Hangin' With The Spirits Of The Forest (And Then Some)

These images are from last October. Goin' after natives along our favorite up-stream(s). The only two days we got out on the creeks all year:

Those Tenkara rods really let ya' get into some tight spots

Angling along the main flow here:

We'd settle just for the two mile hike in.

Second day out, drivin' in along the "park and fish" section, we got bottlenecked for a spell behind the stock truck and crew who were out that morning performing their appointed fall stocking. The creek was runnin' pretty low and it occurred to us that it probably wasn't the best of conditions for stocking considering the hatchery pond-raised fish were probably gonna' be bottlenecked as well in the few shallow holes where they were dumping them. Personally, we would require the flow to be a bit crankin' to get those fish moving and dispersed. But what do we know compared to the "experts". Just a random thought while waitin' for the boys to move on and let us pass thru. 

That thought apparently didn't go "un-thunk" by a few lurking locals. Drivin' out later, early evening, we came across a vision. Weird lookin' tattooed and pierced buzz cut cone-head reclining across the hood of a parked roadside beater, guzzlin' 16oz. Old Milwaukee pounders and vapin' like a smokestack. An (at least) 3 size too large "hoochi" sausage squeezed into 3 size too small spandex tights. The wording PINK (in pink) scrawled large across the (larger) ass end. She's calf-deep in a roadside hole, net fishing while cross-stocking a lugged along five gallon, orange plastic Home Depot bucket with the catch of fresh stocked (catch and release only) trout. 

As the saying goes, when everybody owns it, nobody owns it.

Don't know what they were haulin' in the backseat triple child carriers...

(Internet Image)

... we can only imagine

Oh well - life in FayetteNam 

The Amphitheater II/Internet Connection

This will be the last for the ice video uploads (for now, may post additional next season - might not).

Rope gun Tim Anderson partnered with wife Laura on two mixed rock/ice routes. Locations are Ohiopyle SP (The Amphitheater II) and the Rod and Gun Club (Internet Connection):

The Amphitheater II (2011)

Run Time: 11min (Approx.)

Internet Connection (2012)

Run Time: 11min (Approx.)

The videos of this and the past few posts were previously viewed on our old website which until recently had been up and running since 2006. The AVI/MOV video media was driven by Adobe Flash Player via a third party server. Adobe ceased supporting Flash Player a year or two ago. All the video was subsequently inaccessible for viewing. Was no big deal to us, they're rather old in format and content anyway. Almost a bit corny by todays standards. We then came to realize firsthand that DVD discs degrade over time. Rather than leave 'em to languish into obscurity, and with some free time on our hands, we decided to transfer (most) of the existing DVD-format video content to current MP-4 format and "perpetual" computer hard drive storage. Other than the discs, we had previously had 'em backed up stored in a DVD duplicator hard drive. Subsequently uploaded 'em to a private YouTube account. A few of the videos have gone from a generation of transfer from 16mm film to Beta tape to VHS tape (Hi-8 and "digital") to DVD to now MP-4 format. It's pretty cool now'days to be able to download media from a computer hard drive on to a USB drive and toss it in your pocket - especially after starting out years back conforming hundreds of feet of A Roll and B Roll (a whole different meaning back then) negative 16mm film to an eventual "print".

A bit of image recap (may have posted a few previously - maybe all):

A good shot of the scale of the "Beast Wall"

Tim high on the 'Beast'

Climber high on the north section of the wall (SC II)

Tom in mixed conditions

"Dr. Bob" on a thin column ('Son of Beast')

Tom

Un-identified climber

Laura on a foggy morning

Some "hairy dude"

Great condition anytime there's snow on the ground

Ditto

Warm-up bivouac

Laura checkin' the snowpack

More good snow conditions at the parking area

Climbers at "Irishtown"

Panorama along the 'Gun Club Wall' in average conditions. We've seen it almost completely frozen over during an exceptional winter

A few guys have inquired as to the "chick" in one of the previous videos:

That would be our buddy 'Regina'

"Elle est un bon oeuf"

She's also a (now retired we understand) university professor of astro-physics (true)

The Awakening/The Infinite (Cinema Part 6)

 Tim and Laura Anderson lookin' pretty casual on first ascent of two local Grade 5's:

The Awakening (2009)

Run Time: 19min (Approx.)

The Infinite (2012)

Run Time: 19min (Approx.)

Check out those great snow conditions at the beginning few minutes of 'The Infinite'. Gotta' be near 3ft. Hope the snow spirits are watchin' - we wanna' place a similar order for this year.

Western Pennsylvania Ice II/Taming the Beast (Cinema Part 5)

While we're at it we figured that we might as well post two additional old videos - follow up to last post. Is also a lousy afternoon and we're waiting for some epoxy to dry:

Western Pennsylvania Ice II (2004)

Run Time: 49min (Approx.)

