Shimmering Sky

On the night of September 5th we had an unexpected display of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). When I went to bed that night I looked out my bedroom window and thought "Hmmmm... looks like Northern Lights out there!" Sure enough, I went outside and looked up and saw the Aurora shimmering in the sky directly over the house. I went out into the yard and made this picture looking straight up into the sky. The lights were beautiful, but difficult to photograph because of the waning half-moon.

Herrmanns' Royal Lipizzan Horses

We visited this amazing place last year and loved it. Aric wasn't with us, so he didn't get to see it then. So today we drove over together to see it. He loved it too.



I will have to write more tomorrow, because I'm too tired to write much detail tonight. Here are a few pictures in the meantime.

Caddo Lake Revisited

Tuesday, April 12th - - It seems like it has been much longer, but it was just 12 days ago that I was here at Caddo Lake State Park near Marshall, Texas. There seems to be a little more green now, which is just fine with me ;-) and the water lilies are about to burst out into bloom.



It was nearing sunset when I arrived this time, and like my previous visit the light was amazing.

Toadstool

found this toadstool under one of our apple trees the other day. We usually have a few after it rains but this is the largest I have ever seen.

Nature's Trifecta

Monday, August 29th - -



Water + Clouds + A Setting Sun = A Beautiful Montana Sunset!

Winter Registration Information

Fall is officially here and winter is not far on its tail. Mother nature has already brought rain, snow and high winds to the Mountain -Paradise received about 4 inches of snow over the past 24 hours and we're expecting both significant rain and snow over the next few days. The National Weather System has put out a winter weather advisory for the next few days; we're expecting 6" - 10" of snow from this evening through Wednesday and then the freezing level is rising to between 8000' - 9000' and we could receive potentially 6" - 14" of rain. Sound eeriely familiar...? Check out some of the photos from blogs on the flood of 2006 to refresh your memory. Let's hope no such catastraphe befalls us this year.

Currently, the road to Paradise closes at Longmire only when the freezing level drops to below 4000 ft and precipitation is expected. The gate at Longmire will begin closing nightly at 5:00 pm once the weather turns toward consistent freezing and snow (usually around Thanksgiving or shortly thereafter). The road re-opens in the morning only after our road crew has come through and cleared the road of snow and then deemed it safe enough to drive. There is a sign on the gate, which states the estimated time of opening that day. During the winter, traction tires are needed for travel in the Park at all times and drivers should always carry tire chains in case of road restrictions during inclement weather. For weather forecasts and/or road updates call the Park's information line at (360) 569-2211 and select #1.

Climbing registration processes also change in the winter. While you wait for the gate to open to Paradise, climbers can register and get updated weather and avalanche forecasts at the Longmire Museum - open daily from 9 am until 4 pm. On weekends and holidays, climbers can go to the JVC II, which is open from 10 am until 5 pm. Self-registration is also available up at Paradise (NOT Longmire), located outside on the porch of the old ranger station. However, it is still preferable that climbers register in person to ensure the park has all necessary information about a climbing party and their itinerary, which allows park staff to respond more effectively in the case of an emergency.

Overnight parking this winter up at Paradise is not yet solidified, but most likely there will two locations - one in the upper lot across from the Paradise Inn by the old station and the second overflow lot will likely be in the lower part of the lower parking lot, facing the center island snowbank (same location as last winter). Check back to the Overnight Parking blog in the Access and Roads section for winter parking updates; and if you still have questions, feel free to ask a friendly ranger at the Entrance Station or Longmire Museum for details on where to park at the time of your visit.

Rangers staffing the Museum at Longmire and the JVC are helpful, informative and eager to assist with your needs, but they may not be a climber. Unfortunately, climbing rangers are not on staff regularly this time of year either, so before you come to the park, be sure to check this blog for updated climbing information and route conditions. For questions and/or issues regarding this blog or related to climbing at Mount Rainier, call the Climbing Program at (360) 569-6009 or contact Mike Gauthier at the email provided at the bottom of this page. Any general inquiries or questions specifically related to park policy or procedures can be directed to the Longmire Museum at (360) 569-2211, extension 3314 or by email at MORAinfo@nps.gov.

Enjoy the Fall while it lasts and since sunset is now MUCH sooner, be sure to start those hikes and climbs earlier to take advantage our limited daylight. See you on the Mountain!

