AT Vocabulary

As with any good story one needs to learn the language early or be lost. Fortunately since Star Wars and Star Trek are so integrated into the American culture most can watch either with minimal loss to the story line even if they've never seen the movies.  If I were to start talking about puds and zeros and AYCE's followed by getting some help from a trail angel or finding trail magic just when I was bonking you wouldn't have a clue on what I'm talking about. The lingo of the Appalachian Trail Thru-hiker is no different, for the reader one needs to catch this quickly.   So I'm ripping off someone else's work and placing it here (credit to follow). If I don't include it now I may not explain something later leaving the reader baffled.

In the following months I’ll tread a few tall stories and short along the way mostly of day to day impedimenta.  I may but, most likely not explain the terms I use, please bookmark this entry.  Some slang is humorous and self- descriptive, others well less then savory around a table of finery.  Mostly the terms, like traditions, pull a community together.

Some of the folks I lifted this glossary from chose to put these in a semblance of order of category, I’m not doing that. These are directly lifted from a variety of sources.  This list of resources is not inclusive of everyone I gathered from.
“Plagiarism is stealing from one person… Research is stealing from many.”
I’ll give as much credit as I can as the original glossary on WhiteBlaze.net was not available at the initial writing.

-PS-
At this point, bookmarking this entry is highly advised as it get's wordy.
-0-

http://www.slackpacker.com/lexicon.html
http://atwebliography.weebly.com/index.html
http://www.rmghadventures.com/trailterms.htm
http://longdistancehiker.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/trail-slang-lingo/
http://hiker-writer.blogspot.com/2011/07/thru-hiking-lingo-for-appalachian-trail.html
http://kaletrail.com/informational/trail-terminology/
http://karriesappalachiantrail.blogspot.com/p/at-dictionary.html
http://www.whiteblaze.net/

