Block Street Block Party

Mr. Knox's chalky impressions of me next to the real thing. Photo Credit: Luke Knox. Block Street. Washington County, AR. 2011.5

The horde with the Grillenium Falcon lurking in the shadows. Block Street. Washington County, AR. 2011.5
A few views of Fayetteville, Arkansas’ first ever Block Street Block Party, a summer community music and goodtimes festival.
Bro-therly Thanksgiving on the Ozark Highlands Trail 2008

60+ year old cars with bullet-holes miles from any road are just one thing you might find. OHT, Franklin County, AR. 11.2008

Captain McIntosh, Leave-No-Trace professional. We had a fine fire and slept right here the previous night. OHT, Franklin County, AR. 11.2008

That night, Captain McIntosh ignited his Chi and exposed the forest to an energy rarely seen. OHT, Franklin County, AR. 11.2008

We awoke in the Briar Branch Cul-de-sac to thousands of these ephemeral beauties. OHT, Franklin County, AR. 11.2008
Fall 2008 found me and Captain McIntosh longing for a redeux of our Ozark Highlands Trail Thanksgiving backpacking trip. For this adventure, we picked up where we left off at Cherry Bend and headed into the sea of muted colors that is the Ozark National Forest in November.
Dinos do Pyramid

We awoke to find we had set up our hammocks in paradise. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

A Holga's-eye view of the classic Bells portrait. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

First summit day. Feeling the burn in the amphitheater. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Seth not thrilled about getting shut down. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Back in the amphitheater, defeat is settling in. Photo Credit: Seth McIntosh. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

We did make a friend... American Pika (Ochotona princeps), AKA Alpine Hamster. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Defeated... but wise dinos in the sunny amphitheater. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Just some of the crud the thunderstorms served up after our retreat. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

The waterhole for the visit, complete with water-filterer's seat. Holga. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

What time is it? Look outside! It's awesome time! Summit day. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

An exposed and well documented moment on the Northeast Ridge proper, Pyramid Peak. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Friendship at 4273 m (14018 ft), Pyramid Peak summit. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

The view we came for. Maroon Bells from the Pyramid Peak summit. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

A shot for the Moms. Seth relaxing on the Pyramid Peak summit diving board. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Stega breathing hard on top of Pyramid Peak. Where's Bronti? Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Seth and a particularly sobering pitch on the descent of the Northeast ridge. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Crispy alpine hardpack at ~3960 m. Photo Credit: Seth McIntosh. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Snowmass Mountain and Capitol Peak from ~3960 m on Pyramid Peak. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

American Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus) at ~3960 m on Pyramid Peak. Skilled but dangerous climbers. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Seth looking safe and solid back in the camp kitchen after the summit. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Kyle with camp kitchen delirium after the summit. Photo credit: Seth McIntosh. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Bronti and Stega say goodbye to a memorable camp kitchen in the Maroon Valley. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Stega and Bronti ponder their next alpine adventure from the safety of camp. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Holga-life near Maroon Lake. Photo Credit: Seth McIntosh. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

More Holga-life near Maroon Lake on the descent. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Cliché postcard shot at Maroon Lake. Yes, it really is that beautiful. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Dinos know clean water when they see it. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

One last dip before leaving the valley. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River NF, CO. 2009.8

Kyle, battletorn but steady, back on the Continental Divide. Photo Credit: Seth McIntosh. Independence Pass, CO-82 E. 2009.8

Seth balances his vessel between the Eastern and Western slopes of the Continental Divide. Independence Pass, CO-82 E. 2009.8
August 2009 found our favorite climbing dinosaurs, Bronti and Stega, feeling the need to scale something nasty. The Elk Mountains of Colorado kept their promise of “nasty”, providing our adventurers with more than a few good beers and loose rocks during their pursuit of Pyramid Peak’s lofty summit.
Looking for bears
One year we decided to trade the climbing trip for a mountain biking trip. In August 2008 we headed west with hopes of tall dusty lips, hangtime, banked turns, Colorado beer, bears and good mountain camping. We found a bit of each.









































