Sun is Shining...

Gallery: Snowshed Wall, Donner Summit

brian-camille — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 07:07:00 GMT

Even though this is where I broke my ankle, we are starting to like this place - there is basically no approach, there are tons of good routes, and it's really close to our house

Gallery: Rainbow, Big Bend, CA

brian-camille — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 21:30:00 GMT

Rainbow is a crag approximately 20 minutes west of Truckee - it doesn't appear to see much traffic, but it has some sweet granite

Gallery: Donner Summit

brian-camille — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:30:00 GMT

great crag near our place

Yosemite, Donner Summit, Lover's Leap and a Broken Ankle

brian-camille — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 04:47:00 GMT

The last few weeks have been amazingly fun – we have climbed three ultra-classic moderate climbs in the High Sierra (the North Ridge of Mt. Conness; the Northwest Buttress of Tenaya Peak; and the South to North traverse of Matthes Crest), we’ve done some crack climbing and knobby face climbing on the domes of Tuolumne Meadows, we did a day trip to Lover’s Leap to climb “Bear’s Reach” and “East Crack,” and have been enjoying our local Tahoe crags: Donner Summit, Big Chief, and Twin Crags.

So, it’s really hard to complain BUT, I took a lead fall on Molar Concentration at Donner Summit and broke my right ankle…it’s a clean break and should totally heal in approximately six weeks, but it’s still a bit of a bummer. I top-roped the 10b crack a couple days before and cruised the climb. Unfortunately, I messed up the hand sequence while on lead – the result of which is my broken, swollen ankle.

Camille has been helping me with all the little things that we take for granted when we’re healthy, and I guess the next month and a half will be spent reading novels, reading climbing guide books, and picking routes to climb when I’m healthy.

We saw Hot Buttered Rum last night at the Truckee Regional Park which was a blast and we’re planning on catching Peter Rowan next Saturday night there as well…it’s a great little amphitheatre about fifteen minutes from our house.

Other than that, we’re both continuing our job search and trying our best to find jobs that will allow us to stay in the Tahoe Basin.

Much love to everyone, Brian and Camille

Gallery: Yosemite (8/07)

brian-camille — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 07:50:00 GMT

Climbing in Tuolumne Meadows - Medlicott Dome, Tenaya Peak and Matthes Crest

Gallery: Mt. Conness

brian-camille — Tue, 7 Aug 2007 03:11:00 GMT

The Bar, the Beetle, and the Beer

brian-camille — Sun, 5 Aug 2007 02:08:00 GMT

Well, it’s been a while since we updated the blog…as everyone knows our trip to South East and South Asia has come to an end, and we are now living in Truckee, California (about 10 miles from Lake Tahoe). Before heading west, we spent some quality time with my family in New York, some quality time with Camille’s family in Minnesota (including a short but sweet visit to her Aunt’s cabin), and very short visit with our friends Ashley, Thomas, and Paige in Park City Utah.

The Bar: Well, there’s not really too much to say about the California Bar Exam – I studied for about 5 ½ weeks, took the exam at the end of July, and I’m now anxiously awaiting the results…it was hard, but I felt o.k. about it.

The Beetle: Camille is working with a close friend/colleague this summer on a research grant – they are studying the affects of various factors that impact the ecology of the Tahoe Basin. Science is not my strong point, but the gist of the project entails studying the affects of fire, disease, and insects on the overall health of the forests that surround Lake Tahoe. I’ve posted some photos from one of Camille’s field sites in the Desolation Wilderness.