Taming the Beast (2007)

Run Time 11min (Approx.)

We had made four of those WPA Ice videos. This is the second and best one (our opinion). Principal cast of characters include Tim Anderson and Tom Koppler. A bunch of other folks who are credited at the end of the "flick". That was a pretty good winter - probably two months of deep freeze and lots of snow - you could actually snowshoe about for several weeks. That 'Sky Monkey' route of Tim's has never even come close to being in since then.  Keep the grapes peeled for around time 20:20  - there's a shot of the Yough River completely frozen over. That would be for over a mile from above the SC dam. We were lucky enough to be out walkin' the dog during the spring thaw when that ice jam let loose. Sounded like a train wreck with huge blocks of ice then sweeping down stream. Pretty spectacular sight to behold. If we're lucky and weather patterns follow their typical 20 year cycle, then we're due for similar (we think that was more like a 50 year cycle, though - we'll see)

We had posted some narrative and images regarding that first free ascent of the "Beast' a few years back. We didn't look it up or we would have provided a link. It's back in the archives somewhere. That was one heck of an effort by eastern PA climber  Rob "Griz" Ginieczki, seconded by Brintton Price. Basically just walked up, looked up the thing, geared up and climbed it. No falls and in flawless style. "Cool as a cucumber" and smooth all the way. 

We hadn't looked at any of this stuff for probably the past ten years. Was fun viewing it yet again. Now glad we had processed it all to MP4 video format. We had almost abandoned it all (we like to keep moving along to new endeavors).

The Sick-le/Collapse of the Sick-le (Cinema Part 4)

With winter moving in, thought that we would post two older videos that were originally on the website. Both highlight the "Sick-le" formation that occurs at an old section of limestone quarry located high up on the ridge. There's a prior post from a few years back with some narrative and images. We didn't go back into the "archives" to search for it, or we would have posted a link. It's back there, though.

'The Sick-le' (2007)

Run Time 6 min (approx.)

'Collapse of the Sick-le' (2009)

Run Time 11 min (approx.)

The "Sick-le" is a pretty spectacular ice formation for our "neck of the woods". It's about 100ft tall ground to top. The upper section is a huge, detached, free hanging column which overhangs the wall by about 5ft. A good winter it probably forms for a length of 30ft. A spectacular winter it would be a completely detached column touching the ground. We've never seen that - we're waiting for the theoretical Earth crust displacement anticipated for around year 2030 to shove us to a bit higher latitude and better winter conditions - presuming that the ancient's stellar clocks are correct. 

The first video, The Sick-le, highlights climber Tim Anderson, assisted by Doyle Tarwater, on first ascent done on top-rope. Tim was afterward "chompin' at the bit" to get a lead attempt. Conditions were soon out within the week, so he'd now be lookin' at the following winter at best - the Sick-le to loom like Melville's "white whale" 'till then.  In the interim - how to protect that thing? Considering that there was no way to ever assess the stability of the column, the plan was to place one bolt in the bare limestone rock at the initial airy traverse move out onto the "face" and another near the top. No way was one to trust ice screws. Worst scenario, he'd be looking at a potential 60ft fall on to the lower bolt after riding the distance airborne on the back of a several ton block of ice. Any screws beyond that point, out on the face, and he'd surely be Ahab lashed to his leviathan. The second video, Collapse of the Sick-le, was the following year (and only that we know of) lead attempt, assisted by his wife, Laura. The title of the video says it all. This was at the end of a several day late February freeze and formation and the only and last opportunity during that winter.

Suffice to say, subsequent to that first ascent on top-rope we can't recall an extended spell of winter weather conditions for the Sick-le to sufficiently re-form to any extent. The lower bolt is in place for anyone to give it a try, though, when it returns. 

We're posting this information only for purpose of antiquity and our perpetual devotion to "duty and humanity". We're not prompting anyone to go into that place. Since around the early 2010's everyone's gotten a bit older and has slowly drifted from the "scene". We have no idea what others have been up to, if anything at all.  Last we drove by (a few years back) there had been several recent "No Trespassing" signs posted along the tree line.

Tim and Laura

Overlooking some awesome ice during a good winter

Viewing south from the north end of the quarry wall. The Sick-le is visible to the near with the rope running down.

Tim on a big mixed route during a sketchy winter.

Doyle and Tim posing beneath some "Gun Club" ice. 

Regrettably, Doyle has passed away a year or two recent

Good climbing with ya' Doyle - see ya' in the next dimension.