2000 Miler: a person who has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, either by thru-hiking or section hiking.  Also called an end-to-ender
Airline: a trail that runs more or less straight regardless of how steep the terrain is. As if you drew a line through the air, rather than use switchbacks or contouring to get from point a to point b.
A.L.D.H.A.: the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association began in 1983 as an off-trail family of fellow hikers who have all shared similar experiences, hopes and dreams on the Appalachian Trail and other long trails. ALDHA sponsors the Gathering each October and member volunteers compiles The Thru-hikers’ Companion for the ATC. Membership in this nonprofit group is open to all. www.aldha.org
Alcohol Stove: a stove that runs on denatured alcohol or HEAT (gas-Line antifreeze & water remover).  I use finger burner, as often I’ve burnt a finger lighting it or reaching for my pot. Since the flame is blue, it’s often not seen in bright day light.
Alpine Zone: the area consisting of all the land above tree line in New England. The alpine zone is best defined by its plant life. Conifers such as spruce and balsam grow as Krumholz near the tree line, giving way to tundra-type lichens, moss, and shrubs above.
A.M.C.: the Appalachian Mountain Club, maintaining the AT in the White Mountains of New Hampshire to Grafton Notch in Maine.
AMC Huts: in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, in heavy use areas and above treeline, the AMC provides buildings called Huts for backpackers to stay overnight. Aka Hut or Huts.
Apron: transition area on a switchback. Going up a switchback, it's where you stop, look at the new direction up and groan. Going downhill, it's where you crash if you're out of control.
Arête: a steep ridge; pointy.
Armoring: covering on a trail surface; rock, brick, stone, concrete, or other material.
AT: the Appalachian Trail.
A.T.C.: the Appalachian Trail Conservancy The Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC) is a volunteer-based, private, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, management, and promotion of the Appalachian Trail as a primitive setting for outdoor recreation (on foot) and for learning. ATC is both a confederation of Trail-maintaining clubs and an individual-membership organization. www.appalachiantrail.org
A.T. Guide: is the full-trail handbook for the Appalachian Trail. In this guide are landmarks, mileages, elevations and town information is provide for the entire AT.  http://www.theatguide.com/
Appalachian Trailways News (ATN): is the monthly news magazine of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
Aqua Blazer: a hiker that canoes, kayaks or swims the Shenandoah River around Shenandoah National Park instead of taking the AT through the Shen'doahs. Because of the direction of the river, this can only be done north.
Avery, Myron Avery 1931-1952: the first 2000 miler and the man credited with building the Appalachian Trail. Chair of the ATC from 1931 until his death in 1952.
AYCE: All You Can Eat’ Restaurants which provide all you can eat buffets and are very popular with thru-hikers.
AYH: is the abbreviation for American Youth Hostels.
Backcountry: area where there are no maintained roads or permanent buildings—just primitive roads and trails.
Backslope:  trail construction term. Describes the cut bank along the uphill side of the trail, extending upslope from the tread (the part of the trail you walk on).
Bald: a relatively low elevation mountain surrounded by forest yet devoid of trees on the crown. Typically covered with meadows; balds can offer great views and are a good place to find wild berries, they also attract much wildlife. Balds are located is the southern Appalachians.
Base: primary excavated bed of a trail upon which the tread, or walking surface lies.
Base Course: layer material placed on a trailbed to support surfacing. Trail construction term.
Baseball Bat Shelter (Floors): an old style of shelter construction in Maine where the floor would be constructed out of parallel logs each with diameters not much greater than that of a baseball bat.
Base Weight:This is the weight of a hiker’s backpack and clothing (often including everything worn) but not including food and water. It is generally assumed that the lighter the base weight, the more enjoyable the journey, but this may not always be the case. (For a related term, see ‘Skin-Out Weight’ below).
Baxter: Baxter State Park, where Mount Katahdin is located. It is also the AT’s northern terminus on Baxter Peak.
Bear Bag: The bag used by hikers to hang their food out of reach of bears and other critters, see ‘Food Bag.’
Bear Box: A box to keep your foodstuff safely stowed away from beasts. Not to be confused with a ‘bounce box’ or a ‘bear canister’
Bear Cable: A permanent cable rigged high between two trees specifically for hanging bear bags.
Bear Canister: a portable container used to secure food from bears
Bench: a long step, or tier, on the side of a hill. You climb until you reach the bench, then you walk across it, then climb until you reach the next bench.
BFR: large rock you have to expel quite a bit of effort to climb over. Alternatively, cavers and climbers use this expression to describe a rock they don't want falling on their heads.
Biner: abbreviation for carabiner (see also) clip with closure for attaching to ropes.
Black-Blazer: someone -- usually a disgruntled townie -- who paints over or otherwise removes trail markers to prevent hikers from finding the trail.
Blaze: Mark on a tree, rock, sign, etc. indicating the trail route.
Black flies: there are about 40 species of these tiny biting insects. They breed in running water and flourish in late May and June in Maine. A major trail nemesis.
BMT: the Benton MacKaye Trail also starts at Springer Mountain and goes north to Davenport Gap.
Bivouac: to sleep outdoors without a tent or proper gear, usually done only in emergency situations. However, alpine climbers may do planned bivouacs on long and difficult routes, carrying gear known as a bivouac sack.
Bivy Sack: is a lightweight and waterproof bag that covers a sleeping bag. A simple, but sometimes cramped shelter.
Blazes: are painted, 2-inch by 6-inch, vertical white rectangles that are placed at eye height on trees and other objects, in both directions, to mark the official route of the Trail. Side trails are marked with blue blazes. You see horizontal, diagonal, arrows, and other blazes along the Trail.
Blaze orange: this is a very bright, visible in low light, hue of orange. The best color to wear during hunting season.
Bliss Index: a scale that attempts to place a hiker’s state of blissfulness into numerical form; a score of ten is absolute bliss, while a score of one borders on boredom or misery
Blowdown: is a tree that has fallen across the trail.
Blue blaze:  spur trails off the AT to bad-weather routes, views, shelters, water sources etc. They are often marked by AT style blazes painted Blue.
Blue blazer: is a long-distance hiker who substitutes a section of blue-blazed trail for a white-blazed section between two points on the Trail.
Boardwalk: planking built on pilings in areas of wet soil or water to provide dry hiking.
Bog bridge: narrow wooden walkway placed to protect sensitive wetlands.
Bollard: round post barrier, often metal, usually 4' high, to prevent vehicles from entering a trail.
Bounce box or bucket: a mail-drop type box or 5-gallon bucket containing seldom used necessities that is ‘bounced’ ahead to a town where you think you might need the contents.
Brown blazing: is taking a detour off the trail to take a dump.
Buffer zone: these are areas important to, but not part of, the Appalachian Trail.
Bushwhack: to hike where there is no marked trail.
Cache (pronounced cash): usually an unnatural water or food source provided by trail angels; (see: ‘trail angel’).
Cairn: a manmade pile of rocks erected as a trail marker. They are mostly seen above timberline. Cairns should be close enough to see the next one in heavy fog, and high enough to see above fallen snow. They are also called a ‘duck’.
Camel up or Tank up: to drink your fill of water at the source until you are filled up, then hike on.
Canister Stove: the type of small backpacking stove that uses metal cans of fuel. This type is required on other trails.
Canopy: upper layer of leaves in a forest, covering the ground below.
Caretaker: is the person who maintains and collects fees at certain shelters and campsites.
Cat Hole: this is a small hole dug by a hiker to deposit human waste.
Cirque: is a half-open steep-sided hollow at the head of a valley or on a mountainside, formed by glacial erosion. The bowl of Tuckerman Ravine is a cirque.
Class: usually referred to in terms of technical climbing, for example, "The splatter route is definitely a 5.13" Here's what it all means: Class 1 is a simple mountain that can be climbed wearing a pair of sneakers -- little more than a nature loop. Class 2 includes minor handholds, more or less to steady yourself as you clamber up the mountain. Class 3 includes some vertical climbing, and perhaps use of a rope. Class 4 is any climb that requires use of a belay, in which another climber is required to remain stationary to take up slack and arrest the fall of the active climber. Class 5 is any climb that requires ropes to be attached to fixed objects, such as a tree or piton. The attachment is not to aid in ascent, but rather to protect in the event of a fall. Class 5 is the one with the most "variables." A Class 5.0 has two handholds and two footholds. Class 5.4 is missing a hold. Class 5.8 has a hold available for one hand and one foot only. Class 5.12 has no visible holds. Class 5.13 is a surface with no holds and is under an overhang. Class 5 is often further broken up, such as 5.13a, but this arcana is really in the climber's arena...not ours. Class 6 is any climb that requires artificial assistance to be carried out, whether it be ropes dropped from above or other mechanical aids.
Col and Sag: are typically dips in the ridge without a road, while gap and notch are typically larger dips that have a road going through. Sag is a typically southern term, as is gap, while col and notch are typically northern terms. Water gap is a gap with a river.
Companion: the ALDHA Thru-hikers’ Companion is an AT guidebook compiled by AHLDA volunteers for the ATC.
Corridor: the Appalachian Trail is a long and narrow Park, sometimes less than 100 feet wide.
Cove: is a Southern Appalachian word meaning a high, flat valley surrounded by mountains.
Couloir: a gully on a mountainside. Could be a gully in the ground, or in snow.
Corridor: the Appalachian Trail is a long and narrow Park, sometimes less than 100 feet wide. The Area set aside for the AT to pass within is called the Trail Corridor.
Cowboy camping: is sleeping under the stars, without a tent.
Cowboy coffee: is a coffee, made the old-fashioned way.
Croo: are the crew of caretakers who at the Appalachian Mountain Club Huts. For the most part, the summer Croo will be college students.
Cryptosporidium: a waterborne pathogen, Cryptosporidium is a parasite commonly found in lakes and rivers, especially when the water is contaminated with sewage and animal wastes. Aka Crypto.
Crux: the hardest part or "key" to a climb.
Data Book: published for over 30 years by the ATC the Data Book is a consolidation of the most basic guidebook information into a lightweight table of distances between major Appalachian Trail shelters, road-crossings, and features–divided according to the guidebook volumes and updated each December to account for Trail relocations, new (or removed) shelters, and other changes.
Deadfall: is a trail maintainer’s term for fallen dead trees across the trail.
Death March: unusually long, not very interesting hike. Term often applied when forced to take a dull trail to reach the one you really want to be on.
DEET: is a powerful insect repellant.
DOC: is the Dartmouth Outing Club, which maintains about 70 miles of AT in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Double blaze: two blazes, one above the other as an indication of an imminent turn or intersection in the trail. Offset double blazes, called Garveys, indicate the direction of the turn by the offset of the top blaze.
