Spring Break '08 & The Wedding of the Century

It's a record! 2 posts in two months! But seriously, a lot has happened, folks. Let me start with my trip to Hawaii. Last Spring Break I went out to Arizona to hike one of the most scenic and luscious parts of the Grand Canyon. This year, I flew out to the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi to hike the Napali Coast (see map) with Dad. The Napali Coast is considered to be among the world's most beautiful trails (see pictures for why), but it also ranked a 9/10 for difficulty and technicality by the prestigious Sierra Hiking Club. When it's dry, the trail is a grueling 11 miles (one way... there's only one route in and out for a total of 22 miles) with constant elevation changes, over a dozen draws, and countless switchbacks. On wet days, parts of the trail that run along cliff faces become harrowing for even the most experienced hikers. We thank God that we hit the trail dry.

The map of Kauaʻi is to the right. The main road goes around the perimeter of the island and there is very little development on the interio, due both to the roughness and wetness of the terrain. You will also notice a section on the NW corner where there is no road (kinda hard to build through the mountains). This is the Napali Coast. We started from where the road ends in the NE corner and hiked to the point where the blue dot is (you can see it better if you click on the map to blow it up).

Where the road ends in the NW Corner (Kalalau Valley Lookout on the map) is where this next photo was taken.

























We took this on Monday of that week (I had flown in the evening before), by Thursday we were camping at the coastline you see in the picture. There's about a 3000' change in elevation from where we camped to where this picture was taken. Again, the picture is not from the trailhead. You can't get in from this side of the island.























We got a late start on Tuesday, round about 3:00 was when we set out on the trail. The first campsite was six miles from the trailhead and sunset was 6:40. I wasn't too worried at the time, but when it came 5:00 and we had only made it to the two-mile beach, Dad and I both realized that we'd be bivouacking on the trail that night. Mind you, this is mountain territory--there really aren't any flat spots between here and there. We ended up sleeping in our sacks with no tent, but it was a really neat experience.

You can't see it in the dark, but there's a steep grade drop off to the left in this pic that goes all the way to the thundering coastline below. The only to catch ya is all the falm trees and other bramble that springs out from the side of the mountain.

Again, you can't see it, but there's probably a 60 degree drop just past those dead palms fronds. It's kinda like a hammock on the side of a cliff.

The dead palm fronds made for nice padding and I slept well that night. Dad didn't want anything to do with them because they're kinda prickly.

We got a fresh start Wednesday morning at about 8:00. Dad dropped off a lot of unnecessary weight at the spot we slept. We'd hiked in three miles Tuesday, so 8 more to go at the pace of 1 mi/hr. It was a long day, but around every draw we got a new scenery. Palm trees, giant frond plants, Michigan-like forests, Puff the Magic Dragon (the original, seriously), and at the end of the day what reminded me of the Highlands in Ireland (just gorgeous... Ireland is definitely on my list after this trip!).





At mile 7, we hit the most treacherous part of the trail. To the left is shear rock, to your right is a quick drop to water crashing upon rock with unimaginable force (during the nights, we often thought is was thunder, shakes the very ground you sleep on).

The trail here really isn't much more than a foot wide. And it's not enough that the water is pounding a rock face below you, when you look down you see rubble the water to crashing over every-which way--stirring about like a witches brew... it looks like a meat-grinder. No wonder the trail is rated a "9." I would not have wanted to hike this portion when the rock and clay was slick with precipitation.


We stepped foot into the Kalalau Valley around 4:00 and arrived at the 11-mile campsite around 5:00. Just in time to pitch our tent, relax, eat a little freezer dried Turkey Tetrazzini, and walk down to enjoy a Hawaiian sunset on the island's most beautiful and remote beach. Early the next morning, I got up and hiked up the valley about 2 1/2 mile, following the river. Dad stayed back and enjoyed the scenery, including a colorful bird that enjoyed sitting on top my backpack, from what I'm told. We set off around 11:00 or so and were at the six-mile campsite by 3:00. We both decided that we would be fine bivouacking on the trail again in order to get out early Friday afternoon. We passed a real nice flat spot for our tent around 6:00 and didn't come across anything else that seemed inviting for the rest of the evening. We were finally driven off the trail by the darkness around 7:00, the trail is just too dangerous to hike with the reduced lighting of flashlights only. I opted for another bed of dead palm fronds, and Dad made do with a spot about 60 yards down the trail (my bed had rocks in in, he didn't like that).

