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Helen and Libby were on a mother / daughter campout, so it was a perfect weekend to get away for a fast and light backpacking trip. I was hoping for getting into the high country, but this year the Sierras have received more than 170% of the normal snow fall. I left work Friday afternoon…
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I started my hike of the Lost Coast in Shelter Cove. The view from the parking lot gives you a sense of the scenery for the rest of the hike. The Lost Coast is a great place to find solitude. The King’s Range rises from sea level to four thousand feet within three miles of…
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Backpackers have to protect their food against animals while they sleep. In most parts of the country correctly hanging food in a bear bags can be effective. Unfortunately bags won’t protect your food in locations with habituated bears whose response to backpackers is “Great, I get another treat filled piñata tonight”. In Yosemite I have watched bear tracking backpackers…
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As I reflect on my father’s life, and can’t help but be struck by what a powerful influence he was on me. I fear that while my adolescent rebellion against him was mild, it was long lived. It took me a long time to see my father clearly. I regret not seeing my father for…
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I have used a single carry-on size bag when traveling for most of my life. I didn’t realize this was uncommon until my wife and I did a multi-week service trip in 1996. Both of us brought everything we needed for sub-freezing weather in carry-on sized travel packs. This permitted us to each bring two…
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How much difference do cables make? My experience is “not a lot”. I participated in a blind A-B test which compared a $1.50/meter 12 gauge speaker cable from a hardware store and a number high end audiophile cables that cost an average of $2000/meter. I didn’t notice a difference. There is some research which suggests…
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At one time I played the piano, violin, recorder, and clarinet. These days I mainly listen to music other people have recorded on my stereo. A few items added in 2022. A playlist I made 10 years ago to share the songs that moved my heart at that time. This page needs an overhaul… lots of…
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My website started as an annotated list of bookmarks and a few articles that were the canned responses I sent to common questions asked on Usenet before there was an official FAQ. Many years ago I stopped maintaining these bookmarks and most are irrelevant. Sept 1, 2025 I have deleted all of them and am…
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Everyone has a personal faith. Some people place their faith in traditional religions while others collect ideas from various sources and create a unique, personal faith. Sometimes people put their faith in social or political movements. Still others place their faith in progress or technology, that is the future. Not everyone has a well thought…