The Beer: Camille and both like cold beer, especially after a long day of climbing or hiking, but “the beer” is really a metaphor for all things nice (i.e., the beer is an amazing climb, a breathtaking backpacking trip, a glorious bike ride, or a simply prepared meal shared with someone you love). So, “the beer” for us has, of course, included many cold beers enjoyed with our friends in California. We have also been climbing in and around Truckee with Sarah and Curtis (old friends from Davis) at the numerous climbing areas close to our house (Big Chief, Donner Summit, Twin Crags, Split Rock, etc.). Camille did an amazing backpacking trip with Alli, Shannon, and Sara (also old friends from Davis) - they started on the west side of the Sierra and ended on the east side of the Sierra at Mt. Whitney (the highest point in the continental United States). Sarah, Curtis, Hammer and I did a couple of scuba dives in Lake Tahoe last weekend. And we hope to climb Mt. Conness in the High Sierra this weekend with Dave (old friend from Davis that met us in Thailand) and Seth (a very old friend from the AMC).

Other than that, Camille is busy working, and we are both in the process of looking for full time employment (crazy, huh? – we were kinda getting used to this traveling lifestyle). So, from now on, the blog will mostly be a summary of our weekend adventures – hopefully it will allow us to stay in touch with all of family and friends that are not here in California.

Big LOVE from Tahoe…Brian and Camille : )

Gallery: California I

brian-camille — Sat, 4 Aug 2007 07:57:00 GMT

SCUBA Diving (Gulf of Thailand)

brian-camille — Thu, 17 May 2007 02:29:00 GMT

Well, our return flight is no longer creeping up on us - it's pretty much racing at us like a drunk, reckless, scooter driver in Thailand! So...we figured the best way to end our trip was to spend a little time relaxing in the islands of the Gulf of Thailand (and to get our open water SCUBA diver certification!!!).

The experience can be summed up quite simply with one word - WOW. We have done a fair amount of snorkeling in the last few years (Hawaii, Florida, Mexico, and Thailand), but diving is absolutely amazing. Many people have described diving to us as "3D," and it truly is - instead of being two dimensional, like snorkeling, that is. Sitting here at the computer, trying to describe the experience, I'm having a hard time finding the words; it was just so wild...breathing underwater, swimming with thousands upon thousands of fish, seeing the vibrant corals and tropical plants, and basically being weightless.

We started with an afternoon in a swimming pool (learning the basics, going through some skills, and getting to know our instructor and classmate James) - Torsten, a German guy who has lived in Koh Phangan for over 15 years, was our instructor. He is one of most technically qualified divers in the region and was great - mellow, easy going, funny, and patient. James, a stunt man who lives in Hollywood, has been in Thailand for the last month filming the new Rambo film. He was full of energy, totally out of control, and generally a great addition to our learning experience (as you'll see, he also served as our photographer).

We did two dives on Koh Tao the second day of the course (to a depth of 12 meters) and then did two more dives on the third day at Sail Rock (to a depth of about 23 meters), which is located in the middle of the Gulf of Thailand between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. The dives lasted anywhere from 25 to 50 minutes, but time goes by quickly when you are completely in awe of your surroundings.

All and all, absolutely unforgettable!

Gallery: SCUBA DIVING (Gulf of Thailand)

brian-camille — Thu, 17 May 2007 02:07:00 GMT

Vang Vieng (Laos)

brian-camille — Wed, 9 May 2007 21:50:00 GMT

Tubbing, rope swings, rock climbing, mountain biking, and caving...the last few days in Vang Vieng have been pretty amazing!!!

I think that Camille and I are both wishing that we had more time to spend in Laos (of course we both feel very fortunate for the amount of time we have been able to travel thus far, but Laos has exceeded our expectations).

The lifestyle in this town is a little goofy - there are tons of backpackers in their early twenties enjoying the many substances that are readily available in Laos (it is, after all, part of the "golden triangle") and that spend hours in cafes that show t.v. re-runs of "Friends" and the "Simpsons" night and day. Nonetheless, there is a reason why so many people make the effort to come to Vang Vieng - it's BEAUTIFUL and there are endless activities for the adventurous!

