Bald Eagle at Ft. McHenry

No wonder the osprey aren't around.

Yuppie911, an ode to Personal Locator Beacons

I'm snickering today. MSNBC published this article today about 2 men and a teen who decided to start their backpacking career on the Royal Arch loop in the Grand Canyon. They took along a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). The intrepid hikers activated it 3 times during their hike, the first because they were a little thirsty, the second because they water they found was a little salty and the article doesn't tell us the about the 3rd time because at that point when the search and rescue helicopter showed up on the scene the NPS demanded the hikers cease and desist and get out of the canyon.

I will be the only person on the planet that is going to defend these 3 hikers.

Yep, I'm going to defend them to the end. I'm totally confused as to why anyone is upset. Ever since 9/11/01 US Citizens have been told by the government that the US government is in charge of our safety, the government knows best, the government is in control and the citizens opinions, needs, wants don't matter anymore. Safety is the priority. Since then our government attacked and is still attacking Iraq who did nothing to us, but the US government was very clear that an attack was what was best to keep the American people safe. Our government no longer lets us take more of thimble's worth of liquid on a plane. Our library book selections are reviewed, the government reads our emails and listens to our telephone conversations. The government tells us we can no longer ride out bicycles on the Baltimore Inner Harbor promenade because after 40 years of a perfectly safe environment one old biddy got hit by a young kid on a bike. The local government knows best too.

The government keeps us safe and the government is in control. Self-reliance is out the window.

So when you feel thirsty and the water tastes unpleasant go ahead and hit the panic button. We've all got the message loud and clear on who to call for help. The government should quit complaining.

Bowman Mountain, Massanuttens, GWNF Virginia

I saw this mountain last year. I liked it because there was no trail to the top and it was sandwiched between a bunch of ATV trails which meant that other hikers and hunters would avoid it. Since we are right in the beginning of bow season in Virginia I decided this was a good time to climb Bowman Mountain. I also wanted to camp at the summit and enjoy the views.

I was able to use some of the ATV trails in my route, but the summit was void of hiking trails but did have some bear trails to the north. I didn't see any dear but I did see a tree stand. I can only assume that a hunter might have his eye on the bear that lives on the summit and has prepared his location accordingly. I didn't see the bear but I am pretty sure he was around.

The summit has good views of Duncan Knob and some views of Short Ridge Mountain, that will probably be much better once the leaves are off the trees. As far as I could tell there aren't any good places to set up a large tent, but I found a place on the bear trail to sleep. I met a dirt biker on the OHV trail near Taskers Gap on the return.

Bowman Mountain Massanuttens Virginia

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Paddy Mountain, 3 High Heads, South Section, Virginia

Kids, don't try this at home. Really, I mean that.

If you are thinking of doing what I just did, you better know your GPS and you better be in shape. This is NOT the trek to try out hand-me-down Garmin that your brother gave you because he bought a new one.

I spent the better part of the summer planning this little caper. I looked at every angle of Paddy Mountain trying to figure out a way up and down. I looked at the aerial imagery and the USGS TOPOs and determined there was no easy approach. There is a reason this mountain is untrailed: It's a pile of rocks, and where there are no rock there is mountain laurel that is intertwined in one big knot.

Although I didn't take this route, the easiest way to the peak may be from the south ridge, you might start where the Tuscarora Trail turns westward. My route was counterclockwise, I went up the west slope and down the east side. I went up a rock slide I went down a rock slide. Naturally, I decided to err on the side of stupidity and didn't take a cell phone or a PLB. It didn't matter, if I had fallen there would have been no way to get me down anyway. I would have been turkey vulture snack food. I did not take any pictures of the rock slides because I was having enough trouble keeping my balance, I wasn't going to start fooling with my camera. You are going to have to take my word they exist.

Lucky for me I had planned everything quite carefully, my DeLorme PN40 was loaded up with the USGS Topos 1:24 which proved very helpful in deciding the route. Every contour counted. I was very happy I summited and even happier when I saw the minivan. Damn I'm good.

Paddy Mountain 3 High Heads

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Rat Turd Tomato Bounty

The only way I have to explain all this is that I think a rat ate a tomato and then made a turd in my storm drain pipe in my yard. Through no assistance of my own, there is a giant tomato bush growing out of the pipe. I am awash in delicious tomatoes. To be fair, I am letting the rats eat the fruits on the lower branches.

