Caution Light on Ski Season Snowfalls

While scientists are dipping their thermometers in the ocean currents off South America and studying satellite weather data, are you waxing your skis or snowboard and wondering if you’re going to be able to hit the slopes this winter? How much snow can you expect for the 2009-2010 ski season? Weather forecasters are batting around the term “El Nino,” a weather pattern that usually means less of the white stuff and bleaker snow reports than in normal years. So, when should you plan that anxiously awaited ski trip to the Cascades, California’s high mountain resorts, or the pure powder slopes of Colorado and Utah? Or should you just sign up for indoor tennis lessons and forget the ski season?

The business of long-range weather forecasting isn’t perfect, but the men and women who venture into this difficult field are suggesting there should be sufficient snow. Keep in mind that some of you have been spoiled by the record snowfall amounts from last season. Figures for some regions indicate a decrease of 20 percent in snowfall for December, January, and February. Yet one forecasting group predicts a 30 percent increase in average snowfall for northern California resorts. Ironing out the variations, predictions suggest there’s going to be slightly less snowfall than in a normal year.

Wind and milder temperatures typically accompany these lesser snow amounts during El Nino years. But cold temperatures can break the cycle periodically. These colder periods often occur around the time of the full moon. Book accordingly!

The snow reports should get better by spring. The El Nino cycle is expected to weaken by March bringing more snow to ski country. In the Rockies, March is typically the month with the most snowfall. So if you’re booking your vacation late, it could be worth the wait.

This home is located in Trinidad, Humboldt County, Northern California which is in the center of the Redwoods of Northern California. The town of Trinidad is on the coast, over looking the Pacific Ocean. The house overlooks Trinidad Harbor and down the coast to Eureka. It is a three bedroom, 2 and a half bath, two story house. It rents by the night or by the week. The most restful holiday you will ever have. There are several beaches that are just a short walk away. The house has a fully equipped kitchen or you can walk to local restaurants. Towels and linens are provided. For more info www.trinidadretreats.com

Poison Ivy, Oak, And Sumac

Poison ivy, oak, and sumac are hardy weeds that can be found throughout the United States, except in Hawaii, Alaska, and some desert areas of Nevada, says Epstein. Poison ivy is found east of the Rockies, poison oak grows in the West and Southwest, and poison sumac thrives east of the Mississippi River. All three produce similar reactions, and if you’re allergic to one, you’ll probably react to the others as well. Cases of poison ivy, oak, and sumac affect 10 to 50 million people in the United States each year, Epstein says. In fact, these plants constitute the single most common cause of allergic reactions. A lucky 10 to 15 percent of Americans are tolerant of these plants, but another 10 to 15 percent are quite sensitive to them. The rest of us fall somewhere in between, with varying levels of sensitivity.

What muddies the waters is that a person’s sensitivity can change over time, even from season to season. You could be quite sensitive to poison ivy as a child and carry no allergy to the weed as an adult. “Some people will never get poison ivy, and others may get it at any age,” says William Dvorine, M.D., chief of dermatology at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore. “It a reaction to one of these plants can appear early in childhood, or sometimes it can appear late in life,” Dvorine says. So it’s not safe to assume that you will always be immune if you are now. But on average, says Epstein, a person’s sensitivity tends to decline with age.

Your level of sensitivity determines how bad a reaction you’ll have. Once the oil touches the skin, it starts to penetrate in minutes. With in 12 to 48 hours, a red, itchy rash appears, followed by blisters that may weep and later get crusty. The area usually heals in about ten days. Among the very sensitive population, affected areas will quickly swell up, the rash can be severe and painful, and the reaction may take up to three weeks to clear up if left untreated. For those in this category, Epstein says it’s important to see a doctor as soon as they realize they’ve been in contact with the plant. Even for people who are not that sensitive, a rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac is no fun. So here are some tips for preventing the problem in the first place and some simple ways to treat the rash if it does occur. (While the remedies often refer to poison ivy, the steps are generally appropriate for poison oak and poison sumac as well.)

Know The Plant So You Can Avoid It : Find out what the plant looks like in your area, because appearance will vary. “Poison oak in Northern California doesn’t look like poison oak in Southern California,” says Epstein. Typically, poison ivy is a vine or a low shrub with grayish white berries and smooth, pointed leaves usually in groups of three. The reddish leaves turn green in the summer and reddel) again by autumn, according to Charlie Nardozzi, an horticulturist with the National Gardening Association in Burlington, Vermont. Poison oak is a shrub or small tree with greenish white berries and oak like leaves usually in groups of three. Poison sumac is a woody shrub found in swampy, boggy areas that has smooth-edged leaves and cream-colored berries. The leaves of poison sumac retain their reddish color and aren’t grouped in threes. Spotting the plants isn’t always easy. Poison ivy can mimic other plants, such as Virginia creeper, and can twine it self around English ivy. “I’ve tried to make myself an expert, yet I’m fooled all the time,” says Hillard H. Pearlstein, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. You’ll decrease your chance of being exposed to one of these plants, however, if you become familiar with their typical appearance.

Cover up : Long pants, long-sleeved shirts, boots, and gloves provide a barrier between you and the plant’s oil. This is especially important if you’re sensitive and you know you’re going to be in an area that might contain poison ivy. “My wife, who is a gardener, is exquisitely sensitive. She’s learned to cover up or suffer the consequences,” says Pearlstein.

