This is posted from the office computer off their 56k phone line, and so I’ll have a nice regular source of Internet on a weekly basis, so I’ll be able to keep posting! No big picture uploads or anything like that although I will get email.
I’ve decided to write out stuff I want to post on paper along with a date, and then tack that info onto the post when I do get time to get it up. Dates are in ISO format. Enjoy!
15062006: Well friends, it’s been three weeks now and I’m happy to say I’m rather enjoying myself. Camp elevation is around 4400 ft., with mountain trails headed up to around 6000 ft. I’ve wandered many of the backtrails, perhaps half, covering mainly the closer ones to camp, and I’ve gotten some really nice pictures of camp and various views around the mountains, along with a few of myself.
Humidity here never exceeds 30%, and typically sits around 15-20%. I’ve been in 100+ F temperatures while thinking it’s in the upper 90s. I’m really surprised; hot weather seems to be overrated as far as comfort goes. It’s the humidity that’s the clincher where comfort is concered.
The number one first aid issue is the nosebleed on account of the hot dry air. Chapping of the various parts of skin is common for some, especially in the nose. The loose dust aggravates the problem. I personally have had only one minor bleed, although whenever I blow my nose there’s always a little dried blood in the mucus.
So far I’ve had plenty of alone time to think. My favorite spot is the balcony of the 2nd floor of the Old Folks Home, which is the informal name for our 2 story over 21 staff bunkhouse. There’s some chairs up there where you can pull your boots off and feel the cool, dry, constant wind in the evenings. You can literally feel your feet dry and harden. It’s pretty neat.
Random note: Alot of people around here in West Texas say “sir” and “maam” all the time as part of polite speech.
15062006: I did a night hike up to Whiskey Bottle Flats and got a spectacular view of the mountains in the dusk. Too bad my camera battereis were on the fritz!
16062006: I lead a hike out to the Notch this afternoon, and on the way back one of the younger Scouts came down with a bad case of heat exhaustion. It was really my first serious injury I’d had on a hike under my care, and I worked it out pretty well. There happened to be a physician on the hike, and he by and large agreed with my assessments, which was pretty nice. Finally as I started wondering how I might carry this 80 lb. kid along with my 20 lb. external frame pack, another good Scout named Connor Gillete volunteered to carry the guy piggy-back. Connor got him back, carrying for an hour. I thanked him at the Camp Fire publicly, and I got awarded Top Hand as well. I’ll have to get a new belt I think it’s a conspiracy to get me to buy a new belt, because the award is a big belt buckle. But I’m happy about it anyway. 
Woo, 56k!
Thanks for the updates, bud!
Did you poison their soups yet? =D
*chuckles* No, not yet, but note for JC: Reveile is track 25 and taps is track 36 on a burned CD someone in camp made.
[...] That brings us to August; as you see, my plottings made for a busy July! August wasn’t so busy. It began with James coming back into town on his way from Texas where he was working as a scout leader-type fellow. He dropped in Friday night and stayed for a few days. I didn’t spend a whole lot of time with him because Katie and I had, of course, plans laid out. Saturday morning she and I drove to Gainesville’s airport and (as previously posted) went flying with Barry, one of my coworkers. On our flight we did some sightseeing over both Silver Springs and Saint Augustine, forming a nice continuity bridge with our next out-of-town trip a week and a half later. [...]