Fleur de Fort

I finally finished Fleur de Fort. My life is an artist has been most tortured, but through shear determination I was able to complete my masterpiece. Enjoy.



Here it is on Everytrail.

Fleur de Fort

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John A. King of Baltimore has lost something

John A. King of Baltimore has lost something. I have it. He needs to contact me at chamgreen102 at gmail.com to get it back.

Needlecraft
Counted Cross Stitch
Rey
Julia
Rudy

How I spent my summer vacation in central PA

I wanted to go to a conference that was happening in Hershey, PA Aug 6-8, so I decided to make it an entire 11 day vacation since I was headed up that way anyway. This post is for me, to remember what I did and what I spent, and for no one else unless someone wants to read this.

I left Baltimore on July 29, bought a fuel canister at Walmart $5, I added $15 worth of gas to a half filled tank making it almost full. I stopped at the Taco Bell in Timonium and spent $4 on delicious burritos and tacos, cup library soda.

I set minivan at the trailhead at the base of Peters Mountain southside, met a fisherman from Houston, and hiked up to the Peters Mountain Shelter in a downpour. I met thruhiker(TH), Spicerack, and slept there for the night. I descended, realized my ACDC car converter was shot and proceeded to Enola for a replacement, $22, and bought $5 worth of food and supplies at the dollar store. Bought $1 fudge sundae and cup library soda. Then I put another $15 in the tank.

Went to west trailhead of Stony Creek Rail Trail, near Dauphin PA. Left car at trailhead and backpacked with tent into WMA, stealth camped. Found secret observation camera in woods. No deer, no bear, no snakes. Tried to read book. Got bitten by mosquitos. Next day road bike on gravel railtrail. Got caught in downpour. Turned around.

I moved on and drove east. Stopped at Hardees, burger $1.30. Took soda cup from trash, cup library soda. I stopped at the Hollywood Casino. Did NOT play slots. Did drink lots of free Diet Coke. Then I drove to the Rausch Gap trailhead on Swatara Creek at the Intersection of PA 72 and 443. Gave hitchhike ride to Top Hat, Bottom Bunk and another TH to Best Western and then spent night in minivan at trailhead.

Next day left minivan at trailhead hiked to Rausch Gap Shelter, took bath in Rausch Creek which was pH balanced with lime for the trout, very nice bath but a bit cold. Tried to sleep outside but torrential downpour put damper on plan. Had to go inside shelter and get everyone to move over at 3AM. Woke up and met Michelle and Cody from Michigan, section hikers. Taught them how to geocache and then bushwhacked with them back to my car to speed up the hiking process.

Took them to 501 Shelter. Gave Lemmonhead, TH hitchhiker, a ride to McDonalds, $4 for food and cup library soda, then a ride back to 501. Met up again with Top Hat, Sad Santa, Bottom Bunk and other guy. All of us spent night at 501 Shelter. Next morning left Michelle and Cody and gave 4 THs a ride to Port Clinton. Shopped at Cabelas, my trailrunners were completely shot so I bought new pair and small fuel cannister for backpack, $46. $20 in tank. $2 at Burger King and got 44 oz cup library soda. Realized that Hawk Sanctuary admission was going to cost $5, needed workaround. Drove to Little Schuylkill river and had bath. Did not shave legs.

Drove to Kutztown, looked around, not much there. Drove to Reading, slept at Homestead Inn parking lot. Next morning, breakfast at Hampton Inn, Reading. Picked up 5 oatmeal packets, 2 yogurts, 4 apples, 1 danish. Large breakfast. $20 in tank.
Drove AT trailhead. Hiked in to Hawk Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary using AT and connector trail. Avoided entrance fee. Had fun on rocks. $2 on yogurt raisins, hungry no food.

Then drove to Ephrata. $3.80 at Arbies, very hungry. Spent night at Wal-Mart Supercenter near the buggy garage. Lots of buggies. Learned that Supercenter closes at 11PM. Only car in lot. Stayed put. Breakdfast at the Hampton Inn and Suites Ephrata. Picked up 2 oatmeal packets, 2 yogurts, 2 danish. Large breakfast. Drove to Mennonite Historical Museum in Lancaster. Looked around, watched movie, learned that biblical reproduction entrance fee was going to cost $6.50 so that was out of the question. Read a couple Mennonite books in reading room. Drove to Susquehanna river and directly under 3 mile island nuclear power plant and took bath, shaved legs, washed hair. Figured nuke would zap all fecal coliform bacteria from disgusting Amish farms and make it safe.


