Star Wars

Monday nights we are hosting several fellow grad students who commute to our seminary every week. Last night we all rounded off dinner with a YouTube maranthan of sorts in our living room. Bruce has our computer hooked up to our TV, so we all gathered around and began with the theme of Star Wars. I was laughing so hard I was crying. I highly encourage one to do a search of the Jedi Gym for starters, followed by Star Wars (John Williams is the Man).

However, the following is thus far my favorite. I have no idea who this kid is, but he cracks me up, and that makes me like him immensely.

First this:



Then this:

The Ape Caves

I think this is the closest I've ever been to Mount St. Helens. We were on our way to hike the Ape Caves, which is a famous lava tube located on the south side of St. Helens in Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

The lava tube is named the Ape Cave because a Boy Scout troop first explored the cave in 1950 and named it for the St. Helens Apes (their sponsor). That's the offcial statement. However, there are people in these parts who believe that the Ape Caves was once home to Sasquatch.

Our descent into the lava tube begins...

In 1947 the entrance was discovered by a logger whose truck fell through the ground revealing the cave beneath.

Not gonna lie. It was a chilly 42 degrees Farenheit down there.

Bruce, our fearless leader...

Lava tubes are naturally formed tunnels through which lava flows when a volcano erupts. Once the lava cools and hardens, it can form a tunnel.

The roof of the tunnel develops first while the rest of the lava continues to flow beneath. Eventually the sides and then the bottom cools and hardens as well creating a lava tube through which future lava can flow. Pretty cool, aye?

The walls are damp, and the rocks under your feet are somewhat sharp. I should know. I was the only one in our troop that managed to trip and fall.

Confession: As we hiked and talked, I imagined myself in the Mines of Moria...

...or on a quest for the heart of the island. By the way, did I mention how chilly it is down here? I can see why Sasquatch lived here. Apparently he likes his crib air conditioned.

We hiked the lower end of the lava tube and 3/4 of a mile later made it to the end. If you're not claustrophobic, the path continues just under the ledge behind Heather. At that point, you have to crawl to continue and eventually it just dead ends.

When first erupted, lava can be 1300 to 2200 degrees Farenheit (according to wikipedia). That's pretty amazing to contemplate while hiking through the now frigid Ape Cave once flowing with hot lava.

We left the way we entered. From this point is a two mile hike in the upper lava tube, which we are hoping to hike next week when we have more time and warmer clothes and more powerful lighting.

Water

This week I was looking as some amazing humanitarian photography by Esther Havens and this led me to a project that I think looks really interesting: Charity: Water. Check it out the link; they are doing amazing things for some of the poorest people around the world. Scott Harrison, the founder of Charity Water, is quite possibly my new hero.

100% of donations go directly to water projects which include village sanitation and health education, and social networking is available for donors to watch their funds be connected directly to a specific project overseas. In other words when groups fundraise to build a well, your donations are then matched to a project, and you get to monitor its progress online from what I understand. I think it's a brilliant idea to create community, collaboration, and visible connection between the priveledged and the poor.

Anyone I know who has traveled and/or lived in developing countries is struck by the value of clean, drinkable water. When I lived in China, I remember editing footage at work from the western regions of the country where people walked for hours everyday in order to obtain a single bucket of water, and I was humbled by how easily I take for granted such a basic necessity in life. Anyhow, I thought this was really interesting, and maybe someone else out there will too.

Holy Blackberry Cobbler, Batman!

Thus far I've collected enough blackberries from the backyard to make not one, not two, but SIX cobblers this summer. I gave a few of them away to neighbors and friends, and we host college students at our house every Wednesday night, so the cobblers have disappeared rather quickly.

The following is my favorite cobbler recipe. It's an old, southern family recipe. It's super easy, and it works with blueberries, apples, pears, raspberries, etc. Almost anything. You probably already have most of the ingredients in your house.