The La Sportiva Batura 2.0

To my amazement themost often read blog entry on Cold Thistle is the Phantom Guide/Batura boot comparison. The page reads on that one post more than doublethe next most popular blog. The comparison was first posted in April of . Almost two full years later and the same blog entry still gets the highest number of reads month after month.



http://coldthistle.blogspot.com//04/scarpa-phantom-guide-vs-la-sportiva.html












First generation Batura on M6



While I have always had great hopes for the "super gaiter" style single boots I had no idea just how popular they obviously have become. I still think the technology could be bettered with a light weight and low profiledouble boot.The boot manufactures and the buying public seem to disagree with my theory.



Ok, so call me cynical.



I wasn't impressed with the Batura 2.0's name. I mean how different could the "2.0"be fromthe previous 2 or 3 variations or generations of the Batura? Or for that matter from the Phantom Guide or one of my favorites the Phantom Ultra?





I understand keeping the name " Batura" attached to this model.The "2.0" was kinda a joke to me on first impression. How different could the boot really be? In this case a lot different. It isn't the same boot really, or even a variation of the old Batura, if you look closely. If you are like me, I first coughedand muttered BS under my breath when I first heard the rumors of "a much better boot". But I have changed my opinion on that, it is in fact a much better boot..





That was easy to figure out oncethe newest 2.0 showed up on FED EX.



Just pulling the boots from the box was a wakeup call.



For any one who has climbed in a double boot...any double boot and also climbed in a super light Fruit boot you have to wonder why the two technologies haven't merged over the last decadewith better effect.



My idea of a mountain boot these days is the weight and technical ability of a fruit boot like the incredible Boreal Ice Mutant. More realistically a Scarpa Ultra with some additional warmth and lighter yetin weight?The support on ice and warmth of a Spantik or Baruntse would be a bonus. And the over all profile of the Trango series. The Scarpa 6000 comes pretty close to that idea but lacks the support on endurance ice in comparison to the La Sportiva models. And its volume is getting up there in comparison to the Ultra for instance. After all it generally takes more volume in a boot to offer more warmth, right?



But if I make that call on the Phantom 6000then the Batura comes up lacking on endurance ice as well. A real fruit boot on similar terrain? Pity the fool! But a really light weight boot given the right support is such a pleasure to move in on most terrain.



Like the choices made in steel for ice tools, every decisionyou make in design and materials limits the over all use of any product. So you first define the product.



Obviously the Batura is no fruit boot but neither is it a doubleboot.



La Sportiva NA president, Jonathon Lantz calls is a true "1.5 boot". Half way between the bestsingle boot and the bestdouble boot for warmth.



The Baturahas just been defined for warmth.



For difficult technical cold weather ice, mixed and alpine climbing we all know you need a few things incorporated in the design. Low profile and small volume over all. Think fruit boot here to be take every advantage of the terrain. The flip side for technical ground is an awkward and big in volume,ski boot. Which I assume we all want to avoid. Make the sole rigid but no so rigid you can't walk in them. Make that midsole durable so the boots never change in flex. It is a climbing boot so you want a flexible ankle with enough support for endurance ice when required but enough flexibility for hard technical ground with and without crampons.



It is quite a wish list when you write it all down.



If this were easy we wouldn't have dozens of pairs of boots from many different manufactures trying to attain the same goal with varying levels of success.



The Batura has been successful as a "1.5". Nothing new here as the basic designhas gotten better every year since 2007 from my personal perspective. There is so much potential yet in this boot style. The same basic technology can be easily traced back to theearly1970s and Peter Carmen's Super Gator. And it has worked well in the fieldever since. I am thrilledLa Sportiva and now Gore has continue to evolve thisstyle of boot.



So what exactly is different from the Batura Evo?

Tocontinue theevolution of the Batura, a second Gore-Tex membrane was added . Now boththe outer gaiter and in the inner boot have a Gore-tex layer for more complete protection.



The plastic zipper has also been scrapped in favour of a simple zipper with a Velcro hook and loopclosure on the gaiter. I only which they had added another inch or two to the gaiter.



Otherwise, construction appears to be the same as last year’s model, and the boot continues to be built on a Nepal last (i.e. if Nepal EVOs fit you, these should have the same fit). The 2.0s feel seriously light. I mean three-season alpine boot light!



Actual weight on my scale?



1130g one 43 Batura Evo

890g one 43 Batura 2.0



Best thing I can do is make a side by side comparison, Batura Evo to Batura 2.0.



Height of gaiter - same



materials used- lighter in weight for the 2.0









dbl layer Goretex - new to the 2.0



lower profile boot/toe - new to the 2.0






Left to right, new 2.0, last year's Evo and a Ultra




Below, carbon mid sole - new to the 2.0 on the right....earlier Evo version on the left. Thinner for better feel but also warmer.














Above, the additional sole rocker and carbon fiber midsoleof the2.0 is shown on the right.

