WALKING THE DOGS

These boots are made for walking........and more I own a few pairs of "outdoor" footwear. I'm sure most of us have our work shoes and our Comfortable casual kicks but when it comes to travel in the bush, we need to make some educated choices.

If we consider what our wilderness foot gear really should provide, we can list types and styles in order of perceived need. It should ALWAYS start with Comfort, Performance and Protection that's what all wilderness footwear should provide and have in common regardless of type.

For trail walking a simple pair of Approach Shoes are all that is necessary. These are like athletic shoes (sneakers) on steroids. Comfy and cushy but with an aggressive tread. Although these are light weight and give good flex and fit, they suffer from lack of support.

That takes us to the next level up. The Light Hiker, is a bit more like a true boot. With a cushioned collar and stiffer foot bed, these provide protection from shock due to repetitive heavy foot falls. They also (if designed correctly) stabilize the ankle against hyper lateral movement a.k.a. side sprains. The toe box is generally a bit wider to accommodate the inevitable swelling that occurs as you walk. It also allows for socks more suited to the outdoor activities you will be performing. The heel section is stiff, thick and cradles the foot. The latest designs are made with a mix of synthetic and traditional materials. Leather is strong and durable but heavy and needs careful care to stay supple and strong not to mention weather resistant. Textiles like Nylon (Cordura) and mesh like ballistic cloth are nearly indestructible and lite weight but give little support or stiffness. Combinations of these for the boot upper as well as the materials for the sole are common. EVA foam makes up the majority of bottoms on Light Hikers, a tough closed cell material that can be formed easily and cheaply. Over that a harder more ware resistant lug is attached. Most are glued instead of stitched (better boots are glued then stitched) but some very good glued boots are out there and for the price, they will give you adequate service life.

For the real rocky terrain or for times when you are traveling under very heavy loads you must have a full sized Hiker/Trekking boot. These things are the real deal Neal! Full vertical isolation of movement as well as strong lateral protection. Magnum soles and toe/heal boxes that are practically armoured. Lacing's should be of the strongest material so the boot can be cinched tightly. Full lug soles such as Vibram are a must as is a reinforced inner shank of steel or rigid plastic. These boots are heavy, even with today's modern materials and production methods they remain the heaviest boots you are ever likely to own. Climbing to the next level up, the Expedition or Double boot is a very technical piece of foot furniture. These boots are designed to be ultra stiff so as to accommodate "tools" such as skis, snow shoes and crampons. The rigidness of the foot bed gives the climber a platform to stand up on without experiencing the flex that would cause muscle fatigue or reduce the tools efficiency. Like a pack frame, the stiffness much like an exoskeleton, becomes an asset while moving. These also tend to be more heavily insulated for use in the more extreme environments. I wore a pair of these during a winter attempt of Mount Washington in the eighties, they were a mixed blessing. One really must get used to the inflexible sole before you spend much time in them. Shin pain is a common complaint of those who use these boots on anything much less then vertical.

The Woodsman's or Hunters boot is so common and practical that most backwoods travelers will find them better then adequate. Most are leather and full lugged with support that goes above the ankle. A simple yet rugged design that has caused them to be used for everything from dragging White Tails to walking I beams. These are the common mans wilderness shoe.

Not to take anything away from the strong utilitarian value of this type of boot, on the contrary. These boots are almost perfect for the average wilderness walker. Where they lack features is in their simplicity. Few are as comfortable as true hikers and they don't have the level of adjustments the purpose built hiking boots does. They can be hot in warm weather and cold in winter. I have a pair of Danner boots I use for deer hunting. These boots are top of the line stalking -rugged terrain - climb up sharp scree - march into hell to kill the Devil foot wear. The soles have no "bald" spots, being lugged their entire length. A Vibram feature called Kletterlift that has even been used by the military under the name "Fort Lewis boots". I dig em to the extreme. With integral Gortex booties and Thinsolite insulation, these things are serious toe hotels. They make the most of high tech materials and time tested high quality leather. The soles are a combination of leather and hard waring rubber that is stitched to the boot for years of long reliable life. Pity I wont be here to see how my grand kids like em when they inherit them.

Probably my best all around choice for Wilderness Travel/Survival.