Dodge ways: are V-shaped stiles through fences, used where the Trail passes through livestock enclosures.
Drift Box: (see: ‘bounce box’. They are synonymous).
Dry Camp: a waterless camping spot.
Duct Tape: a wide, heavy duty and multipurpose tape used by hikers for everything from covering blisters to repairing gear.
Dude blazing: altering one’s hiking speed so as to keep pace with an attractive male, in an attempt to eventually have sex with that individual.
Ego blazing: hiking the trail according to a rigid itinerary because a Trail Legend told you that’s what you’re supposed to do.
Endangered Services Campaign: ALDHA’s response to preserving the positive relationship between hikers and service providers
End-to-ender: is an alternative term for 2,000-Miler.
Fall line: the fall line is the most direct route downhill from any particular point. The Appalachian Trail runs the fall line in much of New England.
False Lead: it looks like the trail, smells like the trail, and for a while it seems like you're on the trail...but you actually followed the false lead off the true trail.
Fast Pack/Fast Packing: is a term for carrying less gear and hiking more miles per day.
FenLow: flat, marshy land or a bog
Flip-flop: a term used to signify a hiker that starts hiking in one direction then at some point decides to jump ahead and hike back in the opposite direction. Some hikers on the AT will start hiking northbound from Springer Mt. and usually at Harpers Ferry they may decide to go to Katahdin and hike back down to Harpers Ferry, thus completing their thru-hike. This is a good way for someone to still get their hike completed if they are behind and their time is limited due to the oncoming winter.
Food Bag: a bag a hiker carries in their pack specifically for storing their food. It is typically suspended from a tree at night so bears and varmints don’t get into the food. It is also called a Bear Bag.
Footprint: a ground sheet for a tarp or tent and of course, a mark left behind by a foot.
Forty-sixer: peakbagger slogging up the 46 highest peaks in New York's Adirondacks. One of the better-known peakbagging milestones.
Freehiking: hiking off of established trails. Unlike "bushwacking" which is usually done as a short-cut, freehiking intentionally seeks a complete hike experience free of artificial boundaries. Some speedhikers are also freehikers.
FSO ‘From Skin Out:’ when considering the weight of gear, it’s important to remember that your total gear weight ‘from the skin out’ is as important a total as what your pack weighs.
GAME or GAMEr: is a hike or hiker going from Georgia to Maine.
Gap: a southern term for a low spot along a ridgeline, called a col in the northern states.
Gathering: the ALDHA Gathering, held every October.
Garvey, Ed Garvey 1914-1999: a celebrated friend of the AT, conservationist, thru-hiker, author of 1971s “Appalachian Hiker”.  It is an adventure story, which offered practical advice for AT hikers, and is widely credited with popularizing backpacking and the Appalachian Trail. A ‘Garvey’ is also a double blaze where the top blaze is offset to indicate the direction of a turn in the Trail.
Gear head: is a hiker whose focus is backpacking and outdoors gear.
Gear Acquirement Syndrome (GAS): the need for new hiking toys.
Gearly Afflicted: as a camping enthusiast who knows no boundaries when it comes to owning new equipment.
Getting off: the polite way to say someone is quitting their thru-hike, the implication being he may get back on.
Giardia: is also called giardiasis, is an infection of the lower intestines cause by the amoebic cyst, Symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhea, bloating, loss of appetite and vomiting. Also know as, a backpacker’s worst nightmare.
GORP: is an acronym for good ole raisins & peanuts, or some other variation thereof.
Ghost-Blazing: the art of following a section of trail that is no longer used. When a trail is "re-routed," usually the old blazes are blackened out.
Glonk: a clueless idiot who doesn't realize that uphill hikers have the right of way on a trail, and just bulldozes down.
Gray Water (Dirty dishwater): Some campsites will have designated spots to dump your gray water. Some designated spots are provided with a strainer so that food particles can be removed from the gray water and packed out.
Green blazing: smoking marijuana while hiking.
Ground Control Hiker: is a support person who handles the ‘real world’ concerns like bills and pets, and mails a hiker packages along the trail.
Gunks: abbreviation for the Shawangunk ridgeline in New York State, located between the Catskills and the Hudson River. The Gunks are generally recognized as the center of rock climbing in the eastern U.S.
Half Bench: type of trail where half of it is excavated out of the slope and the outside of the trail tread contains the excavated material. Trail looks as if it were chipped out of the side of the hill, which is what it is.
Handbook: the Thru-hiker's Handbook is an AT guidebook compiled by Dan Bruce.
Happy Camper: one who loves what they are doing.
Harpers Ferry: the ATC’s National Headquarters and Information Center is located in Harpers Ferry WV, about 1000 AT miles north of Springer Mountain. A short blue blazed trail leads to HQ, where AT hikers traditionally sign the register and have their photo taken.
Headlamp: is a small flashlight attached to a band or strap and worn on the head.
HEAT: liquid used during the winter in automotive gas tanks, it is used as a substitution for denatured alcohol.
Hicker: is a person who is still trying to figure out the whole hiker/gear thing while on the trail.
Hiker Box: is a cabinet or box at hostels where hikers donate unwanted food for the hikers coming behind them.
Hiker hunger: a phrase referencing the intense appetites thru-hikers develop while on the trail
Hiker Midnight: any time after sunset as late as 9pm.
Hiker Trash: a good-humored, self-effacing name many hikers call themselves
Hiking in Appalachia: 1. Hiking the Appalachian Trail, or in the surrounding area. 2. having an extra-marital affair.
Hammock: a sleeping system that combines a tarp and sleeping bag or quilt, and is hung between two trees.
Hostel: an establishment along the trail that has bunks, showers, shuttles, and sometimes cooking and mail drops, for AT hikers
Hundred-Mile Wilderness, the: a town-less 100-mile section of the Appalachian Trail running between Abol Bridge just south of Baxter State Park and Monson, Maine. Generally considered one of the wildest sections of the trail.
Hydration System: is another method of carrying and drinking water. It consists of a plastic bladder, hose, and mouth piece/valve that allows hands free drinking
HYOH: hike your own hike, and not imitate someone else’s. Do your own thing.
Hypothermia: potentially fatal condition caused by insufficient heat and a drop in the body’s core temperature.
Janglies: refers to carabiners, pitons, etc. that dangle from a climber and clank around during a climb.  A term I use to describe anything that is not secured to one’s pack.
Iceberg: icebergs are large rocks planted in the ground at an overused campsite to discourage any more tenting.
International Appalachian Trail: the IAT runs north and east from Maine’s Katahdin to the Gaspé Peninsula in New Brunswick, and across to Newfoundland.
Katahdin: the AT’s northern terminus is at Baxter Peak on Maine’s Katahdin. Katahdin is a Penobscot Indian word meaning Greatest Mountain.
Knob: a prominent rounded hill or mountain.
Krumholtz: the stunted and gnarled trees found near treeline, especially in the White Mountains.
Lean-to: is another word for a three-sided open shelter, used primarily in New England.
Leki: is a hiking staff that resembles a ski pole, a common name for all poles made by the other brands.
LEO: an acronym for “law enforcement officer.”
Long-distance hiker: is anyone who is hiking more than a few weeks, and who usually has to resupply at least once their hike; often used interchangeably with the term thru-hiker. At Baxter State Park, a LDH is someone who has hiked in from 100 or more miles south.
LNT: means ‘Leave No Trace’, a philosophy and skill used to pass as lightly as possible when backpacking.
Lyme disease: a debilitating illness carried by small ticks.
Long Trail: Vermont’s 273 mile, Long Trail runs from the Massachusetts to Canadian border, the AT follow the southern section of the LT for 105 miles.
MacGyver:named after an old TV show where the hero would construct useful devices out of common materials. To hikers it means to build or repair gear with imagination.
MacKaye: Benton MacKaye (rhymes with high, not hay) is the man who in 1921 proposed an Appalachian Trail as the connecting thread of a ‘project in regional planning.” MacKaye envisioned a trail along the ridge crests of the Appalachian Mountain chain from New England to the Deep South, connecting farms, work camps, and study camps that would be populated by eastern urbanites needing a break from the tensions of industrialization.
Mail Drop: mail drops are a method of re-supply while hiking. A mail drop is usually made ahead of time, before the hike starts, and a person not hiking (usually a spouse or relative, but it can be a friend) mails the package according to a pre-arranged schedule so that it arrives on time for the hiker to receive it at the post office.
MATC (Maine Appalachian Trail Club): this is the trail-maintaining club responsible for trail maintenance from Grafton Notch, Maine to Baxter Peak.
Maintainer: is a volunteer who participates in the organized Trail-maintenance programs of the ATC and its member clubs.
MEGA or ME-GA: is a hike or hiker going from Maine to Georgia.
Misery Index: a scale that attempts to place a hiker’s state of suffering and misery into numerical form; a score of ten is absolute misery, while a score of one borders on blissfulness.
Mount Katahdin: is located in Maine. The summit is the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.
Mountain Money: is toilet paper.
Mouse hanger: a cord and can contraption used to discourage mice from entering a pack or food bag when hung in a shelter.
MUDS:  mindless up and downs. Where the trail goes up and back down for no reason other than the amusement of whomever laid out the trail. Very aggravating. Usually occurs when some control freak at a local trail council is realigning a major trail, and wishes to put his or her mark on the route, or is trying to increase the amount of mileage under their control. Aka PUDS
Nalgene: eefers to water bottle.
National scenic trail: is the official designation for a trail protected by the National Scenic Trails System Act of 1968.
Nero: is almost a Zero, in other words, a very short mileage day.
NOBO: northbound thru-hiker, also a GAMEr (Georgia > Maine)
NOC: the Nantahala Outdoor Center. A lot of folks make the mistake of referring to Wesser, NC as “NOC.”
NPS: is the abbreviation for National Park Service.
Pack-out: Also known as "carry-out." The practice of leaving nothing -- and that does mean nothing -- behind on a backpacking trip. Require ziploc bags, PVC tubes with caps, etc.
Pink blazing: term used when a male or female is following there partner on the trail.  Also used for one who is seeking relationship(s) on the trail.
Platinum blazing: spending high amounts of cash while hiking. An equivalent mainstream phrase is “living the high life.”
Pot Cozy: a foam or cloth wrap to keep a cooking pot warm while it finishes cooking.
Posthole: is hiking in deep snow without snowshoes or skis, leaving large holes in the trail. Postholing is considered bad form and makes subsequent snowshoeing or skiing unpleasant and hazardous.
Post-Hole Digger (PhD): is a hiker who enjoys post holing.
Power hiker: is a hiker who habitually chooses to cover very long distances each day, often hiking late into the evening.
Privy: is a trailside outhouse for solid human waste.
Prescribed burns: intentional fires conducted by forestry services to clear underbrush and eliminate some of the fuel for potentially larger unintentional fires. These used to be called "controlled burns" but since they seldom are, the name was changed.

