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mellifera38 · 6 years ago

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Mel’s Big Fantasy Place-Name Reference

So I’ve been doing lots of D&D world-building lately and I’ve kind of been putting together lists of words to help inspire new fantasy place names. I figured I’d share. These are helpful for naming towns, regions, landforms, roads, shops, and they’re also probably useful for coming up with surnames. This is LONG. There’s plenty more under the cut including a huge list of “fantasy sounding” word-parts. Enjoy!

Towns & Kingdoms

town, borough, city, hamlet, parish, township, village, villa, domain

kingdom, empire, nation, country, county, city-state, state, province, dominion

Town Name End Words (English flavored)

-ton, -ston, -caster, -dale, -den, -field, -gate, -glen, -ham, -holm, -hurst, -bar, -boro, -by, -cross, -kirk, -meade, -moore, -ville, -wich, -bee, -burg, -cester, -don, -lea, -mer, -rose, -wall, -worth, -berg, -burgh, -chase, -ly, -lin, -mor, -mere, -pool. -port, -stead, -stow, -strath, -side, -way, -berry, -bury, -chester, -haven, -mar, -mont, -ton, -wick, -meet, -heim, -hold, -hall, -point

Buildings & Places

castle, fort, palace, fortress, garrison, lodge, estate, hold, stronghold, tower, watchtower, palace, spire, citadel, bastion, court, manor, house

altar, chapel, abbey, shrine, temple, monastery, cathedral, sanctum, crypt, catacomb, tomb

orchard, arbor, vineyard, farm, farmstead, shire, garden, ranch

plaza, district, quarter, market, courtyard, inn, stables, tavern, blacksmith, forge, mine, mill, quarry, gallows, apothecary, college, bakery, clothier, library, guild house, bath house, pleasure house, brothel, jail, prison, dungeon, cellar, basement, attic, sewer, cistern

lookout, post, tradepost, camp, outpost, hovel, hideaway, lair, nook, watch, roost, respite, retreat, hostel, holdout, redoubt, perch, refuge, haven, alcove, haunt, knell, enclave, station, caravan, exchange, conclave

port, bridge, ferry, harbor, landing, jetty, wharf, berth, footbridge, dam, beacon, lighthouse, marina, dockyard, shipyard

road, street, way, row, lane, trail, corner, crossing, gate, junction, waygate, end, wall, crossroads, barrier, bulwark, blockade, pavilion, avenue, promenade, alley, fork, route

Time & Direction

North, South, East, West, up, down, side, rise, fall, over, under

Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn, solstice, equanox, vernal, ever, never

dusk, dawn, dawnrise, morning, night, nightfall, evening, sundown, sunbreak, sunset

lunar, solar, sun, moon, star, eclipse

Geographical Terms

Cave, cavern, cenote, precipice, crevasse, crater, maar, chasm, ravine, trench, rift, pit

Cliff, bluff, crag, scarp, outcrop, stack, tor, falls, run, eyrie, aerie

Hill, mountain, volcano, knoll, hillock, downs, barrow, plateau, mesa, butte, pike, peak, mount, summit, horn, knob, pass, ridge, terrace, gap, point, rise, rim, range, view, vista, canyon, hogback, ledge, stair, descent

Valley, gulch, gully, vale, dale, dell, glen, hollow, grotto, gorge, bottoms, basin, knoll, combe

Meadow, grassland, field, pasture, steppe, veld, sward, lea, mead, fell, moor, moorland, heath, croft, paddock, boondock, prairie, acre, strath, heights, mount, belt

Woodlands, woods, forest, bush, bower, arbor, grove, weald, timberland, thicket, bosk, copse, coppice, underbrush, hinterland, park, jungle, rainforest, wilds, frontier, outskirts

Desert, dunes, playa, arroyo, chaparral, karst, salt flats, salt pan, oasis, spring, seep, tar pit, hot springs, fissure, steam vent, geyser, waste, wasteland, badland, brushland, dustbowl, scrubland

Ocean, sea, lake, pond, spring, tarn, mere, sluice, pool, coast, gulf, bay

Lagoon, cay, key, reef, atoll, shoal, tideland, tide flat, swale, cove, sandspit, strand, beach

Snowdrift, snowbank, permafrost, floe, hoar, rime, tundra, fjord, glacier, iceberg

River, stream, creek, brook, tributary, watersmeet, headwater, ford, levee, delta, estuary, firth, strait, narrows, channel, eddy, inlet, rapids, mouth, falls

Wetland, marsh, bog, fen, moor, bayou, glade, swamp, banks, span, wash, march, shallows, mire, morass, quag, quagmire, everglade, slough, lowland, sump, reach

Island, isle, peninsula, isthmus, bight, headland, promontory, cape, pointe, cape

More under the cut including: Color words, Animal/Monster related words, Rocks/Metals/Gems list, Foliage, People groups/types, Weather/Environment/ Elemental words, Man-made Items, Body Parts, Mechanical sounding words, a huge list of both pleasant and unpleasant Atmospheric Descriptors, and a huge list of Fantasy Word-parts.

Color Descriptions

Warm: red, scarlet, crimson, rusty, cerise, carmine, cinnabar, orange, vermillion, ochre, peach, salmon, saffron, yellow, gold, lemon, amber, pink, magenta, maroon, brown, sepia, burgundy, beige, tan, fuchsia, taupe

Cool: green, beryl, jade, evergreen, chartreuse, olive, viridian, celadon, blue, azure, navy, cerulean, turquoise, teal, cyan, cobalt, periwinkle, beryl, purple, violet, indigo, mauve, plum

Neutral: gray, silver, ashy, charcoal, slate, white, pearly, alabaster, ivory, black, ebony, jet

dark, dusky, pale, bleached, blotchy, bold, dappled, lustrous, faded, drab, milky, mottled, opaque, pastel, stained, subtle, ruddy, waxen, tinted, tinged, painted

Animal / Monster-Related Words

Bear, eagle, wolf, serpent, hawk, horse, goat, sheep, bull, raven, crow, dog, stag, rat, boar, lion, hare, owl, crane, goose, swan, otter, frog, toad, moth, bee, wasp, beetle, spider, slug, snail, leech, dragonfly, fish, trout, salmon, bass, crab, shell, dolphin, whale, eel, cod, haddock

Dragon, goblin, giant, wyvern, ghast, siren, lich, hag, ogre, wyrm, kraken

Talon, scale, tusk, hoof, mane, horn, fur, feather, fang, wing, whisker, bristle, paw, tail, beak, claw, web, quill, paw, maw, pelt, haunch, gill, fin,

Hive, honey, nest, burrow, den, hole, wallow

Rocks / Metals / Minerals

Gold, silver, brass, bronze, copper, platinum, iron, steel, tin, mithril, electrum, adamantite, quicksilver, fool’s gold, titanium

Diamond, ruby, emerald, sapphire, topaz, opal, pearl, jade, jasper, onyx, citrine, aquamarine, turquoise, lapiz lazuli, amethyst, quartz, crystal, amber, jewel

Granite, shale, marble, limestone, sandstone, slate, diorite, basalt, rhyolite, obsidian, glass

Earth, stone, clay, sand, silt, salt, mote, lode, vein, ore, ingot, coal, boulder, bedrock, crust, rubble, pebble, gravel, cobble, dust, clod, peat, muck mud, slip, loam, dirt, grit, scree, shard, flint, stalactite/mite

Trees / Plants / Flowers

Tree, ash, aspen, pine, birch, alder, willow, dogwood, oak, maple, walnut, chestnut, cedar, mahogany, palm, beech, hickory, hemlock, cottonwood, hawthorn, sycamore, poplar, cypress, mangrove, elm, fir, spruce, yew

Branch, bough, bramble, gnarl, burr, tangle, thistle, briar, thorn, moss, bark, shrub, undergrowth, overgrowth, root, vine, bracken, reed, driftwood, coral, fern, berry, bamboo, nectar, petal, leaf, seed, clover, grass, grain, trunk, twig, canopy, cactus, weed, mushroom, fungus