Don’t Let Your Pets Romp in Wooded Areas : If you get a rash from poison ivy but can’t remember being near the plant, you may have your pet to thank. “A common way to get poison ivy is to pet a cat or dog that’s run through the stuff,” says Pearlstein. The oil gets on the animal’s fur and can get transferred to you. Epstein also suggests that you be careful with gardening tools, bicycle tires, golf balls, and anything else you use outside that might come in contact with the oil. Once there, the oil can remain active for a long time, so you can get poison ivy again and again without touching the plant itself if you don’t use care when handling these outdoor items and rinse them after each use.

Rinse Your Clothes Outside : If you think you’ve had a close encounter with poison ivy, the oil may be all over your clothes. If you walk inside your home without rinsing your clothes, you may transfer the oil to rugs or furniture. Water deactivates the oil, so once your clothes are soaked, they’re safe. Epstein also recommends rinsing camping, hunting, and fishing gear so you don’t start off your next vacation with a case of poison ivy. Don’t forget your shoes. “Many times, people will step on twigs or pieces of the vine and the oil will get on their shoes,” says Dvorine. At night, if you take your shoes off by grabbing the sole or the heel, you may grab on to more than you bargained for and end up with a nasty case of poison ivy.

Head For Water Fast : This should be your first step if you suspect you’ve gotten into poison ivy. Whether it’s a stream, lake, garden hose, or faucet, if you can get to water with in five to ten minutes after contact with the plant, you may be able to wash the oil off before all of it sinks in. “The sooner you get wet, the better effect you’re going to get,” says Epstein.

Carry Rubbing Alcohol With You : The oil from poison ivy isn’t absorbed in to the skin all at once, it sinks in fairly gradually. If you move quickly enough, you may be able to use rubbing alcohol to extract some oil from the skin, suggests Epstein. If you think you’ve been exposed to the weed and you’re heading back inside for the day, wash down the exposed areas with rubbing alcohol and then rinse well with water. Don’t use a cloth wipe, Epstein cautions, because that may just pick up the oil and put it somewhere else. And don’t use the alcohol near your eyes.

Cool Off The Itch : If preventive steps failed and you’ve got a rash, cool water may help ease the itch. “A cool bath or cool shower is wonderful,” says Pearlstein. Placing ice-cold compresses on the rash may also provide relief.

Smooth On Some Calamine Lotion : “People typically cover them selves with calamine lotion,” says Pearlstein. “That’s the time honored solution.” Indeed, calamine lotion can be mildly soothing and help to dry the rash. Apply it in a thin layer, however, so that the pores are not sealed.

Apply Burow’s Solution : This lesser-known product (sold without a prescription) can soothe and relieve mild rashes when put on compress-style. It’s often sold under the name Domeboro, in a tablet or powder form that you mix with water (according to package directions). Ask your pharmacist if you’re having trouble locating it.

Go Soak Yourself : Bathing in lukewarm water mixed with oatmeal or baking soda may help to dry oozing blisters and soothe irritated skin, says Epstein.

Try Hydrocortisone Creams : Sold without a prescription, these creams may offer some relief for mild rashes. Epstein says that for anything but the mildest cases, however, these over the counter creams are not strong enough to help. If you have a rash that is severe enough to take you to the doctor, he or she may prescribe more potent steroids

Sacramento Train Excursions

Sacramento is a beautiful city located in a leafy valley of scenic rivers and canopies of trees. The city is referred to as the snapshot of Wild West history in a modern world-class city. It has plenty of great attractions and events, and all-year-round recreational activities. What is more, the city also offers incredible shopping opportunities, hotels and restaurants, nightlife entertainment, and above all, superb and exciting tours. So, if you are planning a vacation trip to this exotic and vibrant place, what more can you ask for?

If you can take a ride on the Sacramento River Train, and travel eastward from Woodland to the Sacramento River, and then go on to West Sacramento, then you will pass through the rich agricultural land of Yolo County. Along the way you traverse across an 8,000-foot long wooden trestle, journey through the numerous orchards and the local crops. You can also sample and buy the region produce when the train makes a halt at Uncle Ray Fruit Stand. This entire train journey takes around two and a half hours. Apart from this, you can enjoy various other train excursions offered by the Sacramento River Train such as the Great Train Robbery, the Party of Fools Express, Scottish Highland Train, Murder Mystery Train, Pumpkin Train, Easter Train, Mothers / Fathers Day Trips, and many more. These excursions can be organized either as group trips or as company charters.

Sacramento Great Train Robbery: This delightful fantasy ride begins from Woodland, in which you get to experience a good old-fashioned Western train robbery. A terrific group of magnificent actors dressed in full western wear makes this trip a very entertaining one. This energetic cast encourages all the guests to participate in the shenanigans. Children are sure to derive a kick from this ride.

The train passes through picturesque countryside, making a lunch halt in a park, where you can have a picnic barbeque by the river. The highlight of the trip is a shootout scene staged by the actors at a place called Robbers Roost enroute the journey.