Last on my list of wilderness foot wear is the legendary Pack Boot. Heavily insulated winter boots such as those made popular by Sorel, LL Bean and others. These are the standard for those who are active in very cold yet less vertical terrain. These boots utilize a thick outer leather upper and a heavy "soft" lugged water proof rubber bottom over a removable inner bootie usually of wool batting or lofty synthetic equivalent. Some of these may even have an exaggerated "peak" on the toe and heel to affix snow shoes or ice creepers. They are exceedingly popular with ice fishers and snow mobilers. Truly built for extreme cold but NOT for hiking. They are heavy as hell and the area where the rubber bottom meets the leather top flexes too much to give adequate support. Still if you are standing around the hole waiting for a pickerel or sitting in a tree stand waiting for old mossy horns, these just might be the boots for you. I own a pair of Rocky Pack Boots that are very warm and cozy rated for forty below zero. My feet have never been cold while waring them.

Choose wisely and try on everything you are considering (with the appropriate socks of course) and keep in mind the intended use for the boot you pick, you might just end up needing more then one type of boot.

Of course these boots are available in woman's and Child sizes so everyone can get the right boot for the adventure you've planned.

The common mistake when buying wilderness foot wear is thinking you can press one type of boot into service as another. This leads to sprains, fumbles and fatigue and a miserable time. You owe it to yourself to think through the process and make educated choices.

Take care of those Dogs and they'll take care of you.

Safe travels

RJ

HELLLOOO OUT THERE

By far the easiest way to attract attention
without using high tech gear is probably the signal mirror. You don't even require a genuine "mirror" to send a flash type signal. Almost any flat or semi flat reflective surface will suffice.

While smoke signals are effective, they require work and fuel and most importantly, good timing. If your fire is not lit or your smoke generator not ready when the air traffic passes within sight, you're done son. Of course you might just keep a fire blazing at all times...good luck with that if you're hurt or weak or in an area with predominantly green, damp foliage. In short smoke just doesn't always work. Not to mention it is resource and labor intensive.

Fire is GREAT at night as a signal, in fact after the sun goes down nothing is better for getting you spotted. It would be hard enough to fuel a "tall" fire all night, can you imagine how much wood you'd need if you were making smoke all day AND fire all night. Save the wood for night time.

Pyrotechnic devices are wonderful but finite. I don't know how many flares you carry but let me tell you, I don't lug more then I have to so the flare gun is often left behind unless I'm in the Adirondacks or winter hiking in the Catskill high peaks region. Moreover these things are semi high tech, restricted in some areas and they can be dangerous at certain times of the year.
The flash of a signal mirror has been seen from miles away and in fact has been spotted by commercial aircraft at nearly a hundred miles away. On sea, (note: The horizon is 15 miles away at sea level) nothing is better for getting a pilot's attention.
(except perhaps the sucking sound of a Canada Goose passing though your intake fan) My Hat is off to you Sully..........just a damn fine job! I'll bet you made it onto allot of Christmas card lists.

Be improvisational! that's the secret to getting through a survival situation. Like the man said:

Improvise-Adapt-Overcome........say thank you and pay the bill.

Hold your reflector up to your eye and if you have one, site through the aiming hole towards the target (if you have no hole just site over the reflector) With your other hand, hold up two fingers (I use my entire hand) and "capture" the flash on your hand so you can tell the sun's reflection is pointed the correct direction. Move as needed until the target and the flash are in your line of sight. Sometimes I just use my hand like the shutter of an Aldis lamp and cover/reveal the flash towards the target.

DO NOT HOLD THE REFLECTOR STILL! move that puppy a bit. A steady stream of light may be seen but an EPILEPTIC flash is an attention getter. Practice in the yard. Pick a target to be the search aircraft (or distant vehicle / SAR team member) and practice finding your flash in your hand (capturing the sun) and moving it onto the target. This is not hard to learn or do but the time to try it is now under controlled conditions not the day you break a leg on a steep hill side.

Just another quick note on signal mirrors: Remember they need the sun, as you can see in the video they can still work on a cloudy day BUT you will need some rays to filter through for the best reflection. Ambient light just doesn't cut it. They may be used at night with an artificial light source. In this way you can "aim" your campfire light at a distant plane's blinking lights.