Apple, olive, apricot, elderberry, coconut, sugar, rice, wheat, cotton, flax, barley, hops, onion, carrot, turnip, cabbage, squash, pumpkin, pepper

Flower, rose, lavender, lilac, jasmine, jonquil, marigold, carnelian, carnation, goldenrod, sage, wisteria, dahlia, nightshade, lily, daisy, daffodil, columbine, amaranth, crocus, buttercup, foxglove, iris, holly, hydrangea, orchid, snowdrop, hyacinth, tulip, yarrow, magnolia, honeysuckle, belladonna, lily pad, magnolia

People

Settler, Pilgrim, Pioneer, Merchant, Prospector, Maker, Surveyor, Mason, Overseer, Apprentice, Widow, Sailor, Miner, Blacksmith, Butcher, Baker, Brewer, Barkeep, Ferryman, Hangman, Gambler, Fisherman, Adventurer, Hero, Seeker, Hiker, Traveler, Crone

Mage, Magician, Summoner, Sorcerer, Wizard, Conjurer, Necromancer,

King, Queen, Lord, Count, Baron, Guard, Soldier, Knight, Vindicator, Merchant, Crusader, Imperator, Syndicate, Vanguard, Champion, Warden, Victor, Legionnaire, Master, Archer, Footman, Gladiator, Barbarian, Captain, Commodore,

Beggar, Hunter, Ranger, Deadman, Smuggler, Robber, Swindler, Rebel, Bootlegger, Outlaw, Pirate, Brigand, Ruffian, Highwayman, Cutpurse, Thief, Assassin

God, Goddess, Exarch, Angel, Devil, Demon, Cultist, Prophet, Hermit, Seer

council, clergy, guild, militia, choir

Climate, Environment, & The Elements

Cold, cool, brisk, frosty, chilly, icy, freezing, frozen, frigid, glacial, bitter, biting, bleak, arctic, polar, boreal, wintry, snowy, snow, blizzarding, blizzard, sleeting, sleet, chill, frost, ice, icebound, ice cap, floe, snowblind, frostbite, coldsnap, avalanche, snowflake

Hot, sunny, humid, sweltering, steaming, boiling, sizzling, blistering, scalding, smoking, caldescent, dry, parched, arid, fallow, thirsty, melting, molten, fiery, blazing, burning, charring, glowing, searing, scorching, blasted, sun, fire, heat, flame, wildfire, bonfire, inferno, coal, ash, cinder, ember, flare, pyre, tinder, kindling, aflame, alight, ablaze, lava, magma, slag,

Wet, damp, dank, soggy, sodden, soaked, drenched, dripping, sopping, briny, murky, rain, storm, hail, drizzle, sprinkle, downpour, deluge, squall, water, cloud, fog, mist, dew, puddle, pool, current, whirlpool, deep, depths, tide, waves, whitewater, waterfall, tidal wave, flow, flood, leak, drain

Wind, breeze, gust, billow, gail, draft, waft, zephyr, still, airy, clear, smokey, tempest, tempestuous, windswept, aerial, lofty, torrid, turbulent, nebulous, tradewind, thunder, lightning, spark, cyclone, tornado, whirlwind, hurricane, typhoon

Man-made Item Words

Furnace, forge, anvil, vault, strap, strip, whetstone, brick, sword, blade, axe, dagger, shield, buckler, morningstar, bow, quiver, arrow, polearm, flail, staff, stave, sheath, hilt, hammer, knife, helm, mantle, banner, pauldron, chainmail, mace, dart, cutlass, canon, needle, cowl, belt, buckle, bandana, goggles, hood, boot, heel, spindle, spool, thread, sweater, skirt, bonnet, apron, leather, hide, plate, tunic, vest, satin, silk, wool, velvet, lace, corset, stocking, binding

Plow, scythe, (wheel) barrow, saddle, harrow, brand, collar, whip, leash, lead, bridle, stirrup, wheel, straw, stall, barn, hay, bale, pitchfork, well, log, saw, lumber, sod, thatch, mortar, brick, cement, concrete, pitch, pillar, window, fountain, door, cage, spoke, pole, table, bench, plank, board

Candle, torch, cradle, broom, lamp, lantern, clock, bell, lock, hook, trunk, looking glass, spyglass, bottle, vase, locket, locker, key, handle, rope, knot, sack, pocket, pouch, manacle, chain, stake, coffin, fan. cauldron, kettle, pot, bowl, pestle, oven, ladle, spoon, font, wand, potion, elixir, draught, portal, book, tome, scroll, word, manuscript, letter, message, grimoire, map, ink, quill, pen, cards, dice

Coin, coronet, crown, circlet, scepter, treasure, riches, scales, pie, tart, loaf, biscuit, custard, caramel, pudding, porridge, stew, bread, tea, gravy, gristle, spice, lute, lyre, harp, drum, rouge, powder, perfume, brush

bilge, stern, pier, sail, anchor, mast, dock, deck, flag, ship, boat, canoe, barge, wagon, sled, carriage, buggy, cart

Wine, brandy, whiskey, ale, moonshine, gin, cider, rum, grog, beer, brew, goblet, flagon, flask, cask, tankard, stein, mug, barrel, stock, wort, malt

Body Parts

Head, throat, finger, foot, hand, neck, shoulder, rib, jaw, eye, lips, bosom

Skull, spine, bone, tooth, heart, blood, tears, gut, beard

Mechanical-Sounding Words

cog, fuse, sprocket, wrench, screw, nail, bolt, lever, pulley, spanner, gear, spring, shaft, switch, button, cast, pipe, plug, dial, meter, nozzle, cord, brake, gauge, coil, oil, signal, wire, fluke, staple, clamp, bolt, nut, bulb, patch, pump, cable, socket

torque, force, sonic, spark, fizzle, thermal, beam, laser, steam, buzz, mega, mecha, electro, telsa, power, flicker, charge, current, flow, tinker

Atmospheric Words

Unpleasant, Dangerous, Threatening

(nouns) death, fury, battle, scar, shadow, razor, nightmare, wrath, bone, splinter, peril, war, riptide, strife, reckoning, sorrow, terror, deadwood, nether, venom, grime, rage, void, conquest, pain, folly, revenge, horrid, mirk, shear, fathom, frenzy, corpselight/marshlight, reaper, gloom, doom, torment, torture, spite, grizzled, sludge, refuse, spore, carrion, fear, pyre, funeral, shade, beast, witch, grip, legion, downfall, ruin, plague, woe, bane, horde, acid, fell, grief, corpse, mildew, mold, miter, dirge

(adjectives) dead, jagged, decrepit, fallen, darkened, blackened, dire, grim, feral, wild, broken, desolate, mad, lost, under, stagnant, blistered, derelict, forlorn, unbound, sunken, fallow, shriveled, wayward, bleak, low, weathered, fungal, last, brittle, sleepy, -strewn, dusky, deserted, empty, barren, vacant, forsaken, bare, bereft, stranded, solitary, abandoned, discarded, forgotten, deep, abysmal, bottomless, buried, fathomless,unfathomable, diseased, plagued, virulent, noxious, venomous, toxic, fetid, revolting, putrid, rancid, foul, squalid, sullied, vile, blighted, vicious, ferocious, dangerous, savage, cavernous, vast, yawning, chasmal, echoing, dim, dingy, gloomy, inky, lurid, shaded, shadowy, somber, sunless, tenebrous, unlit, veiled, hellish, accursed, sulfurous, damned, infernal, condemned, doomed, wicked, sinister, dread, unending, spectral, ghostly, haunted, eldritch, unknown, weary, silent, hungry, cloven, acidic

