summer job offer no 1

Targhee offered me the foreman position on their trail crew!!

an update

I'm still in Ithaca.  

I picked up some work through my biking/engineering friend Tim.  We met through mountain biking, I think I even remember the day I met Tim.  We were riding in the same car to some mountain bike race.  We lived together the summer after my Freshman year, he hooked me up with work with Garcia, and he lived at 120 Wait last summer.  Tim's been in Ithaca for 10 years, I think, I can never quite remember...but he's an old timer.  He's finishing up this semester and headed to Chicago (Northwestern) for his post doc after he gets married in Arizona this summer.  I was recently invited to his wedding, and I hope I can make it...

I have also arranged to do some painting for pay for my landlord, Pat.  Hopefully I can knock that out in the next couple of days.  Painting by yourself is slow, as I learned yesterday.  Just means more $$...  It's also pretty satisfying, although tedious.

We got some rain during this past week, so I set out to brush up the dirt jump trails I built last fall.  These trails kick ass because they're fun and rideable for ANY skill level.  Here's some footage from a day of riding last fall with Connor and Alex (thats me in the blue striped shirt).

So I made a few changes and patched up the eroded spots while it was wet out.  Then it went from wet to dusty in two days, and I've been itching to ride them.  I finally got out today with Andrew (I don't ride them, with enthusiasm, by myself) and we rode for a bit.  It took a few runs to get the rhythm back, but man they felt good!  We were both able to nail both the left handed and right handed hip lines, although Andrew was getting a little sketch--early season.  Andrew rips, I hope we get to ride trails soon and maybe this summer.  I love this little spot, though, it's my pride and joy, and digging kept me sane during the semester.  For the lawyer in the crowd, it's not my land, I don't know who's it is, but no one seems to care!

My Bitch is out of commission for the moment.  I won't go into details but I think all I need is a new headset, as the old one broke off inside the frame (weird and kind of sketchy).  The bike's kind of a mixture of secondhand parts, and the fork makes me a little nervous (I thought that was the issue) but I love the way it rides.  With my bike busted I got to ride Alan's Specialized P series bike, which was set up more for dirt jumping/urban riding than my Bitch.  The bike felt awesome and was noticeably lighter than mine.  His stem was shorter and his bars wider, which felt great.  He offered it for anytime this week...

So while I was digging last week I got a call from Grand Targhee's trail crew leader dude.  We talked for a while about my building experience and their plans.  It sounds pretty awesome, although it also sounds like a lot of work.  4 10 hour days building mountain bike trails?  sheesh...  BUT they are building mountain bike specific trails, which is what I love to do and I think I'm half decent at building fun trails.  Plus I'd get super strong super fast, although I think I'd have to train up for it a bit.

I should hear back from Targhee early this week, hopefully tomorrow.  The work wouldn't start until June 1st, so I'd even have time to check out some epic riding spots after I get my bikes working!

Today was riding with Andrew and then a road bike ride with housemate and friend Leo.  Leo either loves or hates hills, because he cranked up all of them.  I think we were about equally spent by the end of the ride.

It's definitely bike season now!

the tumbler

I spent a fair amount of time last semester working on the tumbler:

PICTURE REMOVED FOR LEGAL REASONS...

 It shakes up shredded medical waste with some special gasses and spits it out below when finished.  It's premise built on premise built on premise, none of which we actually know will work.  

For some reason, it doesn't work, although I don't know exactly why (I'm not involved with the project).  So much for the tumbler.  Next time I'll ensure that things get tested from the bottom up.

Bicycle Day

First of all, thanks for the calls/texts/cakes/wishes on my birthday.  I had a good day and a delicious and towering cake.  I'm now 23.  Seems like a decent number.  Oh and my apologies for the dead phone for most of the day!  It died before I woke up and I didn't realize until 5 or so.  

Today was bicycle day.  If you are unaware, this marks the day that someone first knowingly ingested LSD.  That someone was Albert Hofmann.  He went on a bike ride afterwards and reported some difficulties.  You can read all about it, like I did, on wikipedia.  

In celebration, a Cornell student named Dave (not me) organized an alleycat bike race.  There were five checkpoints on campus, and I volunteered to work at a checkpoint.  I think we had a total of 15 or so riders, everyone from serious looking roadies to urbanite fixie riders to some mountain bikers.  Also volunteering at the checkpoints was Alex.  Alex had lots of hair, wore hiking gators and lots of clothes, and was always chewing a stick.  His bike was decked out, too, with a variety of wares and goods.  He looked, by all approximation, like a bum living on his bike.  Sure enough, this was a good assumption.  He had worked as a bike messenger in NYC, but these economic times are tough on bike messengers, and he's been living on the road for a while.  He solicited us for "any help we could offer" for his return trip to NYC.  I wish him luck, living on a bike would be a hell of a trip.