And finally be careful when you practice with signal mirrors. They are after all as bright as the sun. NEVER point them at passing traffic or in bystanders eyes. This can not only be distracting but could cause serious retina damage.

Safe Travels

RJ

ONE IN THE OVEN

My Cardiologist thinks I eat too many carbohydrates.
What can I say........The Man knows me.
I had been laid up after cardiac testing that left me sore and limping and bored!




I wanted to be outside but was not allowed to do much standing and walking was out of the question.

We were expecting some company and my wife (Super Red) was planning on baking a bread later in the day to have with coffee.

She had been experimenting with Amish style "cake" breads. out of desperation, I tried one in a cast iron Dutch Oven. With a bit of modification this could get interesting.

Fresh out of char coal brickets and with little wood to stoke my stove, I borrowed some from my family down the road. Splitting wood was less then fun with my recent procedure playing hell with my movements but I did the best I could, after all some of this blog IS devoted to Survival.

Sweet breads are one of my weaknesses, along with any other type of bread, pie, cake, bagels, muffins and rolls. well lets just say, if it comes from an oven I'm okay with it. Super Red is one heck of a baker and keeps me happy in that department.

Real Dutch Ovens have legs! camp style Dutch Ovens are used in the fire coals on the ground. I use a cast iron "Pot Belly" style stove to cook on my deck. Coals under the oven and some shoveled on top do a great job without having to wonder far from the kitchen, company or my cold drink. It's kind of like having all that rustic style cooking flavor without the big labor out lay. It's also nice to just sit there in the wood smoke and smell things progressing.

The batter for this particular bread was a bit runny for the Dutch Oven, so I added a bit more flour and other goodies just to stiffen it up a bit. It looked great!

Any time I can cook or eat outdoors is a treat for me. The fresh air and of course the scent of wood smoke is heavenly to my mind. The ash and clang of Cast Iron only seem to bring out more in the meal. I use white Gas Stove almost exclusively in the bush, but a camp fire whenever practical is always a welcome component. I cannot of course carry a cast Iron pot with me on my hikes (unless Sam packs it... Hmmm) but whenever I can, I bring them out to give them a workout and myself a treat.

WOW! I hope my company doesn't take too long getting here, they may end up having Jello!

RJ

ROUND TWO...............Ding!

TWO in the oven, I tried another Dutch Oven Bread the other day and found my primitive baking techniques improving.
I watched the temperature very closely and made sure the bottom was not over cooked.

It seems the more I try this, The better I get at it..............Sorry Doc,

RJ

Safe Travels

The Falls

There are two Waterfalls

in the Neversink gorge unique area. today I took a walk to find one and do a bit of fishing.
I started as always in the state parking area and after sighing in, used GPS data to short cut my way along a beeline to the river. As always the trails in this hiking area were inviting and easy walking. The mixed weather had not done much if any trail damage leaving it an easy stress free walk so I could hike with my classical guitar music playing low in my earphones.

All along the way, I was reminded that spring was in full bloom. The forest had that sweet growing scent that hangs in the air and buds were splitting open everywhere.

Young things making a showing



Evidence of life was everywhere, and evidence of the struggle for life as well.

The Neversink River Gorge is a special place full of untouched beauty and life. Eagles, Owls, Deer, Woodpeckers by the ton and seemingly a high concentration of Black Bear.
Apparently the rumors about Bears are true.

I found and followed a spring down into the gorge.

At last, I spotted the object of my search in the distance, I was tongue tied.

The waterfall was only the reason for my hike, you might call it the Grail of the quest. The really special treat came after I arrived and had made my third cast. A pause and a pull came from my modified Woolybugger (my own mix of ideas any purist would have scoffed at) a wonderful Trout took my offering as it fell through an island of foam in the pool beneath the falls.

Well will the surprises and gifts never end??? as if the fates had lined up to do old RJ a favor, two figures appeared like apparitions from the mountain laurel and stood atop the falls. From my vantage point I could only tell they were also after Neversink Trout and by the looks of their kit and rods I qualified them as serious Trout hunters.

