Greetings and a Merry new year to all,

It has been a while since I have put up a new blog because I didnt have a camera to call my own. These are all photos by friends on trips I have been. These first three photos are all from my Thanksgiving trip to Joshua tree. We had beautiful weather and a big crew. The second photo is of most of the people who were there with me, and it just so happens all of them are my roommates (there are a few missing from the photo). Yeah... I have seven roommates. We were fortunate enough though to have some truly patriotic americans camping with us. We had ourselves a true thanksgiving dinner. Turkey cooked on an open fire, vege's, mashed pataters, and even some pumpkin pie. It was without a doubt one of the most delicious thanksgiving dinners that I have ever had.

















The rock climbing in Joshua tree is to die for. It is a mecca for climbers in the US. It was so warm at the end of November that I was climbing in just a pair of shorts. (Where's waldo? --->)


On my last tour before I came back to MN for x-mas, my crew and I were out in Death Valley. It is a beautiful place, and we had amazing weather. There were days where it was in the 70's and nights in the 50's. You could imagine my transition back to Minnesnowta was difficult. Death Valley was definately my favorite tour. We got to clean up the one, the only... Barker ranch. For those who might not know what Barker ranch is.... it was the hang out of your friend and mine, Charlie Manson and family. It was pretty surreal to be at that place. It had a strange feel to it, but what better album to listen to to calm the soul than the white album? We had to do some back country, four by four, high clearance type driving through this slot canyon to get to Barker ranch. It was an adventure I wont soon forget.




This here is a place called Potosi Camp. It was where we got our training when we first arrived in NV. Every work week is an adventure in a new place, just like the weekends. Jealous?









Praying not to fall. A cool photo from a climb in Red Rock Canyon.










This is also an older photo. This is at the top of a hike in Zion called Angels Landing. A steep hike on big cliffs.... well worth it. Taking a hearty lunch break of spam and chips.


That about catches ya up on the happenings in my world. I leave MN to go back to NV this sunday, so I am enjoying a little relaxing and solitude. I do have a new camera now, so hopefully I can get another post up sooner than later. I hope life is well for all those reading this. But until next time....

Truly, madly, deeply,

(Pirate) Dan

Never stop exploring

Hey all,

It has been a while since I posted some photos, so I thoght I might share a few good ones. This first one is in Zion. Spent about 4 days in Zion, mostly climbing. The rock faces are up to 2000' tall.


The picture of me is on top of 400' climb me and my buddy Ben did out in Zion.



Here is me and my buddy Brad on the summit of Geronimo, a 560' foot climb in red rock. Awesome weather, and an awesome route. One fine day on one fine weekend.


These are all the pictures I can get on here for now. I cracked the screen in my camera. As luck would have it though, I found a camera in the desert. So, once I get the proper wires, I will post some more stuff. I am heading out to a place called Sand mountain for 8 days of work. Then heading to Great Basin for a few days of vacation. Hope life is well for all.

Dan

Just another day at the office

Howdy,

Well I am in Vegas and living the good life. These first pictures areof Red Rock, a climbing mecca in the USA. Been out here a few times and am amazed at the climbing.

I also just returned from my first full week of work. We did an 8 day tour

in the Lake Tahoe area. Needless to say, working next to scenery like this is a gift.

Anywho, I just moved into an apartment with a bunch of people from work. Should be interesting to see how 8 people get along in a 3 bedroom apartment. In the morning my buddy (ben) and I are heading out to Zion for some climbing, hiking, and all around good time. I will be sure to post some pictures from there. So, I leave you with this for now. This is a picture of Red Rock at dusk, and that little dot in the sky is a full moon. Pictures can hardly do it justice.

The start of something new

Hello one and all. I have created this blog so that anyone interested can stay up to date on my locations and happenings. I don't know how long I intend on keeping this blog, but for now it is meant to be for my adventures out west.

For anyone just joining me... This is me and my new bamf van/apartment. I am moving to NV (for another stint of work) from MN. This is me on the first day of my trip, leaving home.








My trip took me from Apple Valley, MN to Spearfish, SD. I spent a few days there seeing some old familiar faces, and doing some of the things I love most. Here are a few places I went rock climbing. The first on is in spearfish canyon. The other in Custer state park.














After a few days of playing in the Black Hills, I followed the sunset to Missoula, MT. I am staying with some old family friends, the infamous Stallings. They gave me the one-day tour of the Missoula area, and did a damn good job tiring me out. I spent today hiking in the Bitterroot mountains, and went for one epic mountain bike ride in the evening. There are a number of fires burning in the mountains surrounding Missoula, but despite the flames, the Stallings pulled a beautiful day out of thier hat for me.














So, here I am spending my last evening in Montana. Tommorow I head to Salt Lake City for an evening, followed the next day by heading to Henderson, the town I will be staying at, just south of Vegas. I have plans of spending saturday and sunday climbing in Red Rocks. I will keep updating this as I have opportunities to get to a computer, which may be infrequent. But stay tuned friends... the adventures are only just starting. So I leave you with this.

"What is that feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? — it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies." -JK