05.20.09
Goblins!
No, this post is not about Alex’s new love affair with the Castlevania-esque music group Goblin. This past weekend I went camping with some friends. It was the third time I had made the journey to central Utah and spent a day running amid the rocks of Goblin Valley.
For those of you unaware of the wackiness of this place, here is a panoramic picture. Keep in mind that this is compiled photos from nearly a 180 degree turn.
All of these giant rocks sit atop eroding columns of sandstone. This is the front valley and there are more, smaller valleys behind it that you need to climb to. The first two times I traversed these lands I went to these valleys, but not this time. This weekend was more exploring of the north (left) side of the formations.
While exploring, James uncovered this little friend:
Don’t worry. We talked to a park ranger and she told us these types of scorpions are fairly harmless. If you were ever stung by one of these, it would be similar to a bee sting. Just a little painful, unless you’re allergic. Then it’s no fun at all.
If you’ve never been to Goblin Valley, you need to go. I plan on returning later this year in autumn, probably late September if you want to come with. The beating of the ht sun will be less intense then and the nights are not unbearably cold. In fact, the first two times I went were in September and I slept out under the stars both times. Comfortably, I might add.
The best part of this trip was not the goblins, though. Friday afternoon was spent amid the rocks. But Saturday we went to the nearby Bell and Wild Horse canyons. These are two canyons a few miles away from Goblin Valley. There is a trail that runs through them and connects for a total hike of 9 miles. Ross had heard that Wild Horse was the better canyon, so naturally we started our hike through Bell (to end the day in the best area possible).
This is a general idea of what Bell canyon is like:
The canyons are formed by flash floods eroding at the edges. For the most part, the canyons were 6 to 8 feet across and anywhere from 10 to 50 feet tall. There are a few places which require climbing up some rocks to move on, but never any spots that are impassable without a push from below or a pull from above by someone else.
Unfortunately, the battery in my camera died in the part of the hike between Bell and Wild Horse. I say “unfortunately” because Wild Horse really was the better of the two canyons. By a long shot. In fact, there were places in the canyon that were truly amazing. Points of the canyon were no more than 3 feet across and at least 100 feet tall. The closed in feeling was much more intense, but the different erosion was really what struck me.
I also want to go back to this canyon later this year, if only to get pictures. Let me state my amazement of this canyon by saying this: parts of Wild Horse canyon were easily some of the most remarkable things I have ever seen with my own two eyes. I’ve seen some truly amazing things on TV or in pictures, but not in person, so they do not count.
So, come this September, anyone that wants to join me for a day in Goblin Valley and Wild Horse canyon, feel free to come along. It’ll be a grand time!
05.07.09
The Cruise and a Movie
For those of you not in the know, last week I went on a cruise. We left San Diego, hit Catalina and were supposed to make a stop in Mexico but ended up not because of the swine flu. Alas, that was not a big deal for me.
I’d post some pictures for you of me in all my glory out in international waters, but I don’t have any. Oh yes, I took my camera. I think at one point I even carried it with me. I just never got around to taking any pictures. Whenever I was in a situation where picture taking seemed like a good idea, I was with at least one other person who was taking the pictures I would have (and usually more than one person was there taking said pictures).
It was a blast. A couple years ago I went on a little vacation with my dad and Celeste to visit Wendee and Sam in Nevada. The point of this side note is that it was then and there I decided I was done taking vacations where other people were. With the exception of leaving to country and visiting someplace truly foreign to me, I would rather spend my time in the wilderness or just in my living room.
My, how events can change a person’s mind. Now, my three options for vacation time are: wilderness, living room, or a cruise. It was just so much fun. The highlights for me were: entering a hairy chest contest and losing to my dad; reading Xenocide (not really a cruise related matter but it was fun and I’ll forever link the two), eating more than my share of food, from eating that excess share of food I gained 8 pounds (yeah, damn. Although, that weight gain is just from the last time I played Wii Fit, which was a month ago).
If I get my hands on some pictures I’ll post them. Onto the next subject! Wolverine.
I can sum my feelings for this movie up in one word: meh. It didn’t entirely suck. It was entirely awesome. There were good points and bad points. The whole time I just felt like something was off and it kept distracting me. I can’t put my finger on it, but I think it might be the pacing. Or the development of character. If you’ve seen it, maybe you can help pinpoint it.
By the end of the movie I just didn’t care what was going on. I love Wolverine, though. The character, obviously not the movie. I read a review that stated Wolverine is the shallowest super hero, but I completely disagree. Wolverine has the potential to be great. I dare say, that while not superior to Batman, that Wolverine has as much if not more potential to be characterized well than Batman does. Oh yes, I went there.
Think about it. They are both torn within themselves by the choices they are making to be better than they are and to do good. I do enjoy Batman more, but that doesn’t discredit Wolverine. He just hasn’t been fleshed out as much (or I just haven’t read the appropriate comics).
I could be totally wrong about this. I am pretty tired right now. Thoughts anyone?