On the left is the previous generation Batura EVO.




foot closer to the rock/ice - by design in the 2.0



zipper and Velcro closer on gaiter - new to the 2.0



rocker

lace lock

ankle padding and stiffness

tongue bellows

fit and lacing

lighter in weight





Below, 30mm toe rocker on the Ultra, 38mm toe rocker Batura 2. Making the Batura 2 easier to walk in. Much like the rocker profile on theSpanik.








Note the differences in sole thickness with La Sportiva on the left and Scarpa on the right, where you attach the front cramponbail. The Batura sole profile is a much easierfit to any current crampons


The first thing I noticed is the boot's weight. That you notice right out of the box. In a size 43 the 2.0 is a full 240g lighter per boot than the previous Batura Evo.



240 grams = 8.5 ounces per boot



That is a savings of 17oz per pair in a size 43 over the current boot.. You'll save more weight as the boots get bigger. Lack of the boot's tongue and the new carbon fiber mid sole will show there.



Interesting that they new Baturas are so light. A good bit of the weight savings was done by using a super thin, honey comb, carbon fiber mid sole. Carbon is being used in the Olympus Mons, the Spantik and the Mega ice, oh and the Stratos AT boot. My take is the Batura has been bumped into a totally difference class of boot by La Sportva simply because of the manufacturing techniques and costs associated with the new Batura 2.0 design and manufacturing effort.

The new mid sole is now lighter, warmer because of the added air spaces in the honey comb and more consistent in flex. Jonathon Lantz says, "this mid sole is slightly softer in flex but will never get softer, as the previous 9mm Ibi-Thermo mid sole material didin use". You couldn't tell that by my samples. The sole is rigid on these!



The thickness of the insulation has changed. For the moment at least Mr. Lantz wasn't offering anything very specific on the insulation. "Lighter and warmer" was the definition :)



No surprise I like a rigid soled boots and a stiff cuff. Generally I like my boots more rigid than most fabric ankle boots are capable of. Good news here. You have to look close to feel it but the actual boot that supports your foot is now made of a slightly stiffer Cordura fabric. Point is the added stiffness in the ankle was intentional and a good addition imo. Make no mistake though, it isn't a fabric version of the Nepal Evo by any means. And I would still be hard pressed to say the 2.0 is any stiffer than a pair of Trango Extreme Evos. Plenty of support but not so much as it limits your technical climbing ability. The Batura 2.0 still incorporates, "The 3D Flex™ ankle hinge allows side to side movement for better footwork while still providing longitudinal lockout when front pointing."



It doesn't appear the stiffer Cordura material will change the fit. But the super streamlined new bellows tongue design, new insulation material and two layers of Goretx will. That is complete coverage by one 3 layer Gortex on the exterior gaiter and another complete sock liner of 2 layer Goretx on the inside. of the boot.



"To stay warm you must stay dry."



If you have followed the previous blog posts on winter clothing you already know staying dry is the key to staying warm in a cold climate. One of the distractions for me in the olderBaturas is theyheld moisture. You had to be very careful on how you manages the sweat from your feet and if out over night how you kept you boot dry internally long term. I have used both Seal Skinzsocks and Mitchums antiperspirant to lower the moisture coming from my feet in an effort to keep the insulation in the Baturas working at its best.



Boot soles? Lighter weight? One word, traction.

The Vibram Mulaz sole climbs better on technical rock. But the LaSportiva / Vibram claim the Impact Brake System sole is better for long approaches and big days in the mountains.



I'd rather see an additional drop in weight and the Vibram Mulaz sole used on the new 2.0.



Each boot takes 34 days to put together, most of that glue-drying time, and they continue to be handmade in Italy which makes me feel a bit better about the suggested $650 price tag.



We seldom get a view behind the curtain when it comes toresearch and developmentfrom any European manufacture. (Or the U.S. for that matter) But in this case I did get a glimpse of the testing that La Sportiva and surprisingly Gore in Italy did on the newest Batura.



Last year to develop the new technology for the 2.0 version, Gore Italyand La Sportiva did some innovative testing that I have never heard of being done for a mountain boot prototype. Overseveral weeks in the Slovenian Alps, Gore scientists and La Sportiva boot makers collectedthe data from heat and moisture sensors and the personalfeedback from40 pairs of tester's boots and the testers themselves. That datawas down loaded twice a day for weeks.I am impressed!



So when you ask yourself why La Sportiva uses a Gore product in their boots it should be obvious. Both Gore and La Sportiva have developed a mutual trust and both are willing to go to the extra effort to push the technologies availablefor our benefit.



