Hi ya'll I wrote a little narrative for your reading enjoyment.
Be warned there is a level of 'adult content - i.e. bad language' in the following text!
Read at your own discretion - although I know I've heard each and every one of you use this kinda lingo before so it ain't anything new!

So this is what's up: I left 'Mansion O'(that's Eric O - Ottinger, if you didn't knOw that!) and got me a free Maca Donald's coffee refill at Monaco - they're always so confused when I show up with a disgusting beat up cup and ask for a refill - ' did you buy that here' and my answer is indeed YES! which I did, originallay back in February! sometimes they charge me 54 cents for a refill, sometimes they charge me for a brand new coffee and other times they give it free! and this is for all Mac's that I go to trying to refill the coffee - free is great but I'm just running an experiment to see how long theirc ups last and so far it's going strong!

anyway, I hit the road and the driving was great at 9:30 in the morning - a perfectly clear day....then Pike's peak came into view and it looked awesome...and temepting, so you guessed it, the closer I got to the exit the more the mountain spoke to me - taunted really is the best way to describe it b/c I've tried to climb it 4 times previously.
1. w/ Sari and db - got as high as the road ~ 13,000' but turned around because of fatigue...
2. w/ db - on our way up from TX two summers ago (I think) got to the campground, slept in and generally didn't feel like climbing, so we didn't and just left!
3. w/ db - on our way, while near Buena Vista, we were getting rained out everywhere else so we tried for Pike's hoping the monsoon was gone - it wasn't and we were rained/weathered out...we ended up just camping there overnight and bailing the next morning after being soaked...
4. alone, ,all by myself in the white lightning last fall - it was already winter, snowing and freezing....I woke up and didn't feel it so I turned around and came back to Denver! don't you remember?
4.5 I was gonna do it on my birthday - but I made the right decision to stay and watch movies and eat pizzas! (Thanks JenEric! the best idea evah!ko ko ko)
5. and then there was this time....hmmm here's the story:

I turn off- follow my mapquest directions, which were great and got me there about 15 - 20 minutes quicker than my usual way! I get to the trailhead at 10:30 look to the skies and say 'just go for it' - it's clear, now's your chance...
I feverishly pack my things, including GPS, if it gets dark I'll know the way home for certain!
I'm on trail by 10:52 an I'm feeling rocking - but sore since the day before I jogged 5+ miles and my legs were killing me! that's the same scenario as last time I went w/ JC up Mt. Princeton in the fall - I had started jogging the day before and during the climb, I felt EVERY step! This time was no different!

So, I was making good time, but after a while I was wondering if I was going the right way! Seeings how I didn't bother bringing a map I was uncertain, but one things for certain I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with a navigation decision I made at the first 'Y' intersection... I had a feeling I should have gone to the right...but opted left in my haste and it dogged me the entire 40 minutes I continued hiking...then I came to a definitive point where I knew I wasn't going to correct way ( I knew this b/c nothing looked familiar - i.e. I got to an overlook and I had never been there before like on my first hike w/ db/Sari...) that, and I asked another hiker who said "oh yeah - there's a fork in the road at the beginning of the trail that you have to take a right!" so I was right, but made the wrong decision - and it would cost me and hour RT...consider this the 'warm up hike'!

okay, now time was an issue...the weather - still beautiful and holding and when I returned to the junction it was 1 p.m. and I was essentially 10 minutes from the TH. Do I proceed?

oh p.s. my GPS - the instrument that would garauntee a flawless return in the dark? well batteries were dead?! not that I haven't been able to navigate in the dark before, it was just extra weight - dead weight now (so much for fast and light!) - daylight was being gobbled up!

However, this was two days off the longest day of the year, and although it was 1 p.m. and I had 11+ miles to go, I decided I had about 7 hours of daylight and 1 hour of twilight to do it...so, with soar legs, 3 miles under my belt already, during the heat of the day, weather - out of the picture for now, 'cause it's beautiful - but you always have to consider mountain weather and p.m. T-storms...I went ahead and began the hike...

I saw many hikers on the return trip, surprised to see me heading up...but I just plugged away...

At first the trail was free of snow - the time I went w/ db sari, there was snow in the forest - a lot, probably 4' of packed snow throughout! This time, there was dirt the whole way until above treeline. After gaining the first shoulder at 13,000' - my last high point w/ the ladies - there were sporadic snowfields - some unavoidable. Since I decided to go ultralight, I wore my trail running shoes - no boots - and my feet got soaked! I didn't even bring rain pants, that's how fast and light I went.

(Read: Unprepared! I could have used the pants and boots, but oh well, wet feet - no problem...for now!)

I made it to my previous high point and I was excited b/c it was relatively early ~ 2:30ish...this is good, this is where the trail intersects w/ the road and you start seeing cars - I didn't really like that!

Now starts the last part of the trail - and it took a while, the upper pyramid/slope you climb to the summit was in view and it was full of snow, chilling my already wet feet just at the sight of it!

