Crazy Climbers

Wednesday evening I had the pleasure of attending a fantastic slide show put on by climbers David Gottlieb and Chad Kellogg. David has been one of the head mountain rangers at Mt Rainier for years and is a friend of a friend. Chad has all kinds of crazy climbing records. I think he held (or maybe still holds) the speed record for climbing Mt. Rainier. He has attempted the speed record at Mt Everest twice. Climbing solo. These guys just got back from putting up a new route in Himalayas. They climbed for like 55 hours, over 40 rappels, 30 food bars each, eight thousand meter peak, = ridiculous, resickulous, redonkulas! These guys are the super athletes of the world, and they live right down the street. (sort of speak) Check out David Gottlieb's blog:  http://alpineextreme.blogspot.com/

That's alpine extreme for you!

Rainier

Here's a lovely shot of Mt Rainier from the West Seattle Bridge. Off to work on my friend's house....Happy Tuesday to you.

Thoughts On A Long Walk

For the last ten years (or so) my outdoor activities have continued to become more and more important to me. For me, I need a balance between the music world (playing and teaching) and the natural environments that I love so much.

On The Promise of Nature:

I wasn't a boy scout. My family never went camping. So where did this all come from? I always loved nature starting with family weekends on the Oregon coast, and later beautiful sunsets on the lake at Camp Solomon Schechter in Tumwater, Washington.

I needed the right time and the right place. My long time friend David Oxman took me on my first backpacking trip in Big Sir, CA many years ago. I was hooked. In the last several years I have been on many backpacking trips, and several ski or split board descents of the Cascade volcanoes. My favorite!

Hiking the PCT will be much more than a hike. It will be a time to reflect, write music, meet new people, and experience a different existence for a short time. When I get home my life will return to normal. I will be doing the same things. Playing and teaching music etc... I will be a different person. I will change. What will be different? I am not sure, but I am looking forward to new experiences. So, please join me for a day hike or a picnic with wine and cheese at Yosemite!

To all my friends that have inspired me, and taught me new skills: You know who you are. Thank you so much. I am very grateful for your friendship and your patience.

Let's hit the trail!

PCT Dedication: Gladys Fendel

How in the world did this all happen? Some years ago my grandmother Gladys Fendel gave her grand kids a very small ammount of money from her will. Gladys was sharp even at the end of her life. She had a wonderful positive energy, and loved all things NBA and Portland Trail Blazers. She called jokingly called them "the dumbjerks." Gladys was hip, and a very loving person. After Gladys passed, I put that money in a cd to save for the PCT. Gladys would not have approved of using the money for bills and such. So there you have it. Thanks to grandma Fendel. I miss her everyday, and I am dedicating this  trip in her honor.

Much Love, Marc

Bluebird Alpental Day!

What a beautiful day up here at Alpental. Some good turns. Firm packed powder and no ice. This is the best hangover cure. Chow for now!

Pro Ski

We are stopping to pick up some new sticks! I wish... Alpental next.

Nature Meets Electicity

Longfellows creek trail. Seattle.

Photo test from blogger

Just doing some testing here peoples. Just chill, relax, and enjoy the music while your party is reached.

Medicine Wheel YouTube Test

Airline Tickets & New Header

I just talked to a friend of mine who works in the airline industry who said he can trade me a one way ticket to San Diego for some music lessons for his kid. What a great deal!

Also, check out my slick new header for this blog. Evan Moss does it again. You might recognize Evan's work from just about any of the cds that I made.

I changed Evan's name to Evan Mossiah! So thanks broheem.

Check ya later. Now where's the snow?

Snow & Start Dates

Folks keep asking me about my start date. It all kind of depends right now. So far the snow pack is much like last year. La Nina returns. November 2011 brought lots of snow to the mountains. Us skiers and snowboarders are stoked! Not too many people are even thinking about hiking unless it involves fresh powder turns! Anyway, Last year we were getting lots of snow in April. So we will just have to see. (BTW- I am not certain about the snow in California. Maybe someone can comment on that) I am leaning toward April 10th or so as a start date. My brother in-law just sent me an email with a one way plane tickets to San Diego for $40! I may jump on that. Correction that's to LA. Still...