(verb/adverbs): wither (withering / withered), skulk (skulking), whisper, skitter, chitter, sting, slither, writhe, gape, screech, scream, howl, lurk, roil, twist, shift, swarm, spawn, fester, bleed, howl, shudder, shrivel, devour, swirl, maul, trip, smother, weep, shatter, ruin, curse, ravage, hush, rot, drown, sunder, blister, warp, fracture, die, shroud, fall, surge, shiver, roar, thunder, smolder, break, silt, slide, lash, mourn, crush, wail, decay, crumble, erode, decline, reek, lament, taint, corrupt, defile, poison, infect, shun, sigh, sever, crawl, starve, grind, cut, wound, bruise, maim, stab, bludgeon, rust, mutilate, tremble, stumble, fumble, clank, clang

Pleasant, Safe, Neutral

(nouns) spirit, luck, soul, oracle, song, sky, smile, rune, obelisk, cloud, timber, valor, triumph, rest, dream, thrall, might, valiance, glory, mirror, life, hope, oath, serenity, sojourn, god, hearth, crown, throne, crest, guard, rise, ascent, circle, ring, twin, vigil, breath, new, whistle, grasp, snap, fringe, threshold, arch, cleft, bend, home, fruit, wilds, echo, moonlight, sunlight, starlight, splendor, vigilance, honor, memory, fortune, aurora, paradise, caress

(adjectives) gentle, pleasant, prosperous, peaceful, sweet, good, great, mild, grand, topic, lush, wild, abundant, verdant, sylvan, vital, florid, bosky, callow, verdurous, lucious, fertile, spellbound, captivating, mystical, hidden, arcane, clandestine, esoteric, covert, cryptic, runic, otherworldly, touched, still, fair, deep, quiet, bright, sheer, tranquil, ancient, light, far, -wrought, tidal, royal, shaded, swift, true, free, high, vibrant, pure, argent, hibernal, ascendant, halcyon, silken, bountiful, gilded, colossal, massive, stout, elder, -bourne, furrowed, happy, merry, -bound, loud, lit, silk, quiet, bright, luminous, shining, burnished, glossy, brilliant, lambent, lucent, lustrous, radiant, resplendent, vivid, vibrant, illuminated, silvery, limpid, sunlit, divine, sacred, holy, eternal, celestial, spiritual, almighty, anointed, consecrated, exalted, hallowed, sanctified, ambrosial, beatific, blissful, demure, naked, bare, ample, coy, deific, godly, omnipotent, omnipresent, rapturous, sacramental, sacrosanct, blessed, majestic, iridescent, glowing, overgrown, dense, hard, timeless, sly, scatter, everlasting, full, half, first, last

(verb/adverbs) arch (arching / arched), wink (winking), sing, nestle, graze, stroll, roll, flourish, bloom, bud, burgeon, live, dawn, hide, dawn, run, pray, wake, laugh, wake, glimmer, glitter, drift, sleep, tumble, bind, arch, blush, grin, glister, beam, meander, wind, widen, charm, bewitch, enthrall, entrance, enchant, allure, beguile, glitter, shimmer, sparkle twinkle, crest, quiver, slumber, herald, shelter, leap, click, climb, scuttle, dig, barter, chant, hum, chime, kiss, flirt, tempt, tease, play, seduce

Generic “Fantasy-Sounding” Word Parts

A - D

aaz, ada, adaer, adal, adar, adbar, adir, ae, ael, aer, aern, aeron, aeryeon, agar, agis, aglar, agron, ahar, akan, akyl, al, alam, alan, alaor, ald, alea, ali, alir, allyn, alm, alon, alor, altar, altum, aluar, alys, amar, amaz, ame, ammen, amir, amol, amn, amus, anar, andor, ang, ankh, ar, ara, aram, arc, arg, arian, arkh, arla, arlith, arn, arond, arthus, arum, arvien, ary, asha, ashyr, ask, assur, aster, astra, ath, athor, athra, athryn, atol, au, auga, aum, auroch, aven, az, azar, baal, bae, bael, bak, bal, balor, ban, bar, bara, barr, batol, batar, basir, basha, batyr, bel, belph, belu, ben, beo, bere, berren, berun, besil, bezan, bhaer, bhal, blask, blis, blod, bor, boraz, bos, bran, brath, braun, breon, bri, bry, bul, bur, byl, caer, cal, calan, cara, cassa, cath, cela, cen, cenar, cerul, chalar, cham, chion, cimar, clo, coram, corel, corman, crim, crom, daar, dach, dae, dago, dagol, dahar, dala, dalar, dalin, dam, danas, daneth, dannar, dar, darian, darath, darm, darma, darro, das, dasa, dasha, dath, del, delia, delimm, dellyn, delmar, delo, den, dess, dever, dhaer, dhas, dhaz, dhed, dhin, din, dine, diar, dien, div, djer, dlyn, dol, dolan, doon, dora, doril, doun, dral, dranor, drasil, dren, drian, drien, drin, drov, druar, drud, duald, duatha, duir, dul, dulth, dun, durth, dyra, dyver,

E - H

ea, eber, eden, edluk, egan, eiel, eilean, ejen, elath, eld, eldor, eldra, elith emar, ellesar, eltar, eltaran, elth, eltur, elyth, emen, empra, emril, emvor, ena, endra, enthor, erad, erai, ere, eriel, erith, erl, eron, erre, eryn, esk, esmel, espar, estria, eta, ethel, eval, ezro, ezan, ezune, ezil, fael, faelar, faern, falk, falak, farak, faril, farla, fel, fen, fenris, fer, fet, fin, finar, forel, folgun, ful, fulk, fur, fyra, fallon, gael, gach, gabir, gadath, gal, galar, gana, gar, garth, garon, garok, garne, gath, geir, gelden, geren, geron, ghal, ghallar, ghast, ghel, ghom, ghon, gith, glae, glander, glar, glym, gol, goll, gollo, goloth, gorot, gost, goth, graeve, gran, grimm, grist, grom, grosh, grun, grym, gual, guil, guir, gulth, gulur, gur, gurnth, gwaer, haa, hael, haer, hadar, hadel, hakla, hala, hald, halana, halid, hallar, halon, halrua, halus, halvan, hamar, hanar, hanyl, haor, hara, haren, haresk, harmun, harrokh, harrow, haspur, haza, hazuth, heber, hela, helve, hem, hen, herath, hesper, heth, hethar, hind, hisari, hjaa, hlath, hlond, hluth, hoarth, holtar, horo, hotun, hrag, hrakh, hroth, hull, hyak, hyrza

I - M

iibra, ilth, ilus, ilira, iman, imar, imas, imb, imir, immer, immil, imne, impil, ingdal, innar, ir, iriae, iril, irith, irk, irul, isha, istis, isil, itala, ith, ithal, itka, jada, jae, jaeda, jahaka, jala, jarra, jaro, jath, jenda, jhaamm, jhothm, jinn, jinth, jyn, kado, kah, kal, kalif, kam, kana, kara, karg, kars, karth, kasp, katla, kaul, kazar, kazr, kela, kelem, kerym, keth, keva, kez, kezan, khaer, khal, khama, khaz, khara, khed, khel, khol, khur, kil, kor, korvan, koll, kos, kir, kra, kul, kulda, kund, kyne, lae, laen, lag, lan, lann, lanar, lantar, lapal, lar, laran, lareth, lark, lath, lauth, lav, lavur, lazar, leih, leshyr, leth, lhaza, lhuven, liad, liam, liard, lim, lin, lirn, lisk, listra, lith, liya, llair, llor, lok, lolth, loran, lorkh, lorn, loth, lothen, luen, luir, luk, lund, lur, luth, lyndus, lyra, lyth, maal, madrasm maera, maer, maerim, maes, mag, magra, mahand, mal, malar, mald, maldo, mar, mara, mark, marl, maru, maruk, meir, melish, memnon, mer, metar, methi, mhil, mina, mir, miram, mirk, mista, mith, moander, mok, modir, modan, mon, monn, mor, more, morel, moril, morn, moro, morrow, morth, mort, morum, morven, muar, mul, mydra, myr, myra, myst