We spent our first day tubbing down a river (basically floating from make-shift bar to make-shift bar, occassionally having a beer Lao and enjoying one of the many rope swings or zip-lines); we spent our second day rock climbing on the river (it's the same type of rock found in southern Thailand); and today we biked to a couple of the caves in the surrounding limestone mountains. All and all, a great way to spend some of our lasts days in Laos.

Tomorrow we are off to Vientienne, and then to Cambodia. I'm sure that we'll post some pictures from Ankor Wat.

Much love from Laos,

Brian and Camille

Gallery: Laos III (Vang Vieng)

brian-camille — Wed, 9 May 2007 21:16:00 GMT

Gallery: Laos II

brian-camille — Tue, 8 May 2007 21:44:00 GMT

Laos

brian-camille — Sun, 6 May 2007 14:38:00 GMT

We've been in Laos (the "s" is silent so it's pronounced like WOW…with a “L” of course) for about a week - the first couple of days we took a "slow boat" down the Mekong River from northern Thailand, and we last five days we have been in the ancient capital city of Luang Probang.

Spending two full days on the Mekong River was quite an experience, but I think that we were both ready to be stationary by the end of the second day. The landscape was amazing - extremely lush and mountainous, and we also saw many small villages along the way.

Luang Probang is significantly different than what we have seen thus far of rural Laos - the main town is comprised of French architecture mixed with traditional Buddhist temples (there are over 30 Wats in this small town), and cafes and galleries line the main road. The Royal Palace has been turned into a national museum, which houses numerous examples of traditional Laos paintings, sculptures, and clothing, as well and gifts presented to the Royal Family from nations throughout the world (including a piece of the moon gifted from the United States which was brought back from the first manned mission). On the Royal Palace grounds, we also saw a few modern art exhibits – one photography exhibit of a monk retreat, a short film about modern day Laos in the context of the United States “silent war” against Laos in the early 1970s, and mixed media exhibit featuring local artists.

Needless to say, we have really enjoyed Laos thus far. We will be here for another few days and are heading south later today…we’ll update the blog as soon as we can (especially because Camille’s photos are amazing and I was only able to upload a few of mine).

Brian and Camille

Gallery: Laos

brian-camille — Sun, 6 May 2007 14:21:00 GMT

Kathmandu -> Chaing Mai

brian-camille — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:16:00 GMT

Royal Nepal Airlines...WOW!

After we returned from the Everest region, we were set to spend a day or two in Kathmandu and then head to Chitwan National Park in southern Nepal for a few days in the jungle - we were going to canoe, go birding, ride elephants to view rhinos, and generally chill safari style in Nepal's lowlands. Unfortunately, when we went to pick up our ticket from the travel agent, we were informed that Royal Nepal cancelled our flight on May 30th and our only options were to fly on May 2nd, or April 27th...this was a huge bummer because May 2nd was too far away, and the leaving on the 27th wouldn't allow us to enough time to explore Chitwan (though only 70 km from Kathmandu, it's a 5-7 hour bus ride).

After many visits to our travel agent, where we witnessed numerous phone calls to various offices all over the city, we were told to return the following day (May 24th) to find out if we could be squeezed onto the 25th flight. Much to our surprise, our trusty travel agent managed to get us on the flight...sounds good, right?

Well, after a 6:30 am visit to Swayanabath (aka, the Monkey Temple), a very famous Buddhist and Hindu temple on the outskirts of the city, we caught a taxi to the airport. The flight was delayed and we were told that we'd be taken to a nearby hotel for lunch...where we ended up spending the next TEN HOURS.

It was the fanciest hotel we'd been to on the trip thus far, and the hotel guests must have been in complete awe upon checking in - it was basically like a mini-refugee camp. People were sprawled out on all the couches and chairs in the lobby, people were laying on the lobby floor, people were on the lawn behind the hotel, etc. We ended up having lunch, a snack, and dinner at the hotel before eventually flying to Bangkok at 11:45 PM (our original flight was scheduled for 1 pm).