So the racers were off a little after noon.  I was working the checkpoint at the clock tower, which was somewhere in the middle of the race (racers were allowed to pick the order of the checkpoints).  Ultimately, Colin took the win with Matt an immediate second.  Both were on mountain bikes...word!  

Dave had even arranged for lots of bagels and cream cheese arranged on a table for after the ride, and gave out bottles of champagne for first, second, and DFL (dead fucking last).  All in all, it was a well organized event.  Many props to Dave for putting it together.  With a few more checkpoint volunteers the race could be a little longer, and I'd definitely be interested in a race like this.

I left on a road ride around 3, planning to do about 50 miles.  I think that's about my cap for now, especially after mountain biking like 4 of 5 days prior.  the ride was fun, although I got off my intended route and had to ride back to Ithaca on a state route as opposed to a small country road.  The length did not change, though, and I'm glad I was able to get through 50 miles with few complaints save a sore backside.

There's rain coming.  Fortunately Tim Reissman has some work for me and the rain ought to give me the chance to do some maintenance on my jump line and maybe even build a pump track at Shindagin.  Shoveling dirt is pretty good strength training.

Mountain biking!!

Today was my first mountain bike ride since the fall.  It was awesome!!!  

Jeff and I rode the yellows and some reds at Shindagin for about an hour and a half.  I had to bail a bit early because my shoulder was sore after losing my front wheel on Nessie.  I am beginning to understand the nature of my shoulder injury (which is relatively minor), and I definitely need to strengthen the surrounding muscles to better support the joint.  Stengthening plus a couple of weeks without jarring it and I think I'll be good to go.  It was still worth riding the blue sled at Steve's place...

Man mountain biking is fun!  All the little features of dirt to push off of and bumps and stuff.  I definitely need to get my strength back though.  My legs are alright but I can't move my bitch (name of bike) around anything like I could last fall.  strength training it is i guess...or trailbuilding!

Someone has to build a pump track at Shindagin because there's a great spot for it.  People keep talking about it but with bureaucracy the way it is who knows when that could happen...I'll have to talk to some buddies first.  I think I'll also hike the trails and do some clearing.  What else do I have to do?  Might'swell give back to the community and spend some time doing mundane things in the woods.  I'm easily entertained by anything in the woods.

So far I'm having fun here in Ithaca.  Staying a bit longer is becoming more appealing.  I think I probably ought to stay at least until I have a couple of job offers, else I could end up stuck at home.  It's not that I don't like being at home, I have a great time there with family and friends, but I don't want to stay indefinitely, and I certainly don't want to do another long ass drive back up here.  We will see.

I spent several hours today practicing the fiddle.  The joy of playing + the discovery of learning tunes via youtube + the possibility of making $110/hour has me playing lots.  I'm working on a rousing medley of Cold Frosty Morning/Whiskey Before Breakfast (a fantastically fun song to play)/Kitchen Girl.  I learned an old time tune called the Possum's Tail is Bare, my first old time tune I think.  It's fun, but the bowings are tricky and important so it will probably take me a while to get it up to speed.  

my first traffic accident

First off--no one got hurt, which was lucky.

I was cruising back from seeing my Grandparents and picking up some bikes and stuff.  I was coming down church street, doing the speed limit at 35 or so, when I approached a green light.  Some car ran the red light coming out of the right, and I slammed on the brakes.  We almost missed each other, but I clipped his tail.  No one lost control, I pulled a quick U-turn and pulled up behind the car.  Two young dudes got out, and immediately apologized.  (I was pretty sure I went through a green light but it was nice to get some confirmation).  I proposed we pull up into that circle over there, and we did.  

They called their mom and some other folks, and I called the cops to file a report.  I could smell their brakes big time.  Apparently he was on the brakes but they werent working.  Mom came, so did some other folks including someone who I think was a pastor.  

The cops came, ended up impounding the vehicle...yada yada.  I will probably need a new front bumper, a new foglight, and some headlight adjustment, but the damage looks pretty minor.  Fortunately no one's vehicle was badly damaged, and no one hurt, but someone's insurance will be paying for my damage (and it won't be mine).  Hopefully the insurance companies will work things out in a timely manner (yeah right) so I can get on the road or whatever...