N - S

naar, nadyra, naedyr, naga, najar, nal, naal, nalir, nar, naruk, narbond, narlith, narzul, nasaq, nashkel, natar, nath, natha, neir, neth, nether, nhall, nikh, nil, nilith, noan, nolvurm nonthal, norda, noro, novul, nul, nur, nus, nyan, nyth, ober, odra, oghr, okoth, olleth, olodel, omgar, ondath, onthril, ordul, orish, oroch, orgra, orlim, ormath, ornar, orntath, oroch, orth, orva, oryn, orzo, ostel, ostor, ostrav, othea, ovar, ozod, ozul, palan, palad, pae, peldan, pern, perris, perim, pele, pen, phail, phanda, phara, phen, phendra, pila, pinn, pora, puril, pur, pyra, qadim, quar, quel, ques, quil, raah, rael, ran, ranna, rassil, rak, rald, rassa, reddan, reith, relur, ren, rendril, resil, reska, reth, reven, revar, rhy, rhynn, ria, rian, rin, ris, rissian, rona, roch, rorn, rora, rotha, rual, ruar, ruhal, ruil, ruk, runn, rusk, ryn, saa, saar, saal, sabal, samar, samrin, sankh, sar, sarg, sarguth, sarin, sarlan, sel, seld, sember, semkh, sen, sendrin, septa, senta, seros, shaar, shad, shadra, shae, shaen, shaera, shak, shalan, sham, shamath, shan, shana, sharan, shayl, shemar, shere, shor, shul, shyll, shyr, sidur, sil, silvan, sim, sintar, sirem, skar, skell, skur, skyr, sokol, solan, sola, somra, sor, ssin, stel, strill, suldan, sulk, sunda, sur, surkh, suth, syl, sylph, sylune, syndra, syth

T - Z

taak, taar, taer, tah, tak, tala, talag, talar, talas, talath, tammar, tanar, tanil, tar, tara, taran, tarl, tarn, tasha, tath, tavil, telar, teld, telf, telos, tempe, tethy, tezir, thaar, thaer, thal, thalag, thalas, thalan, thalar, thamor, thander, thangol, thar, thay, thazal, theer, theim, thelon, thera, thendi, theril, thiir, thil, thild, thimir, thommar, thon, thoon, thor, thran, thrann, threl, thril, thrul, thryn, thuk, thultan, thume, thun, thy, thyn, thyr, tir, tiras, tirum, tohre, tol, tolar, tolir, tolzrin, tor, tormel, tormir, traal, triel, trith, tsath, tsur, tul, tur, turiver, turth, tymor, tyr, uder, udar, ugoth, uhr, ukh, ukir, uker, usten, ulgarth, ulgoth, ultir, ulur, umar, umath, umber, unara, undro, undu, untha, upir, ur, ursa, ursol, uron, uth, uthen, uz, van, vaar, vaelan, vaer, vaern, val valan, valash, vali, valt, vandan, vanede, vanrak, var, varyth, vassa, vastar, vaunt, vay, vel, velar, velen, velius, vell, velta, ven, veren, vern, vesper, vilar, vilhon, vintor, vir, vira, virdin, volo, volun, von, voon, vor, voro, vos, vosir, vosal, vund, war, wara, whel, wol, wynn, wyr, wyrm, xer, xul, xen, xian, yad, yag, yal, yar, yath, yeon, yhal, yir, yirar, yuir, yul, yur, zail, zala, zalhar, zan, zanda, zar, zalar, zarach, zaru, zash, zashu, zemur, zhent, zim, ziram, zindala, zindar, zoun, zul, zurr, zuth, zuu, zym

A lot of places are named after historical events, battles, and people, so keep that in mind. God/Goddess names tied to your world also work well. Places are also often named after things that the area is known for, like Georgia being known for its peaches.

My brain was fried by the end of this so feel free to add more!

I hope you find this reference helpful and good luck world-building!

-Mel

#worldbuilding #d&d #dnd #writing resources #fantasy #word list #dungeons and dragons

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bluebrightly · 6 years ago

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Since moving to Fidalgo Island last July I’ve immersed myself in my immediate surroundings: the park, town and shoreline locations that are minutes from home. We are a long 90 miles (145km) from the ocean, but it’s still a water-defined landscape; Fidalgo’s shores look out onto sounds, bays, channels, and more islands, and even the forests here are dotted with lakes.

If you head east off the island, it’s a very different landscape. As you mount a high, arcing bridge, overlapping layers of foothills and mountains appear in the distance. Agricultural flatlands spread out on either side of the road, to the north and south. The view ahead steals the show as rhythmic mounds of forested hills rise up and gradually crumple into the jagged, rocky folds of the North Cascade Range. That rough and rugged terrain was beckoning me a few months ago – but I’m no mountaineer, so on a quiet Tuesday in October, we headed east for a lowland walk in the Mount Baker – Snoqualmie National forest.

1. Baker River Trail/East Bank Baker Lake Trail.

The goal was to meander along the East Bank Baker Lake Trail, an easy walk through the thick, coniferous forest that Baker River passes through as it divides into countless turquoise ribbons, braiding their way towards Baker Lake. The river’s namesake, Mt. Baker, or Koma Kulshan, is a young, glaciated volcano, and the third-highest mountain in the state, at 10,781 ft. (3286 m). Koma Kulshan’s lofty, somber face dominates many a vista in this region. You might think Baker River begins under a glacier on Mt. Baker, but it actually rises under Whatcom Peak, to the northeast. From there, the river cuts a deep valley southwest, flowing around Mt. Baker before emptying into Baker Lake.

2. After a dry summer, the river is a series of shallow ribbons of cold water, unfurling over a rocky bed.

Getting to the trail was harder than we thought it would be. The first part was simple – drive east past fields and small towns on State Route 20. Then, in the tiny hamlet of Birdsview, you leave civilization behind to follow Baker Lake Road for 26 miles (42 km). The problem was the final six miles, where the road is not paved, and barely maintained. We still have the cars we brought with us from New York City seven years ago, and neither one is appropriate for the rough, deeply pot-holed forest roads that usually lead to trailheads. It’s really a pickup truck, SUV and Subaru world here. The going was tedious as we crawled back and forth across the road, trying not to wreck the car’s suspension. Occasional glimpses of snowy Mt. Baker beckoned through dense curtains of towering trees, and eventually the painfully slow slog ended.

3. The paved section of Baker Lake Road.

4. The road narrows and begins to get rough while Mount Baker looms majestically above us.

5. An old Redcedar leans heavily over the trail.

6. This beautifully built suspension bridge puts a little bounce into your step, like it or not.

7. We saw thousands of small moths that day, both alive and dead. This one came to rest on a Redcedar bough. Shining drops of morning dew still cling to the delicate wings and body.

8. This little one was alive, but maybe not for long.

9. A dew-spangled dead moth is cradled in the leaf litter.

10. Another rough-hewn wooden bridge on the trail crosses one of many creeks feeding Baker River. The rustic bridges are a real pleasure to see, to touch, and to walk across.

11. I have great respect for the people who built these bridges.

Water and rocks, from the bridge.

Light plays across the rocks in shallow water.

13. The bridge views were mesmerizing. Baker River rippled past water-sculpted rocks and the light danced over smooth stones that were barely covered by the shallow water.

14. Looking up river it’s easy to picture how, after a winter of heavy snow in the mountains, the river fills up with glacial melt and roars down towards Baker Lake, taking fallen trees along for the ride, only to abandon the logs in untidy clumps, as the flow dwindles over the summer.

15. Bigleaf maples had dropped their leaves in layers of nourishing mulch – in the woods, on the trail, and on the road, too.

16. Mushrooms crowded this stump like a Hong Kong high rise.

17. A fresh mushroom bouquet decorated with sprays of Licorice fern.

18. This handsome specimen emerged from thick moss on the moist forest floor.

19. Forest floor synergy could be seen at our feet: rotting logs, fallen leaves and twigs, moss, mushrooms, and so much more that we didn’t see, all working together to support life.