Upon arrival in Bangkok, we booked a ticket at the airport to Chiang Mai (a city of 1.6 million in the North) in literally FIVE minutes, and traveled here with two guys we met from Oklahoma. After a fun night on the town with the Oklahomans, we're having a mellow day exploring the city.

We've only been in Chaing Mai for about 24 hours, but it is beautiful and clean, and we plan to be here for a few more days before crossing into Laos. We are taking a cooking class tomorrow, and plan to check out a few Wats (Budhist temples) and local markets in the next few days...

Sending lots of love from Chaing Mai,

Brian and Camille

Solu-Khumbu

brian-camille — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:18:00 GMT

The Solu-Khumbu is a region of Northeastern Nepal that encompasses many of the highest mountains in the world... Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyo, etc. A very majestic mountain range!!! and it's home to the Sherpa people who practice Tibetan Buddhism and more recently have become well known mountain climbers, guides, and chaperones for climbing expeditions from all over the world.

We trekked for twelve days in this region and visited a number of small villages, a small peak (at least small for the Himalaya – it was over 17,000 feet), frozen lakes, and many large glaciers.

The scenery in this region was amazing and as we got higher in the mountains we were surrounded by outstanding views in every direction (I have over 200 photos of mountains to show anyone who is interested). The hillsides in the lower parts were also filled with things to see: terraced fields, spring flowers, trees in bloom, and an abundance of mani stones and prayer wheels.

One highlight was sharing a guesthouse with some Italian tourists (who happened to be wildlife biologists and veterinarians) who had just seen a SNOW LEAPORD! It seemed unreal until they showed us some photos of it with the baby yak that it had killed. The next day we randomly enjoyed lunch with an Italian professor who has been visiting Nepal for ten years studying the snow leopard and has yet to see one!

All and all it was another amazing experience, one which deepened our love for Nepal, its people, and of course, the majestic mountains that cover its landscape.

Camille and Brian

Gallery: Solo-Khumbu (Nepal)

brian-camille — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:27:00 GMT

Kayaking on the Seti River

brian-camille — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 22:46:00 GMT

We just got back to Kathmandu from three days of kayaking on the Seti River. While we had planned to do a rafting trip at some point during this trip, we got sucked into a four day kayaking course when we were relaxing in Pohkara (after trekking around Annapurna).

Both of us have been on sea kayaks in the ocean and on lakes, but river kayaks are a completely different breed. Sea kayaks are designed to be very stable and river kayaks are designed to be responsive and manueverable; thus river kayaks flip easily, but also allow the kayaker to change his or her path quite quickly. Add rocks, waves, eddies, currents, holes, and the possibility to flip, and the experience on a river kayak bears almost no resembelence to its cousin the sea kayak.

We spent the first day learning basics on Phewa Lake in Pokhara – how to escape your boat if it capsizes, how to help rescue someone that capsizes, and how to attempt to roll yourself upright if you capsize. I think you can all get the point: during the next few days on the river everyone would CAPSIZE at least a couple of times…

We then spent three days on the Seti River learing about currents, how to safely cross the river, how to stay stable, practising our rolls, etc. The guides were amazing (the owner of the company was on the trip and is a world-class kayaker) and other particpants were also great. Like our experience on the trek, our group was like a mini-UN: Canada, Switerland, Scottland, Austria, and Ireland were all represented. We kayed through beautiful country, camped at amazing locations, witnessed a sudden hail storm with golfball sized hail, saw many interesting river communities, and basically learned to kayak (we both managed to learn the eskimo-roll – Camille learned on day one, I learned at the end of day three : )). All and all, it was a great experience!

We spent today in Kathmandu and fly to easten Nepal to trek for another couple of weeks. We’ll update the blog again at the end of the month when we return from the Everest Region.

Sending lots of love from Kathmandu,

BRIAN and CAMILLE

Gallery: Seti River Kayaking (Nepal)

brian-camille — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 15:46:00 GMT