Reading (For Dummies)

Basins of Attraction

Yet another SUOC trip went out this weekend (actually the only one), caving in Schoharie, New York. I'm still not sure what the name of the cave was that we dove into, but I do know this: it was awesome. We took what leader Bert referred to as a 'hard entrance' that involved some serious body puzzles (like rock climbing, except in 3 dimensions). Being the caving virgin on the trip, I was sent in first (of course), leading the fray through a tight crack barely large enough to fit through.

I used to think I was claustraphobic, but this trip has convinced me otherwise. I do enjoy the small and tight spaces -- so long as I'm able to back up. Yet another untried recreational activity has been tried and liked by Reid...caves in the northeast are wet, muddy, and cold (we even had to go swimming through a sump on this trip), but they are a fun physical challenge with interesting underwater lakes and rivers for visual stimulation.

We drove home into a beautiful sunset, even, as the last day of hospitable weather (above ground, anyway) gave way to another cold snap. I guess I'll be heading below the earth a bit this winter, where the temperature may be chilly, but is at least consistent and wind-free.

On an Island

Yet another Syracuse University Outing Club (SUOC) trip took place over the course of the day, this time to Tinker Falls and the Labrador Preserve. The falls are spectacular for dribbling affair, and one of our resident ice climbing folks posited the greatness that this overhanging water disposal has once it freezes -- a very cool vertical ice spout that is fairly safe for getting into the sport. As with many new things that I've been introduced to lately, I can't wait.

We hike up and over Labrador mountain, pausing for a while from the top (which is often used as a hangliding launch point) to admire the foilage. The Finger Lakes region is definitely peaked for fall color. We hit up Beak and Skiff on the way home as well, and picked up some more Jona Gold apples for baking and eating needs.

As with most weekends, there was also the dreaded SUOC party. This week, we celebrated Jonas' (pictured) and Dezeree's combined 21st birthdays (both Sunday), with a "round the world" drink tour in HAD-HOWL followed by a midnight trip to the bar around the corner. I even got the chance to earn some positive karma taking care of the latter after a bout of alcohol induced stomach self-evacuation. I also learned the wonders of Tiger Balm as an aphrodesiac. The SUOC crew is full of wonders...

The (Un)Ethicist?

A while ago, Doug and I got in a very minor spat over his sale of Lance Armstrong Foundation bracelets on eBay. As stupid arguments go, milk was pouring out of my nose quite a lot at the two of us acting like awesome Kantian highschool dropout IRC'ers.

Out of curiosity as to who really was right, I decided to send the question to the New York Times ethicist, Randy Cohen. His response via email spake:

Assuming that there is no fraud, that the buyers clearly understand that those reselling these bracelets are not affiliated with the Armstrong Foundation and are not donating to it, then I see no problem with the sale. Mere silence is not enough here. Because there is a reasonable chance of misunderstanding, the seller has an ethical obligation to clarify the matter. A single sentence could easily accomplish that.

A couple of weeks later, I got a phone call saying he might like to run my question and his response in the Times. And in it went this week. The answer is probably as close to opposite to the private answer as is humanly possible (which is fine, read on).

So I sent a new ethics question to the New York Times this week: When answering questions for an advice column, is it ethical for the private answer given to the respondent to differ greatly from the answer issued to the public?

I would have agreed to have the question run no matter the answer (heck, I thought he just answered them in print and that there was none of this approval business). But I can certainly see situations where someone's agreement to have the question run as a public spectacle is dependent on the answer given to the question...

I am finding all this to have odd timing considering fellow anizer Volker recently had a run-in (and hopeful recovery) with the Big C.

End of the Summer

Henry and I would make a great gay couple if either of us were gay. Those words from my mouth as we whipped up a simple yet elegant little feast with our upstairs neighbor, Lindsay.

The residents of 735 Maryland have been busy with examinations and papers lately, which hasn't left us with much time to unwind. A little creativity in the kitchen never hurt anyone.

Of course, getting out of town never hurt, either. Most of SUOC was going to Moosefest this weekend, so those of that aren't good enough kayakers yet to take on the Moose decided to do some hiking around the basin. A happy clan of elevent, we wandered about the west-central wilderness area of the Adirondacks. Unfortunately, last week was the end of peak foliage season (but hey, I was up here last weekend anyway, thanks to a SUOC canoe trip).

Our hiking group decided to check out the Moose, just to see what we might get to do once we've got a good roll down. The rapids were phenomenal, and they were just class II and III. Part of me is getting the willies at what Sunday's section of the river was -- IV and V. That ripplely water trip that was my brother's bachelor party just doesn't hold a match to what the Moose offers. And to think, I thought the Basin was just a nifty place to ride my bike through...

Like a Rolling Stone

Adventures with SUOC continued this weekend as I travelled to Lake Lila in the Adirondacks (just on the southern tip of the High Peaks region).

My friend and sort-of-co-worker, Polar lead the trip. We arrived at Lila sometime late Friday night (around 10pm, I think), and hit the water after unloading the cars. Paddling by starlight until 2am, we decided to camp on Kenda Island (somewhat illegally) and drank and talked until the wee hours of the morning. Sunrise came all too quickly, and we had to tear down before the Ranger Chris would stumble upon our site. We breakfasted on our early-morning boat landing, a rock that looked out upon the lake and surrounding mountains.

We headed up a small river on the southwest corner of the lake, somewhat in awe of fall colors. The scenery was gorgeous, with surrounding mountains covered in fiery red, yellow, and aging green. Making a rather futile portage, we set up camp mid-afternoon in a promising spot along the creek (camp 12), complete with Forest Spirit protection.

Polar managed to bust out a few tunes on his little folk music guitar. It was no Deliverance, just songs about old lovers being somewhat like pancakes. Afterwards, we went on a splendid llittle hike through the woods, up to the top of one of our nearby mountains. I even got to see a bald eagle fly below.

Splendid territory up there...for a while I believed I could be happy spending the rest of my life on that mountain side. I don't think it was an entirely incorrect supposition.

We slept early on Saturday night, and woke up late Sunday morning to light rain pattering on the storm shield, 7 people crammed in to 2 tents. It's a lifestyle that takes some getting used to, but I think I'll be doing some winter hiking and camping trips as well...

Kayaking it up

I got my first two kayaking sessions in over the last two days. SUOC leader Erin arranged for a roll session in Jamesville on Friday afternoon, where we learned the basics: How to roll, how to T-rescue, and most importantly for Saturday's trip: how to wet exit.

After a feverish sleep (waking up some flu-like symptoms), I went kayaking again today. This time, it was flatwater fun up to Lake Ontario, where we went kayak surfing. It was a blast, reminiscent of boogie-boarding as a child -- only slightly scarier, in that I was attached to a small craft that was fairly difficult to get upright in the waves. I had to pull off my skirt more than a few times.

Fortunately we ended things just in time -- a big thunderstorm rolled over the lake and began drenching us as we put the kayaks back on our roofs. A speedy job helped us from getting our nice dry clothes too drenched. And to Syracuse we returned, some of us sleeping (like Ariel and James, pictured), some of getting jiggy with it for tonight's One Article of Clothing Part-ay.