20. A hiker stops to admire an old growth Redcedar pressing against huge boulder covered with moss, lichens and ferns.

21. Constant moisture from the river nearby means that in this part of the forest, every dead limb wears a luxurious coat of spongy moss, all year long.

22. Feathery-boughed cedars with their tapered trunks and waving, mossy branches made an enchanted forest scene. Green never departs from this forest, it just waxes and wanes in intensity.

23. Cedar bark invites a close look, especially when the tree sports a stripe of bright green lichen. Look closely and you’ll see other lichens here, too.

24. The drab but pert American Dipper is always a thrill to see. This little bundle of energy forages by dipping, walking and even swimming in the rushing water of tumbling streams. When perched, dippers constantly bounce up and down, and movement is about all that gives them away, since the plain gray birds are hard to see among dark boulders, fallen trees, and the noisy, rushing water.

25. The days were getting shorter and we had a late start that day, so we turned back to avoid driving 26 miles in darkness.

26. Low-angled sun silvered the meandering river.

27. As we were about to get into the car, I noticed a maple leaf caught on a twig and made one more photograph. There’s always one more….

If you’re in the area:

The East Bank Baker Lake and Baker River Trails are about 115 (185km) miles from Seattle, and about 124 miles (200km) from Vancouver, BC. The trailhead is 64 rather slow miles from where I live. Once you arrive at the large parking lot, if it’s an off-season weekday, you may be all alone. Set out on the wide, flat trail among huge boulders and towering trees, and soon you’ll sense the river behind the trees. In half a mile a suspension bridge crosses the river. From there, the Baker Lake Trail continues down the river and then follows the lake edge, for a total of 14.5 miles one way. Along the trail you’ll find more bridges, and views of the snow-covered mountains high above that are the repositories for all this rushing water. If you don’t cross the first bridge you can continue straight upriver on the Baker River Trail, reaching a campground in 2.6 miles. It was so pleasant the day we were there, and there was so much to look at, that we didn’t get far at all. That was not the object. The point was to feel, hear, see, and smell this unique place, to fully sense the aliveness of one small corner of our planet.

A Little Farther Into the Woods Since moving to Fidalgo Island last July I've immersed myself in my immediate surroundings: the park, town and shoreline locations that are minutes from home.

#Baker River Trail #East Bank Baker Lake Trail #Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Natinal Forest

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afroavocadowitch · 4 years ago

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News reports and interesting up-dates on POS Hardware and POS.

Every Juneteenth, as soon as Pamela Baker got to Booker T. Washington Park, she’d race to the merry-go-round, squeeze through the swarm of shrieking kids, grab one of the shiny rails, and hold on tight. After a few minutes, she would jump off and dart up the steps of the nearby dance hall to survey the throngs below. She and her brother Carl would weave through the crowd, looking for cousins from Dallas and Houston they hadn’t seen since the previous year. Eventually, her whole family would congregate under an oak tree their ancestors had claimed as a gathering place a century before, in the years after news of the end of slavery reached Texas.

“Every year, this is where we’d be,” Baker said. It was a cold January day, and she sat in a purple pew in the park’s open-air tabernacle. Baker, sixty, wore camo pants, a hoodie, and a knit cap. She had come from work and looked tired as a heavy rain beat down around her. The park sits along Lake Mexia (pronounced “muh-hay-ah”), about thirty miles east of Waco. For generations, African Americans made pilgrimages to this spot to celebrate Juneteenth, or Emancipation Day. They came from all over the country to hear the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, to worship, to run and play in the green fields, to dance in the creaky pavilion, to eat barbecue and drink red soda water, to sleep under the stars. Locals referred to the park by its name from an earlier time: Comanche Crossing. Juneteenth here would run for days on end. It was like a giant family reunion, held on hallowed ground.

The merry-go-round at the park on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

Baker grew up in nearby Mexia, and each June, her family would camp around that same towering oak. In the early sixties her grandfather built a wooden countertop around the trunk, and every June 19, her grandmother and members of her grandmother’s social club would fry scores of chickens in an old black washpot—enough to serve a few hundred people who’d stop by to sit, eat, and reminisce. “Juneteenth meant everything to us,” Baker said. As a kid, she looked forward to the holiday all year long.

Until she didn’t.

“After what happened with my brother,” she said, “we weren’t interested in coming out here anymore.”

Forty years ago, on June 19, 1981, not far from where she sat now, her brother Carl and two other Black teenagers drowned while in the custody of a Limestone County sheriff’s deputy, a reserve deputy, and a probation officer. The Baker family was devastated—as was the entire town of Mexia. The deaths became national news, with people from New York to California asking the same question as those in Central Texas: Why had three Black teens died while all three officers—two of them white, one Black—survived?

Over the years, whenever a highly publicized incident of police brutality against a Black person occurred, many in Mexia would think back to that night in 1981. This was never more true than last summer, when outrage at George Floyd’s murder, captured on video in broad daylight, sparked one of the largest protest movements in U.S. history. As millions of demonstrators took to the streets, Mexia residents were reminded of the drownings that once rocked their community and forever changed their hometown’s proud Juneteenth celebration, which had been among the nation’s most historic.

Four decades later, Baker still grieves for her brother. “It never goes away,” she said quietly, sitting in the pew, surrounded by the ghosts of her ancestors. “I miss everything about Carl—just seeing his smile, his dark skin with beautiful white teeth, walk into the house after work. I wish I could see him come up out of the water right now, but I know I can’t.”

She paused and looked toward the lake. “My brother,” she said, “he didn’t deserve that, what they did to him.”

Pamela Baker sitting in the park tabernacle on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

James Ferrell was at Comanche Crossing on June 19, 1981. It was a clear, warm Friday night, and Ferrell, a tall 34-year-old who sported a scruffy beard and a cowboy hat, had led a trail ride to the park from nearby Sandy. He sat with his brothers, cousins, friends, and their horses, drinking beer, telling stories, laughing. They could hear music coming from the pavilion and see a line of cars creeping over the bridge onto the grounds, while pedestrians who had parked two miles away on U.S. 84 hiked through the gridlock. The moon was almost full, and the air smelled of grilled burgers, fried fish, and popcorn.

Sometime after ten, three law enforcement officers clambered into a boat on the other side of the lake and pushed off. Lake Mexia is a shallow, dammed stretch of the Navasota River in the shape of an M; the park sits near the lake’s center, where the water is about two hundred yards across. The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office had set up a command post on the opposite bank. The deputies rarely patrolled the park after sundown, but on this night they did. Because the bridge was bottlenecked, they cut across the lake in a fourteen-foot aluminum vessel. They were led by sheriff’s deputy Kenny Elliott, 23, who’d been on the force for about a year. The Black officer, reserve deputy Kenneth Archie, was also 23 and a former high school basketball player from Houston. The third man was David Drummond, a 32-year-old probation officer who planned to check on some of his parolees.

The boat hit the shore, and the men climbed onto the bank, which was muddy from recent rains. Though the three officers wore street clothes, they stuck out in the nearly all-Black crowd of roughly five thousand. “Police have a special way of walking,” recalled one bystander. They stopped at the concession stands to buy some soft drinks, then moved on. Young lovers walked through the crowd, eating cotton candy. Elderly men and women, many wearing their Sunday best, perched on benches talking to old friends. Everywhere the officers walked, they saw tents and campers with families gathered around. Some folks were dozing, some were playing dominoes, some were drinking beer or whiskey. Some were smoking marijuana, and as the officers passed, they either snuffed out their joints or hid them behind their backs. “When they came up,” Ferrell said, “we just put it down. They never said nothing. They walked off.”

As the trio approached one of the park’s small caliche roads, they came upon a yellow Chevrolet Nova stuck in traffic. Inside were four local teenagers: Carl Baker, Steve Booker, Jay Wallace, and Anthony Freeman, whom friends called “Rerun” because he resembled the hefty character from the sitcom What’s Happening!! As Elliott shone his flashlight through the windshield, he saw the teens passing a small plastic bag of what he took to be marijuana. It was just after eleven, and in the time since he’d crossed the lake, Elliott hadn’t acknowledged similar violations of the law. Now, though, the deputy ordered the four out of the car and made them put their hands on the roof while the officers patted them down and searched the interior.

