ONDA Annual Meeting 2012

Above Hancock Field Station

Another fantastic weekend at the Hancock Field Station outside of Clarno, inside the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.  This year we were treated to summer-like weather; temps in the mid 80's and nothing but sunshine.  After the winter and early spring that we have had this year in the Valley it was a huge treat.  The project at this year's meeting was a tree planting along Robinson Creek.  Initially we were disappointed that we would not be removing barbed wire fence, but as warm as it was it, spending the day splashing around in a creek was quite nice.

Someone left the gate open

Planting willows

Easter in Southern Utah

Buckskin Gulch

For Easter, Maria, William, and I took a quick Allegiant flight to Las Vegas, rented a car, and blasted out to join friends in Kanab, Utah.  Southern Utah has long been among my favorite places, but it had been way too long since I had a chance to visit.  I'll be back again much sooner.  There is no more unique landscape to be found in North America.  It is like one giant playground and if you want to feel like a kid again go there and find a slot canyon.  We were fortunate enough to score a permit into The Wave, and indescribable carved sandstone feature at the end of a three mile hike in the Vermilion Cliffs.  Twenty people per day get to go and I have to say that it is probably the most amazing natural feature I have ever seen.  We also hiked in a couple of great slot canyons as well as drove through parts of Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.  Not bad for a four-day weekend. 

Catching some rays in the depths of a slot canyon

Willis Canyon:  William is hiding in this picture

Also Willis, William still there



Doing the wave in The Wave




In The Wave




Riding the Wave




An amazing place



Spring Break 2012



Looking across the Straits of Juan De Fuca to the Olympics from Whidbey Island

I decided to take the week of spring break off this year, I needed a vacation.  It was a nice week of doing very little.  We spent the first weekend up on Whidbey Island, in Washington state.  From there we spent a night in Portland to catch a Blazers basketball game and get a little urban fix.  We then had a day and a night in Eugene before heading to Bend for the rest of the week.  It was, unfortunately, as wet in central Oregon as I ever recall experiencing there.  But it was still drier that western Oregon was, and the skiing was good.  I got a couple of hikes in; one with Maria in Badlands and the other a solo to Steelhead Falls on the Deschutes. 

Whidbey beach scene

In the Badlands

Badlands juniper

Steelhead Falls

The Deschutes