Oh well...keep pressing on... the snow was incredibly slushy and I was literally submerging my feet w/ every step - sometimes in flowing water under the snow...keep going Kish! every step of the way my tired legs were like what the hell are you doing , we're 40 years old, first it's jogging 5 miles now it's climbing, at altitude in snow/water? you stupid senile old fuck!what the hell is wrong with you?

Keep going - don't listen to them (voices that is! - is that a sign of age? hmmmm), don't give in!

So I kept going - and what looked close at first - simply wasn't! It took a while, and yes I was going slowly, and I seemed to be slowing down still - I did have a brief stint of ramping up the pace - maybe the remnants of the kishzyme of old, but emphasize OLD! but eventually I bombed and started going slower and slower, and more slow(errrrr!) than first gear - Pole, pole! and for those of you that don't know Afrikan that means 'slowly' in Swahilli.

Okay, the crux...well the whole fuckin day was a CRUX - starting late, no GPS, going the wrong way...hey wait a second, sounds like the first several 14'ers I did!

Okay not too bad then, in fact it was perfect - like the good old days - who cares about the dark anyway, and weather, well there were some clouds, but no storms - all is good, even though all the signs for 'devil's playground' warn of lightning strikes jumping from rock to rock - and now I find myself in the place that gives it its name! but no storms yet!

The trail pretty much follows the road except in one place it goes over a hill for a more direct route...I ran into some people at a car pull out viewpoint and the guy asked the obvious:
"Have you hiked all this?"

my response "Don't even talk to me, idiot"

actual response "Just to here"

- "But you started from the bottom?"

-"You idiot, why are you talking me? I said not to - oh and by the way, your car is stupid, urghh!"

actual response "Yep, from the Crags parking lot"

Then w/ a surprised look on his face, camera in hand as he fumbled to take a photo, and nearly tripped and flipped over the edge - and I thought my legs were giving out! - his last words to me were "Good Lord"

- my response "Where's my gun?...Maybe I should just push him over the edge?!"

actual response, nothing. I was enjoying my inner dialogue far too much! It brought a smile to my face!

Ahhhh, the belligerence of altitude - yep the good old days of climbing fourteeners! I must be in good shape!

Okay, back to the crux - the last 500 - 800' of the relatively steep slope to the summit - not bad except postholing and the possibility of a twisted ankle and or broken leg! nah...no worries I kept going and...dot dot dot

and sure enough I did make the summit - on my 5th attempt! at about 5:30! I hated the summit w/ all the people, the cars, the road, the train, and especially the gift shop....it gave me a sick feeling!

But in all reality I loved it! that's Gemini for ya!

It was fun being up there, and I finally did it...I asked the people at the giftshop if there was a climbing register - and when all I got was "A what? Sorry Bud I don't know....Do you wanna buy a hat, or keychain specially made in China for you to commemorate your achievement today?"
I could only think:
No thanks I wanna get the hell down .

"You taking the cog railway down?"

-No.

"You better get a move on then Bud"

-You better get out of my face BUD before I jump over the counter and take out my GREEN EARTH hippie love of the natural world ANGER out on you for putting in a road to the summit! BUD!

I spent a total of 12 minutes at the summit and turned around and headed down. My only good encounter w/ another human was just as I summited. I met a guy who had gaiters on and good La Sportiva climbing boots - you know properly outfitted w/ outerwear, rain gear etc...

And he just looked at me as I crested the last pitch, smiled and said you picked a perfect day for climbing...

He just might have been an apparition - a ghost of a mountaineer, maybe even me in 30 years?!

like I said, this was moments before the true, parking lot of the mountains came into view!

I made it back to the car by 9:00, having seen a truly amazing sunset w/ mountains, fire red sky, and cool granite crags in the foreground accentuating the wild glory of the Colorado outback...

It was indeed a great day to climb.

Since it was dusk I sang out loud to warn off any potential predators like bears, or mountain lions...but in retrospect, I think they've long disappeared from this 'wilderness' opting for lands w/o cars, trains, parking lots, people, and gift shops.

...So that's my little adventure on my drive back to Tejas.

the 5th times' a charm!
of course it is: LeVel 5ive!

I found this pic on my friends blog - but way back in the archives from the 2005/2006 season...Sheri and Michiel's blog
look at the two people in the foreground!

db on the left, kish on the right holding the Martin Backpacker in one hand and a camera in the other.
We were boarding the C-17 to take us back to New Zealand after our first foray down to the ICE.
We look so excited!

Thanks Sheri for the great photo!

In other news - I'm a day older - my first full day after my birthday. I went out on a jog - keepin' those joints going. Saw that Angels and Demons movie w/ Eric....it was fun getting out to the theatre.
Tomorrow I do really drive to TX.
See you there or wherever!
kishout

Yep it's my birthday today...got to sleep in. I played guitar, did some exercises (for long life you know!). Went on a bike ride to a coffee shop I've been eyeing for a while now.
It's called Geez Louise! Coffee house. Nice atmosphere and their 'hook' is having a manequin outside with daily clothes change! Here are a few pics:

eminent destruction - unless you get your coffee fix!