PUDS: is shorthand for “pointless ups and downs”, referring to the less interesting sections of mountains thru-hikers encounter from time to time; several PUDS in a row are MUDS, which is shorthand for “mindless ups and downs”.
Pulaski: is a half axe and half adze hand tool, the Pulaski is a multipurpose trail building and maintaining tool.
Puncheon (also called a bog bridge): is a wooden walkway built to provide a stable, hardened tread-way across bogs, mud flats, and marshy areas.
Purist: is a thru-hiker who does not deviate from the official trail route and refuses to slack pack.
Rainbow-Blazer: term used by "thru-hikers" to describe people who hook together all sorts of routes to complete a trail including hitch-hiking.
Red blazing: hiking while bleeding due to an injury.
Register: a logbook normally found at a trail shelter. The original intent was for hikers to sign in so a searcher needing to find a lost hiker could tell where they last were, now it’s the main method for thru-hikers to communicate with each other.
Relo: a section of trail recently relocated.
Repeat Offender: a person who has hiked the same long distance trail more than once.
Ridge Runner: a person hired to patrol a certain section of trail to educate hikers, enforce regulations, monitor trail and campsite use, and sometimes perform trail maintenance or construction duties.
Rime ice: white super-cooled water droplets that stick to surfaces and freeze into the direction of the wind.
Ruck: a ruck is technically an informal gathering, but in recent years, informal gatherings have become scheduled events at various places along the trail. I use this term to describe my backpack and is short for rucksack.
Scramble: has a couple of meanings in hiking circles. Generally, to climb in a hurried, helter-skelter fashion, having to use your hands. If it's a climb you probably could do without your hands, but you feel compelled to use them, it likely classifies as a scramble. Scramble also refers to a group of climbers going up a slope using all sorts of routes, sort of a "get up however you can since there's no trail here and we'll meet at a certain point."
Scree: The sort of stuff found on a talus slope...loose rocks, scrabbly, hard to get good footing on. Picky people, sticklers for detail will claim that scree is smaller than talus. All we know is that it's tough to walk on.
Section hiker: Is a person who is attempting to become a 2,000-Miler by doing a series of section hikes over time.
Shaffer: Earl Shaffer 1918-2002 “The Crazy One,” the first person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Poet, WW2 veteran, author of ‘Walking With Spring,’ and ‘The Appalachian Trail, Calling Me Back To The Hills,’ and three time thru-hiker, northbound in 1948, southbound in 1965, and northbound again at age 79, 50 years after his first hike. http://www.earlshaffer.com/
Shelter: a three sided wooden or stone building, spaced out a half-day’s hike apart, near a water source, and with a privy. The AT has many kinds of shelters, from barns to cabins.
Shelter Rat: usually refers to thru-hikers, shelter rat is anyone who camps exclusively in trail shelters.
Shuttle: is a ride from town to trailhead, usually for a fee.
Side Trail: a trail leading off of the main trail either to a water source, place of camp (such as a shelter or a campsite), a view, monument, to town, or around a difficult part of the trail. Side trails off the AT are blazed blue.
Sil-Nylon: a paper-thin water resistant nylon commonly used amongst thru-hikers.
Skunked: failing to get a car to stop when hitch hiking into towns.
Slabbing or contouring: refers to going around a mountain on a moderately graded footpath, as opposed to going straight up and over the mountain.
Slackpacking: is a hiking term originating in 1980, by O.D. Coyote to describe an unhurried and non-goal-oriented manner of long-distance hiking (i.e., slack: “not taut or tense, loose”). In recent years has been used to refer simply to thru-hiking without a backpack.
SOBO: southbound thru-hiker, also a MEGA (Maine –> Georgia)
Social Trails: unofficial shortcuts that connect individual sites to each other, restrooms, etc. at campgrounds.
Soloing: whether hiking, backpacking or climbing, soloing is going alone. When climbing, soloing vaguely means doing any climb by yourself where injury would result in the event of a fall.
Southbounder: a hiker who is hiking the AT from Maine to Georgia. A small minority of hikers actually hike this direction, primarily because of black flies.
Speedhiking: intentionally running the length of a hiking trail to establish and compete against your personal best time and sometimes to compete against times established by others.
Spruce Trap: when snow is deep enough that it covers the top of a spruce tree, beware. Since there will be voids in the snow pack, you can fall into those voids and get caught. When you appear to be above timberline, but you know that the trees are 8 feet high at this place in summer, then beware. Since you can’t see where the trail is, you cannot stay on it, and you cannot avoid the spruce traps.
Springer Mountain: Is located in Georgia the summit is the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.
Springer fever: is the almost uncontrollable urge to be back on the Trail that hits thru-hikers of past years each spring.
Spork: an eating utensil, which serves as both a spoon and a fork; It is a spoon with small fork-like tines protruding from it.
Stash Hunting: original term for "geocaching." Now may be used for someone looking for someone else’s stuff.
Stealth Camp/Stealth Camping: a campsite hidden from view and the trail, where the goal is to go unnoticed. Stealth campers leave no trace of their existence.
Stile: steps constructed over a fence to allow people, but not livestock, to pass.
Swag: this is the lowest connecting point between two ridges in the South.
Sweep: last hiker in a group by design. Person follows all others, ensuring that no one falls behind or is left needing assistance.
Switchback: is a method of building a trail, which forms a zigzag of trails up a mountain. The strategy is to prevent erosion and to make the climb easier.
Tarp: is a basic shelter with no floor and usually no door.
Ten essentials: Short lists of 10 or 12 items thought necessary by day hikers in their pack. One example of such a list: Map, Compass, Water and a way to purify it, Extra food, Rain gear/extra clothing, Fire starter and matches, First aid kit, Army Knife/multipurpose tool, flashlight with extra batteries/bulbs, sun screen/sun glasses.
Tent Pad/Platform: at some camping sites, tenting is restricted to built up earthen ‘pads’ or wooden ‘platforms’ to ease impact on the area.
Thru-hikers: traditionally a person who is attempting to become a 2,000-Miler in a single, continuous journey leaving from one terminus of the Trail, and backpacking to the other terminus.
Ticks: they are small, parasitic insects that can carry Lyme disease and other illnesses.
Tin can or Pepsi can stove: another name for an alcohol stove.
Tourist: more or less the same as the regular definition, but with the added meaning of someone who blasts into a scenic area, stays at a resort property and plays lots of golf. When they do hike, they head for the busiest trail wearing the latest gear and blabbing into a cell phone. Carries a topo map on a nature loop. If they have kids, they usually throw rocks off the summit while mom or dad is oblivious. Generally expects the local populace to bow and cater to their needs since they are spending lots of cash.
Townie: someone who lives near, and perhaps lurks about, a popular trail. Some townies help thru-hikers; others go out of their way to hassle hikers. In either case, the expression "get a life" comes to mind.
Tour Hiker: a person who pretends to be hiking the entire AT, as a thru-hiker, but instead skips sections and usually looks for ways to spend more time lounging in towns and less time hiking the AT; usually scoffs at the traditions of thru-hiking and thinks that the phrase “hike your own hike” is an excuse for just about anything.
Trail Angel: is someone who provides unexpected help or food to a hiker.
Trail Squatter: a townie or other person who regularly camps in the same spot, usually the best spot, on a trail. Arrives early in the day and stakes a claim while the rest of the world is busy hiking. Then when you are setting up camp, the Trail Squatter stops by to nose around in your activities.
Trail Daze: hiker variation of Trail Days, the annual town festival in Damascus, Virginia, which brings hundreds of current and former thru-hikers into town.
Trailhead: is where the trail leaves a road crossing or parking lot.
Trail Magic: is unexpected, but welcome, help or food.
Trail Name: a nickname adopted by or given to a hiker.
Trail Runners: is a lightweight sneaker style hiking shoes.
Tramper: slackpacker or hiker dedicated enough to plod along stoically regardless of weather conditions. Not surprisingly, this term is popular in New England.
Traverse: to climb a slope diagonally rather than a more direct approach. In climbing lingo, it sometimes means going almost horizontally across a face, to obtain a better route up.
Treadway: the trail beneath a hiker’s boots, constructed for that purpose.
Treeline: is the point of elevation on a mountain above which the climate will no longer support tree growth.
T-Rex Syndrome: after using your legs for this amount of time in such a capacity your arms start to show atrophy. We call this the T-Rex Syndrome. Itty-Bitty arms!
Thru-hiking: this is the process of attempting to become a 2,000-Miler in a single, continuous journey.
Trail Virgin: is a first time thru-hiker.
Trekker: these are people who enjoy the travel and journey to remote "base camps," and do so with no intention of climbing the mountain or otherwise reaching the ultimate goal. Mt. Everest base camp is a popular destination for trekkers.
Triple Crown: to hike the three major National Scenic Trails—the Pacific Crest, the Continental Divide, and the Appalachian.
Triple Crowner: is someone who has hiked the three major National Scenic Trails.
Turnpike: in hiker's lingo, a trail used by a lot of folks that goes quite directly from one place to another. In trail construction lingo, it is a trail built up above wet, boggy areas by placing stone and/or dirt over fabric with logs or rocks holding the whole shebang in place.
Ultra light:  style of gear or hiking that focuses on using the lightest gear possible.
USFS: this is the abbreviation for United States Forest Service.
Verglas: thin, often clear coating of ice on rock.
Vitamin I: this is the nickname for Ibuprofen; an over the counter anti-inflammatory drug that many hikers use while backpacking.
Volunteer: is a person who works for the ATC, one of the local A.T. clubs, or other organizations without pay, usually a maintainer, but not necessarily so.
Walk-up: a high altitude summit that requires no climbing skills to reach the top; a "class 2.0" at most. Mt. Rainier is one of the best known "walk-ups." This term is often used derisively by accomplished climbers to describe the mountains the rest of us are hopefully able to climb.
Waterbar: this is a log or rock barrier, which diverts water off the Trail to prevent erosion.
The Whites: these are the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Whiteblazer: a term from the Appalachian Trail to describe a person hiking pure (see purist), that is, hiking past every white blaze – which are the standard trail markers on the AT. In addition, it what members of WhiteBlaze.net are called.
Widowmaker: these limbs or whole trees have partially fallen but may remain, hung up overhead and pose a danger to a person below. The hammocker’s menace.
Wilderness Area: an official designation for public lands set for the preservation of nature.
Work for stay: some hostels, the AMC Huts in the Whites, and a few other places along the AT allow some hikers to work instead of paying the fee for lodging.
Yellow blazes: term used to denote the yellow centerline that is painted on a highway
Yellow blazer: someone who hitchhikes around sections of trail by following yellow blazes.
Yogi: to yogi is to finagle or inveigle tourists and soap-scented day hikers into offering you food or other assistance, without actually asking. It is an art form unto its own, with innumerable methods of enactment. Implying you need help is not asking for help!
YMMV “Your Mileage May Vary”: is hiker jargon for ‘this worked for me, but your results/opinions might not be the same.’
Yo-yo: is an attempt to thru-hike a long trail, turn around, and immediately commence on a thru-hike in the opposite direction.
Z Rest: a closed cell sleeping pad that folds into a rectangular block, rather than rolling up.
Zero day: is a day in which no miles are hiked, usually because the hiker is stopping in a town to resupply and/or rest.