Heavy Weapons

We're checkin' in through the main gate at the Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), the US Army's long established test facility for ordnance, weapons and equipment, located just a few miles northeast of Baltimore near the town of Aberdeen, Maryland. We're a two man crew tasked this day with conducting field testing for evaluating the condition of heavily reinforced concrete walls and welded connections. The welds are integral to an overhead gantry crane. Both the walls and crane are component to a heavy munitions test fire bunker. The base is immediately concerned about cracks that have developed in the crane welds subsequent to heavy percussion from cannon test firing from within the newly constructed bunker. Considering that the bunker is new construction, they want to spot check the integrity of the concrete walls as well - a bit of confirmation of the engineers design/specifications and contractors overall work. 

Driving in along the entrance roadway were treated to a spectacle. The base (at that time) was additionally a military weaponry museum. The drive is lined with vintage hardware, much from WWI/WW2 era. Heavy munitions - tanks, cannons, big guns - American, German, British, Japanese and so forth. We had to stop and check some of this stuff out. Got quite a bit of photography. Unfortunately, we currently can't locate any of it. Pretty sure we left it all, photos/negatives, on file at the old job of the time. Subsequently, we've swiped a few images from on-line (all internet images):

155mm M1918 Gun

16" MKIII Gun

280mm M65 Atomic Cannon

German Krupp K5 "Leopold" Railway Gun

Our favorite - had a Lionel train set as a kid with one of these guns. Also had an image standing alongside this thing in that missing batch of photos

Panzer III or Panzer IV according to the author (3Pos)

"Little David" 914 mm Mortar

Cool vintage footage we found on YouTube positioning and firing the "Little David"

After spending a (substantial) amount of time marveling at the relic artillery (could have spent a few days), we're led along to the bunker site, following along behind our uniformed base engineering contact/escort who eventually tracked us down.

The bunker is one of several positioned in-line and right-angle to an infinitely long and open firing range. It's all laid out similar to a golfball driving range, except this is a driving range for the gods. We spot some incremental distance markers, the nearest of which we estimated a par 6. The bunker is what you'd expect - a slightly rectangular structure formed by three, two to three foot thick concrete walls, maybe twenty feet in height, a fourth open wall facing down range. Roofed. The floor is heavy concrete tracked up by tank treads. The bunker is empty except for a heavy steel plate, maybe 4ft x 6ft dimension, supported upright long dimension by angled steel supports. It's free standing and can be re-positioned as necessary. The plate is at least one inch thick. It's obviously a protective rampart for individuals operating or observing the weaponry. Our assumption was acknowledged as correct by our base rep. Interesting enough, the plate had some serious dents and bends. Looked like a Hephaestus work-in-progress. There was also a large diameter "bullet hole". Reading our minds, our contact commented "We have some occasional misfires and backfires. We had one once that went thru thru a bunker rear wall (2-3ft reinforced concrete), flew across the street and blew up a PX" (his exact words). We just looked at each other, both thinking "F*k that!"

We were supposed to have a base-supplied JLG Lift, a local rental which had yet to show and now a few hours late. Our rep took off for the time being to check on the status of the delivery ("You guys stick around the bunker and don't go wandering off"). In the interim, we had nothing to do except ready out test equipment (some ultra-sonic inspection test gadgets). Spent some time checking transducer calibrations along the lower wall. After that, just hung out, listening to the sounds of near songbirds and distant automatic gun and cannon fire. An occasional GI would pass by ("I need a job like you guys").

It's now around noon and here comes a heavy battle tank and crew. They pull up and back into our bunker. Never said a word to us nor acknowledged our presence. These guys were all business and ready for combat. No idea of their "mission". They're just settin' next to us. Diesel idling. Locked and loaded. All we're thinkin' about are misfires bending inch-thick steel plate like spaghetti and blowing holes thru two-foot thick concrete walls. At minimum risk, welded steel-cracking percussion - that gotta' be hard on the eardrums (the tank crew are each wearing some heavy-duty ear protection). Where's our rep?

Here he comes - "The rental company screwed up the delivery order - I had to reschedule - we're gonna' have to postpone you guys until tomorrow - we scheduled this tank crew currently for the bunker - I can't clear 'em until you guys are gone - see ya' tomorrow morning (beat it!)"

We're packin' the vehicle preparing to head out. A pickup truck pulls up. Six fit looking young guys leap out of the back and begin gearing up - orange shin guards, forearm guards, helmets with face shields - this gotta' be some elite special forces unit. Wonder what they're up to? We're takin' our time in anticipation of catching some action from these guys. Suited up, they go over and open the rear doors of a second trailing box truck and step inside. Moments later they emerge wielding weed wackers, chainsaws, pruners and such and begin assaulting the overgrown underbrush. 

We spent the rest of the afternoon checkin' out the museum hardware.