I was surprised how quickly it happened, glad that the kid decided to stomp on the gas, and glad that I was quick to the brake pedal.  Otherwise I could have ended up with my grill in the driver's face, which would not have been pretty.  Everyone (except the mom at times) took it pretty well in stride.  Apparently the car was JUST picked up at the mechanic (described as shady), and the mechanic told the kid that it wasn't ok but he could drive it.  The kid described his drive (he had already run two other red lights because he couldnt brake).  I hope he learns to slow way down or stop if his brakes aren't working.  I don't know if I learned anything...just that going the speed limit is good, but I don't speed anyway.  Lucky!

And now I'm going to play some legit fiddle on a legit acoustic instrument and it's gonna sound great!

back east

Three days of driving put me back in Ithaca and took a chunk out of my bank account--something that is becoming of increasing concern as I apply to as many jobs as I can find.  I have enough to get by for a month or so, which is just long enough to line something up for work.

I knew this would happen, and it's just this sort of financial pressure that will force me to find something fun to do this summer that will also result in some $$.  Fortunately I didn't get that volunteer position, so I don't have to tell them that--oops--I actually can't afford it.  

This also means that I may be in Ithaca for a little longer than I expected, at least until I feel confident that something is coming my way.  I definitely can't ramble around the country, although I may drive home for a little while to see friends and family.  

The drive back was uneventful.  I had a headwind!  a bad headwind, which was disappointing because I had a headwind going out, and my truck is quite affected by wind.  Headwind aside the weather was okay until day 3 when I entered New York.  It was dark, rainy, foggy, and the highway was terribly bumpy.  I slowed down and thought maybe I would have to take another day, but fortunately the highway smoothed out, the fog dissipated, and the rain mostly quit.  

So last semester, for pay and for education, I helped Czeslaw (of a company called Super Pulse) design and fabricate pieces of a machine to sterilize medical waste.  I called Czeslaw this morning to see if he needed any help with the project.  He said things were slow, which sounds familiar, but that he could use my help.  He'll call back in an hour or so.  This is good--means I have something to do and that hopefully I can make enough $$ to at least pay for my trip out here, but it should be easy to save some, too.

Let me try to remember what it is I applied for yesterday.  I applied to two raft companies in Jackson, Mad River and Barker Ewing, and one ammunition (as I found out after the fact) company in Bend, Oregon that had a craigslist ad for a MechE.  I also sent a notice of interest (I will fill out the app today) to a boys camp called High Rocks near Brevard, NC.  I think I would be good at and enjoy teaching fishing, mountain biking, and/or backpacking to boys, plus it's a sweet, sweet part of the country with amazing riding.  

I applied to Diablo Freeride Park for trail crew, event planning, and/or a mechanic job.  While it's exactly what I want to do...my experience with the people that work at Diablo has not been very positive.  It's really close to NYC...and car camping at Diablo would not be fun like it would at Targhee, Plattekill, or any other actually mountainous place where people hang out and camp.  Riding Diablo every day wouldn't be bad, though, and I could probably get hooked up with parts at cost which I could really use (although they are still expensive...)

I applied to Steamboat Springs as a bike mechanic for their rental fleet.  Even though I am confident that I can keep a rental fleet running in tip-top shape, I don't have shop experience to back that up, so they probably won't hire me.

Not bad, six apps in one day?  If I keep that up (haha) odds are in my favor that someone will hire me.  I'm also happy that I have apps in a variety of things that I would be stoked to do.

Hmm if I could just find something in Jackson I also have a fiddle gig that could potentially pay $110 an hour for a gig every week or so.  That'd be nice...plus I could set up on the square and judging from the response I've gotten from folks I could probably get some $ from tourists.  Jackson tourists are ballers.

That's another thing to do while in Ithaca--play music with people in an informal setting.  I have to figure out how to play with folks, roll with chord changes faster, etc.  I think with enough practice I should be able to play with anyone.  I'm working on my scales and fingerings and things.  I think playing the mandolin should help me with more complicated chords and double stops on the fiddle.  I regret not practicing throughout college...but I didn't realize that the fiddle could be a better source of income than my degree, and I just wasn't that interested in playing with folks.  I think I have to thank Kyle for that one--he gave me the perfect chance to doodle around until I found something that sounded good with whatever he played.  