I turned my back on the pool and an ever stiffening breeze to give them a shot at the hole and hopefully the same feeling of solitude I had enjoyed. The casting was getting challenging due to the thermals changing with the sun's movement over the gorge, so I took a moment to rest my back and snack on some Girl Scout cookies (thin mints) my Daughter had gifted me. I sat against a leaning bank side tree and watched as the two new comers "played through" the hole. Both of us politely nodded to each other but otherwise kept a respectful distance. They were a man and woman, one seemed to be acting the part of a guide as the other stepped up to work the seam.

You can (at least I can) always tell the expert from the novice just by the way a "Sportsman" moves. An accomplished and seasoned Hunter will walk confidently without undue sound and seldom looks at his feet knowing the ground before him has been carefully scrutinized even if only by a glance. A veteran Fly Fisher does the same thing. They enter the water as if hiding from fish, stalking them. They keep to the shadows if possible approaching at angles that don't favor the fish as it lays in wait. They hunt the hunter. They dress to match the foliage, ware hats with dark visors to aide in shading the eye. They take small cautious steps and don't drag their feet on the pebble bottom. Most are not even aware of this habit but that's the point. One only becomes a Master when they have converted the science into an art and the art to a way of life. Such were this mans movements.

Intrigued, I watched a bit as his hand gestures guided the woman's efforts. He stood stoically watching the flow of the foam line and the subtle reflections on the water's surface for any disturbance that would indicate feeding Trout. He looked in all directions taking in the same natural beauty I gazed on and with an obvious similar appreciation for the place but while he watched his companion and mentored from just beneath the back cast, I could tell his eye was on the wind in the trees and shifting cloud cover. I am a practiced observer of people, that's what I do and I know of what I speak.

At some point I got close enough to confirm my suspicions. I, like so many others in my home town indeed this part of New York knew him. Phil Chase was one of my High School Teachers. I remember our first interaction. When he discovered I had something of a monopoly on the Tri-State area's dairy farm Woodchuck hunting, he asked me for any Black Woodchuck hair I could supply. What the heck for? I asked. For flies of course. Stupid me, I should have guessed that. He never got any, at least not from me. It wasn't for lack of trying, I just never shot one.

Phil is one of the two celebrities I've known and shared an interest/sport with. He is nationally renowned for his efforts in the name of conservation and preserving the environment with particular interest on rivers, the Delaware, Mongaup and Neversink being his "home" waters.

His contributions don't begin or end there, Phil is or has been a writer and has authored many articles on his beloved sport (life style) an accomplished fly tyer/fisher, his noble face has smeared more then a few pages of books and magazines and the list goes on and on. To me he has always been Mr. Chase and thankfully later in life just Phil (more due to my advancing age then anything else). Always honest and generous with advice and free with a smile and moment of his valuable time. He has rubbed elbows with the who's who of the angling community and is considered a contemporary by many famous writers/fishers across the country. He is all that and more to me, he is a local hero of sorts. I'm a fan and I like to think a friend.

I've been to Phil's house and waited in the living room for a copy of the tying instructions for Phil's famous "Catskill Clipper" fly. His home is a comfortable, earth toned, a warm and inviting place full of reminders of whats important to Phil. Photos of Family and Friends and the Outdoors abound. Evidence of Hunting and of course Fishing surround you as do windows overlooking an expanse of local farm land or the greenery of his own property at the end of a long private drive. I sat and waited, watching as Phil juggled two hundred things all at the same time. A smartly but casually dressed businessman sat at Phil's table going over some business concern while discussing football (Phil loves football) the phone rang at least twice, Phil brought out his latest homemade knife (Phil makes knives too) a knock on the door brought yet another person stopping by to handle some other issue only Phil could address, Phil brought me a soda before taking another phone call, we exchanged thoughts on hellgrammite imitations, admired an old rifle before he stepped back to the table to sign papers, I think the phone rang again. he just always seems to be doing something with or for somebody.

Today was no different, Phil exited the water with a grin (customary for Phil) and shook my hand. He introduced me to his friend Joanne, a very nice woman with smiling eyes and a fevered desire to connect with one of the gorge's spotted inhabitants. We exchanged pleasantries and took turns with each others cameras and of course traded a favorite fly or two. Phil complemented my casting technique, saying he liked the way I handled the rod (I think he was being very generous). Phil can be a great story teller, after all he is a writer. This time he was flat out lying!