Drove to Hershey on Wednesday, Aug 5. First order of business was to determine a way to avoid $10 parking fee at Giant Center. Found a sidewalk that led right to chocolate world, although it involved and dangerous railroad crossing. Then I went to the Hershey library and got caught up on my email and blog responsibilities. Made friends at the library with Bonnie. $1.59 at Arbies for soda, free roast beef sandwich (Wednesday deal) and then free fries because I had to wait long. Spent night at Palmyra Supercenter. Lady laughed at me in the AM when she saw me brushing teeth and flossing in Wal-Mart bathroom. On Thursday I rode my bike around Hershey, took free Chocolate World tour, ate free chocolate samples and did some geocaching. Then went to conference. Spent night in Palmyra suburbia, very dark and peaceful. Friday conference, $2 at McDonalds, $20 in tank, $0.75 on chocolate bar, Panera Bread cup library coffee, bath at Swatara River. Discovered the free shuttle from Chocolate World to Chocolate Museum, and managed to incorporate this into my parking fee avoidance plan. Spent night in suburbia. Saturday conference, $1.25 on Twizzlers, cup library McDonalds soda. Drove home.

Total cost of 11 day trip, excluding shoes and converter: $123.69 Had I stayed in town I would have probably spent $50 on gas and fast food. So the actual pain was $73.69 over what I would have normally spent.

Artscape 2009

I Everytrailed Artscape. Enjoy my pictures, they include some from Otakon as well.

Artscape 2009

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The Key Bak SECURIT 488BSD Retractable Keychain Reel - A Customer Review

For those of us avid users of handheld GPSrs we know that finding a convenient way to utilize the units, maxmize exposure to overhead satellites and fasten GPSrs securely to outdoor garb and gear can be a challenge. Due to the importance of not losing or damaging my GPSr, I decided to order the Rolls Royce of retractable Keychain Reels, the 488B Super Duty from Key Bak.

This product sells for $15.99 and cannot be purchased directly from the Key Bak company for individual sale. For purchase you will have to call Joan over at the CTL Company at 800 995 8281. Joan charged me $15.99 plus a buck for shipping which seemed like a fair price.

My fascination with the 488BSD focused primarily on the carabineer clip feature, I simply am not comfortable with a belt clip, they don't seem secure enough to withstand scraping against rock and being dragged on the ground, too much potential for the fastener to fail. For me it isn't the loss of the GPSr, but the fact that without it I am very lost in the woods and I make it a practice not to carry a map, phone or compass as they are just extra things that take up room in my pack.

Although I am not sure what type of metal is used for the clip, it seems sturdy enough, it certainly isn't plastic. The clip is attached to the reel with a piece of flat nylon strap. This may be the weak link for the 488BSD, as I wish the strap material was a little heftier. The reel cover is 2 inches in diameter and 0.4 inches thick, it is made out of hefty black plastic. Please note, this reel is NOT made out of metal so you don't have to worry about satellite interference or attracting attention with a bright shiny metal beacon. It came with a keyring but I switched it out to one that I liked. I am using the product with a Kevlar cord although according to the site you can get one with a metal chain.


The Kevlar cord has a 36 inch reach and advertises a 13-15 oz retraction force, and I must admit it keeps my PN40 retracted firmly in place unless I pull on it with my hand. The assembly is about 6 inches long, I find it best to attach the clip to the handle on the back of my day pack at the back of my neck. I'm left handed so I swing the unit over to my left shoulder and keep the GPSr firmly in place between my boobies with the sternum strap. This gives me easy access to the unit as well as keeping the batteries warm in cold weather. My biggest concern before I ordered the 488BSD was that my luscious blond hair would get caught in the Kevlar cord retraction, so far that has not been a problem.

The Key Bak company offers a Life Time Service Policy and I am sure that at some point in the future they will rue the day they sold me a product, as I tend to use these things decades from the time I make a purchase and long after the product is available for sale. Either way, it's there if you need it.

I have owned the 488BSD now for 2 months and have no issues so far, I've dropped it, I've dragged it on the forest floor, I've attached it to my car's dashboard and various beltloops, so far so good. It still looks new. If you agree with me or don't, please feel free to leave a polite comment.