So I do hope that I can go back west for the summer.  I miss the mountains already, and I want go to exploring.  I've also become open to other options as my financial situation becomes a little more pressing, and I would like to be day trip distance from friends.  We will see.

I mused yesterday that in the rare event that I fail to find employment (man that would be a let down) I could hike the Appalachian Trail.  My timing is off, though.

Jobs

I had my phone interview for the volunteer wilderness dude position.  It would be pretty much an amazing way to spend the summer, but I don't think I can take the position 'cause I'd be broke when I finished and I don't want to be broke.  Too bad, hopefully I get another chance to spend a summer wandering around in the wilderness, but I probably won't.

Right now I'm hoping that Grand Targhee (a ski resort about an hour north of jackson) takes me on for their trail crew.  They are starting to run bikes, so I'd get to help build and maintain some bike trails as well as the ski trails.  They work a 4 day week, so I'd have lots of time to ride.  

Dan and I just got back from a free church dinner (I'm resuming writing this entry after several hours).  Despite the fact that religion kind of creeps me out, the folks were awesome and the food was good.  The pastor, Eric, is a civil engineer at Rendezvous Engineering.  He recommended I apply and I'll drop off my resume tomorrow--despite the fact that he's not working now because there simply is no work.  He's also a mountain biker, and invited me out to Moab with their crew in May.  I'm so stoked to ride Utah, you have no idea.

Apply apply apply I am learning...

Apparently it doesn't get dark until 10 in the summer?  Getting off at 4 or 5 no longer seems so bad.  

At any rate, tomorrow I leave for NY.  I'm excited to get to NY, not excited about the drive.  I was telling Dan that someone really ought to cut the middle of the country out or something, because then the east and the west could be really close to each other.  Yes this is insensitive and I guess we need farming, but it sure would be nice if you could get to the Rockies from the Atlantic in a day's drive.

I think that I'll spend about a week in Ithaca, drive south to Atlanta for a few days, and then take the southern route through Texas to Utah and probably Jackson after that.  I've never been to Texas.  We'll see how I do with gas money, but my expenses are pretty minimal now that skiing is done.  My expenses will now be food, gas, and health insurance.  Food is big, and I'm not going to try to cut my spending on food (like food from the grocery store).  I like food.

Dan got his first taste of fly fishing today (he watched me fish).  We caught a couple of nice cutthroats that rose to a griffiths gnat, but then I lost my griffiths gnat to a fish and couldn't entice them to rise to a similar small fuzzy fly.  Stupid fish...

last day of Jackson riding

Yesterday was the last day of the season for the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.  It was sunny and warm, making for some nice spring conditions in the afternoon.  I ripped a bunch of runs and had a good time, although getting on the mountain was tough because they were checking bags for beer heading up the lifts--not to stop people like me, but to cut down on the alcohol related incidents at the resort.  On April 1st someone broke a Tram window with a snowball. This apparently will cost an obscene amount of money to fix.

April 1st was Gaper Day on the mountain.  From urban dictionary:

 gaper is a skiier or snowboarder who is completely clueless. Usually distiungished by their bright colored clothes and a gaper gap, the gap between goggles and a helment/hat. Gapers also do the "Gaper Tuck" which is an attempt at being a ski racer by tucking, however, it is done incorrectly with the poles sticking straight up like thunderbolts and lighting, very very frightning! Gapers also sit at the bottom of jumps and try and go big off table tops in the park.

1. My eyes are burning from that gapers bright colored clothes. 
2. I fell off the chair laughing at that gaper tuck. 

3. Did you just see that gaper getting landed on because he was sitting like a dumbass at the landing of a jump. 

Mostly gaper day is an excuse to get wasted and play dress up on the mountain, as was yesterday.  there were chickens, pigs, dudes in suits, girls in shiny clothes with feathers, a dude with horns and armor playing metal on a little music player, people in chaps, people in underwear, you name it.  I dont have any pictures sadly, but if you google "gaper day" some videos come up and you can get a sense of it.

So it was a good last day (although since gaper day snowballs are strictly forbidden at the resort).  After riding I went fishing for a while, where I was frustrated by my poor hatch matching.  Those damn trout are smart sometimes.  If it looks tasty, they should just eat it and they definitely shouldnt be spooked by that dude waving his arms around on the bank.

After fishing I went to Steve's apartment, where the crew of Elevation Imaging (where Steve, Steel, John, and some other friends work) gathered to commemorate the season's end.  I drank aplenty and we played a game where you position a sled on the top of a small hill, run at it, jump on it, and try to ride it out.  Good times all around.  There are some pictures that I'll be sure to post.

