Camping In the Clouds

Following up on our recent trip to Shenandoah, C and I decided to go back and camp. Our plan was to leave DC Friday after school, camp at a campsite that night, then we were going to wake up early Saturday, hike all day and backcountry camp that night. Only to wake up Sunday, finish the hike and rush back for services.

However, after an all night rainstorm Friday evening, we awoke to this:

Yes, that is my car fading into the fog - we could barely see 20 feet. Realizing camping (without the waterproof bottom for our tent) in the wilderness in this fog/rain would not be fun, we decided just to do most of our planned hike (about 10 miles).

While it was not quite as foggy on our hike, it was still very raining and cloudy - it didn't matter that we hiked a mountain ridge, because you could not see anything.

BUT - finally, after 36 hours of rain and cloudiness, C & I awoke Sunday morning to sunshine (yeah) and low clouds (in the valleys, but not around the mountains). There was only one thing to do...DANCE:

See the entirety of our pictures here

Where Were You 5 Years Ago

Five years ago today I was double over in pain and tossing my cookies from food poisoning (thanks Schnucks - 12 hour old fried chicken was not good for this soul). More importantly, it was the night when:

....................................

This nerd ............... had his first date with .....................this vixen

5 years later, we're just glad we look better (and even happier).
Happy 5-Year Date-aversary.

My Summer Began & Ended at Shenandoah National Park

Labor Day marks the official end of summer in my book, because school (for both C & I) is solidly underway. To celebrate C & I took a trip out to Shenandoah National Park (about 90 miles west of DC). Starting from the north end of the Park, we journeyed an hour or so south past pretty overlooks and through low-lying clouds to the Panorama parking lot. From Panorama, we disembarked and hiked 2 miles up the steep slope to the overlook. Here are some shots (here are the rest of the shots):

The View from up top

C posing up top

M & C on top of old smoky (but not covered with cheese)

You may remember that orientation for the internship was partially held at Shenandoah and to no surprise (and no disparagement to my NPS cohorts with whom I had a fun time), it was more enjoyable to go there with C.

M Hearts Sasquatch Episode III

Your third and final installation - the happy ending:

M Hearts Sasquatch Episode II

I know you are all brimming with anticipation, so here you go...

Evidently, per the cryptozoologist sasquatches love glow sticks.

Back At Home - A Little CRLA Memory Though

I'm back in DC with C. It's really great to see her - we both missed each other.

As some of you may know, during orientation for my park service internship at the start of the summer we were at the National Conservation Training Center in WV (a US Fish and Wildlife site). While there, the Center had a guest lecturer speaking speaking about cryptozoology - in particular, he spoke about the existence of Bigfoot (aka Sasquatch). During this lecture, we heard 'mysterious' audio samples and numerous footprints, and heard plenty of Sasquatch stories. We even learned about the affects global warming will likely have on Sasquatches. I was so amused with this topic that my boss bought a Sasquatch toy and loaned it to me (see a photo with it here) and one of the other interns created a comic series about me and my supposed love for a Sasquatch. Below is part 1 of the 3 part comic series. Stay tuned this week for the other 2 parts.