Sierra Railroad Party Train: In this journey, you can enjoy the rich history of the third oldest short line railroad in North America while you travel through 32 miles of countryside which is completely unspoiled, filled with orchards, rolling hills, and farmland. You will enjoy sighting wildlife like egrets and blue herons perched in the near-by streams and ponds, coyotes on the prowl, rabbits nestling near the track, and red-tail hawks hovering in the skyline.

Sierra Railroad is more commonly known as The Movie Railroad. Due to its superb scenery, this railroad is singled out by movie producers from around the world as a preferred location for filming. The train comprises of elegantly refurbished dining cars with various art-decor patterns adorned with delicate sconces, and a lounge car that includes a full-bar with a dance floor. The historic Baldwin Diesel Engine pulls the train.

Mother/Father Day trips: How does this trip sound to you? You can give this wonderful gift to your parents. This is a complete fishing trip combined with drifting through giant redwoods, and maybe also indulging in a little antique shopping. Your parents can enjoy this breathtaking ride down the world famous Smith River.

So what are you waiting for? Whether its a romantic weekend out, or a family excursion, just dial the number and go to the perfect getaway, and create some unforgettable memories. You can also gift these trips to someone special.

Fly Fishing Information and your next trip

Fly fishing is a great way to enjoy a day, weekend, or week long vacation. It takes a little bit of skill and practice but is quite rewarding and relaxing. It is recommended that before you plan a trip with a fly fishing guide, you should practice so that the trip is more enjoyable. That way, the fly fishing guide can help you get to the right spots on the river, but you spend all your time fishing and reeling in trout and bass. If you don’t practice, you could have paid the fly fishing guide to teach your technique in the water and miss out on fishing.

Colorado fly fishing is some of the best in the world. Be sure to look into Aspen fly fishing guides as well as Denver fly fishing guides and Gunnison fly fishing guides. Montana is another wonderful state to fly fish. Bozeman fly fishing guides are a good place to start if you haven’t been. Wyoming also is home to top fly fishing with great fly fishing guides in Jackson Hole.

Don’t miss you on trying fly fishing destinations in other parts of the US and world as well. North Carolina fly fishing guides are top notch and so are fly fishing guides in Northern California and Washington. If you want the total experience, book a stay at a top fly fishing lodge where you will be pampered and fed well. These locations usually offer breathtaking views that are unmatched. The great scenery is great for a relaxing vacation while the fishing provides excitement and adventure. To book your next trip with a fly fishing guide, go to websites that help you gather info on guides and trips. FishingGuidesWorld.com is a great resource that lets you see how other anglers rate fly fishing guides. Fly fishing vacations are a wonderful way to spend your free time they are relaxing but full of activity.

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Flying to Crested Butte / Gunnison – Airfare, Flights & Car Rentals

Flying to Crested Butte – Car Rentals & Transfers

Nestled in the mountains of Colorado’s interior Rockies, the town of Crested Butte provides the unique combination of solitude while remaining easy to get to. Here you will experience the splendor of an authentic Colorado vacation. Witness the charm of this Victorian mountain town either in the winter or summer. When the snow flies, Crested Butte comes alive with tourists and locals adorned with skis over their shoulders. Mount Crested Butte provides a playground for skiers and snowboarders. Known for world class extreme skiing while also containing some of the best groomed terrain on the planet, this town offers all levels of skiing ability. Coming for the summer? Explore the palette of colors that saturate the nearby mountains and valleys. The Crested Butte wildflower festival attracts thousands of people looking for the famed Colorado columbine.

Getting to Crested Butte, Colorado

Although Crested Butte is far removed from the hustle and bustle of city life, getting to this town is as easy as hopping on a plane. Many visitors choose to book flights to Crested Butte (Airport code GUN). Flights from all over the country will drop you right in the heart of the Rocky mountains. All major airlines fly to Denver International Airport where you can take cheap connection flights to Gunnison Crested Butte Airport. Flights are served year-round.

Once you’re airfare is booked, it is time to sort out what time of ground transportation you would like to utilize. You can book Crested Butte car rentals and have the freedom to explore nearby mountain towns. It is advisable to rent your car in advance to ensure availability. Often times you can find Crested Butte car rental online at discount rates.

If you’re planning on visiting Crested Butte from out of state and are packing the car for a road trip, the following directions will point you in the right direction.

From Denver:

From Denver International Airport, take Interstate 70 west, exit to Highway 470 west, Highway 285 south to Fairplay then Poncha Springs, Highway 50 west to Gunnison, then Highway 135 north into Crested Butte.

From Colorado Springs:

Take Highway 24 west to Highway 285, Highway 285 south to Poncha Springs, Highway 50 west to Gunnison, then Highway 135 north into Crested Butte.

From Montrose:

Take Highway 50 east to Gunnison, then Highway 135 north into Crested Butte.

From Texas and Oklahoma:

Take Interstate 25 north through Trinidad to Walsenburg, Highway 160 west to Alamosa, Highway 285 north to Saguache, Highway 114 north to Highway 50, Highway 50 west to Gunnison, then Highway 135 north into Crested Butte.

From Arizona and Phoenix:

Take Interstate 17 to Flagstaff, north on Highway 89, Highway 160 to Cortez, north on Highway 145, Highway 62 to Ridgway, Highway 550 north to Montrose, Highway 50 east to Gunnison, then Highway 135 north into Crested Butte.