Well that’s all the terms. How many have actually read all pages?

It's big, I mean Really BIG

The establishment of a new blog or means of general communication is essential to set up what is going on.

This entry truly is pre-trip.  I thought I had I gathered my thoughts for this highly important entry. As I look into the blank tablet screen I see myself in the reflection.  I'm not having a mid-life crisis.  I enjoy my job.  I play in the mountains surrounding the valley of which I reside.  I can say life is good with ease.  My feet however, itch.  They itch for the callouses that will form after blisters heal.  They itch for the pounding of weight upon a trail.  My eyes long to see what's over the horizon for me beyond the confines of a map.  My feet itch to take them there.  My heart is ready to beat free in air recycled through the trees.  So why do I stare at this blank screen?

How does one sit at a computer terminal day after day and not long to get outside?  Maps grace my cubicle where others have pictures of kids.  Where procedures and policies are, I hang route plans.  When others suck down the latest fad drink, I stick to the original drinks: coffee, tea, and the all important water.

The idea of hiking originate with the Captain.  He'd take me out hunting.  My earliest walk in the wood memory is of hunting wood pigeons in a distant land.  My favorite camp outs were with the Captain as well, in a canvas pup tent with our feet sticking out.

Decades later I found myself on the other side of the country hiking, hiking a short trail with white blazes.  I met a smelly creature with a lawn chair on his back.  Crazy fool was my first thought.   He explained every ounce well worth it come the end of the day.  Every night he became the envy of those who came from the mythical place in Georgia enroute to a holy mountain in Maine. Thus my introduction to the Appalachian Trail.

Come now partner with me as I ready to leave the comforts of my own mountains, as I leave the warmth of a daily commute,  come partner with me as I trod where other pilgrims wrestle, where other thru-hikers make peace, where section hikers find rest, and weekenders find escape.

Come partner with me as I ready with the excitement (and fear) of a new path.  Partner with me as the new fades into daily effort of putting one foot in front of the other.  Partner with me as I experience valley low and share mountain top highs.  Find with me the place where I met the smelly creature.  Find with me places like the Dragon's Tooth, the Lemon Squeezer, Nuclear Lake.   See views from places like Max Patch, McAfee's Knob, Mount Washington.  Climb with me to Springer Mountain, flow with me along the Roller Coaster, stand a top Mount Katahdin with me.

Me on the AT when I was 20 working in Shenandoah NP

Come now, let's hike!  Let's walk together the path amongst the white blazes.

Direction Change

It's time for me to change the direction of this blog.  I've posted many a photography event over the years.  I've posted many a hike photos over the years as well.  I'm making a life change in the next month.   No, I'm not getting hitched.  I haven't secretly dated behind anyone's back.  Nor am I going back on a mission.  I know a few of my old YWAM leaders would enjoy the extra help.  In the next few weeks, I'll edit a few of the side bars, cut a few old ties, and pull in a few lists of new directions.  I've written the grand announcement blog entry already where the direction is revealed.

I still stick to my foundation of faith, hiking, and photography.  The direction still follows my desire to see others encouraged, promoted, and moved to action.  I still pray, Lord make these hands an instrument for you.  I still love birds of prey and their splendor soaring.  I still look at the blog title  of PreyingJaws as appropriate in nature.  The Preying is a reminder that I cannot prey upon peoples' innocence, nor have I ever done so.  I am one of irony, this preying is a reminder that I must not pray to God that he change you (prey) but that he changes me.  Jaws is simply my last name abreviated. 

Do sharks pray? This one does.   Now there are many sharks in the waters, a few gave the rest a bad rap.  I'm not out to change the world.  I am out to change one by one.  May what the reader reads is hope, a different perspective of life, may you see hope encouraged.

Stay tuned, more is to come...

Where is it?

This is harder to place then it looks.
I'm gittery both on the excited and scared sides.  Sleep is elusive at times in the night.  Work is feign at passing though I continue (and will do) put my best into it.
Soon we will discover together where this section of map is.
Come follow me.  Prepare yourselves.  Soon I will share a grand venture with you.

44

She'd be 44 today. 

Red Pine Lake

Red Pine Lake up Little Cottonwood Canyon Utah is a pleasant hike year round.  I shouldered the snowshoes on the day ruck and headed up the ski track.  The pack thermometer read cccold.  I kept moving.  The few vehicles in the parking lot revealed today will be quiet on this popular trail.

I made my way up, adjusting speed with the rate of sweat.  I made sure I didn't sweat.  Keeping warm means keep moving.  Survival means not getting wet. The trail, an easy step, as many skiers have taken to the rugged back country slopes this area offers.  To my dismay I saw but 8 people all day.

My sunglasses icing up encouraged me to use the brim of the hat to see.  I hiked most of the way up pointed into the sun.  This trail provides clear views down Little Cottonwood into Sandy City and beyond.  The valley, crisp and clean, I hummed a few bars of Michael W Smith's worship song "This is the air we breath."  I didn't mind today.  When I journey up here and see smog below then I mind.

I hit the trail split to Maybird Gulch faster then expected.  I took a breather and a good slug of water.  Utah's dry winter air is dehydrating.  To the west is a rocky gulch that looks to be very popular tday.  I didn't see many boot tracks but a ton of ski skins.  My path is south bound, scratched into the sign next to the engraved Red Pine is 1 hr.  Thruthfully, not far from the actual, when you're the one breaking trail or out of shape.

I pressed on wards.  The track fulk of post holes mixed with snowshoe prints.  I pressed on without snowshoes with no issues.  I hit the false summit in no time and the lake moments later.  Two months ago, I snowshoed up from the split.  Today I'd use the snowshoes as my lunch counter.

At the lake, I found a spot already tramped down and set on the snowshoes.  Pulling a little alcohol stove out I fixed a pot of noodles and tea.  A day like today couldn't be more perfect for this treat.

Headed back down after an hour, glancing at the thermometer there's an extra c to the ccccold.  In the sun temps are surprisingly pleasant, without wind even more so.

Desolation Lake January 1st

Ringing in this New Year couldn't be complete without a hike.  A dusting of snow overnight means a bit of a refreshed trail.  Knowing my car doesn't take to snow well, I headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon.  Mill D looked inciting, only a few cars at 10 am.  I threw on the micro-spikes, wrote in my trail log, and headed up.
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I hiked this trail a month ago.  Ironically, it's also the last entry on the blog.  The Wasatch's received several brief snow storms since then.  This image is taken about a quarter mile up from the last post.
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I hoped the trail would be packed up to the lake.  I got to the final meadow before it abruptly ended and someone post holed in from there.  I tried to match their steps.  I continued on from where they left off.  I can see why entries on http://www.postholer.com begin to mark feet per hour in the Sierra's.  It took near 5 minutes to traverse 100 feet.  I didn't even think about tossing the snowshoes on the ruck because of how well traveled this trail is.  Thankfully this is Utah Powder and not Sierra Cement.  Waist deep, chilled but not cold, and dry as a bone.  Ah, near heaven (okay, at Desolation Lake).
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A couple of snowshoers stomped right past me after I finished up my lunch.  I'd sat on the no swimming sign post which was a foot higher then the snow.  Trying to be in their tracks proved fruitless.  I continued to be waist deep.
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Once back to the beaten path and on the way down, I began to see other hikers and snowshoers.  I joked with the hikers, I post holed for then.  With the snowshoers that they didn't need em until the lake.
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Mill D leads to two lakes.  Dog Lake is fairly easy & well traveled year round.  Desolation Lake is a mile plus further. Though Desolation Lake is a bit further the winter traffic is nearly as heavy.  The trail splits about a mile behind a summer community in Big Cottonwood Canyon. I do recommend these lakes as destinations for those new to hiking.
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As with all mountain traveling, take caution, be seasonally prepared.  It is said of the Wasatch that you never hike alone for long, please do not depend upon someone else for your safety.

2013

As the sun slips into Utah's brillant atmospheric conditions, I take a moment to reflect on 2013.  This is was a year to plan my dreams.  I hiked, not as often as 2012, but still I hiked.  I spent fewer nights under the stars, but the nights I did taught me invaluable lessons mixed with great rewards for knowing how far I can go.  I took great cafefully planned strides, may be to well planned.