I ditched the truck at Steve's place and caught the bus with John, Doug, and Dan.  The later buses in Jackson can be pretty ridiculous (lots of drunk people).  

We arrived back at the pad and someone came up with the idea of hiking the butte behind it.  It seemed like a good idea at the time.  I stumbled my way up the 1300 vertical feet of the butte and then stumbled back down (the footing was tough!).  When I got back to the apartment my hands were bloody and my shins battered.  Needless to say I woke up mighty bruised and sore this morning, but not the least bit hung over.  Next time, though, I'll wear my hiking boots.

great day!

I had a great day of riding.  9:30 to 4.  Many thanks to my dad for an early birthday present of a lift ticket.  It turns out that Jackson has finally cut their lift ticket prices to a more reasonable $61!

Good snow today, soft in the trees, got warm and slushy in the sun in the afternoon but you could find fresh tracks all day.  I rode with some snowboarders from southern California.  They were hurting ("Man the runs are long here!") but had a good time.  I think they were pretty stoked to have a tour guide, and I'm always game for some company.  We did a headwall hike and rode one of the first crag shots after casper bowl.  It was a nice long cruisy fresh run with some fun rocks to play on.  

I found a cool job, but it doesnt pay.  It's a wilderness volunteer position in the North Cascades.  10 days on, 4 days off for a month or two, $21/day food stipend for days on.  I sure would love to spend 10 days at a time hiking around the cascades, and those 4 days off could be mountain biking bliss.  I don't know how quickly I would commit to such a low-paying job.  I would be tempted to wait around to see if I couldnt score something fun that pays...

I also need to look into Grand Targhee's trail crew.  Supposedly they're pretty chill, don't require formal experience, and pay well.

I take some awesome naps now.  I only meant to sleep for a bit but ended up sleeping from 6:30 to 9...took away all my reading time and I meant to call my mom and dad...woops.

bunch o stuff

I had a day of work today...swept dusty construction floors for 7 hours.  Didn't even have a dust mask in the morning...good times.

I don't know if I mentioned it before, but a week or two ago the gondola stopped accepting beer as a pass.  Apparently someone got in an accident and told the patrollers they rode the gondola for free (bad call).  So I've been giving beer to the lifties at AV, but it's not nearly as good.  First of all it's a nasty traverse to get to the goods, AV is kind of low, and doesnt get the snow that the upper mountain does.  I also can't ride the lower faces...basically I'm really limited and it's a bummer.  I can't ride with my buddies much, either.  I'm tired of the BS and limited access.  Unfortunately this coincides with all this snow.

I borrowed Dan's pass a couple of days ago.  I got up the Tram just fine, did some upper mountain laps, and rode the gondola a couple of times.  I knew the gondy lifties knew I didn't have a pass, but I figured we were cool because I've been feeding them beer for two months.  On my third gondy run, the liftie (who had scanned me through before without saying a word) took a look at Dan's pass and cut it off with his knife.  He could have asked for it.

He claimed he got $50 for turning in a pass (they actually get 30) but it would cost Dan $87 to get it back from the resort.  So I offered the liftie 60 bucks and said that I knew they only got 30 but I appreciated him hooking me up for two months.  He took my money, we had a little chat.  I told him I was under the impression that we were on good terms and I didn't think that they would care, and if they had a problem with it I expected they would kindly let me know before they yank my pass.  He said he was insulted (like I thought they wouldn't recognize me??) and that money is money, but he didn't want to be "that guy"... guess he blew that one.  At least I didn't lose Dan's pass.

I've been crashing Dan and John's apartment, but now I'm paying for it.  It's 130 for a week, just a bit cheaper than the hostel.  Plus it's good company.

I've been thinking about my upcoming birthday...in a purely materialistic manner.  Right now I would enjoy a single person tent, a lift ticket for jackson so I can enjoy one good powder day with full mountain access, and a new bike helmet.  I'll keep thinking.

I'm still applying to jobs, hopefully I'll start getting feedback soon.  Need to call teton park and olympia park in washington and stop by dornans to say hi in person (already submitted an online app).  

Oh yeah my phone interview went well.  I think I'll probably be invited for an in person interview, we'll see.  I would be joining a team of 12 with only 2 engineers.  Talk about a small team.  I'd be stoked to join something like that.

another foot

nuff said.