Zion Canyon trip...

I sent out a text in early September that read, "old friends in new places, Zion NP Oct. 1-4". I knew that pulling off a trip with the cast that I had invited would be a long shot. For years my old buddies from home, now in Phoenix ("Wilmot West"), and I have been talking about meeting in the middle somewhere. So, finally I set it up and let it play through. Participation was looking bleak and Christine and I were prepared to go by ourselves until our old friend and recent PHX resident Jay Riebolt got in on the plans. I new this was my chance to rope in my brother to fly out on my last buddy pass of the year cause him and Jay go way back to kindergarten days. Jay and I successfully shamed Tyler into it and we were rolling. A couple days before the trip my old homie, Bryan Tournas, called me to get in on it cause our mutual friend and Bryan's coworker, Ryan Schmaling, took the bullet for him at work allowing Bryan and his girlfriend Aubrie(sp?) to make the trip. Now we had a full cast of characters coming together for the first time in a long time in myself, Christine, Jay, Tyler, Bryan, and Aubrie in the desert of southern Utah. Big ridge line heights and tight river bottom lows in Zion's Canyon National Park ensued along with plenty of campfire laughs.


The stellar cast of characters. L to R Tyler, Jay, Aubrie, Christine, Bryan, and myself.


Jay and Tyler taking in the vastness of the situation at hand.


This is a photo Christine took of myself taking a photo of Bryan trying to stay in cell contact with our friend Ray in China as he called to celebrate the birthday that him and I share. Funny, Ray says, "Where are you guys?" Bryan and I look at each other on that perch and laugh and as Bryan begins to explain we lose the transoceanic connection. Classic scenario though. Happy Birthday Ray.


Ladies getting after it on the ridge of the Angel's Landing.


The crew is making their way along the cliff side trail over hanging the shear 900 foot vertical drop to the valley floor.


Tyler making use of the chains to get down this little down climb on the thin rocky ridge line trail.


The crew approaching the first sketchy little rock scoot of the Angel's Landing ridge line on our way up to the 360 degree view perch high a top the Zion Canyon.


Christine, Aubrie, Bryan, and Jay hanging out at the trailhead talking about the experiences of the day and what is next.


Jay taking the camp cook role and hooking up some brats and various grub for the hungry crew settling in back at the camp.


Our woodland creature friends hanging out down at the river bottom for a drink from the Virgin River in the cool evening air of the So. Utah fall.


The Virgin and her guardians looking out for her as the summer comes to an end and old man winter starts to move in for the season.


Christine, Jay, and Tyler deep in the Narrows in some frigid fall river water.


Jay is wading through the cold rocky water to carefully enter into the next turn and narrowing corridor of the magic little slot canyon.


Scenes like this just around every corner for the next couple miles was a lot to take in. A very special place.


Christine just after we passed through the big cathedral style turn in the river that you can see in the background.


The crew making their way up the current deeper and deeper into the tightening slot canyon of towering red rock walls. We ventured up to our finale turn around in the Wall Street section of the narrows in one of the tighter slots of the river just north of the Orderville Canyon link up. It was quite an experience and quite a weekend with some old "midwest" friends in some new "out west" places. Cheers friends...

Jam out

A couple weeks ago I was back home in Wisco for a while and the last night in town my folks and I walked up to our friend Jim Gillespe's beach house on quant little Lilly Lake. What transpired was a evening of classic stories and music. The crew that had assembled included Doug Pearson and Michelle, Jim Gillespie and his sister Carol, Jeff Halco and his wife Colleen, an old friend Jeff, Mulldoon, and my folks and I. Most of these folks are very talented musicians and the jam session that ensued brought back memories of similar such evenings of my childhood that filled the room as thick as fog. With an ensemble of instruments from guitars to harmonicas, a squeeze box(ha, ha can't remember the correct name for it), and even a train whistle for an Ozarks classic. At one point Jim's sister asked me, "Does this scene bore you?" I quickly replied, "No way! I love this. I choose these situations for my life." The tunes were all classics that have made up the soundtrack of my life and the love and laughs went down as smooth as the Budweiser (and some strange strawberry concoction that Jeff had rolling). I really miss all these folks and I am very thankful that I was around for this rare gathering of real genuine people. I hope I get the chance to do it again, and I just want to thank all of them for letting me be a part of an evening I won't soon forget.


The group photo in Jim's beach house. (NP Carol) photo: Michelle




Colleen squeezes to get down behind Jeff's lead. photo:Michelle




Doug and Jimmy bringing it on down back home style. photo:Michelle




Colleen switches to a flutey type of whistle. photo:Michelle

Cheers to this crew who has influenced my life more then they may realize, but like my parents these kind of folks are the backbone of this skier's mind set and work ethic rooted in back home values. These are the kind of good times that you can't buy and can only be found in golden moments like these that just seem to happen when you least expect it.

Almost two weeks of Wisco...

I just got home from about two weeks in Wisconsin from top to bottom. Did the Dells with Christine's family and the local fire department crew of friends and families. It was a classic beaches and beers event with a stellar cast of characters. Then Christine and I drove up to Eagle River to meet up with my folks and the Schaetz clan for a little bit more of a North Woods R&R treatment. Quiet and slow days in the sun with old friends, cold beers, and laughs abound. Followed by more beers and laughs around a bonfire under a full moon.(every night, natural anomaly**trip inside joke**) Most active endeavors included water skiing and bocci ball. I've had more good times and laughs with that Schaetz crew then some can have in a lifetime. We've shared entire lives over 25 years of bonfires in the North Woods together and every classic story has slowly turned into gold. The Schaetz family's courage in the face of adversity over the last few years is an inspiration and it shows in the light hearted play of the first grandchild "Evy". After hugs and "see you next years" Christine and I drove back down the state to our hometown for a wedding. Our dear old friend Samantha Porps married our new dear friend Justin Merrill. The rain stopped a few hours before the outdoor ceremony and the sun came out to light up the beautiful bride. The reception was a classic wisco throwdown that delivered well into the night. The friends and the drinks were plentiful and the evening went off without a hitch. These pics can help tell the story:

Captain AJ Johnson manning the SS."Piece of Work" through a narrow channel amongst the cliffs of the Wisconsin River. Cold boat drinks and a Jimmy Buffet soundtrack provided for a memorable weekend with old and new friends.

The classic evening bonfire gathering of the Robinson and Schaetz clans for some beers, smores, and stories. This photo was taken before the red spruce was added to the fire.

Mike Schaetz and I doing what we all do best up there together, laughing till we cry. That crew are some of the funniest characters I've ever known and for some reason when we mix us all together it produces a belly full of laughs.

A classic sunset ending to another gorgeous North woods afternoon, and another week of good times and memories with the family and the Schaetz crew.

Justin is getting down with the garder for one of the evenings festive moments in classic tradition. The party was well on the way by then and he put on a hell of a show. The mixers were cold and the dance floor was hot.

"A little bit softer now, a little bit softer now, a little bit softer now." "A little bit louder now!"

Justin brings down the house with a little Micheal Jackson for the people. The bride and groom were the life of the party and we all followed right behind them well into the late late hours of the night. Many thanks to them for a fantastic day and a memorable party. It doesn't get much better then that kind of celebration with those kind of folks. Cheers.

British TV sports channel spot

This is a grab from a British version of ESPN called Transworld. I filmed with their crew for the afternoon and got some interesting shots.  Either way the exposure is fantastic and I am stoked on the last shot of the segment with a slow mow tele monster.  I am in my blue/black checkered DNA jacket and white helmet.  It was a good trip...