A bridge over Lake Mexia.Photograph by Michael Starghill

They found the baggie of weed and a joint, which they confiscated. Wallace would later say that the officers “didn’t act like they knew what they was doing; they kept asking each other what they should do.” The crowd began to take notice. As far as anyone could remember, there had never been an arrest at the park during Juneteenth festivities.

Elliott made the decision to take Baker, Freeman, and Booker into custody. Days later, Wallace would tell the Waco Tribune-Herald that the officers found drugs on Baker and Booker, while Freeman was arrested because the car belonged to him. Wallace was spared because “they didn’t find anything on me.”

At least two and possibly all three of the teens were handcuffed; some witnesses said Baker and Booker were cuffed together, while others recalled each being restrained individually. Onlookers didn’t like what they saw, and some began to curse at the officers. Rather than walk the teens through the crowd, over the bridge, and around the lake, the officers opted to go back the way they came.

When the group reached the boat, Elliott climbed into the back by the motor. Next were Booker and Baker, then Drummond and Freeman. Archie, who weighed more than two hundred pounds, sat in the bow. There were no life jackets, and the combined weight of the passengers exceeded the boat’s capacity by several hundred pounds.

Elliott started the motor. The craft had no running lights, and as it crept forward, water started pouring in. Drummond yelled back to Elliott, who couldn’t hear him over the engine; Drummond yelled again, and this time Elliott turned it off. By then, they had traveled about forty yards. As the boat slowed, more water rushed in, and the craft submerged and flipped over. All six began splashing wildly in the ten-foot-deep water.

Elliott shouted for the others to stay with the boat while he swam to shore for help. As soon as he reached water shallow enough to stand in, he fired his gun into the air, in what he would later say was an attempt to summon assistance. Soon after, he was joined by Drummond. Out on the water, Archie, who wasn’t a good swimmer, clung to the boat “like a spider,” one witness said.

The teens were nowhere in sight.

Mexia High School yearbook photos of Anthony Freeman, Carl Baker, and Steve Booker.Gibbs Memorial Library

While a boater pulled Archie out of the water, Elliott and Drummond ran across the bridge to the command post to report what had happened. Someone called the fire department, and before long a search party was on the lake. As campers watched from the shore, firefighters in three boats threw dredging hooks into the water. Onlookers hoped against hope that the teens had been able to swim to safety.

Around 2 a.m., the crowd’s worst fears were realized. A body was found near the bridge, tangled in a trotline. An observer, David Echols, said the rescuers positioned their boats between the body and the civilians and spent twenty minutes pulling it out. “They were shielding the bank where we couldn’t see.”

The body was Baker’s. The searchers brought him back to shore, where they took a couple of hours to regroup before returning to the lake at dawn. All the while, Juneteenth campers kept watch. Mexia was a small town where just about everybody knew Baker, Freeman, and Booker. They were country boys who had grown up playing at the local pool and in this very lake, although Freeman was scared of water, and his mother said he “couldn’t swim, not one lick.” Baker and Booker, however, were known to be excellent swimmers. “Carl was like Mark Spitz,” said his friend Rick Washington. “He could dive in the pool and swim underwater and come up at the other end.”

“Carl was like Mark Spitz,” said his friend Rick Washington. “He could dive in the pool and swim underwater and come up at the other end.”

How could Elliott, Archie, and Drummond survive while all three teens were presumed lost? Many witnesses had seen the teenagers marched through the crowd with handcuffs on. Had the handcuffs stayed on in the boat?

About 1:30 p.m., another body was found near the bridge. Three rescue boats formed a circle around it, blocking observers from making out the crew’s actions. “They took a while before they pulled the body out,” said a reporter who covered the search, “but we couldn’t see what they were doing.” What they were doing was retrieving Freeman’s body from the water.

The apparent secrecy fueled more suspicions, which intensified as the search for Booker continued. The next day, his body floated to the surface not far from where the others had been found. By then, many in Mexia who’d heard about the drownings believed that the teens had been handcuffed when the boat flipped. A hot-dog vendor named Arthur Beachum Jr. told a reporter about seeing Baker being removed from the water. “I saw them pull the body from the lake and it still had handcuffs on it. One officer took them off and put them in his pocket.”

Sheriff Dennis Walker denied this to the press. “It was a freak accident,” he said. “All of what they’re saying is untrue.” Reserve deputy Archie told a reporter that two of the teens had been handcuffed together but that the cuffs had been removed before Baker, Booker, and Freeman were led into the boat. According to the Dallas Times Herald, Archie also said that if he’d been in charge, things would have been different: “I probably would’ve pulled the marijuana out and put it in the mud puddle next to the car and sent the suspects on their way.” (He later denied saying this.) Sheriff Walker said, “This could turn out to be a racial-type deal.”

That was an understatement. Reporters and TV crews from Waco, Fort Worth, Dallas, and Houston arrived in Mexia. By Sunday, the drownings were national news. “Youths Allegedly Handcuffed,” read a headline in the New York Times. The NAACP sent a team of investigators and demanded the Department of Justice conduct an inquiry. Someone from the DOJ called the sheriff on Monday morning and was given directions to the sheriff’s headquarters in Groesbeck, the county seat. The FBI came too.

Richard Dockery, the head of the Dallas NAACP, examined Baker’s body and told reporters he thought that the position of the young man’s hands—wrists together, fingers curled—meant he had been cuffed. Initial autopsies of Baker and Freeman, done in Waco, found no bruising or signs of struggle, prompting Booker’s mother to announce she was taking her son’s body to Dallas because she wouldn’t get “anything but lies” from Waco pathologists.

Reporters rang the sheriff around the clock, and Walker later complained that the attention “severely hampered” his investigation. “The press has been calling me day and night from as far away as Chicago and New York,” he said. “I had to leave the house to get a couple of hours of rest.” Mexia’s mayor called the coverage “sensationalized,” while many white townspeople felt torn between defending their home against its portrayal as a racist backwater and acknowledging the wrong that had been done. “I was at a laundromat yesterday,” a white waitress told a reporter from Fort Worth, “and usually everyone gets along alright, but yesterday some of the Blacks were kind of testy . . . and I don’t blame them.”

The drownings had exposed a deep rift in Mexia, one that went back generations and couldn’t be smoothed over. “My God, this has turned the whole town upside down,” a local man told the Waco Tribune-Herald, “and those three boys ain’t even in the ground yet.”

The pavilion and tabernacle at Booker T. Washington Park on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

Rick Washington was in the Navy in June 1981, stationed aboard the U.S.S. Tuscaloosa in the Philippines, when a shipmate handed him a newspaper. “Wash,” he said, “ain’t this where you’re from? M-e-x-i-a, Texas?” Washington, then twenty, read the headline about a triple drowning. Then he saw the names. “I just broke down like a twelve-gauge shotgun. Steve, Carl, Rerun. They were my best friends.”

Now sixty, Washington is the pastor at Mexia’s Greater Little Zion Baptist Church, and every day he drives past places where he and his friends used to play. “We would eat breakfast, leave home, come home for lunch, leave again, be home before the streetlights came on,” Washington said. “We were almost never inside.” They would ride bikes, play football and basketball, hunt rabbits, swim at the city pool, and explore the rolling, scrubby plains.

Washington, like everyone else in Mexia who knew Baker, Freeman, and Booker, remembered them as typical small-town teenagers. Baker was short, handsome, and athletic. He liked hanging out at the pool—he was such a good swimmer that the lifeguards sometimes asked him to help out when it got busy. He’d graduated from Mexia High School the previous year and was working at a local cotton gin. He was nineteen, with an easy charm and a voluminous Afro that had taken months to grow out.