Phil admired my GPS and the conversation turned to maps and access and eventually to the fact that I was trespassing! WHAT? I'm WHAT? so much for maps.

The area is legally accessible from the other side of the river but the land I was casting from was out of bounds. Phil was so much the gentleman he found a polite way of breaking the bad news to me, I would never again fish this particular side of the falls. I have a reputation of my own to uphold based on trust and trespass does not fit easily into it, never has. Phil has rights to walk these lands, alas I do not.
The wind Phil was watching stiffened and I had miles to walk to get back to trusty rusty so I began to pack up my toys when Phil offered me a ride back out to my car. Point of fact, Joanne was parked there too so it killed two birds. I accepted and thanked him.

On the walk back to Phil's 4x4 we met the land owner. Ben Wechsler stepped from his vehicle with an all business stone face and announced sarcastically that we were all trespassing! That was shortly followed by a knowing smile, Phil's polite introduction and a warm handshake. He seemed to be an amiable individual of quick intelligent humor, genuinely happy to run into us but I got the distinct feeling that had I not had Phil's protection, he would have shot me stone dead and left me for the Bears. Ben is understandably proud and protective of this land and it's gifts. After a time he gave us a bit of a tour, I felt privileged and followed.

On a rocky and forested hillside, seemingly in the middle of nowhere we visited the site of a plague memorializing a friend and fellow Writer/Sportsman. This private and out of the way place was as sacred as any cemetery and by my thinking even more beautiful and suitable to the man they described. This simple gesture tells much about the type of character these men possess and the respect they have for each other.
Moving and inspiring to the Pantheist within me.
I hope to meet him again soon. Thanks Ben.

When we arrived at the state parking area, I gave Phil a set of custom maps I had made of the area complete with aerial photos and satellite imaging...very cool stuff but with "no property lines". I hope he finds some use for them. I signed out at the trail register and bid my friends farewell.

It had been a very special day for me, The wild river gorge, the Trout, Phil and Joanne not to forget Ben Wechsler. Very special indeed. This is what I call a productive Saturday's walk in the woods. I wont soon forget it.

RJ

HERE SPOT HERE BOY

SPOT

What a cute name, but a fairly good one considering the concept behind the gadget. The worlds first satellite messenger. How Cool is that?

In 1999, while sitting on my sofa with a good book I became aware of a strange sensation within my chest. A stillness that was so unnerving I sat up startled. I could only describe it as a sinking almost draining feeling. I had never felt such a sensation before in my life. So uncomfortable with the feeling was I that I rushed to the hospital fearing the worst. Both my parents had died early due to cardiac maladies so I wasn't taking any chances. The emergency room Dr. had an idea what the problem was but put me into the intensive care unit for observation. Some testing confirmed his suspicions, my heart was slowing down, I would need a pace maker.

Now, let me tell you the truth about this page and it's relevance to SPOT. Like most guys I know I am a gadget junkie. Whenever a gadget junkie and outdoors man turn up to be the same person there's a very good chance that big bucks will be spent and cool stuff will be in ample supply.
I just loved my first GPS. I have been a Map and Compass dude for years but the idea of the GPS was just so damn liberating. Lock in a way point put the thing in your pack until you need it then turn it on and follow it home.............Damn I loved the thing. I'm on my fifth unit and although I still give the Map/Compass combination the highest marks for dependability, its hard to beat a quality GPS unit. After my implant my Wife insisted I did not venture into the out back without friendly support (usually Russ the one man SAR team) but it didn't work out like that. I love to venture alone, I hunt alone, fish alone and just like to walk around the forest with my camera ALONE.

The day I fell on a Catskill ledge and damn near fell off a cliff, I gave SPOT another look.

It had what I was looking for. A way to ask for assistance from a"friendly" cost effective rescue source......Family and Friends. But with the capability to SCREAM for HELP from the big guns if the fertilizer ever really hit the ventilator.

I didn't see the need for the Tracking feature, at least not yet but the standard message features were just what this trekker was looking for. As with nearly everything I spend more then six bucks on, I researched the crap outta this thing and found that those users that didn't like SPOT were not using it correctly or had an unrealistic expectation of what the thing did.