From California and Southern Nevada – Los Angeles – Las Vegas:

Take Interstate 15 to Las Vegas, Interstate 70 to Grand Junction, Highway 50 east to Montrose and on to Gunnison, then Highway 135 north into Crested Butte.

From Northern California and Utah – San Francisco – Salt Lake City:

Take Interstate 80 to Salt Lake City, Interstate 15 via Highway 6 and Interstate 70 to Grand Junction, Highway 50 east to Gunnison, then Highway 135 north into Crested Butte.

From New Mexico – Santa Fe – Albuquerque – Taos:

From Highway 285, take Highway 160 west to Alamosa, Highway 285 north to Saguache, Highway 114 north to Highway 50, Highway 50 west to Gunnison, then Highway 135 north into Crested Butte.

Whether you’re planning on booking flights to Crested Butte, renting a car, or taking a shuttle, this mountain town will beg you to make repeat visits. Come explore Crested Butte and book your vacation today.

Chaise Lounges – The Only Way To Relax Outside

Instant comfort and luxury. Isn’t that what everyone wants on their patio or by their pool? Well one of the easiest ways to get it is to add some chaise lounges to your outdoor décor.
You’ll simply love basking in the warm rays of the sun on one.

It’s quite possible that you’ll think you’re on vacation. These beach beauties are crafted from several materials like various woods, steel, aluminum and synthetic fibers. The most popular wood for chaise lounges is teak. Grown in Indonesia it has long been prized for its natural resistance to water and rot. So a teak chair of this rich wood will keep you comfortable for many years. Other woods such as pine, redwood and cedar all make great chaises too. Some you may need to treat with protector while others will weather the seasons on t heir own.

Lounges made of aluminum, steel and synthetic fibers all will lend a certain look to your backyard retreat. Cool and elegant a chaise of teak and steel adds a distinct modern look to your patio while aluminum chaises have a European feel. Close your eyes and you’ll be soaking up the sun on the Mediterranean shore.

Besides being able to lie down after a dip or just to relax most chaise lounges adjust to five different positions for your ultimate comfort. Choose to sit in a more upright position to watch the world go by as you lounge or lay back and take a sun-kissed nap. Some bend at the knee and most lie completely flat as well. So it could double as a bench for even more seating.

Now that you know you want to invest in some chaise lounges where do you look? Well don’t waste time trekking from home and garden store to home and garden store in your town. Instead try shopping online where you’ll find the best selection and the best prices. No worries about patio furniture being out of season; you’ll always be able to browse the latest offerings online.

Give your deck a taste of the tropics with a chaise that looks like rattan but is actually an aluminum frame covered in hand-woven synthetic fiber. Topped with a thick Sunbrella fabric cushion you’ll never want to get up from this seat. Perhaps you would prefer something with a little European flair? Then try a sleek aluminum chaise topped with a plush 4inch thick Sunbrella cushion. You’ll love the modern yet classic look it gives your poolside paradise.

So if you want to be really comfortable while enjoying your outside living space you should invest in a few chaise lounges in any style. You’ll be able to indulge in the simple pleasures of summer; fresh air, warm sun, cold lemonade and a good book.

So get ready to kick back, relax and enjoy your backyard retreat. It is a destination that is quick and easy to get to and with a few chaise lounges in tow you might find you’ll never want to go indoors.

Adirondack Chairs – A Relaxing Seating Option Perfect For Your Space

You just built this brand new deck and now you are ready to go all out and furnish it. You want the seating to be comfortable, otherwise what’s the point? Well, one of the best options around is Adirondack chairs. They’re extremely relaxing and perfect for adding to any outdoor area.

In fact, Adirondack chairs are one of the most comfortable seating options around, which is the result of its relaxing design. This design dates back all the way to the 1900’s when a man by the name of Thomas Lee invented the chair when he couldn’t find one that he liked while vacationing with his family. One that has a classic design will generally feature a large, slanted backrest, armrests that are oversized, a seat that is spacious and sloped, and it will sit lower to the ground that really makes lounging easy.

So, Adirondack chairs have been around for a while and that longevity just proves that it is a fantastic seating option. You can place one pretty much put one in outdoor space to create a lovely outdoor sanctuary. Like, that new backyard deck of yours, if you add a few of these chairs, some ottomans to rest your feet, and then get an umbrella you will have this fabulous space to enjoy after a long day at the office. You could also create a lovely outdoor dining area by using Adirondack chairs as seating to, only this time around you would go with those of the dining chair variety that sit higher off the ground and have a straight seat instead of a slanted one. You could pair them up with any patio dining table to create a great place to sit back and relax for a nice meal in the beautiful night air.

When purchasing Adirondack chairs for your outdoor space, the main thing to keep in mind is to go with one that are made out of higher quality materials. This is important because you want them to last and they won’t if you go with ones crafted out of lesser quality substances that can’t handle the different outdoor elements. Now, some of the better options to go with include sturdier woods like Northern White Cedar, Western Red Cedar, Southern Yellow Pine, Redwood, and Teak along with thicker synthetic options including resin and recycled polymer. Each is tremendously durable, plus, has a fantastic appearance so you can easily add a personal touch to your space.