For 2014 I'm looking to define my box, climb out of it, and push for the horizon.  If nothing else, I don't want to see what's on the other side, more for the lessons of the journey.

Each year I write a prayer for the year.  2013 was the shortest and the most rewarding.  In thinking about 2014's it'll be about the same length.  I do prayers over resolutions as prayers are deeper in meaning.  Resolutions, to me, are lists, lists to define, mark off, and to compare.  Seldom has a resolution rssulted in the desired change, prayers have.

Here's to a great New Year.  May your footing be solid, your traction true, & you find that which you are looking for while loosing that which does you no good.

Desolation Lake Trail

Here is the image from the link in another post.  This is the trail enoute to the lake.  For more images of the hike please see my flicker page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/preyingjaws. The set is Desolation Lake November 2013.

Desolation Lake

http://www.flickr.com/photos/preyingjaws/11141486484/in/set-72157638224934993/

I'm copying the link and pasting it as text.  I hope the mobile blogger program inserts the picture.

Each weekend I get up expecting to get turned away at the mouth of the canyons with the sign saying 'chains or 4 wheel drive only.' So far I haven't seen it.

This weekend in keeping with my rotation of which canyon I hike, I went up Big Cottonwood Canyon.  I chose Desolation Lake for the lack of vehicles parked there.

Since it's been a couple of weeks since the last snow fall, I readied myself for mud and ice.  I wasn't far off.  The snow packed trail did not reveal itself until 2 1/2 miles up.  On the way down mud shoe covering deep presented itself several times.  I choose to walk through it, boots are cleanable.  It takes time and a lot of effort to repair damaged trails.

The lake covered with a thin layer of ice kept creakin and moaning under the warmth of the day.  I fixed a hot cup of noodles while scanning for wildlife.  Deer and moose tracks were bountiful on the trail and around the meadows I passed.

Lake Blanche

This image accompanies the post sent by email.  I am thinking, rather pondering, sharing my hikes with more people who are not able to get out and about these beautiful regions.

Re: Hiking

I'm sitting up at Lake Blanche, BCC UT, the day crystal clear, the trail ice mixed with sessions of mud.  My thoughts are surrounded by goals of next year.  I can't isolate how many miles I want to hike nor where I want to explore.  I think I've pushed into 40 days on the trail in over 400 miles.  I've grown to know and love SLC's tri-canyons, Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Millcreek, over the last 4 years.  I've seen then in all kinds of crazy weather to perfect days like this one that draws many into the mountains.    This is my first year that I've not taken off to another hiking destination for a week or so of camping.

Where to next year?  How far next year?  When I worked in Yellowstone NP for two summers over 20 years ago, I hiked over 300 miles one of those summers.  Another summer of work, I hit Shenandoah NP  where I met a young fellow carrying a lawn chair, he said it was worth the weight at the end of the day.  The Appalachian Trail runs parallel to the road their.  A couple I'd worked with in a different park showed up too, but they'd bailed out from the AT citing to much rain made for great reason to get off the AT.  Since returning to Utah near a decade ago I've been hiking in my own region.

Memories of those summers hiking in the Parks and other places around the world leave me longing, longing just to take off and go for a very long hike without a daily destination. Without a concern as to trying to get back by a certain time or worrying if I need to be presentable at the days end.  I want to just see how far I can go, how much I can see, how freeing life can be when my worry would be water, warmth, and food.  Were the worries are few and the experience is shared and real.

From my HTC Sensation 4G on T-Mobile. The first nationwide 4G network

off line test

This enrty is to test the adaptablity of the blogger app to see how well it performs off line.  I am wanting to get backnto actively blogging or a post or two a month.  I sent an email post earlier to if that is a viable method.

snow fall

snow fall, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

Yeah? The first snow fall of this winter.

Ben Lomond

High above North Ogden Utah is a mountain known visually to many as Ben Lomond.  To movie viewers around the world, I'm sure, they know it too.  I've wondered many a time while seeing the title frames of Paramount Picture flicks, where is that mountain.  According to the local trail guide '60 hikes within 60 miles of Salt Lake City' those mountains are one in the same.

Bored with hiking my same trails around Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, I chose to go for a drive and a hike.  Ben Lomond is 16 miles round trip with a bit of elevation gain/ loss at both ends of the route.  It's clean and easy to navigate.  This trail is on public land and is mix use so motorized bikes, horses, and mountain bikes are allowed.  One thing it does lack is a water source.

I found the trail traffic to be light, the views to be stretching, and the weather pleasant. Pictured is a weathered map of the area at a trail junction a mile and a bit below the summit.

Stepping Out

http://www.flickr.com/photos/preyingjaws/9721307280/

I took the opportunity to Step Out for Diabetes this past weekend with my collegues at Twrs Watson/Extend Health.  Many folks I know have or are developing this condition.  Exercise and diet play big part in avoiding it.

Rain

Rainy days in Utah are a rare treat.  Folks may disagre with the last half of my openning statement which is okay by me as it means I can count on fewer folks on the trail.

I fell asleep last night with rain dancing on the roof.  I pondered which trail to hike.  I decided on Desolatin Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  It is gentle in grade, well traveled, and not a lot of brush to push aside this time of year.  I arrived at the trailhead aound 9:30 eith gentle rain falling. The temp hoverd around 60 degress.  Dressed in gortex, my z-poles slung on th day ruck I hded up Mill B/D (I often get the to mixed up).  Rain danced in waves through the trees.  I dared a picture hre nd the eith my pocket point and shooter.  The clouds draped themselves mystically over the minor peaks of the Wasatch. 

After an hour an half of a wet and occasionally muddy trail, I arrived at the lake.  Knowing wet, sweat, and cold don't mix I found a grove of trees to shelter under and add a dry layer.  It's a smart move, a few minutes later I checked th temp again, 40's, burr. 

I suckd down some water and crunched a granola bar for lunch.  This is an area I'll typically hang out for a while.  Had I come yesterday with its clear sky and warm temps this area would be packed with hikers and mountain bikers.  Today, I was alone.  Even alone I did not stay long, just long enough for a few pictures, burr.

Side note, I wrote this on a mobile devic to see if writing a blog on such would be of future usefullness.  I've spent way to long away from blogging and staying current on this site.  The device is working out so far but editing is a drag when i miss a charctr.  Argh there it goes again.

Veteran's Day

Today we celebrate the remembrance of our veterans.

I'd like to honor my dad, Capt. Ken Jaworski.  He served in the Cold War as a pilot flying the F-111.  His story is not one of tragedy or misfortune.  When presented with a choice in the late 60's and impending draft to Vietnam he chose to forgo his citizenship to another nation (Canada) and join the service of his choosing - the US Air Force- as an officer.  He chose to honor and serve his adopted homeland rather then take a gamble and put his young bride and child (my sister) at risk of loosing their loved one (himself).  His choice to serve took his young family (and eventually me) to states like Texas and Idaho and to an overseas location - England.

Dad, thank you.

The F-111 was a feared terrain hugging mock 2.5 nuclear ready fighter-bomber. It was more apt as a light weight bomber then fighter.
F-111 on wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-111_Aardvark

No More Zen...

For the last couple of years I've hung out on Zenfolio as my main website of choice to post images and to sell them there.  The time has come with frustration of sorts that Zenfolio is no longer meeting my needs.  I like to post quickly and simply.  They have a rather trite uploader that takes either a bit of navigation to get to or a bit of programming ingenuity to add to Lightroom 3, don't even think about trying to get the Open Source DigiKam of KDE to integrate with it.  As one pages through my images do be aware of the blank spaces.  These were links into Zenfolio.  Hopefully in the cache of GOOGLE the links will still be active from the archives.

Updating

I recognize I don't log into blogger as often as I should.  I am updating and re-arranging things on-line and off.

One of the biggest areas I am re-arranging is my hiking pictures.  I do hike a lot.  Right now I've logged over 400 miles of hiking since January 1st of this year which means I have a lot of photos not posted or processed and a few pages filled in the log book.  I am also studying log distance hiking.  One of the items on my life goals (bucket list) is to hike the Appalachian Trail.  I'll dedicate a post strictly to the AT at a later date.  What I am learning from this study in the intern is life is a series of short term goals played out over the long haul.

Second place of re-arranging is where I am keeping my images. http://preyingjaws.zenfolio.com/ is were I've posted most of my images since my 'pro flickr' account expired.  Zenfolio allows me to host event photos for private viewing and for general audiences.

Enjoy.

SkiLink

This is my letter of petition concerning the SkiLink proposal set up by Rep Rob Bishop.