During the blackest part of the night (no clue what ime it was... but it was inky black), I woke up to a weird sound... "shkwerwerer... shkwerwerer... schsich." My first though was that a wild board might be rooting around nearby. How nearby? I was about to find out! I flick on my flashlight and shone it in a circular arc from left to right. About 4 feet from my feet and to the right and furry little animal was standing about 1 ft high on his haunches. Biggest mouse I ever saw. Apparently, he thought dead palm fronds made a great bed too.

Around 1:00 the next day we got sight of the beach where the trail starts. Civilization never sounded so good!





































The first things of civilization I enjoyed (besides clean clothes and a car) were an iced coffee and a fish burrito.

That night, we treated ourselves to a resort hotel room and a fine Seafood restaurant (delicatessen!). In the morning, we ate at a breakfast spot on an outdoor balcony. In short, we fully enjoyed our return to the civilized world.

For some REALLY scenic photos, people shots, and to see my coffee cup in Hawaii, visit my Ringo site.


IN OTHER NEWS....
THE WEDDING OF THE CENTURY!

On March 8th, 2008, Johnny Slachta & Samantha McFadden were united in holy matrimony as Mr. & Mrs. John Slachta. It was my great honour to stand with Johnny and witness the fruit of his persistent labours. Samantha got herself a winner... and John got himself a pearl beyond price. Best wishes to you both, congratulations, and may the Lord bless your marriage.

My 21st Birthday

First post in what... almost a year?

Ah well. It's not like I have a following I have to keep happy, but I did think it appropriate to post upon turning twenty-one (as of this past Sunday).

Let it go down in history that on my 21st birthday I went to church and studied physics all day.
Let it go down in history that, whereas others dulls theirs senses with alcohol on their 21st, I strengthened my spirit and sharpened my mind.

In other news, after 2 1/2 long years of keeping my GPA up at my local community college, I have been accepted by the best engineering college in the nation, the University of Michigan College of Engineering, starting in the semester of Fall, 2008. What's so fantastic is that it's still within driving distance of my home, meaning that I can receive an great education while saving money and staying around the people I love most.

Tuition is still a factor, however, and I am applying for several scholarship (for which I would appreciate your prayers) in addition to federal aid. I believe God will provide.

T minus 25 days for the big wedding of the decade (century even... until I get hitched ;). Johnny's Slachta and Samantha McFadden will be joined in holy matrimony as Mr. & Mrs. John Slachta on the 8th of March. We're all looking forward to it--I'll be fresh back from Hawaii and taking an extra weekend off school, just unheard of! I'll love every minute of it.

Welp! I think that about does it for one post. I've done my duty and written far too much already. After writing all those scholarship applications, why writer's edge is spent. Have a wonderful winter everyone!

Spring Break and other cool stuff

Whew! I got back frommy 10 day break in Arizona March 4 and it's been go go go ever since then. I've started a new job that the Lord blessed me with - tutoring math at my college's "Math Resource Center." Between that and classes, I'm on campus from 7:30 AM - 8 or 9 PM Tuesdays and Thursdays (not to mention my other 3 days of schooling). I'm such a nerd.

Anyhow, a lot's happened and I'll try fill everyone in on it. I'll make this the exhaustive Spring Break trip report and follow it up with a more digestable blog about what's happened since then.

So, after a month of hectic planning an coordinating, I flew out to hike Havasu Canyon with my good friend Johnny Slachta. Havasu Canyon is one of the many canyons in the Grand Canyon system, but with one unique quality. Water! With blue-green water dropping as much as 200 feet over four water falls, Havasu Canyon is a true oasis. The picture to the right is where we stopped for lunch on our third day.