That all for now. Anyone for snowboarding?

Skiing The High Sierra

There's been a lot of talk about me skiing the High Sierra. As far as I can tell, I would be the first person to do this in conjunction with a thru hike. Realistically, I would need a ski parter to make it safe. Asking anybody to take two weeks off with no concrete dates is just out of the question. So, perhaps my friend Dave will be into it? Maybe you know someone? Anyway it is fun to dream. In the meantime I am swingin a hammer today, but should be swingin like Miles.

Joining me in April

My good friend Nate will be joining me on the PCT for the third week of April! How cool is that? Amazing. We have never hiked together. We expect to walk between 10-15 miles per day. I am sure it will be hot in So Cal. More steps... (giant steps) drink lots of water! More soon...

House Camping

I got up this morning and the house was so darn cold it hurt to just get out of bed. Ya, there are some space heaters. They make it so that 1. The house is slightly warmer than outside. 2. My electric meter on the house spins faster than an old 78 record player. So, what do you do? Turn the oven on broil to make toast and leave the oven door open when you are done. Stand over the oven and rub your hands together, click your heals, and whisper "there's no place home." And there you have it! House camping....

Gps sdsg test

You may click the link to view my location in Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.54741%2C-122.31975 http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.54741%2C-122.31975

Another gps test from maple hill seattle

You may click the link to view my location in Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.552%2C-122.31019

Another gps test trying to get the link

You may click the link to view my location in Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.54191%2C-122.36348

Gps testing from longfellows creek

You may click the link to view my location in Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.54186%2C-122.3634

Audio note test

Voice test using android g2 & evernote

Join me on the PCT 2012

This both a test bog post from my android g2. A bit of news last week my friend Nate agreed to join me for a week in the so cal desert. Pretty cool eh? Then he's moving from seattle to chico california and joining me again for another section of the trail. Awesome.

Field testing Android G2

Watch "Longfellows creek" on YouTube

Audio test 3

https://www.evernote.com/shard/s122/sh/27ed8a0a-8d78-4338-a664-baa88551661d/d1957112ae1a59040efd3f213b2fd8fd Here is a little test on adding audio blog. Lets see if it works...

Audio journal test 2

https://www.evernote.com/shard/s122/sh/27ed8a0a-8d78-4338-a664-baa88551661d/d1957112ae1a59040efd3f213b2fd8fd Here is a little test on adding audio blog. Lets see if it works...

Test for audio journal

https://www.evernote.com/shard/s122/sh/27ed8a0a-8d78-4338-a664-baa88551661d/d1957112ae1a59040efd3f213b2fd8fd Here is a little test on adding audio blog. Lets see if it works...

Test 12 will the link work.

You may click the link to view my location in Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.54179%2C-122.36307

I am close here.....

Test 11 gps link needs to work...

You may click the link to view my location in Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.54179%2C-122.36307

Keep prayin.

You may click the link to view my location in Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.54179%2C-122.36307

You may click the link to view my location in Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.54179%2C-122.36307

Test 8

You may click the link to view my location in Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.54196%2C-122.36298

Test 7

You may click the link to view my location in Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.54196%2C-122.36298

You may click the link to view my location in Google Map
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.54201%2C-122.36306

Test 4 wheres the link

You may click the link to view my location in Google Map

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.54179%2C-122.36294

Gps test 3

You might be interested in my track, you may use Google Earth to view

You may click the link to view my location in Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.54179%2C-122.36294

Testing gps

I am testing sending out gps location from my phone. If this works then I am stoked.

You may click the link to view my location in Google Map http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:47.54752%2C-122.32028

Map of Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Just here at home testing out mobile blog from the good ol android phonizl

First day at Alpental 2011

Watch "Day 1 Alpental!" on YouTube
Check out this fun video on top of chair 2. Nice... pass the wine!

Location test

Trying to figure out if there is a gps location on this post

Alpental chair 2 hike

This is a photo of our first day winter 2012 at Alpental. Great day.

testing post