If Adirondack chairs sounds like the seating that you want to go with, one of the best ways to find ones just right for you is by hitting the Internet for some online shopping. Browsing through the different selections is easy, and, when you do come across that you like, it will be shipped right to your door.

So, you don’t have to worry about how to get it from here to there since that is totally taken care of.
When it comes down to it, if you want comfortable seating for your space, turn to Adirondack chairs. They make for one relaxing ride.

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An Alaska Fishing Experience on Lake Creek & Travels in the Village of Skwentna

The jangling of the telephone sliced through the darkness, shaking me to my core. It was 4:30 a.m., and in the handful of instants before Ken could pick up the phone on his side of the bed, I imagined every possible disaster in the book.

“Who is it?” I mouthed, unable to stand the suspense a moment longer. “Northwest Airlines….” he lip synched to me in return. And so, our vacation began. For months, we had been planning it – our return to Alaska after a two-year hiatus. And now, the recording on the other end of the telephone was telling us our flight had been canceled because the Duluth Airport was socked in by fog. “Oh, noooooo…..” I moaned into my pillow. I quickly reemerged, however. “Let’s get in the car, drive to Minneapolis and catch it there!” I cried. We leaped out of bed and scrambled around in the darkness – resolve quickly taking over for despair. Twelve hours later, we found ourselves circling over the tree-covered hills, dramatic ocean flats and snow-capped mountains surrounding Anchorage. It was like coming home again – our fourth trip to a land we’d grown to know and love ever since our son, Jason, first moved there to attend college in Fairbanks.

We made a quick trip to the market for supplies to replenish the pantry at the fishing lodge Jason now operates on Lake Creek, and we arrived at Rust’s Flying Service on Lake Hood shortly before 5 p.m. with our four big duffel bags and five boxes of groceries. A group of tourists who had just returned from a flight seeing trip to Mount McKinley seemed impressed by our mountain of gear. “You’d think we were going out caribou hunting for weeks, wouldn’t you?” I commented with a grin to no one in particular. We went into the office and checked in for our float plane flight and then returned outside to await our departure. An older woman from the flight seeing group tentatively approached me and asked shyly, “Are you really going caribou hunting?” “No,” I laughed, “we’re actually going out to our son’s fishing lodge.” “Oh, darn!” she replied, looking disappointed. “I was so impressed to think that you were actually going caribou hunting!”

It wasn’t until the next morning, when we were finally knee-deep in the middle of Lake Creek in our hip waders that I finally began to relax and let Alaska truly began to seep under my skin and rid me of all the stress and tension of the days and weeks leading up to that moment. Before I was even ready for it, a silver salmon hit my line. “Mom, mom, let him run with it!” yelled Jason. “And don’t forget to keep your rod tip up or he’ll break it right off!” No matter how often I’ve done it before, I always seem to have that “breaking in” period where I forget everything I’ve been taught – and simply panic. And as quickly as it began, my “battle” with the fish was over as he broke loose and darted away. It wasn’t long, however, before another one hit my line. At this time of year, the salmon are preparing to spawn, so they hit the bait more out of anger and distraction than hunger, and they put up a mighty fight when they get hooked.

My line zinged almost continually as the silver salmon made run after run with it, and finally he managed to cartwheel his entire length above the surface of the water. “Man, oh, man,” I yelled. “This is living!” Remembering at last my carefully-tutored instructions of a couple of years ago, I patiently worked the fish until I got him far enough up toward shore for Jason to ease him out of the water.

The 8-pound salmon was solid muscle and in the early throes of turning the tell-tale scarlet of the spawning season. Intending to release him, I wanted first to have my picture taken with him. I handed my digital camera to Jason, and he carefully transferred the fish into my eagerly waiting grasp. “Now, Mom,” Jason cautioned, “be careful not to squeeze him too hard, but keep a firm grip so he doesn’t get away from you….”

I wrapped one hand around the base of the fish’s tail and gingerly slipped the other just under its gills, keeping him low to the water. And then, as I looked up into the camera lens and turned on a dazzling smile, the fish gave one mighty twist – and got away.

Part II

The bone-chilling cold of the morning was warring with the sleep-inducing warmth of the big quilt that engulfed us. The skies had cleared overnight, and the temperature had dipped below freezing, coating the grass and the front porch of our little cabin with a brittle coat of frost. Though it would have been easy to give in to the beckoning of our warm covers, the thought of the thermos of hot coffee that I knew would be waiting out front on the porch railing was too strong to resist.

I gingerly crawled into jeans that were as cold as the outside air, dragged a sweatshirt over my head and darted outside to grab the waiting thermos and the thick mug that accompanied it.

I knew that my son, Jason, probably had been up for hours already and I marveled at how all things come full circle…. Later, we walked up to the main lodge, where Jason was frying hash browns generously laced with onion on the grill in the kitchen. Off in another corner of the grill was a mountain of eggs scrambled with thick slices of sausage. Breakfast is definitely one of the high points of the day at Wilderness Place Lodge, and after one sniff of its delicious aromas, there was no turning back! We pretty much inhaled our breakfast, however – eager to set out on our planned trip to a salmon creek known as Eight Mile, up the mighty Yenta and Skwentna rivers. We were soon zooming up the Yenta in one of the lodge’s flat-bottomed jet boats, bundled up to the eyebrows against the icy morning air. For a time, I felt as though my eye sockets were freezing – until we rounded a bend in the river and were greeted by the full panorama of the Alaska Range in bold relief against the brightening morning sky. It took our collective breaths away, and we forgot all about being cold.