The trip started Saturday, Feb 24th, at about 1:30, after having spent a night's rest at the house our very generous brothers Zeb and Jesse in Prescott.

Our trailhead was Hualapai Hilltop, located at the end of a 64 mile dead end road. It's the first paved road that branches off to the right past Seligman on northbound Route 66. It's about an hours drive before you get to the turnoff.

Once you get to the trail head, it looks just like the typical airid wilderness of northern Arizona, you wouldn't think for a moment that an oasis awaits. The picture to the left is me overlooking the canyon fifteen minutes and a few switchbacks down from trailhead. From this point it's about 9 miles till we reach our camp site. We have to keep a steady pace because we got a late start and we don't want to be hiking after dusk.

After about 1.5 miles of descent, we entered a wash with red rock on all sides of us and some srubbage here and there. We spend about three hours here. Only a small fraction of it was spent climbing trees. At about 4:30 or so we exited the wash and caught our first glimpse of Havasu Creek - a beautiful natural AquaShade color (has to do with the limerock). We passed through Supai, the most remote village in the U.S. It's the tribal seat for the Havasu Indians and has a population of 450. From there we progressed toward our camground.... another 2 stinkin' miles! Seriously, I don't know what it was about those last two miles.

On the way to the campground, we caught our first glimpse of Navajo and Havasu Falls:

The bottom on Havasu Falls reminds me of a golf course for some reason.

We arrived at camp at late dusk and were set up before being enveloped in total darkness. It was probably about 7:00 or so when we started eating and man! Those freeze-dried food packs are sooo good! We're were asleep by 8:00 (I'm guessing, neither of us brought a timepiece). The picture to the right is the next morning in our tent.

After having breakfast we began our mile hike Mooney Falls, we're I considered the "real" trailhead to be. After Mooney, you don't see any people and (at least, not in winter time) and the sign off civilization drops off very quickly. Mooney Falls is the largest of the lot with a 200 ft drop. In the picture to the left, I'm standing at about a 100' elevation.

The hike alongside Mooney Falls is pretty crazy. First you double back on your trail and go through two travertine tunnels (with, btw, we had to go down backwards because of pack clearance issues). After you get through the tunnels you have maybe 80 ft. of near sheer trail to scale... the only safeguard being metals stakes the Indians nailed into the side of the rock wall. It's pretty intense without 50 - 60 lb packs throwing off your balance. One mistep and you're dead. See for yourself:

After coming off Mooney Cliffs in one whole, live piece, Johnny and I hiked the rest of the day toward the Colorado River, fording the Havasu Creek numerous times (the canyon wasn't very wide, forcing the trail to cross the stream often). Only at one point was the water above our waists, at which point we threw our packs in industrial weight 60 gal. garbage bags, blew them up, and twisted rubber bands on them, and floated them across the stream. It was a harrowing, nerve wrecking experience because at any moment your bag could hit a rock that would penetrate both layers of plastic (they were double bagged), soaking your gear and potentials sinking your pack to the bottom of the river. Thank God that didn't happen - even though I personally took a dump down a mini waterfall. "Get the pack!!!" Fortunately we bumbled across a high trail on the way back that bypassed that spot. Again, praise goes to the Lord. It was a major moral booster.

We were again cutting it close on arriving to the Colorado, thinking we might not even make it and end up having to camp in Havasu Canyon. Defeated.

Fortunately, we did get to the Colorado that night. The pictures below were tkaen the next morning, but show Havasu Creek just before it intersects the Colorado and at the actual intersection. It's taken from a bluff about 40 or 50 feet up, so those fish you see there are monsters (although you may have to view the blown up version on Ringo to see them). You can see an easy 15' down into the water in Havsu Creek... not so with the muddy Colorado.