Inside look

nice car - lets go for a ride!

This just in - some photos of my trip West - photos from strangers on the trail (b/c I had no camera) - thanks to Yukio and Dan.
These are from Canyonlands - White Rim and Druid Arch...I've also posted them at the PLANETrek.com/gallery website...enjoy!

notice the handlebar bungy stuff sac - all b/c my clamp rack failed on the second to last day - total failure of both the bolt and weld! but it's a mechanical and you have to deal!

This is Druid Arch at the end of Lost Canyon in the Needles District of Canyonlands.
After Canyonlands, I travelled to the Majesty of the Grand Canyon and enjoyed both a sunset and a sunrise - I'm still waiting on some photos from there taken by some visiting Deutschland friends - whom I mistakenly thought were french and I tried using my French Canadian Charm to get a photo - maybe that's why I haven't received them yet! HAH!

Then I made my way to LA and enjoyed the hospitality of RIch and Rach. Up to San Fran next for some 'Rock Band'!
this was my first foray into guitar hero - well at least the video game version - I've been riffin' it up for a quarter century now on the old version of guitar hero ax's - you know the wood kind with strings!...I still have my Gibson Explorer from way back when!

Rockin' it in San Francisco - Thanks to Jen for the pic and to Rich and Jen for the great stay!
So I'll talk to you later! Time for some Ice Cream eh?!

heading to TX this week for a visit see you on the flipside!
kishout

so I've been joining the ranks of the 21st Century internet Social networking world! a.k.a. myspace....I'm still waiting on the final plunge to facebook but I'm sure that's not too far behind!

Joe put up a Q and the Black Martin myspace page
go check it out - it's got two songs from our debut album, that is, you know, from 1998!
you can also check out: myspace.com/112994607 that's my myspace page!
read the latest blog: I'm workin' on learnin' over there to find some links to some good new music...
I've just been introduced to a a couple of new things so I'll put them here:
the cheese song by Jenn Beast. You have to click on The Cheese Song, but check out the entire website - it's good stuff..."I love Cheese!"

here's an interesting band with a guitar player from one of my favorite indie bands Walt Mink
they're called Valley Lodge
I like Barricade and 21st Century Man

That's it for now. I'll be heading to Oregon early next week...to do some real life socializing!

I've spent all afternoon reminiscing about past adventures and reliving those journeys through pictures - many from the PLANETrek gallery.
It's been a fascinating day - Eric shared his Aconcagua pictures from our trip in early 2002. Wow - I have not seen these - and due to unfortunate circumstance, all my slides of the trip never made it through processing. I have a few prints but not enough...
So, it was amazing to see the photos that did make it, and relive our experience together on the highest mountain in the Western hemisphere.
We both looked younger - which blew my mind - and a little bit skinnier - maybe it was because we carried all our own supplies, our packs weighed in at over 80 lbs! yikes!
Like I said it was a fantastic trip and so exciting to relive it again...
I'll leave you w/ a few other pics that I came across on the website that peaked my curiosity...

That's Eric on the ridge to Snowmass - a fourteener in Colorado

That's Jose on the crater summit on Mt Rainier - feelin' the good times without air!

The switchbacks on the Grand Canyon rim to rim hike with Deneen

This is our polaroid shot at a gear store in Gatlinburg when Deneen and I hiked the AT

Deneen rockin' out on the guitar in Fruita, CO

a cool reflection on our Rees/Dart hike on the South Island of New Zealand

From the Abel Tasman track in New Zealand

All photos Antarctica

Deneen on our first Castle Rock hike at Winfly '07

Backpacking in the Cirque of Towers

Hawaiian sunsets...

...and Australian sunrises!

Cradle Mountain in Tasmania.

snow ridges in Colorado...

...and sweeping vistas in the backcountry...

summertime climbing in CO...

heavenly clouds...

and sunsets...

ahh the wilderness

magic

really...

...

good night!
like I said - it was a blast lookin through all these photos

more adventures await...

oh wait there's more...after some food and more reminiscing, Eric got a facebook pic sent to him from a college friend and we got to talking more and perusing more photos on his computer and we came across some Denali pics I asked Eric to scan some years ago - I'm sooo happy he did that and that now I'm getting a chance to post them:

June 17th 1998 on the summit of Denali - 20,320' high!

REI plug!

the climbing cat on the roof of Afrika

P.S.
so if I don't get a chance to write in a few days....
Happy Earth day everyone - send positive energy to this amazing planet world...
go on a hike and enjoy the magnificence of this third rock from the sun!
listen to nature's music and make a little of your own - send happiness into the cosmos...

" okay King Earth! whateveh you say! koh koh koh"