At last, we arrived at our destination – a sand bar just at the confluence of the Skwentna and Eight Mile. We beached the boat, threw the anchor ashore and disembarked with all of our gear.

As the morning sun began to warm us, it was a day unlike few others – and the silvers were biting! Silver salmon are fighting fish, and their acrobatics and reel-smoking runs make stream fishing for them as exciting as any fishing I’ve ever encountered. One minute the line is casually drifting through pockets of calm water along the shoreline, and the next, the brawny fish hit with spine-tingling aggression and proceed to give you the wildest game tug-of-war you’ve every played!

And though we did battle with so many of them our arms were aching by the end of the morning, we only kept three of them – one to eat for dinner that night and two to take back and smoke over a slow-burning alder fire in the smoker.

Before heading back to the lodge, we decided to stop and hike in from the river to the Skwentna Roadhouse for lunch in the warm, homey kitchen of the old two-story house located in a small clearing in the woods. The roadhouse, like so many others scattered across Alaska, is meant as a stopping-over place for remote travelers in the Alaskan wilderness. This particular one also once served as a wintertime boarding house for children whose families lived in areas too isolated for them to get to school every day. It also plays host to race spectators during the famous Iditarod Sled Dog race each year (the Skwentna Post Office across the river is the race’s first official stopover).

The couple who has owned and run the roadhouse for the past 40 years has been trying to retire for the past several years so they can fulfill their dream of living on a sailboat off the coast of Baja California. But alas – they have been unable to find a buyer and so they run it still.

Part of the ritual of stopping there is sitting around the big kitchen table and “shooting the breeze” with them for a while before ordering your food – no matter how empty your stomach is. When we mentioned we were from northern Minnesota, the husband, John, commented with a grin, “Wow – as if I couldn’t tell from the accent!” “Whoo-ee, Joyce,” he guffawed to his wife, “maybe we should put on the ‘Fargo’ tape while these folks are here…!!”

Information on Wilderness Place Lodge may be found online at:

Look Out For Locations For Your Next Trade Show In Sacramento

Sacramento, the capital city of California is growing and is on its way to become a sophisticated metropolitan city. With improved, new attractions, several museums, the commitment of the public and private sector to revitalize the region, high-class hotels and dining spots, the city is one to watch out for in the 21st century. Whether you are visiting California for a vacation or you are coming here for business, your stay in Sacramento will certainly be amidst culture, excitement and adventure. A plethora of great attractions, scenic waterways, world famous wineries and loads of culinary and physical treasures will make your stay in this city a memorable experience.

Due to the discovery of gold in 1848 near Sacramento, the famous gold rush of California brought many entrepreneurs and fortune seekers to this city. If you are coming here on a business trip then Sacramento is a place where you can be a part of performing arts, great restaurants, shopping areas and a well-preserved history that can make your business experience truly unique. You are sure to consider the place for your next trade show, convention or meeting. Some of the reasons responsible for the choice are:

. The Sacramento Convention Center has an affordable and flexible event and meeting space that is spread on 384,000 square feet. Cal Expo has an outdoor/indoor facility of 350 acres. There is a historic Memorial Auditorium, Arco arena and various full service hotels that make business in Sacramento a cinch apart from the outstanding facilities that this city offers.

. This city flaunts over 10,000 hotel rooms that offer excellent value, whether you are at two of the major convention center hotels like Sheraton Grand and Hyatt Regency or at the Point west Area or Cal Expo. Sacramento is considered to be perfect for groups who need 50-1500 room nights.

. The amenities that are offered by this city to its visitors are specially designed. An exciting nightlife, fine dining experience, sports and recreations options and unique shopping experience make this city as modern as it is historic.

. The Old Sacramento is spread on 28 acres and has the unique heritage of the Gold Rush era. This district is on the banks of the Sacramento River and is popular for Delta King Hotels, Embassy Suites, retail shops, various dining spots and the California State Railroad Museum, one of the premier attractions of the world.

. You can access any place in the United States from Sacramento. The International Airport is served by over a dozen airlines and daily flights that are more than 150 in number. The distance between the International Airport and downtown is just 15 minutes. This city is even located at the Interstate 80 and Interstate 5 junction and gives plenty of way to the drivers to get here.

. The winters are very mild and so are the summers, so you can have outdoor fun, before or during business meetings.

Since this city is located in the center of Northern California, there are a number of places that are designed to conduct business meetings and trade fairs.

Northern California Travel Guide! Mendocino, California Come for the food and the fun. Discover what the North Coast has to offer for an exciting and relaxing getaway.

Rigger Lee Interview: The Enigmatic Adventurer

Enigma
1. An obscure speech or writing 2. Something hard to understand or explain 3: an inscrutable or mysterious person.

If ever there was a man that fit the definition, it would be the BASE world’s Rigger Lee. He will tell you that he is an open book; however for many he fits the bill. I set the interview in motion with a standard 58 question document for this series of profiles and what I received in return where some of the most intriguing answers. In Lee, you will discover a man who claims to have set no goals and yet has achieved a great deal in his lifetime.