Let me tell you what SPOT is NOT:

Not a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) or a EPLIRB (Emergency Position Location Indicating Radio Beacon)

These units use radio frequency 121.5Mhz or 406MhZ to transmit the beacon (signal) to a monitoring station or any radio tuned into these frequencies (these are internationally used) able to be monitored by any commercial craft and SAR forces around the world.

They can be big (not always) and expensive (nearly always) and require a bit of understanding to use.

SPOT on the other hand is idiot proof. If I could believe everything I read about the messenger I would have the Baby sitter I needed to set me free again to travel without entourage.

I sent away for my SPOT unit and received it within a fortnight. It was just as advertised, small and light weight and seemingly rugged. The controls were so simple I forced myself to read the instructions several times thinking I was missing something. The FINDMESPOT home page made everything perfectly clear and I couldn't wait to start sending OK messages. Out came the plastic from my wallet along with a few moths and spider webs and in less then ten minutes I was my own satellite station. Boys and Girls this IS very cool.

I chose my lists of message receivers very carefully. The I'm OK just Checking in list was of course the Family and a few Friends that would actually want to hear from me and get a kick out of seeing via Google Maps where the heck I am. My HELP list was primarily made up of my Hiking-Hunting buddies that knew how to use a Map and GPS and had the highest probability of finding my dumb ass if indeed the Pacer issue ever popped up to ruin my weekend.

The 911 list....well lets just say I have little control over who will be on that list but I'm sure I wont mind seeing whoever shows up should I ever find myself in that deep a puddle of DODO.

I took SPOT with me everywhere. It was easy due to its handy size and shape. I tested it in places (check for these tests elsewhere on the COSS site) that one might think had a poor shot at good reception, it passed with flying colors.

SPOT uses two types of satellites to do its magic, a GPS locator to peg your position and a Globalstar that rats you out to the monitoring station. The station forwards your Text messages to cell phones you pre-program OR to E-Mail accounts with direct links you just click on to display your exact location. You can even zoom down on the map for a precise position of the SPOT transmitter Location. "And it does it anyplace on the planet!" As long as you can see the sky, you have a great chance to send out your message. I've never waited more then five minutes to get a conformation on my cell that the message was sent. As long as SPOT sees the sky, You're golden. In areas where I had no cell reception, I had a E-Mail waiting for me showing where SPOT was when I hit the button. The only soft point I can really see with the unit is the need for a safety cover over the 911 button. I'd hate to have to tell these guys how I rolled over on my messenger and called for the cavalry. I taped an "O" ring over the button that keeps this from being accidental depressed.

I've read other reviews of SPOT claiming it should have some sort of built in conformation signal so you know your message got out.....yeah that would be cool but the price would need to go up. At about $150 plus a $99 yearly monitoring fee (for basic service) this thing gives alot for the money.

It's one of my favorite colors..international Orange for good reason and floats if dropped in water. It can take a bit of rough handling and I even dropped it once with a grimace on my face only to find the unit unhurt and working like a champ.
I use SPOT along with my other navigation tools, GPS, COMPASS and TOPO MAP and it has been given a spot of earned high importance on my equipment list.

I'm free to hike that extra ridge or change my mind about my planned route without feeling my loved ones would not know where I went.

My SPOT messenger is my second favorite gadget, next to my Pace Maker.

DON"T STOP

THINKING ABOUT CAMPING!

Moving Vertically

Moving Down A Rock Face

is not your average style of travel. Yet when an outdoor traveler needs to get to point B but point A is on a shear rock cliff you have but two real options. No! jumping is NOT one of them, you can go around if that's possible or you can climb down.

Rappelling or as my European cousins call it Abseiling is the technique of moving down a fixed rope in a kind of walking or at times jumping action. The tools and methods for rappelling are many and varied but for the most part allow you to do the same thing, slide down the rope.

Rappelling is considered one of the most dangerous aspects of mountaineering. The reason is simple, it is one of the few times you as a climber are solely reliant on your equipment for movement and safety. Never the less, it is fun and a damn handy skill set to own even if you seldom use it.

You never know when you will need to escape a burning high rise or a jealous husband.

To this end, a freakishly warm spring afternoon spawned the strangest of ideas, we'd take a walk to the near by cliff and step off.

Three of us gathered for the trip, my good friend Pat would join me and as a weird form of birthday celebration so would Russ. HAPPY BIRTH DAY BROTHER!