The next morning we came across some rafters at the river mouth trying to break in on our wilderness experience. They were going to spend the whole day hiking up to Beaver Falls and back (about halfway between the Colorado and Mooney Falls where Havasu Canyon intersects Beaver Canyon). We blew by them in a hurry. I'm afraid we weren't very congenial. We got to swim a little bit on the way back to the Supai campground, but not as much as we would have liked... shoulda swam in the sun. My one regret. :(

The fourth day was our trek out - and boy were we ready. The most beautiful sight I could imagine was Johnny's truck! We made a really good pace from Supai to Hualapai Hilltop - 2000' vertical ascent over 8 miles in 4 1/4 hours, not bad considering that Johnny had some monster blisters (not having any hiking shoes, he defaulted to using someone hiking shoes that were one and a half size too size for him. yikes!).

Here is one of our last views of the canyon before we dissapeared around the switchbacks:

After what seems an eternity.... the TRUCK!!!!

From there, stopped by Jesse and Zeb's on the way to Pheonix. In Phenoxi we stayed the night at Phil's crib. Wednesday night we were in Tucson for a service at Johnny's new church, Divine Love. A wonderful little church with very warm and welcoming people. Made me feel like family. I was pleasured to get to visit again for their Sunday service. I got to go to a Jazz concert with Gabe Tewari (who just happpened to be visiting at the time), the Slachtas, Steven Bryant, and others on Saturday night. That same day Steven, Emily Wallace, and I went up to Finger Rock so I was thouroughly relaxed at the concert - expecially with some great food from the Blue Fin in me belly! I'd share the pictures of Finger Rock, but I'm tired of posting and you need a break from my blog and some fresh air. CHeck them out at your conveinence at my Ringo site.

God bless all! Hope to see you soon!

Post-Retreat Post

So the surreal aura from Retreat is finally wearing a little bit. Real life seems to have come back in full force with my first day back to college. Can’t believe how much math I’ve forgotten over the course of three weeks! I’d talk more about my day, but it doesn’t make good blog material, so we’ll talk about post-Retreat fellowship.

So. Sunday night I took Johnny Martin up on his invite to come up to his parents’ for a small fellowship they were having to welcome in the New Year. After calling ahead to make sure they were expecting us, I set off from the Erickson’s to pick up the Indiana group (Trisha, Jess, and David Hunter). We left in a downpour around 7:15… it was raining so hard I couldn’t see straight out my side window and was run off the road merging onto I-94 from US 23. After rolling my window down to see correctly, we were on our way again… arriving an hour after we left.

We had great fun playing foos-puck, football, basketball, and air hockey (yes, the rumors are true, Trish beat me in air hockey). Special thanks goes to all the sisters who prepared the food. It was delicatessen!

Finally, the midnight hour approached and we gathered round the piano to worship and pray in the New Year. It was a great way to usher in 2007. Two hours later things still didn’t appear to be winding down by much, but we had an hour’s drive back and thus said our goodbyes. Having met some new friends and enjoyed old ones, we headed out into the night. Thankfully, it was no longer raining.

After dropping the girls off at their host’s home and walking them to the door, David and I headed back to my house. We got to sleep around 4:00.

Monday started bright and early (relatively speaking) at a quarter to ten. We made arrangements to get together with Sheri, Jenn, and Jessica at Toledo’s Westfield Mall, where we planned to have brunch and accompany the girls shopping. Matt & Mel were taking off from my house that morning, but seeing as they pass right by the mall on the way back to N.C., it worked out very nicely that they could brunch with us as well.

We all finally entered the Elephant Bar Restaurant at 1:00. A very nice place, decorated in an African/Pan Pacific motif. They even had a plaster elephant head about 14 feet tall protruding out of the wall. We’ll call him “Bob” for the sake of the story. Unfortunately, Bob didn’t roar or make any cool sound like that.

After passing Bob, we were seated to one of the most enjoyable meals I’ve had in a long while. Granted, the company made the meal – though the food was good too! It was particularly enjoyable getting to know Matt a little better and of course having Melody around for a little while longer before Matt whisked her away. It’s my New Year’s Resolution to forgive that guy, starting now.