Anthony Freeman, the youngest of the three at eighteen, was an only child of strict parents. He played piano, performing every week at the church his family attended. “He was a very bright kid,” said Shree Steen-Medlock, who went to high school with Freeman. “I remember him trying to fit in and not be the nerdy kind of guy.” He had graduated that spring, and he and Baker planned on going to Paul Quinn College, then in Waco, in the fall.

Nineteen-year-old Steve Booker was the group’s extrovert. “He was flamboyant, like Deion Sanders,” said his friend John Proctor. Booker was born in Dallas and raised on his grandparents’ farm in Mexia, where he helped to pen cattle, feed hogs, and mend fences. He loved basketball and grew up shooting on a hoop and backboard made out of a bicycle wheel and a sheet of plywood. Once, playing for Mexia High’s JV team, he hit a game-winner from half-court. In 1980 Booker moved back to Dallas, where he graduated high school and found work at a detergent supply company, but he’d returned that week to celebrate Juneteenth.

The Mexia where the three grew up was a tight-knit city of roughly seven thousand, about a third of whom were Black. Kids left their bikes on the lawn, families left their doors unlocked, and horses and cattle grazed in pastures on the outskirts of town. Boys played Little League, and everybody went to church. Mexia was known as the place near Waco with the odd name (which it got from the Mexía family, who received a large land grant in the area in 1833). City leaders came up with a perfect slogan: “Mexia . . . a great place to live . . . however you pronounce it.” Football fans might have heard that NFL player Ray Rhodes grew up there; country music fans knew Mexia as the home base of famed songwriter Cindy Walker.

The VICA Building Trades club at Mexia High School in 1979, which included Carl Baker, Anthony Freeman, and Jay Wallace.Gibbs Memorial Library

Black Texans knew Mexia for something entirely different: it was the site of the nation’s greatest Juneteenth celebration. The holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when Union general Gordon Granger stood on the second-floor balcony of the Ashton Villa, in Galveston, and announced—two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation—that enslaved people in Texas were, in fact, free. Word spread throughout the state and eventually reached the cotton-rich region of Limestone County. Formerly enslaved people in the area left plantations and resettled in tiny communities along the Navasota River with names like Comanche Crossing, Rocky Crossing, Elm, Woodland, and Sandy.

They had to be careful. Limestone County, like other parts of Texas, was a hostile place for newly freed African Americans. In the decade after emancipation, the state and federal governments had to intervene in the area on multiple occasions to stop white residents from terrorizing Black communities. Historian Ray Walter has written that “literally hundreds of Negroes were murdered” in Limestone County during Reconstruction.

The region’s first emancipation festivities took place during the late 1860s, in and around churches and spilling out along the terrain near the Navasota River. “If Blacks were going to have big celebrations,” said Wortham Frank Briscoe, whose family goes back four generations in Limestone County, “they had to be in the bottomlands, hidden away from white people.”

Over time, several smaller community-based events coalesced into one, gravitating to a spot eight miles west of Mexia along the river near Comanche Crossing. There, families would spread quilts to sit and listen to preachers’ sermons and politicians’ speeches. Women donned long, elegant dresses, and men sported dark suits and bowler hats. They sang spirituals, listened to elders tell stories of life under slavery, and feasted on barbecued pork and beef.

In 1892 a group of 89 locals from seven different communities around Limestone County formed the Nineteenth of June Organization. Six years later, three of the founders and two other men pooled $180 and bought ten acres of land along the river. In 1906 another group of members purchased twenty more acres. They cleared the area, preserving several dozen oak trees, alongside which members bought small plots for $1.50 each. The grounds were given a name: Booker T. Washington Park.

The celebration continued to grow, especially after oil was discovered in Mexia, in 1920. Some of the bounty lay under Black-owned land, and money from the fields gave the Nineteenth of June Organization the means to build the park’s tabernacle and a pavilion with concession stands. During the Great Migration, as Black residents left Central Texas for jobs in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, they took Juneteenth with them, and word spread about the grand festivities along the Navasota River. Every year, more and more revelers came to Comanche Crossing, bringing their children and sometimes staying the entire week. Some built simple one-room huts to spend nights in; others pitched Army tents or just slept under the stars. During the busiest years, attendance reached 20,000.

James Ferrell’s Black Frontier Riding Club on a trail ride to the Juneteenth celebration at Comanche Crossing, year unknown.Courtesy of James Ferrell

On the actual holiday, it was tradition to read aloud the Emancipation Proclamation, along with the names of the park’s founders. Elders spoke about the holiday’s significance, and a dinner was held in honor of formerly enslaved people, some of whom were still alive. “You instilled this in your children,” said Dayton Smith, who was born in 1949 and began attending Juneteenth at Comanche Crossing shortly before his first birthday. “It had been done before you were born, by your parents and grandparents. Don’t forget the Emancipation Proclamation.Your parents didn’t come here every year just because. They came because of the Emancipation Proclamation at Juneteenth.”

Kids would grow up going to Comanche Crossing, then marry, move away, and return, taking their vacations in mid-June and bringing their own kids. “It was a lifelong thing,” said Mexia native Charles Nemons. “It was almost like a county fair. If you were driving and you saw someone walking, you’d go, ‘Going to the grounds? Hop in!’ ”

At the concession booths, vendors would sell fried fish, barbecue, beer, corn, popcorn, homemade ice cream, and Big Red, the soda from Waco that became a Juneteenth staple. Choirs came from all across the country to sing in the tabernacle. Sometimes preachers would perform baptisms in the lake, which was created in 1961, when the river was dammed.

The biggest crowds came when Juneteenth landed on a weekend. Renee Turner recalled attending a particularly busy Juneteenth with her husband in the mid-seventies. “My husband was in the service, and we couldn’t even get out,” she said. “He had to be back at Fort Hood that Monday morning, and so I remember people picking up cars—physically picking up cars—so that there would be a pathway out.” Everyone, it seemed, came to Juneteenth at Comanche Crossing. Daniel Keeling was an awestruck grade-schooler when he saw Dallas Cowboys stars Tony Dorsett and Drew Pearson walking the grounds. “If you were an African American in Dallas or Houston,” Keeling said, “you made your way to Mexia on the nineteenth of June.”

Even as Mexia’s Black residents took great pride in the annual Juneteenth festivities at the park, back in town they were still denied basic rights. Ferrell, who started spending the holiday at Comanche Crossing as a kid in the fifties, recalled life in segregated Mexia. “Up until the sixties, you still had your place,” he said. “If you were Black, you drank from the fountain over there, whites drank from the one over here, and if I went and drank in the fountain over here, well, I got a problem.” Back then, many Black residents lived near a commercial strip of Black-owned businesses called “the Beat,” along South Belknap Street, where they had their own movie theater, grocery stores, barbershops, juke joints, cleaners, and funeral home. When white and Black residents found themselves standing on opposite street corners downtown, the Black pedestrians had to wait for their white counterparts to cross first. “We couldn’t walk past each other,” said Ray Anderson, who was born in 1954 and went on to become Mexia’s mayor. “And if it was a female, you definitely better stay across the street or go the other way. You grew up knowing you couldn’t cross certain boundaries or you’d go to prison—or get hung.”

For years, the only law enforcement at Lake Mexia during Juneteenth consisted of a few well-known Black civilians. One was Homer Willis, an older man who had been deputized by the sheriff to walk around with a walkie-talkie, which he could use to radio deputies in case of an emergency. In the late seventies, more rigorous licensing requirements made such commissions a thing of the past, and the sheriff set up a command post across the lake where officers would hang out and wait. They stayed mostly on the periphery, helping to direct traffic and occasionally crossing the lake to break up a fight.

Until June 19, 1981, when, during the peak hours of one of the biggest Juneteenth celebrations in years, three officers piled into a small boat, started the motor, and cruised across narrow Lake Mexia.