These are comments from others already using the Batura 2.0:



"the new version with GoreTex Gaiter and GoreTex boot"



"They give a snug fit while letting the toes enough spare place to move which I really like for avoiding

cold feet and kicking hard ice."



"Although if wet, for example if you sweat in them too much while

an approach in warm temperatures they are still hard to dry."



"In general I think the made a good trade of concerning the insulation.

The are thin enough, so that you can wear them in the alps in the summer

time without excessively sweating in them, further more they are warm

enough for ice climbing on cold winter days. But I have to admit that it

can get a bit chilly in them on really cold belay days.



I've had cold feet in them while ice climbing on a day with -17°C."



"The Baturas have indeed changed a lot, the ankle is a lotmore forgiving than the old version and I think I could live with them I thatrespect. The last however has changed unless I’m mistaken. They used to feellike a (slightly) roomier Nepal Evo. Now they feel like a Trango. I get aslight toe crush as I do with my Trango Evo which is not good for a warm boot.The heel has also gone the way of the Trangos, I now get considerable liftwhich I never got before. I would also add that we're stiffer

than pretty much any other fabric boot I've seen."





■A six layer fully synthetic boot specifically designed for winter mountaineering.

■Board lasted construction.

■Upper:

- Exceptionally resilient nylon.

- Insulated anti-dragging felt.

- Insulated polyethylene (PE).

- Insulating aluminum layer.

■Gaiter:

- Elastic Cordura® provides waterproof protection, while allowing ventilation for a comfortable environment.

- Schoeller® - Dynamic™ with water repellent membrane.

- Vibram® rubber rand.

- Elastic nylon with impermeable insulating layer.

- Asymmetrical, waterproof zipper for easy, on the go access.

■Lining:

- Polyamide Thermic layer for extra warmth.

- Durable mesh layer extends wear and ensures moisture is transferred away from the skin.

■Insole:

Insulating Ibi-Thermo 9mm.

■Midsole:

-8-9mm TPU.

- PU Inserts.

- SBR Aircushion.

■Outsole:

- 8-9mm TPU.

- PU Inserts.










Previous Evo version with a plastic mid sole and simple gaiter zipper









The newest Batura 2.0 with carbon fiber mid sole and a Velcro closed zipper on the gaiter.









new Batura 2.0 and the new Salewa Pro Gaiter both in a Euro size42

Ed Cooper on Deltaform!

Many of the current generation of climbers may not know the name. But you should! Ed Cooper was climbing things years ago that many of us still aspire to today. He was likely there first either taking pictures or climbing some thing that most have not seen in North America yet unless you have gotten off the beaten track. FromDenali andEl Cap in the 50s to the "black hole" on the other side of the Canadian Icefields in the '60s. I am honored to present Ed's commentsand photos of Deltaform here on the blog. What a treasure, enjoy!





Interview with Ed here:

http://www.7photographyquestions.com//01/p35-show-notes-for-mountain-photography----an-interview-with.html

His website is here:http://www.edcooper.com/mountains1.html

Make sure you dbl click on the wonderful photos!

Ed's comments,

"I wouldn't describe Deltaform Mountain as an especially beautiful or aesthetic peak, but it is certainly an awesome mountain with a raw savage feel to it. It makes a great photographic study. Attached are several views of it, some with nearby peaks.They were all taken with a 4x5 view camera except for the view from the top of Mt. Lefroy, which was taken with a 2 ¼ x2 ¼ square folding camera. Low-res images are

included here, but the original scans are close to 300 megabytes each, enough to blow the images up to 30x40 inches and still maintain 300 dpi. Considerable restorative work was required on all the images, as over time the colors had faded, and fungal spots had appeared on the film emulsion."





"The north face has made my anti-bucket list; that is, I've added it to places I would rather not be. I have recalled two interesting anecdotes about this area."







"About the time the images taken in 1971, there was a fatal accident in the couloirs between Peaks 2 & 3 of the Valley of Ten Peaks. A climber was killed by a falling rock careening down the couloirs while he was ascending toward the Neil Cogan Hut located between Peaks 2 & 3. Sometime later, I happened to run across a climber that I knew, and he was very surprised to see me. He said, "I thought you were killed in the Valley of Ten Peaks area". It turns out that the climber that was killed had the last name of Cooper."







"The photo taken from the top of Mt. Lefroy has an interesting history behind it. It was the only time in my life that I have had a powerful premonition about a climb. This was a period in my life where I was exploring my inner self, with periods of intense meditation. In Augustof 1971, I met up with and joined a group of 5 other climbers to climb Mt. Lefroy.



We approached the Abbot Pass Hut via the "Death Trap". The next morning we headed out and traversed out below Mt. Lefroy, The unofficial leader of the group pointed up a snow slope that led directly to the summit with no interruption by rocks. He indicated that that was the route.