Lee’s story begins in Irving, Texas, while he has spent most of his life referring to his mother’s home in Euless as his residence for the purpose of collecting his mail. His partner at “the shop,” friends and family have grown accustomed to Lee being “away” from his home base for 6 or more months out of the year. Lee is known to have packed up and disappeared for a month or two at a time, “wandering about the country.”

Lee’s enterprises managed from “the shop” include a sign store, rigging loft and T-shirt company. A current project is constructing sailing covers, but he still thinks of “the shop” as being more of a “hangout” for when they “aren’t out playing,” than as place of business.

A 37’ Endeavor, ketch rigged became the latest addition to Lee’s toys to make his fascination with sailing came full circle. The recent purchase is docked in Houston, Texas. Lee explained to me his reasoning behind the sailing fascination. “A friend of mine had bought a 16 foot Hobie. I had been out with him on that a couple of times, and pretty much, I was hooked. The Hobie was too much fun and with it a sense of freedom that comes with sailing. There is no motor and it beats the hell out of paddling.” He went on to elaborate, “I had spent a month on Lake Powell with a kayak and sailing sure beat the hell out of paddling 250 miles with the wind blowing. I developed an interest in sailing prior to even those experiences. I recall taking a ferry across the North Sea. Standing by the window and gazing at the waves changing as we left the mouth of the harbor. I have the same emotions when I am in the mountains, the desert or flying. You couldn’t imagine three more different environments and yet they bring forth the same feeling. I suppose it is all about being beyond the boundaries of civilization and societies rules. I am leaving behind all of the false entrapments and regulations that are supposed to insure my safety at the expense of my freedom. I don’t know what it is exactly, but I do find that I enjoy it as mus as I do the other adventurous sports that I participate in.”

Lee doesn’t have an iPod filled with music; instead he thinks the first thing he loaded onto his was a book on tape. Books are a part of his life. While stranded in the Arctic with a disabled snowmobile, he read a book by Tanya Abbie titled “Maiden Voyage.” He is also quite a fan of Captain Joshua Slocum’s books. As one of his reads he listed “West is the Night,” by Beryl Markham; the story of a woman raised in East Africa who in the 1930s, became an African bush pilot, and in September 1936, became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic from east to west. I sensed that the solo adventurers and explorers in the books Lee read would consider him a kindred spirit.

Lee was a 19 year old college student when he was baptized into the world of skydiving. As a high school gymnast he had always wanted to give bungee jumping a try. During the fall season of his sophomore year of college he signed up for bungee jumping from a hot air balloon at the local small airport outside of Dallas, Texas. When he arrived on the following Saturday, the wind was too intense for the balloonist to tether the balloon for the bungee jumps. Lee instead ended up meeting with skydivers at that same airport before leaving with his refunded check in hand. The skydivers were more than willing to have him spend his money with them and he made his first tandem jump that day in 1991.

Years later while working for John Stanford at the Adventure Loft he was introduced to BASE jumping and his first BASE jumper, Ernie Long. Ernie and two companions had come to the shop in need of a tail pocket being sewn onto a new Raven3 canopy. Ernie had both feet casted and the men were struggling with Lee’s assistance to even get him through the door. Apparently, as best as Lee could piece together the story, Ernie had a mishap out in Moab Utah. There was talk of “a worn out canopy, a cliff, and being able to see the ring on a woman’s hand as she waved from the bottom. Then there was the problem with a boulder being in the landing area.” A whole new world had opened up to adventurer Lee.

He hadn’t begun his career as a Rigger yet, but was dead set on learning about BASE. He built himself a rig and headed off to Bridge Day, with 4 to 5 hundred skydives already in his log book. He located some help at Bridge Day in packing the rig that he had built and made his first 2 BASE jumps. Lee returned home hooked on the sport when all he initially ventured to West Virginia for was to learn about the equipment and technology. When I asked Lee what BASE jumping has contributed to his personal growth, he shared this: “It’s led me into worlds I would never experience otherwise.” One of those “worlds” is Baffin Island. For those of you, like myself who know very little about Baffin Island, here is a little data snippet.

Baffin Island, 69?00`N 72?00`W, is the largest island in Canada and the fifth largest island in the world, with an area of 507,000 km². It has a population of 11,000 people, most of them living in Iqaluit, which is the capital of the territory Nunavut. Much of the treeless island, and the waters around it, are protected national parks. A mountain ridge goes across the island and the highest peak is Mount Odin, raising 2147 m above sea level. The vast, unspoiled tundra, the mountainous interior, the big glaciers and the hundreds of bays and fjords of the rugged northern coast make Baffin Island to a unique place in the world.

Baffin Island has a typically arctic climate, with short summers and very cold winters where the temperature can drop down to -50 C. The average monthly temperatures are below 0 C for nine months of the year. The sea ice stays around the island throughout the summer and the harbors can just be used a few months every year.

