Frankenstorm(king)'s Monster

I passed the hurricane quite comfortably in relatively untouched Philly, so I have no photos of dramatic destruction and the raw power of nature, hubris of man and his works, etc.  Instead, here is a view of Zhang Huan's "Three-Legged Buddha" at the Storm King Art Center.

Ruins on the Mountain

Looking down the Khumbu valley towards the inexorable, inevitable evening clouds rising over Ama Dablam.  These ruins are on the east side of the river, across from the "village" of Duhgla.  We...should not have been on that side of the river as the sun set!

On the Terrace

The thermal terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone.

Painterly

Looking down on the thermal pools that make up the aptly named Artists' Paintpots, Yellowstone.

'Sworthy

The Andy Goldsworthy wall, Storm King Art Center, a fall day.

Halfway to the "Wedding Day"

Yours truly putting up Wedding Day, 10b, as the sun sets behind the dihedrals of Smith Rock.  For an easy route, this had a bit of  a heady crux for me.  Stood there like an idiot for a while before I could commit- sometimes a good no-hands rest is a liability!  And while I was dithering, the guy on the 12+ around the corner whipped out of his crux about five times.

Magic Market

The night market.  Yangshuo, southern China.

Steaming springs

From the level of the Grand Prismatic itself, all you could see was steam.  I was momentarily devastated, until I saw people wandering around in the hills on the other side.  Had to get back in the car and drive to the next lot for access, but fortunately we had bikes!  Quick ride back up the trail, and then a scramble up the hill through a blowdown and we could see the spring the way it was meant to be seen.

Extremophilic!

Meanwhile, I was taking in the therms at Yellowstone.  Its quite a bizarre place, but beautiful.  This is the Grand Prismatic Spring, and grand indeed it is.  The physiology/biology of the extremophiles that color these boiling pools is difficult to believe, to comprehend.  Life finds a way.

(Lurking) Fear is the Mind Killer

Almost 5 days later, including one 23 hour climbing day, the boys topped out on their first big wall- El Fucking Capitan via Lurking Fear.  They say they never want to do a big wall again, but I'll give them a few months before all they remember is the joy of the experience and the pride of finishing.  The pain, the exhaustion, the boredom, the fear- it all becomes an abstraction in the service of The Epic.  Type 2 fun for the win.

And yes, I know this is Half Dome not El Cap.  Shut up.