One look at it and I had an immediate foreboding and knew that I couldn't go that way. I expressed my feeling to the group, and one of them agreed to go with me up another route, close to rocks, to the right of the other climbers.



As we proceeded upward, we noticed snow conditions deteriorating rapidly due to the warm sun. Snow was starting to slough off and slide. We stayed as close to the rocks as possible and actually climbed on them where feasible. It was during this time that we heard some commotion and shouts off to our left, where the other climbers were. Once we had reached a perch where we could look to the left, we saw the other

four climbers near the base of the climb. It was obvious they had been caught in an avalanche.



There was nothing we could do at this point, as it was too dangerous to descend even the route we were ascending. At least two of the climbers were moving around, so we knew that they, at least, would be able to get back to the hut at Abbot Pass and call for help.



To make a long story short, we reached the summit (where I took the picture) and then proceeded eastward over unknown terrain to find our way down. We weren't prepared to follow a new route, and we wound up traversing many ledges below cliff faces in an attempt to get back to the hut. We had to rappel a few times. At some point we were aware of helicopter noise, which came in to rescue the most severely injured of the climbers.



We arrived back at the hut just as darkness was closing in, thankful that we had chosen a different route!"

A beautiful morning in the Badlands

After my recent visit to Nebraska, I took a slight detour on the way home to visit the Black Hills and the Badlands of South Dakota. I arrived in Badlands National Park in the late afternoon hoping for some nice sunset conditions, but it was not meant to be. The day ended much the same way it began: with overcast skies, high winds, and very little color in the sky. The following morning was a different story. The wind had died overnight and was nothing more than a slight breeze, and the heavy cloud cover had disappeared along with the wind. What remained were some very intriguing clouds that added a lot of interest to my wide-angle landscape shots of the Badlands.

No idea!

Polaris Vegetaris?

I have no idea what these are. Answers in the comments will be gratefully received..

At the Gold Souk in Dubai: Nope, I did not buy any Gold nor a Kaftan dress

I am sure that if my mother was with me, she would have bought gold. Helaas, I am not much of a precious metal and stone person. I appreciate them but I do not have the real craving to possess them (I do not mind to receive them as gifts though, haha). I guess for most of the material things in this world I do not see much of their importance, although lately, maybe because I am in the maturing age phase (40’s), I have been haunted to part away from my antique (as what my mother calls them) fashion accessories, and invest (I mean really, is jewellery worth investing?) in real jewels and gold.



Well, I do have some genuine jewels which I mostly wear for work but for the daily life and when I am travelling, I prefer to wear my antique fashion accessories and sometimes my silver ones because they are not too glaring for a bling-bling. I feel safer with them. I am not a mugging statistic waiting to happen out there, nor a Christmas tree out of season.







My chauffeur dropped me at the main street, a block away from the entrance to the Gold Souk, also known as the ‘Dubai City of Gold’. I did not have high expectations because I have already seen many pictures of this bazaar on the net.



My goal for today’s visit is to really just wander around, have a look myself and take a few souvenir pictures.



Dubai City of Gold



Earlier on during the ride, my chauffeur warned me that it’s Ramadan, and that means many shops will be open late or will not be opening. And indeed, when I was there, some of the shops were just opening up while others remained closed.



I wanted to go loose and snap pictures of all the gleaming opulence on display – of which some of the gold jewellery designs were too antiquated and cultural to comprehend, but a number of the shop’s windows have a signage that says ‘no picture taking please’. What a bummer. I hate to become the unwanted tourist, so I behaved and looked for the right window display and timing.



The touts were also not as assertive as I would have expected them to be, so that’s a breath of fresh air there. They were mostly in the waiting mode, although a few would smile and subtly try to approach you.















Can you see the sweat on my face?











Arabic Kaftan Dresses and Shoes



Along the Gold Souk’s covered walk are narrow lanes leading to a huddle of retail fashion shops selling Arabic-style long kaftan dresses (they call them here in the Gulf region, Khaleeji) and psychedelic colourful shoes. I found some of the dresses very elegant and pretty, and the shoes as well were oh so cute! But if I buy them, where will I wear them?







I fancy the torquoise and white kaftan dresses =)











It was also so hot and humid, I was dripping sweat like a pig. So I sat down on the bench to fan and gather myself. I sat there fanning and people watching sans the drink. It’s Ramadan, so no one is allowed to eat or drink anyway during daytime.



Next in my agenda is the Spice Souk. It is supposedly nearby but I may need to ask someone for further directions. I am sure someone here speaks English?