boots) inside the very fancy lodge where we were rather surprised to be invited by the bill the caretaker for a couple of drinks and a sit by the fire.

On the top of Ben Dubh on the second day - Ali, Ruaridh, Toby, Robin and Me

Cant have been that cold - Toby going for a run in his ski boots

Skiing in on the first day

Ruaridh with the Cairngorm Mountain range behind

Ali and Robin hit the real snow line.

So now I am out in Australia with my sister Anna after her husband Nick passed away a week ago. He had had a particularly tough battle with cancer over the last 6 months and was remembered this week both in a service in perth and a "paddle out" down near Margaret River. The above photo is of 80 surfers taking to the water for a moment of silence to remember Nick at his favourite break, North Point, near Gracetown. It was a beautiful day to remember a great guy who fought so hard to the end. For me it has been amazing to see my family together (after 6 years), to get to know Nicks family and friends a bit better, to remember nick and continue to see some of the places and people he loved. My dad and I are now here for another 2 weeks hanging out with Anna and enjoying a bit of sun (when its not too hot!)