After our meal, M & M had to take off, leaving us poor single people behind to dream of the day we could whisk away to a palace decked with tapestries of love. Ahem. We commenced shopping. Somehow we ended up in the Disneyland Toy Shop. There was too much pink on those toys for me, so I excused myself to a rather unique looking clothing store that had very predictable prices. David apparently enjoyed himself to the fullest extent... I’m pretty sure he ran the batteries out on more than one toy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for toys… I just find them a whole lot more enjoyable when I have a little kid playing with me. Somehow they just don’t hold the same lure any other way. Maybe I’m just getting old.

Starbuck’s!!! Cuscotopia. We left behind the beckoning price tags of the mall and enjoyed each other’s company over decadently hot beverages. My kind of fellowship. After awhile we headed over to Jenn’s pad, played mad gab and talked some more. Jessica had to leave and then David’s entourage showed up. We talked another hour or so and at about 8:00 David, Jess, and Trisha had to leave for the wild blue yonder… err, rather the yellow cornfields of Indiana. I stayed around and got initiated into the world of girl talk by Sheri and Jenn. We won’t go there.

Tuesday morning I wake up alone. No brother-in-law. No sister. No David to laugh at my idiosyncrasies (that was a fun word to use :). The house is empty because my parents are off at our shop. Without anyone to make things happen with, I called around to find out who in A^2 was making things happen. Big surprise here… the Tewari’s! Ok, yeah. Not such a big surprise.

After making a phone call to see if the group was open for more company, I made a few cursory phone calls to a couple tireless friends of mine. Not tireless as in infatigable, but as in “no license.” They declined, which they lived to regret... bwa-haha! Yeah. Let’s just say they were kicking themselves after finding out we partied till two in the morning.

So I headed off to Starbuck’s on S. State where the group was supposed to be at. Did I mention I hate Ann Arbor parking? Why can’t the meters accept plastic? Fortunately, I remembered I had my change toad stuffed away under my CD deck. Bought an hour’s parking and waltzed out of the structure with coffee on the brain. I needed coffee. I waltzed right by Starbuck’s on my way to a non-existent Starbuck’s a block further down. Did I mention I needed coffee? What about sleep?

After after finding the real Starbuck's, I got acquainted with some people I somehow didn’t get to meet at Retreat (go figure, there were three hundred people there!) and sipped on a white chocholate mocha. Soon enough, everyone decided to head off to Gallup Park. Dave (Murphy), man of the town, very graciously offered to ride with me so as I didn’t get lost (he was the one who spotted me walking by Starbuck’s). Little did he know that we were already lost, standing right outside Starbuck’s! “How is that?” you ask? I’ll tell you, dear reader.

Everyone goes to the structure they parked in. It’s not the same structure I parked in – and I have no idea where my structure is at! Mind you, it was more of a hole-in-the-wall. Didn’t even look like a structure. Anyhow, Dave and I blundered around for a while until we finally found it. Apparently lack of sleep addles my brain.

Somehow we arrived at the park the same time as everyone else. Don’t know how. They pulled out a Frisbee and I had to groan. I hadn’t touched a Frisbee in probably a year. The Lord used the opportunity to humble me… why did there have to be water around? Ah… fortunately, I didn’t have to wade in after the thing. A big stick and a human chain (good work Emily!) did the trick and we were off to Ultimate Frisbee before we knew it.

We must have played for at least an hour. The final score?

our team: 6
Gabe’s team: 8

Gabe said we had gas.

After the game, a part of the group headed out to the Cherry Blossom. I opted to go back to Dave’s house with Dave and Levi. There we enjoyed a wonderful soup, unfortunately my stomach very uncharacteristically went full on me and I couldn’t finish the soup. However, I’m sure the state of my gastrointestinal system is not one of the highlights of this tale… I’ll move on.

We must have stayed at the house for another two hours. We played some ping-pong… Levi and I still owe each other a tie-breaker. Odds anyone?