June 17, 2012

Dear Representative,

I've been following the SkiLink initiative on the news and on the Save Our Canyons website. I do think this is a bold initiative for the development of the Greater Salt Lake/Summit County Region. In the theory that is expressed by the proposal H.R. 3452 and S.1883, yes it will work (for a select few). However, looking at the principles by which this initiative came about violates the very constitution that sets up due process in protecting the governance of the State of Utah, the people of Utah, and the resources of Utah.

I am one who stands for a government for the people and by the people. When a government meets the needs of the people by the set forth process then, yes, the initiatives need to proceed. With SkiLink the process was not followed. It was by passed by representative Rob Bishop acting out of his region and actively promoted as being good for the people with no input by the people. If SkiLink is so good for the people, why wasn't it promoted by the people? If it were good for the people why was is promoted by a foreign entity, Talisker Development Company, and not brought up by the US Forest Service that manages the region SkiLink will cross?

Save Our Canyons has been working with a large number of groups that promote outdoor recreation in developing a plan that will protect our diminishing resources of the Greater Salt Lake/Summit County Region while actively encouraging outdoor usage. These groups working together over the last few years is due process, multiple public hearing were held and proposals going out to the respected groups constituents. The increase usage through preservation of our canyons will bring about a greater economic boost to Utah's economy then by promoting a select few points of interest.

If you want to develop the resource of transportation between the ski resorts of Salt Lake and Summit Counties please look at developing the bus infrastructure and or paving Guardsman's Pass with an emphasis on year round bus shuttles. By developing the bus transportation this will allow for greater flexibility between points of interests which in turn means more people are likely to spend more time enjoying the region either in private resorts or by using public lands.

Sincerely,

Brian K Jaworski

An active user of the Wasatch Range.

Ref: http://www.SaveOurCanyons.org

GOYA

As the Presidential race begins to heat up, I want to express my political stance here amongst my hiking references. I am part of a movement I hope will catch on.  I call it GOYA.

GOYA is simply Get Off Your Ass.  I like to think of this as all people included: voter or not; Democrats to Republicans to Indies to Un-named etc; US citizen to Visitors; etc etc. If you call this or any country your home YOU have the right to participate & are encouraged to do so in the political arenas of where YOU reside.

If you doubt the power of your one vote or expression of concern just look at the race between Bush Jr & Al Gore especially for the state of Florida a few races ago.  Also examine the local races. One vote makes a difference, because together they add up.

In my local area the last local election drew an amazingly small 10% of the voter population. It's estimated that less then 3% of the overall population took part in choosing the next leaders. 

With this small of numbers it's no wonder why people bitch about things not getting done & about why people think we have so many professional politicians.  It's easy to become a professional politician, all one needs to do is run in any race where the incumbent is looking to get out or is no longer popular. Once in all one needs to do is learn to work the system and BANG instant PP.

If you want to bitch, Get Off Your Ass.  Do something, write a politician about one of your concerns, write a fact supported commentary, VOTE.

As the United States of America begins to race for electing or re-electing her leaders & for the office known as 'the most powerful man in the world' remember YOU have a guaranteed Constitutional right to voice your opinion, gather together peacefully, & VOTE.

PARTICIPATE

VOTE

Be the voice & voter that makes a difference in this & all elections.

GOYA

Invitations to charity events are always fun.  I enjoy getting out to see what is capturing the hearts of people.

Miles for Water is a University of Utah student charity.  They want to promote and raise awareness for access to clean water in the horn of Africa.  Though I visited and worked in West Africa with Mercy Ships, I find the continent always tugging at my heart.

I took the time to head out on a breezy afternoon to join a few dozen runners.  After the event I hung a kite in the sky for a while.

Sugarhouse Park is the first place I ever shot a running event close to 5 years ago.  I learned that it's beneficial to shoot people shots in RAW format while shooting high quality JPG's for the run.  This balances out performance with details.  

The D-90 shoots 4 frames per second but can only take 3 seconds worth of images into the buffer when shooting RAW before it has to dump into the memory card.  The dump can take 20 odd seconds which in sports can mean the lost 'money' image.  Shooting JPG's allow for smaller file sizes and thus more seconds of shooting with faster dumps.

If you use any of the provided images please give credit to PreyingJaws.com and send me the link or a copy of the publication, thanks.

SoJo's St Paddy's 5K Run

A couple of friends invited me out to South Jordan's St Patrick's Day 5K run.  I'm an outdoor's kind of person but not a runner.  I came anyways to support them and to chill for a while.

I met the friends of my friends and since I couldn't remember their faces I decided to take pictures of everyone as they neared the finish line.  There are over 750 images so please don't expect to see all of them in the few seconds you are taking to read this post.

Enjoy.

Just a little hiking adventures, this slideshow does not encompass all of the hiking I've done lately. It covers just a few of my favorite places.

These are a few more images from the AmFreeKaren.com shoot I did with Duy, Stephanie, & Lyssa two weekends ago. The beanies are curtsey of AmFreeKaren.com. Please check out Jaime's site & see how you too can help out this group of displaced persons in Thailand.

AmFreeKaren.com 

Duy introduced me to the work of Jaime a few months ago when we took time to shoot outdoors with a classic Caddy & a friend's motorcycle.  The beanies are knitted by refugees living in an orphanage in Thailand.  Jaime lived and worked in Thailand for near two years and brought back a lot of these simple and classic beanies.

I grabbed Duy and told him before you leave for Africa to build an orphanage we've got to shoot one last time.  He grabbed a couple of our friends and we went out to find graphic backgrounds.  In SLC there are a few if you know where to look.  I like driving around aimlessly on Sunday mornings so I've found a few.

Here Stephanie is showing off one of the simple beanies provided by AmFreeKaren.com  Please visit and support the work of Jamie in Thailand.
Thanks

Time flies when I lose the habit of writing at least once a week.  Today seems to be a great day to write due to the cold wet weather outside.  If I had the gear and the wheels to get me up the canyons then I'd be there hiking.

Over the last 3 months I've spent nearly every weekend hiking one of the many trails in either Big or Little Cottonwood Canyon.  My goal, hike every major side canyon in these two canyons before the snow flew.  I about flaked out on Mule Hollow because it's a minor pull off in Big Cottonwood until I read it has a mine about half way up.  I decided that it needed to be hiked.  Of all my hikes this is the least of the hikes I'll redo for it is steep, rocky, and tight all the way up following a stream bed.  It takes the stubbornness of a mule to get up it.  This image is taken with a phone and shows the old cart tracks disappearing into the collapsed mine hidden in the brush.

Salt Flats

It doesn't take much to twist my arm to head out to an exotic Utah location to do a little photography.  My friends, Tiffany and Monica, asked me to join 'em with Preston (another awesome photographer) to come out to the Salt Flats near Wendover UT.

The salt was a little muddy but workable to walk on.  We did have to wash off our feet upon returning to Preston's car. The Salt Flats should be dry by Speed Week in mid-August, until then please don't drive out on the salt.  When we got there someone was getting towed out of a a hole.

One of the magically things about this location is being able to see the curvature of the horizon without leaving the ground or climbing up a mountain.  I played a little with this with some tilts and angles.

Hope you enjoy the show.

Walkin'

Walkin', originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

I've been absent from the posting scene for a while because of computer issues. I'm back up and processing. I do thank everyone for their patience while I get moving again.

This shot is from a recent location scouting trip (to some in my group it's to the family farm). Amanda is wonder full to work with, even when she's the only model and there were three photographer's pointing a lens in her direction.

Mobsters in the mirror

Mobsters in the mirror, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

The shoot arranged by Mark Slater of Salt City Bombers - aka the Bombers - held at Kaysville Cherry Hill RV park was awesome. I brought in an old friend Duy Beck and caught up with Lisa Goeller, whom I met on Friday. Another friend, Monica Grindstaff, brought in a few of her friends as well.

The other Bomber photographers didn't need to worry about subjects or models. Mark's friend brought along his restored 50's era Cadillac, Mark's dad brought in his Willie Jeep of WW2 era, and Doug Sims' showed up on his new ride, the motorcycle.

Though the wind took control our ladies' hair and our reflectors, the clouds provide great passing shade to work with. Heather Casper, my Bomber boss (wink), worked as my assistant. She managed the 42 inch reflector like a pro, putting light right where I needed it. I kept telling her let go if you start to fly away. I can afford to loose the reflector. I can't afford to loose a great assistant.

This is the second shoot I've worked with Duy on. He's such a cheese when it come to making cool become cool. You may think he's spent a little to much time looking at GQ and in the mirror. If you think so then you haven't heard about his heart for East African Orphans. He runs a non-profit organisation providing educational opportunities for Ethiopian girls, please see http://www.coeef.org/ for more info.

