http://forestandcrag.com Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:38:10 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Hello, if this is your first visit to Forest and Crag. Please http://forestandcrag.com/?p=1 I pushed through the brush, fur and spruce limbs snapped back into my face. The terrain was steep and thick with vegetation. The only way to find our way through was following small strips flagging tape left behind by past hikers. There was no trail to this peak. This peak ... http://forestandcrag.com/?p=44 “WYF-711, this is Mount Washington weather observatory with your morning weather.” The radio came on with a staticy voice, I could hear Sean shuffling papers preparing to write down the morning weather for the hut guests downstairs. “The current temperature outside is currently minus twenty degrees, with high winds causing ... http://forestandcrag.com/?p=26 I walked out into the field and inhaled the cold crisp air. I closed my eyes and let myself fall into a day dream. I was alone on a mountain in an unknown place. There were no signs of people or civilization in any direction I looked. The air was ... http://forestandcrag.com/?p=23 The Boeing 747 taxied to the runway and I could see the Boudanath Stupa off in the distance, a place I visited just a few days earlier with Pranita. Just past the fences of the small Kathmandu airport the busy streets of the city could still be seen. The flight ... http://forestandcrag.com/?p=22 I walk towards the Himalayan Buddhist Center in the heart of Kathmandu after a day of teaching at school. On my way I am enthusiastically greeted by some familiar shopkeepers in Thamel "Namaste Casey! Tapailai kasto Chha?" I reply "Ektum ticch chha! Tapailai?" When I get closer to the hotel ... http://forestandcrag.com/?p=21 I thought he was joking when the elephant driver looked back and said "okay, now you drive elephant." I jokingly replied with a laugh "okay, sure." I was a bit shocked when he handed me his stick and jumped off the the animal. I hesitantly crawled out of the safety ... http://forestandcrag.com/?p=20 A truck pulled up to the edge of the river, the mourning families waited in line crying while holding handkerchiefs to their face to lessen the smell. A group of men piled wood onto the pire, and men were scavenging in the river below in hopes to find jewelry that ... http://forestandcrag.com/?p=19 I arrived at school on time and noticed that all the students were walking away from the building. A few of them ran over to me "Today is a holiday, you can go home!" I walked into the building to ask the principal what was going on, I was unaware ... http://forestandcrag.com/?p=18 I stand on the street corner in the early AM outside the tourist area of Thamel awaiting my bus. The mornings in Kathmandu are amazing to watch. Shopkeeps are out getting their store ready, housewives are out buying produce, and children are all rushing to get to school. Buses are ... http://forestandcrag.com/?p=17