I suspect there are not many tourists clamoring to spend their vacation time on Baffin Island, however that hasn’t stopped Lee from visiting 4 times in the past 10 years. The area has become more popular among trekkers’ and cross country skiers over the last few years. This only reiterates the fact that Lee is not your average person, nor your average BASE jumper. Seems fitting that a man who claims his favorite meal as “anything that crawls, flies or swims” would set his sights on Baffin Island’s bigwalls. His first expedition came in 1999. I asked Lee what draws him to Baffin Island. “Oh, man. That’s an open ended question, “Where the hell does one start?” What draws BASE jumpers there? It is the big cliffs? (I mean really big cliffs.) Some of the biggest cliffs in the world if not the biggest… we are talking 6000 foot cliffs. The whole NE coast of the island is cut with Fjords just like in Norway. There are valleys with ten times the vertical cliff face of Yosemite in California with 25 Fiords on that side of the island.” Lee has traveled solo to the island, having to ship 400lbs of food alone and equipment, along with a rifle to protect himself from the Polar Bears. Spending three months at a time solo in the Arctic is no easy feat and takes plenty of planning and preparation. One could easily add “survivalist” to Lee’s name alongside “adventurer” and “explorer.”

Lee replied to the question of marital status as such, “Are you joking? Who would have me?” When I pressed him on the matter, as there are many other skydivers, BASE jumpers and climbers who are happily married I received this explanation as part of my introduction into the world of the skydiving Drop Zones.

“Being a skydiver is a big liability relationship-wise; being a BASE jumper even more so. You spend all of your time out on little tiny airports in the middle of nowhere. The sport is 85% male and that’s if you are lucky. The 15% of females are married to a jumper or they’re there because they are dating a jumper. Very rarely does a single female show up at a drop zone wanting to learn how to jump. Females that do come out to the drop zone or become divorced from their attachment, usually find themselves surrounded by a group of men humping their leg. A woman that might be considered a 6 on a scale of 10 suddenly becomes a 10 at a drop zone. Young single men with good jobs and significant disposable income will be fighting over her attention. Now this may be all well and good for the female, but for us men that aren’t exactly A-list material, it’s a f%#king death nail.” I chuckled at Lee’s explanation, but he insists “it’s the truth — a young boy wandering onto the drop zone and then like Rip Van Winkle, I wake up single at 36 years old and it’s like “how did I get here?” Besides the trips to Baffin Island, sailing, traveling, his shop, BASE jumping and skydiving, Lee named these 5 Random facts.

Never consumed Alcohol I dip my chocolate chip cookies in vanilla pudding I enjoy old Science fiction movies I am old school and still indulge in text adventure games As a child I spent countless hours searching for the door that would take me to the land of Narnia, after having read “The Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe”

He doesn’t have a favorite jumper. Instead he looks to the founding fathers of BASE for their foresight “to actually figure all the technical aspects of BASE, and who, with all that reasoning had the faith to hurl their selves from a cliff.” Lee’s jump philosophy: “I try to enjoy what I’m doing, that being the point of doing it. I try to not to die while doing it as that would reduce the enjoyment.” Right there folks is a “Lee-ism.” He is a fountain of information and being a card carrying BASE jumper he is chock full of opinions and yes, “Lee-isms.” He considers his biggest weakness in life and BASE jumping to be “cowardice” and offers this advice to newbies, “Don’t make the big mistake of seeing what other people do and thinking it’s not dangerous because they make it look easy and don’t die while doing it. Be afraid.” After all, his final thought prior to jumping is “Shiiiittt” after creating “a flow chart of the possible errors and corrections that need to be made in the jump.”

Rigger Lee claims his life isn’t organized to a point of having goals. He prefers to drift along from one interest to the next, like a ship sailing with the current. “I never really know where I will wind up going, or doing for that matter. All the past currents in my life have lead me to some interesting places and situations. One of the problems I experience with drifting is at times you can be carried over the falls, but it can be one of hell of ride. Today’s currents continue to take me to places yet explored and I have no reason to believe my life will be any less interesting tomorrow then it was yesterday.”

When Hank Caylor discovered that Rigger Lee agreed to his own interview, he can be found saying, “Rigger Lee is a freakin’ great choice. The whole world will finally know the mad genius that is Lee! This will be goooooood.” If there is a “mad genius” that is Lee, it is the way he has managed to live his life one moment, one day at a time all while remaining true to his passions and himself. An enigma? Defiantly. If you were Lee would you give away all your secrets?

Quick questions with Lee:

Q: What do you feel is your contribution to BASE?
A: I have spread the word and educated BASE jumpers about Baffin Island.

Q: What makes you unique to BASE?
A: Few people are as foolish as I am.

Q: What will your epitaph read?
A: “I can’t believe he did that”

Q: Of all your jumps is there one that stands out?
A: First Antenna. La Marto, Titon, hang over hill.

Q: What has been your life’s greatest achievement?
A: I don’t think that I have achieved it yet.

Q: What is your current dream BASE jump?
A: Getting naked with the “Baffin Babes.”

Q: Why do you think Hank chose you to be the next interview?
A: He just wants to hear stories about Baffin Island.

Q: Who do you chose as the next interview subject?
A: Walt Apel

Q: What is your favorite Science fiction movie?
A: The Men in Space Series

Lee’s Statistics:

Age: 36 Marital Status: Single Location: Whitewright, Texas Number of Jumps: a few hundred Year of first Jump: 1993 Container: Rigger Lee Special Canopy: Maveric or Peg

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