What Goes 'Round

Eight years old and spooked-out as our favorite horror monster Creature From The Black Lagoon. Lookin' our Ben Cooper best, too - cheap store-boxed Gill-man costume with vacuum-formed PVC plastic half face mask and silk screened smock that tied in the back hospital gown style. One size fit one, so for most the eye holes didn't align and you were constantly adjusting the thing for viewing one eye or the other. Best practice was to just wear the thing catcher-mask style when not behind home plate - until the elastic head band would eventually break. The smock hung like a potato sack and was constructed from a paper-thin synthetic fabric that whiffed off some space-age plastic polymer chemistry. If you're a shorter kid it's a bit clumsy and hazardous, too. While walkin' you'd occasionally plant a step on the longer draped smock and go stumbling face down. The box graphics, indicating in large type the costume to be "flame retarded", always caught our attention. We took it to understand that the legal department recognized that the suit could ignite and go up in flames and are covering their asses in event of mishap due to Halloween shenanigans. We always imagined a scene akin to the old (urban) legend ya' used to hear of the new bride, brewin' some morning after coffee, who got too close to the stovetop burner while wearin' her thin slinky honeymoon negligee and went up like a struck match (everyone was a product tester back in those days - now'days they're not allowed to sell half the stuff).

(Internet Image)

We're costumed and headin' out to march in our first, and subsequently last, city Halloween parade. The parade began around 7pm, well past 'fall-back' standard time 5pm darkness. Mom drops me and the buddies off at the staging area and books to find a spectator stance en route. The 'trick-or-treaters' are assembled en masse and are to bring up the rear of the parade. A contingent comprising the typical city officials, parade queen, decorated floats, emergency, fire and military squads and vehicles, high school marching bands and boys and girls scout troops lead the way.

The spectacle organized and began on the west side of town. The route followed the main avenue east, over the river bridge, thru downtown, then swung south, ending in the south side at the old armory building. Maybe a mile total distance. There's no marching order or formation to the trick-or-treaters, you're basically just walking along with your costumed buddies and the rest of the group. Ya' occasionally wave to familiar faces in the crowd ("Hi Mom!"). Along with the visuals, the curb-lined spectators additionally delight in watching the marchers jostle about retrieving their frequently tossed handfuls of candy and other treats. It would at times get a bit rough with the bigger guys. To the crowds delight, there was occasionally a bit of roughhouse pushing and shoving 

About three quarters along the route sets the town library. The library building sets high above and a few hundred feet back off the roadway, fronted by a long down-sloping lawn and stepped concrete entrance walkway. A low stone retaining wall and wide concrete staircase separates the library grounds and street-level public sidewalk. Parade viewing from atop the wall or a higher lawn position is like viewing from the grandstands. There's no outdoor lighting to the lawn nor entrance walk. A bit of indirect lighting filters thru from adjacent street lighting, but that's it. It's pretty dark after nightfall. The entire property is contained in its own small city block. A bit trapezoid in plan layout, at best half a football field distance fronts the main avenue and parade route.

Up to that point everyone's had a good time and most have picked up a bit of a haul from the crowd. Hitting that short dark stretch passing the library was a different tale. The sidewalk spectators are tossin' treats as usual. From the darkness of the lawn we're suddenly gettin' pummeled with an aerial barrage of hard candy - gumballs, tootsie rolls, jelly beans, hard caramels, root beer barrels, lemon drops, Bazooka bubble gum - all coming in at high velocity. Worse were frequent jawbreakers - those things were the size of 12 gauge shotgun "punkin' ball" rounds and darn near as deadly. Saw one ricochet with a loud 'THUNK' upside the head of Casper the Ghost walkin' a few steps ahead, who immediately burst out bawlin'. Small arms fire, too - lots of shelled corn raining down. A salvo of mostly spoiled red apples cannonball in - a vampire Dracula takes a head shot and is immediately covered in rotted applesauce hair slick. Some individuals are purposely targeted - a wolf man is systematically tracked and hit with a few raw eggs and a tomato. A few small pumpkins shatter on the pavement. It got to the point that most of the costumed revelers passed on retrieving the pavement scattered treats. Witches, ghosts, goblins, Popeye the Sailor, Bugs Bunny, Woody Woodpecker - they're all bee lining the short distance to the end of the block and clear of line of fire. Some in their haste are trippin' over their smocks and face plantin' - now sitting ducks. The assault eventually ceased and most returned to retrieve the abandoned loot. The assailants, now short of ammunition and having sparked the ire of marchers and spectators alike, fled. 

We found out a few months later, while playin' summer basketball, that the assault was triggered by a few older guys from our end of town. Gotta' admit that the tale from their perspective was pretty funny. 

The following Halloween mom inquires as to our plans for the parade - 

"You guys marching in the parade again this year?"

"Naa - we're gonna' just watch from the library lawn".