Ian's Car

Day 57: Imagine finding this as you were leaving for work. This is the sight which greeted our SCA Centennial Ambassador Ian this morning. Yes, it's his car, the most damaged of three which were attacked by a Douglas fir overnight. Whether snapped by a freak gust of wind or by the weight of torrential rain caught in its needles, the tree left behind a four-foot tall shattered snag and blocked one leg of the loop through housing at Tahoma Woods. When I arrived on the scene several hours after it was discovered, crews were preparing to section the tree for removal, and Ian was waiting patiently for a call from his insurance adjuster. His tour of duty at Mount Rainier National Park is certainly proving to be unforgettable!

Invisible Scouting

Day 31: Yes, today was a momentous day. Today, I completed the requirements for my Invisible Scout badge. I cannot divulge what tasks were required of me because above and beyond all others (even Eternal Scouts), Invisible Scouts are sworn to deepest secrecy. However, it is safe to say that I did not have to enter the forbidden Dog Park to retrieve the intern who played a role in this history; in fact, the intern returned undaunted and unscathed from the mission on which I had dispatched him, making me wonder if in fact he did attempt to find the secret entrance to the Dog Park's dismal spider-infested sublevels. His recounting of the event was somewhat unclear, as if perhaps his memories had been altered.

No, dear readers, I am not capitalizing on the popularity of "Welcome to Night Vale" by writing a spin-off episode. I am acknowledging Ian, who is truly an intern with the Volunteer Program in the Park (Mount Rainier, not Dog Park) and got me started on Night Vale some months ago when I asked him what he knew about podcasts (then terra incognita to me). He suggested it, and I surprised myself by enjoying it but shied away from the associated merchandising except to purchase the novel of the same name, although the Invisible Scout badge was something I coveted. I had mentioned it in casual conversation to Ian, not expecting that he'd purchase it for me in exchange for completing a small favour for him. It came in an envelope marked, "Open last! I trust you." I did as I was told, savouring the surprise, and finished my work first. When I felt the round shape inside, I was sure I knew what it was. Thank you, Ian! See ya later, although you may not see me. I'm an Invisible Scout!

Zip Trip Adventure

Day 295: Four of us met at my house this morning in time to be first through the gate at Northwest Trek, lining up to purchase tickets for the zip-line Adventure Course, second only to the Sensation Course in terms of difficulty. I'd completed the Discovery Course last week and was ready for something a bit more challenging. Ian was an old hand at zip-lines, and Maureen was excited by the prospect of a thrilling ride. Her cousin Kathleen might not have had quite as clear a picture of the day's agenda, but was game to try something new. Standing at the base of the first obstacle, a 30-foot climbing wall, she may have had some doubts. Maureen led the way, followed by yours truly, then Ian, and then Kathleen came up and was met with our cheers of encouragement.

Ian reaches the top of the wall

There were some suspension bridges to cross, each one gaining a bit of altitude between platforms, and there were also cargo nets to clamber through. The course is just that: an obstacle course. Over the next hour and a half, we'd progress from the easier challenges to tougher ones, with six different zip-lines up to 650' in length to give us a break from our physical exertions. Trust me, climbing through cargo nets on an incline isn't easy, especially when there's a gap between two of them on the way to the next platform.

Kathleen in the double nets

Previously, I'd been told I couldn't take my big camera with me, so today I brought along my little Sony point-and-shoot. If the photos aren't up to my usual standard, blame the camera!

As mentioned earlier, the difficulty in surmounting the obstacles increased as we worked our way through the course. I've tackled some pretty scary suspension bridges in my day, so those didn't bother me. However, swinging steps were something new, and I would have gotten through more easily if I'd remembered to check if there were stoppers on the cables before proceeding across. Clipped in, I got the carabiners stuck on a stopper, and then had to back up a step (yes, backwards!) to free it.

Swinging steps

The only other real problem I encountered was the tightrope. Although I'd breezed through an easier version of it last week, I tackled this particular challenge a little too directly. Halfway across, I did an unintentional pirouette. Maureen, waiting in the wings and gathering her courage, must have felt it falter just a little as I regained my balance. Ian crossed behind me with the grace of a dancer, and then Maureen followed suit. It was her most uncomfortable moment on the course (as it was mine).

The tightrope

Finally, two long zip-lines took us back to solid ground. There may have been some touchy moments, but not a one of us took a fall. I handed my camera off to Ian so he could get a shot of me zipping home. This course was both fun and exciting!

As the Crow flies