Well back at it. I've been up here abut a month now and I now finally have free time to go out and enjoy the wonderful landscape and whadda you know my car breaks. It's leaking oil out of the front main seal like a sieve and the water pump just broke. Add on to that a 420 dollar bill to get my bike repaired and I better get a job quick or face living off of scavenged food. Speaking of jobs, I got an interview with the Alaska conservation Corps, for a job as a trail crew leader, basically I would get to fix the trail system in Denali State Park. I spent the last 2.5 weeks doing 2 semester long classes, should have been doing them all semester but there were other things more important and fun right? I finally gotz the Interwebz in my cabin, still waiting on that running water though. I hope all is treating you, my loyal and devout followers, well and I look forward to seeing all you in the future.

Sean Jones

(still partially insane)

Wish List

In the spirit of the season here is all the gear I think I might need in the next year

Mammut Stratus Hoody

New Tuke-made by Grandma

Ice Axes

Ice Screws

Ski/ Snowboard Backpack

Avy Beacon

Avy Probe

Snow Shovel

Mountaineering Boots

-20 Down Bag

Ascenders

RAB Laktok Jacket and Pants

New Fleece gloves

Overboots

Snow Pickets

Camera Oylmpus Stylus 8000

Guitar

Cams Small

Poles BD alpine cork

Propane camp stove

Patagonia R1 hoodie

2 Daisy Chains 145 cm or longer

Long underwear

Mini traxion

BD Touchstone haul bag

Various aid hooks of different sizes

Knife

100’ Static Rope 11 mm diameter

Jesus and Martian men

I read a news story today abut Jesus and will he also save aliens as well as humans. I scoffed at first, my atheist mind saying there is no Jesus, but then I got to thinking. What if the aliens coming is actually the "Second Coming"? I would love to see the day when thousands of space ships touch down across the world and out steps thousands of Jesus look-alikes. What would that do to society? The religious fanatics would say that they were right all along. Science would say that the alien species actually were here back in biblical times, and that there was not one "real" Jesus. This would invariably raise the question if humanity is just one petri dish in a galactic science experiment. The species of Jesus planted us here and has watched us evolve over the centuries, fighting with each other, creating beautiful pieces of Art and Music "Thunderstruck and Stairway to Heaven". They then decided it was the right time to come down and show their true intentions. I think they want to eat us and steal our water but that idea has already been taken by the visitors. Maybe the visitors got smart and copied Jesus? We'll never know till we have no water and all followers of western religion were taken to "Heaven"

Exercise and skiing

So since the snow has come the bike has been disassembled and put away. With the bike gone I was out of my main exercise method. I tried to ride a stationary bike bit after 15 or 20 minutes I get bored and realize that I could be half-way up ester dome or somewhere else. I've been putting off exercise, maybe walking home from school once or twice a week and not really climbing outside of my class. That was until today. In my outdoor leadership class we learned how to classic cross country ski. It really kicks your ass. I worked muscles I haven't used since i skied as a little kid and man they are screaming. Th class was 1 hr 30 mins long and then my austrian counterpart and I decided to do the 6 mile loop. I cant remember the last time I worked so hard. So now I have a new way to get in shape and have a fun time dong it.

Winter 2010 Plans

So I decided to take all online classes next semester with the hopes to revitalize my college interest. The idea is that if I can take classes on my own schedule wherever I am I might actually do the class. This has opened up my winter/early spring next year to do several things. The first is to finish my car and get it up to AK. The second is to take Avy I and II classes to help find a guiding job. Third is to teach my dad enough mountaineering skills so he can do our proposed Denali climb. A plus side to all of this is I get to road trip back to Alaska. I've always wanted to drive this route and now I get the chance. So here is my proposed destinations. If anyone along the way has a backyard big enough to pitch a tent or a couch where I can crash it would be very welcome.

Leave denver to Cheyenne and take I 80 out

Spend time in Laramie

Ski somewhere around Salt Lake

Ski in Tahoe

Climb and tool around Shasta with Dad

Ski at Mount Hood

Smiths Rocks climbing

Spend a good time in Seattle.

Revelstoke, BC Skiing

Ice climbing in Canmore, Alberta

Ski in Alyeska, AK

School and Speed Dating

So I've been contemplating dropping out. It's not that the course work is hard or I don't like the teachers, it is the damn schedule. You must be in building so and so at 1030 or you get a tardy mark. You must sit in that building for an hour and then move on to another classroom. It reminds me of speed dating that you're forced into, and if you don't want to meet Ulga from Chernyobl you wont get to spend time with the beautiful Brazilian. I just found the solution though, E harmony for school. I do classes whenever I want, from wherever I am at the current moment. If I got internet reception on Denali or in the Himalayas, I would love to learn calc while waiting out a nasty storm, knowing that the hot Brazilian will see me even though I didn't visit Ulga. Who knew that? (Ulga has STDs I heard)

Climbing and Life After 50

So recently my dad approached me and asked if I'd climb Denali with him. I've been eyeing this mountain ever since I moved up here and I imedately said yes without thinking. He turns 50 in January, not saying old people can't do anything, it's just kinda weird that he is asking me now. I still plan to climb with him but I set down some pretty strict workout guidelines, many different books he needs to read, and certifications that he needs to get. He agrees with it all and now wants to do Rainier as a warm up climb in March this year. Is he trying to make up for the lost time while he was raising me and my brother? Or does he see the end of the tracks and wants to do this before the train derails? I never will understand the inner workings of old people. Unless all they do is watch infomercials and eat pudding. I enjoy doing that as well sans the pudding.