Solo in Huaráz

My Christmas present to myself this year was 5 days in Huaráz.
Here are just a few of the special places I got to know.


Towards Laguna de Palcacocha
6,000 m peaks abound!


The Way Inn


Plaza de Armas, Huaráz

In Lima, I met a guy riding a motorbike w/ his friend from Toronto to Ushuaia, Argentina. He had a glorious ride through the Cordillera Blanca Mtn Range - the same mtns I experienced while in Huaráz. Since my camera was nearly out of pictures, I've included his slideshow here to give you more of a taste of what Huaráz region was like. Spectacular countryside, to say the least! Click here for more: Motorcycle ride travel blog

Sicko in Peru

Sicko in Peru,
Oh what to do?
Not feeling well,
The trip from hell,
If only to stop the poo.

Maybe a hug,
Or some great drug,
Would be a remedy,
To this clamity,
Of feeling like a slug.

A Day on the Jack River

(Jack River ski line-up - Dec 2008)

(Headed into the valley)

Jack River be frozen, Jack Ice be slick
Can't wait to make the ice tools stick
No cape today for Christie's still sick.

Three "buff" gals and two hearty dogs
With temps so warm, it ain't no slog
A day so delightful will go on the blog.

Caribou herds, Penny's got 'em retreating
Hold it...Perfect picture for "Season's Greetings"
With Erin, Amy, Penny and Clem not fleeting.

Where's the ice? It must be a trick
Keep on going through all the thick
No climbing today, light wanes too quick.

For December in Alaska short is the wick
On Mother Goose's ice cold candlestick
No worries, next time we'll use the pick.

(Season's Greetings from Erin, Amy, Penny and Clemson)

(Fun little downhill section - wohoo!)

Color Me Softly

We are destined to become,
What we’ve already been,
Moving forward to the past,
Into quiet submission.

Mysteries must be solved,
Everything unknown must be found,
Whodunit, in what room,
With feet and hands bound.

Dreaming of days gone by,
Not believing that we know,
Yesterday’s secrets are tied,
In tragedy, family, quid pro quo.

Ignorance keeps us on life support,
Hungry for greed, stupid bliss,
Anarchy won’t pull the plug.
Never to be held without selfishness.

What do we see,
As the mystery of the young man dies?
Feral visions ravaged with,
Silent screams and cries.

Love is not to prevail,
Compassion lost in reality.
Always apply two coats of paint,
To mask all originality.

Graffiti, tattoos, comic books, cartoons.
Spiderman's web of deception,
Guised as good, computer enhanced,
And air brushed to perfection.

Be good, behave, be bland,
But don’t be bright.
Fear your neighbor, not the rules,
Keep hearts and minds locked tight.

Live without mystery, not without fear,
Obey your mother, read the signs
Ask no questions, only paint by numbers
And stay within the lines.
…
Please color me softly, sparingly.
Let my nascent hue scratch through.



(Katchemak Bay, May 2006)


(Trindade, São Paulo, Brasil, 2004)

Pose like a tree, won't you?

Om is for the amateur, the beginning of all,
Strong in the core, reach back towards the wall,
Don’t kick, just stand with head under heart,
Hold, breathe, align hips and feet, twine like art,
Use your arms, look inside, find focus not ego,
Push in, pull out nothing, and let everything go.

(On my head happy NOT to be packrafting this day - Brooks Range - Aug 29, 2006)

Yoga on the Haul Rd after an oilfield tour, north of Toolik - Aug 6, 2006)

(Mary and I at sunset - Toolik Aug 18, 2007)

Reflections

(Kennicott Glacier Exploration - July 2007)

Stanch rapid whir like a hurricane bursting at the brink of control,
Turn steadiness upside down, with scarcity of sanity or soul.
Swirl the push and pull of remembrances like tug of war,
Manifesting winners and losers, yet never settling the score.

Icy liquid blue soften to translucent sunrise hues,
Scour rippled beginnings, deeply cleansed, anew.

Oh Commander of tender-hearts: one, two, three and then four.
Unleash them beating wildly with only a whisper sent to shore.
Take solace in the back eddy, a pool for the mighty oared,
Reflecting no way back, nor regret, only merciful reward.


(packrafting Saganavirktok River, Northslope - June 2008)

A Silverback's Silvertip

(Silvertip Mtn, Delta Range - Sept 2008)

Rime encrusted steel points,
Settle icy awakenings.
Frail whispers patiently warm,
Crystalline blowing clouds.
Blended vistas framed in gray,
Tear squinting eyes.
Frozen pink valleys divide,
Sight, sound, route.
Precarious, precipitous rock falls,
Crumble, skip, hop.
Clamoring creeks coolly cascade,
Meditative Zen gardens.
Silverback ravaged earthly aromas,
Stain nylon green.

(Flood Creek, Delta Range - Sept 2008)

(Approaching N. Ridge of Michael Creek - Sept 2008)