Blackberry Cobbler

1 stick butter

1 c. bisquick

1 c. sugar

3/4 c. milk

2 c. blackberries

Mix 1/2 cup sugar with blackberries and set aside. Melt the butter in pan that cobbler will be baked in. Mix bisquick, milk, and remaining sugar in seperate bowl. Pour berry mixture over melted butter. Pour bisquick mixture on top. Swirl slightly. Bake 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.

Note: If I don't have bisquick, I've used any pancake/waffle mix I have on hand instead, and it comes out just as great. Also, my oven is kinda funky. So, my cobbler is usually done in 35 mintues instead of 45 min. Enjoy!

Ecola Park

Bruce surprised me on Thursday by taking me hiking on the Oregon coast. Our trail began in Ecola park and we hiked to a viewpoint that overlooked the Pacific Ocean.

It was cold, gray and we were wishing we had brought a sweater. Almost every time I've come to the coast it's been cloudy and gray. Makes me want to eat clam chowder and watch the Goonies.

Haystack Rock: site of the Goonies' infamous Fertelli car chase. The tide was out far enough that you could actually walk all the way up to the rock. That's usually not possible everytime I've been before.

For those who don't live in our area, Canon Beach is about an hour and a half from our house. I think. It's not far. At night people show up and have campfires on the beach. Even in the summer it gets cold enough at night for such things.























Here we are at the viewpoint. We hiked upwards of about 1200 feet from sea level. Bruce said this was the first hike he can remember where we started a hike at sea level. Literally.

It was quite a climb. We loaded our backpacks down rather heavily because we are trying to get in shape for a backpacking trip in Glacier come September.


































The sign said this tree fell over due to wind damage. Seriously?! Apparently there's a tree in this park that dates all the way back to 1615. This is also another famous Lewis and Clark trail. I tell ya, there's no escape of Lewis and Clark landmarks here in the northwest.























We ate clam chowder at Mo's after our hike, and then went for a walk on the beach.

Entropy Happens

Bruce: "Welcome to the laws of thermodynamics."

Translation: We won't be having chicken for dinner.

R.I.P., Little Casserole.

2002-2010.

You served us well....until you exploded.

Blodget Canyon

Our first major hike on our recent Montana/Idaho excursion was an 8-mile hike through Blodget Canyon. We set up camp the afternoon prior and spent the late afternoon lounging next to the creek. I love that the water is crystal clear. I hate that it's so icy cold even in July.




The eagle's nest (above) is about the closest we got to any wildlife on this hike. No complaints considering the growing bear population.

Our hike took us along the creek right down the middle of the canyon affording us incredible scenery throughout the entire hike. Lots of places to stop, take pictures, and enjoy the outdoors.


Talus, talus, talus...

These pictures really don't do justice to the grandeur of the jagged ridge that lined the majority of the mountains on our left side. It was truly breathtaking every time I looked up from the trail.

We climbed out on a large boulder and had lunch.

On our way out we stopped for a while by the creek. I sprawled my weary self out on a boulder, watched the clouds roll by, took a picture of the mountains and then fell asleep for a while. 'Twas a most excellent day.

Montana Ghost Towns

In between hiking trails we visited three ghost towns in Montana a couple of weeks ago. I momentarily felt like I was in Walnut Grove.

Bannack



standing inside the hotel safe


We hiked up the hill to check out the cemetary, which I have no pics for yet. A few headstones dated back to the 1800's. Most of the graves are unmarked.


the school house (above)

Coolidge

We hiked the half mile to Coolidge, an abandoned town that has not been preserved (unlike the other two ghost towns we visited). Most of the buildings in Coolidge were falling apart or caved in completely. Yards were strown with old canned goods, rusted cookware, and a couple of beat up wood stoves. It was strange staring at a bunch of abandoned homes and buildings wondering about the people who lived here.

This was the most intact building in Coolidge.

To the left is the remains of what looked like a school or a church. The creek washed out the bottom half of the building.

Garnet

Bruce took all these photos which is why there are no pictures of him. I have a nicer but older camera which requires film. Haven't gotten the film developed yet.

the hotel (above)

Who wants to hit the slopes?