I'm looking forward to doing similar shoots in the future working with Lisa, Monica, Duy, and the others. Everyone worked hard and put forth a valiant effort in this shoot. Now I've got some work a head to sort my images from this event and the two others I covered Thursday and Saturday.

-about this image-
Lisa leans back on the handle bars according to Doug's direction. I arranged the group seen in the mirror. I'm shooting over Doug's shoulder.

Deva's and Bombers

A while back I said I'd get information about the Chrome Devias and the Bomber's charity event when it came available. It's available please read the image.

Bombers Homepage

Liberty Romance

Liberty Romance, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

After a photo set out at Black Rock, I recommended we head past General Aviation. The Liberty Belle, a B-17, is in for the weekend. Since I was driving, this couple didn't have much of a choice. We spent a few minutes gawking at this flying piece of history.

I later returned meeting up with another friend. The day was ideal for portraits where ever one was at today in the greater Salt Lake area. The portraits taken at the airport are turning out fantastic. I'm really having a hard time culling out the great ones from the good ones.

The geese are comming to get me!!!

The geese are comming to get me!!!, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

Brendan seems to have a fear of geese. That's okay, we were on a farm, the historical Wheeler Farm. He played upon this the entire shoot. I honestly don't know if he is afraid of geese or not though he says he is.
We met up with Monica and Shannon to do a little mid morning photography session. The two ladies wanted to get some 'modelling' in before the Earth Jam Festival at Liberty Park this weekend. I wanted a little couple action to practice at a very popular spot for couples to come for engagement's and families for portrait sessions.
I do like Wheeler Farm. It's easily accessible from the freeway. It's a petting zoo for many kinds of farm animals. It also has a small wooded area on the property. There are diverse background settings like this one, the back of the ice house to an old Box Elder tree across the creek.
The photos from this shoot may be available for viewing in about two weeks. This weekend I have a Hugs For TUGS run (Saturday morning), Earth Jam Festival (Saturday & Sunday), and Granny Starr Foundation (Monday).

Links:
http://www.wheelerfarm.com/index.html
http://www.earthjam.org/
http://www.hugsfortugs.org/
http://grannystarr.org/

Pink Rubber Boots

Pink Rubber Boots, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

Shannon, in the pink rubber boots, happen to be out with Skyler, a musician, updating his head shots at Black Rock UT. This high school senior knows photography. I've taken a look through her Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whimsy-Photography). She uses quite a few muted pastels in her works. I like the style.
She was one of many photographers taking photos of people last week. Black Rock and other areas around the Great Salt Lake have a limited bug less season. Right now the weather is less then admirable however foul it might be it creates some stunning sunsets and with out the bugs.
A few years ago one would be alone out here. Today it's a different story. Shannon was one of 4 or 5 single shooters while there were 2 groups hanging out. These groups were the Salt Lake Photo Club (http://www.slcphoto.com) and Salt Lake Photography Meet Up Group (http://www.meetup.com/SLC-Photography-Workshops-Learning-Group).
One thing about sunsets, don't leave once the sunsets, stay for the colors. In SLC Photo we pulled out the Steel Wool and Glow Sticks for a little light painting. Check the galleries...
Later
Brian J

Ball's in the Glove

20110411-Softball-102.jpg, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

Her grounder unfortunately is hit to first base. She runs strong any ways, a hit is always worth an effort to run. Welcome to spring and the first game of City League Softball.

Since I last played softball (17 years ago) the rules changed slightly. The addition of a second first base (see the orange bag?) and a second home plate (Mr Yates could have used that when he slid home and broke a few ribs). The rules are essentially the same other wise. I can't think which to say is first put, fun or safety.

I'd like to encourage everyone to head to their local parks. Get out meet a neighbor or make a new friend. Support your local Parks and Recreation to put your tax dollars to work for your pleasure.

Have fun. Enjoy the images.
More are at http://preyingjaws.zenfolio.com/softball
or watch the slide show here...

Bombers Fashion Show

Warning, this post contains many "in text links" to various organizations.  Please follow the links for more information about these organizations.

Bomber's Entertainment put on a Marti Gras Fashion Show on behalf of Earth Jam on March 19, 2011.  Earth Jam is more then stereo types who want to heal the Earth.  It's an organization that is focused on helping others promote the good stewardship of our planet.

The Bombers are a fun creative group who want to promote events and raise awareness for local events.  This is one of the groups I enjoy photographing and hanging out with.

Up coming events with the Bombers include working with the Chrome Devias (Utah Chapter of Female Motorcyclists) to raise awareness for Volunteers of America (VOA) later this spring.  More information will be posted about this event at as the date approaches.

Coming up quickly is the Earth Jam Festival at the end of April.  The Bombers will have a booth and will be available for photos.  I'll be around snapping random event pictures.  If you see me say hi.  If I have the big lens on and your close, your safe.  However, if you see me with the short lens on...  I can pretty much tell who wants a photo taken and who doesn't.

Enjoy.

Updates:
April 8
The Bomber/Chrome Devias event with VOA will be on June 11th.  Come down get your RIDE washed and your picture taken.  I'll be there.  Proceeds will benefit VOA's Homeless Youth Resource Center.

Beloved not Forgotten

Beloved not Forgotten, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

My friend Monica, right, came up with a concept of light gore at a local cemetery. A group of models and photographers met there and worked the concept into our personal visions.

I enjoy working with Monica so I accepted the concept presented. I saw this as an opportunity to use flash in a vertical constraint as the night grew dark while in the late setting sun I caught light off of sword play. The other photographers took a different approach to their vision.

What I really enjoyed from this shoot was the balance of photographers to models. There were more models then photog's. We could shoot individually and as a collective without leaving someone feeling left out. While shooting as a collective, as photographers, we took turns giving direction to the models. In other shoots I've been to recently the photographers were competing for the models' attention.  I'll present the concept of taking turns in future group shoots.

With the setting sun and the models facing the light, and perhaps with an added reflector, we let the models close their eyes. When the directing photographer thought the models were ready and positioned, he'd count down to the opening for their eyes. This gave them relief and gave a more natural look. It also allowed the other photographers to make an image at the same time.

I chose this image to display on my blog for the illustration of flash use, Monica's make up, and also in memory of lain to rest.

Burr...

Burr..., originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

Headed up to the state capital with a group of models and photographers last Friday. The capital is a wonderful place to shoot for the variety of textures and lighting.

In this image Jakki takes refuge outside by one the secondary access below the stairs. I adjust the levels bringing the blacks way up and bumping up the mid levels.

Reflection of the Shades

Reflection of the Shades, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

This is a fast image from PhotoWalking Utah's Annual Studio Event. When I came up to this studio set up I saw her reflection in the sun glasses and tried to working with them in creating an image with out the signs of studio lighting and a reflection of her and his look.

PhotoWalking is a great place to meet other photographers, share ideas, learn new concepts, and improve on techniques under a variety of settings. Each month the group gets together to do something different. If you look through my flicker sets you will see some of what I've experienced with this loosely organised group.

Some of the to be posted activities and photo opportunities that I am working on is with "the Bomber's Entertainment Group" and Friday Night Photogs.

Cheeky

Cheeky, originally uploaded by preyingjaws.

Getting out to shoot isn't the issue in the winter. The issue is what to do with the images after the shoot. I couldn't pass not posting this image of Jakki.

I headed up to Ogden to join the Northern Utah Creative Group for a model shoot at Beus Pond. I'm not all that familiar with Ogden but thanks to Google Maps I found where I needed to be easily enough on what was shaping up to be a grey day.

As the day got warmer the smog and fog burned off revealing a blue sky. Most of my exposures from this shoot came out over exposed with the light reflecting off the snow. It didn't help that I used my flash to compensate (a bit to much) for the shadows. Over all I am pleased with the images I got.

While in Ogden I headed to Winter Fest on 25th street. Meeting a the local camera shop with Photographixs - another photography group. The hand full of photographers with Photographixs then headed out to capture the activities of human dog sled races to the snow mobile drag races on snow trucked in the day before. Images of the drags will come up over the next week or so.

I will admit I've not posted much this winter. I've taken up a project of photographing the textures of snow. Snow is tricky to expose for. It either comes out grey or blue. Blue is fine because that's the natural color of snow. It's tricky when it comes out pink or other colors. The most difficult this tracking the focus in snow. The texture is often there but what is lacking is the contrast for the camera to lock onto.

Links:
Northern Utah Creative Group
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Northern-Utah-Creative-Group-NUCG/132195283494595?v=info

Photographixs
http://photographix.info/