I'm 34.
I went biking in Denali National Park on the park road, before it was opened to cars and buses. We camped near the entrance, and then biked about 10 miles in (some people went farther) before turning back and camping again. We saw sheep, eagles, ptarmigan, moose, caribou, and -- from about a quarter mile -- a grizzly bear. Others saw a lynx and a fox -- two animals I haven't yet seen here. I shoulda kept riding! Pictures:
In other news, the Mariners suck. It's been a combination of poor roster construction, bad luck, and players performing well below career levels. Griffey may have been sleeping in the clubhouse, or he may not have, but the problem is that he was getting so many at-bats in the first place. He should be a figurehead and an occasional pinch-hitter. Not a full-time player like he was for the first seven weeks. Looks like they got him tied to the bench now, so that's good. It also appears that the players are still boycotting the TNT reporter who published the sleep story. I don't know what I think about that... on one hand, it's fine if they want to band together against a common enemy (a single reporter). On the other hand, he was only doing his job, and the players are obligated to speak to the press. It's an interesting question whether the rest of the press is obligated to band together to protect each other from such boycotts -- only then, really, can they do their jobs without fear of retribution. But that's just the way it is in the clubhouse -- you work for years to gain access, and it's too valuable to sacrifice in the name of principle and journalistic ethics. I say the boycott continues until Griffey retires.
In other outdoors fun, last weekend I made my annual trek to Eagle and Symphony Lakes. A lot more snow this year than last year, but it was a brilliant sunny day and the trail was in good shape. Pictures:
Finally, the finale. Of Lost. I liked it a lot when I saw it... then liked it more as the first days went by... and now I've started to like it a little less. This deserves its own post someday. But I will miss Lost immensely -- although it's not the best TV show I've ever seen (that's The Wire), it has been my favorite. No other show inspired so much imagination. I wonder if there will ever be anything else like it.
That's it for now. Hopefully more soon!