We actually had to cut the ping-pong game short because the Cherry Blossom group was ready to meet up with us again. Dave, Debbie, Jeremy, Jared, Levi, and myself all loaded into the car and met up with everyone else in the UM Law School’s Octagonal Court Yard. There we tossed glowing frisbees around in the dark and I got to hone my skillz. Fortunately there was no water around.

From there we went to the UM Student Union to play billiards. Everyone, watch out for a pool shark named Amos from Canada. He’s also got a friend named Christian. Watch him too. ‘Nuff said.

When we were kicked out of the billiard room, Levi and I entertained ourselves with the card-accepting vending machines. Rather, Levi just went to buy some pop and I found some cheap amusement letting my debit card go exploring to lands it had never before been. Unfortunately, the machines must only accept M-Cards. No pop for me that night.

Anyhow, we wrapped the night up with watching a cartoon that I had promised myself I wouldn’t watch. It was well worth it. Being the only person who hadn’t seen the movie, I was put in the rather conspicuous position of laughing the loudest… not something I’m entirely unused to so no big deal.

After the movie, I said my good-byes and let everyone get to bed. Sigh… the fun has to end sometime.

Wednesday I emailed a couple friends from camp, cleaned up from camp a little, and went to church. Thursday I hung out at Antwon’s as usual. Saturday I visited over at the Sinacola’s along with Wes-man and the Johnson’s. Sunday was Wes’ 16th B-day (do we say sweet 16 for guys?).

So that pretty much wraps things. I hope you enjoyed laughing at my “idiosyncrasies.” I know I did!

Anyhow, this is probably the last post I’ll be making in a while. There won’t be much going on during college… this’ll probly be my busiest semester yet. Fun stuff. The one thing I’m looking forward to is my residential wiring class. Should be a lot of fun as I’m taking it with Antwon. First time I’ve taken a class with a believer.

But hey, just ‘cause I’m busy doesn’t mean I don’t have time for my friends. You guys feel free to call or e-mail any time. God bless and have a great New Year!

A Post of Reflection

I'm making this post more out of the need to speak than the need to be heard. I might not even post a notice on Xanga.

A lot has transpired since my last post. Winter Youth Retreat and Christmas are both right around the corner, but I'm presently more excited about seeing Matt & Mel this Sunday. It's been too long and I haven't even spoken with Mel since her wedding day.

I've bought some really neat gifts for people this year, so that makes Christmas rather exciting. Can't wait to see people's faces, you know?

And I just deleted the last line I typed. Somehow, posting about my life for everyone to see is beginning to feel rather garish. I hope to see you guys at WYR. We'll catch up then. God bless.

To the Beggin' I Will Go!

Ok, so yeah, OLD BLIND DOGS ARE swUUUeEeT!

Pardon my gusto. My new buddy from the youth mentoring program and I went to see Old Blind Dogs in concert last night. If you think you know the Old Blinds Dogs as a good band, wait till you hear them in concert!

Let's see, what could I say that would make you who are already jealous even more so? Ah yesss.... all those songs that you thought were just "okay"? They knock your socks off in concert... to say nothing of the Old Blind Dogs specials. Oh, and I got to talk to the guys a little after the concert. Fortunately I caught them before they drank too much Lager.

The pipe player has a great sense of humour. Actually, he cracked himself up on stage while drinking a wee bit of water... spewed it everywhere! They offered umbrellas to the front row after that.

Unfortunately, Kenny wanted to get to bed before the concert was over. So I took him home and came back to catch the tail end of the concert. Ah well, the kid's tastes haven't developed yet... he's into rap music. On the way home he said it would only be fair that we listen to his music after listening to mine. I set him strait quicker than a ruler makes a strait line.

They also didn't play To the Beggin' I Will Go, but I definitely got my money's worth. Wathcing the talent of these guys was mesmerizing. Their drummer played entirely with his hands (save once) - cymbols and all.

I think I'll be treating myself to the Ark more often. I'll just have to find someone to go with that appreciates Folk music. ;)

To The Girl Who Sits Behind Me in Math Class:

There is no such thing as being "fashionably late" to class.