Russ had done some scouting and found a semi friendly out cropping over looking the west side of town. Not only did he find the jump off point, he found the anchor and even cleaned the pitch for us.......damn he's handy to have around.

We dropped two ropes and assorted clanking junk into our packs and converged on the cliff.

While I do love the thrill of danger, I'm not stupid. Here you see I'm waring my official Magnum P.I. safety shirt. While waring this I'm safe from falls and volcanoes.
With loose rock still a threat to safety, we wore rock helmets for the first trip down....just in case! The surface of the rock had very sharp edges that could ruin a new rope and turn a controlled enjoyable trip into a screaming life flashing before your eyes kind of thing, luckily Russ had a jacket we could use to saddle the rope into and keep us safe. With couching from the Birthday Boy, Pats turn was smooth safe and enjoyable.

Russ donned his safety Straw Cowboy hat and hit the wall.

The spring breeze whipped up and soon became a full on wind.

As the designated belayer (safety man) I monitored the speed of descents and prepared to arrest any fall, I also lost my seat gear, it slipped off after Pats jump. All I could do was photograph it for posterity.

Silly isn't he?

A view of The River Bridge as seen from the hillside, the border of New York and Pennsylvania.

A nice day in the sun with friends, what more could you ask for? A cool drink maybe.
Practise Practise Practise.............rappelling isn't like falling off a log you know. it's a bit higher.

The April Fool

TROUT!
The time of year has rolled around again for me to think of Trout and of the places they live. After my scout into the Neversink Gorge unique Area with Russ, I just knew my first casts of the year would settle on these pools and pockets in this part of my beloved Neversink. So on a rainy and cool April first, I set out after my first Trout of the year.

I carried no waders and wore only my hiking boots. I chose a five weight St Crox four piece rod that was a gift from my late friend Frank. He and I took many Trout years ago, before his God called him to cast a line with him. He "left" me the rod to as he put it "take care of for him".

With pride Bro!

As before the hike to the water was two miles from my trusty rusty, but this time I had the GPS to short cut me right to my plotted spot. The RED trail was so easy to follow that Stevie and Ray could have found it, it took a bit of nerve for me to step off into the forest. The trails are so well defined that the carpeted forest floor looked even more foreboding.

And still more trails I decided not to follow.

The rain held off for most of my trip down into the gorge but the sky was a constant grey that told of wet times ahead. The soft moist leaves made little sound under my weight and I liked moving like a local instead of just a visitor in this wild wood.

I crossed the most beautiful mountain stream as I descended. Hidden in the trees and flowing out of cracks in the rocks, the springs emptied into one as they rushed toward the Neversink below. It seemed like a post card, almost too perfect. I sat for a moment to drink it in with my eyes and ears.

The Neversink was just below me and I could smell the air freshening. The breeze that always seems to follow water was cooling things down and making my spirits rise, lets hope the Trout would as well.

River side history, an old hunters treestand still hangs as a skeleton on a tree. The stand is gone and maybe the hunter as well but the hunting still looks good. Time for a SPOT check, I tested my satellite messenger three times in the gorge. Three times it sent strong OKAY massages. Its a nice feeling to have a babby sitter.

At last I made the river, its stones causing the water to crash around making a thunderous hiss. Some of these rocks weighed tons.

I turned my camera skyward to view the other side of the canyon, its walls high and formidable, home to Eagles and Hawks.

I moved up stream into an area where the water calmed and the foam line was evident and inviting. I love pocket water and this trip produced a seven inch Brook Trout from one of these pockets, but I wanted to wonder and the quiet deeper water just seemed to beckon me.

The river was narrower here but the walls on the other side of the gorge seemed to go straight up. Ice hung from the rocks where the Sun's rays had a hard time filtering through. Just under the waters surface I could discern the undercut ledge rock behind the foam line...Trout ville!

Only one Trout this trip and not even a photo for the Blog thanks to a long distance release, but wow what a trip. I had my lunch on a boulder in the rain before starting the long climb out. Old trusty rusty was waiting to coddle my weary rear end in the parking lot. As always the measure of the trip's value is in the quality not quantity.

I'll be back, next time with Sam.....watch out Trout!