The concession stands at Booker T. Washington Park.Photograph by Michael Starghill

When Baker and Freeman’s dual funeral was held in Mexia, so many mourners planned to attend the service that it had to be convened at the city’s largest church, First Baptist. Even so, the 1,400-seat space couldn’t accommodate them all. Baker and Freeman were remembered as kind young men who never hurt anyone and never got in trouble. At one point, Freeman’s mother, Nellie Mae, broke down, fainted, and had to be carried out. She insisted on returning for one last look at her only child before she was rushed to the hospital.

The district judge in Limestone County, P. K. Reiter, hoped that a swift investigation would defuse the escalating racial tensions. “We need to clear the air,” he said, announcing the opening of a court of inquiry, a rarely used fact-finding measure intended to speed up proceedings that would normally take months to complete. The court lacked the authority to mete out punishment, but it could refer cases for prosecution. Reiter asked the NAACP to recommend a Black lawyer to lead the inquest. The organization sent Larry Baraka, a 31-year-old prosecutor from Dallas. Baraka arrived in town two days after Booker’s body was found.

Limestone County had never seen anything like this. News helicopters flew into Groesbeck from Dallas and Fort Worth, landing in the church parking lot across the street from the courthouse. It was summer in Central Texas, and the courtroom, which lacked air conditioning, was crammed with 150 people; reporters filled every seat in the jury box. A writer from the Mexia Daily News wrote that the room was loaded with a “strong suspicion of intrigue, deep pathos, heavy remorse, and indignation.”

The main issue was the handcuffs. Eighteen witnesses testified, including Drummond, the probation officer. He insisted that the officers had brought just one pair of handcuffs, that only Baker and Booker were handcuffed to each other, and that the cuffs had been removed before they got into the boat. A witness who’d been on a nearby craft—a Black woman from Dallas—told the court that she saw the officers remove the restraints from two men who’d been handcuffed together. The fire chief testified that no cuffs were found on the bodies as they were pulled from the lake.

Other witnesses contradicted the officials’ version of events. Beachum, the hot-dog seller, again said that he saw cuffs taken off Baker’s body after it was retrieved from the lake, but he also admitted to drinking almost a fifth of whiskey that day. Another said all three were handcuffed—and that Elliott was drinking beer and his eyes were “puffy.” The local funeral home director, who had seen some two hundred drowning victims in his seventeen-year career, said that the position of Baker’s hands indicated that the teen had been cuffed. “It’s highly unlikely you will find a drowning victim’s hands in that position.”

At the end of the three-day proceeding, Baraka told reporters that the evidence suggested the teens were not handcuffed in the boat. He believed the officers had acted without criminal or racist intent, but he added that they had behaved with “rampant incompetence” and “gross negligence.” The boat was overloaded and there were no life preservers, so the officers could still face criminal charges.

For Mexia’s Black residents, the court of inquiry had cleared up nothing. They rejected the testimony of both Drummond and the fire chief and suspected a cover-up. Whites in Mexia also criticized the officers’ judgment. “You put a gun on someone’s hip, and it goes to their head,” former district attorney Don Caldwell told a reporter. “The evidence in this case doesn’t add up. It was a terrible act of stupidity, and somebody is going to have to pay the fiddler.”

That fall, Limestone County attorney Patrick Simmons, together with a lawyer from the state attorney general’s office named Gerald Carruth, took the court of inquiry’s findings to a grand jury. They hoped the panel would indict the officers for involuntary manslaughter, a felony. Instead, the jury came back with misdemeanor charges for criminally negligent homicide and violating the Texas Water Safety Act. If found guilty, the officers faced a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of $2,000 per teen. “I could get that much for starving my dog,” said Kwesi Williams, a spokesperson for the Comanche Three Committee, an advocacy group formed in response to the drownings.

Defense attorneys argued that the officers couldn’t receive a fair trial in Mexia, so they requested the proceedings be moved. A judge in Marlin, about forty miles away, said he didn’t want it, not after “statements in the news media by certain persons created an atmosphere in this county that is charged with racial tension to the point that violence is invited.” The case was moved to San Marcos, where another judge punted. “No one wants this,” Joe Cannon, the attorney defending Drummond, told a reporter. “It’s a hot potato.” Finally, Baraka, who had by then joined the prosecution, convinced Dallas County Criminal Court judge Tom Price to preside over the trial.

If found guilty, the officers faced a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of $2,000 per teen. “I could get that much for starving my dog,” said Kwesi Williams.

Price, who was eight years into a four-decade judicial career, would later call the Mexia drownings the biggest case he ever handled. “It was a hard, emotional trial,” he said. “Three young kids who died for no reason. There was so much tension, and it was so racially mixed up in there. I was thirty-three, thinking, ‘What have I got myself into?’ ”

The trial, which lasted three weeks, was perhaps the highest-profile misdemeanor proceeding in Texas history. Each defendant had his own attorney, and each attorney objected as often as possible, squabbling with prosecutors and spurring Price to threaten them all with contempt. The atmosphere was further strained by the presence of news crews, who swarmed the legal teams and the teens’ families during recesses.

To convict the officers of criminal negligence, the all-white, six-person jury would need to be convinced that under the same circumstances an ordinary person would have perceived a substantial risk of putting the teens into the boat and avoided doing so. Defense lawyers acknowledged that the officers had made mistakes but argued that their actions were reasonable—that they had needed to use the boat to avoid what they viewed as a hostile crowd. Two defense witnesses said they had seen the officers remove handcuffs from the teens before boarding the boat. Beachum, the witness who told the court of inquiry he’d seen handcuffs on Baker’s body, didn’t testify at trial because the prosecution didn’t call him to the stand. “I think Carruth, Baraka, and I all had problems with his credibility,” Simmons said recently. Instead, the prosecutors centered their case on other facts—from the absence of lights and life jackets aboard the boat to the officers’ reckless decision to overload the craft. “They made mistakes that would shock the consciences of reasonable people,” Baraka told the jurors.

The officers took the stand and said they had tried to save the teenagers. Archie told the jury that while he clung to the overturned boat, Drummond pushed Freeman toward Archie, who grabbed the thrashing teen by the hair and shirt and pulled him onto the hull. Archie said he tried to maneuver to the other side of the craft while holding Freeman across the top but the teen slipped off, sank, and then bobbed up four times before disappearing. Archie didn’t try to rescue him again because the reserve deputy wasn’t a strong swimmer. Drummond testified that he tried to help Baker but the teen kept pulling him under, so the officer let go and swam to shore. He also said that if he could have done anything to change the situation, he “wouldn’t have made an arrest in the first place.”

Elliott acknowledged that he and the other officers had erred. He called the drownings “just a horrible accident” and said he’d do things differently given another chance. When Baraka asked Elliott if he thought they deserved forgiveness, the deputy answered, “Under the circumstances, yes.”

After the closing arguments, the jury took less than five hours to render a verdict: not guilty. The defendants, showing no emotion, were rushed away. Afterward, Nellie Mae Freeman sat on a bench outside the courtroom reading the Bible. “No,” she told a reporter, “justice was not done.” Evelyn Baker, Carl’s mother, said she had expected the verdict. “This is very terrible, but that’s Mexia for you, and that’s Limestone County. The Lord will take care of them.”

The families found more disappointment when it came to their last remaining legal option: civil lawsuits, in which the deputies and the county could be held responsible for negligence under a much lower burden of proof. Each family sued for $4 million in damages, alleging that their sons’ civil rights had been violated. In December 1983, they settled for a total of $200,000, or $66,667 per teen.

A local official told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the county’s lawyers felt “very lucky” about the outcome. “We were just sitting on pins and needles hoping it would get as low as possible but we never really thought [the settlement] would get this low,” said Howard Smith, a county judge familiar with the civil case. Attorneys for the county made a lowball offer, and the families and their lawyers accepted it. “I was tired,” Evelyn said recently. “I was hurt, and I never did get to really grieve. They just really ran us through it.”

The pavilion at the park on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

For many Black Mexia residents, Comanche Crossing was never the same after the drownings. “It just changed my whole life,” said Steen-Medlock, the teens’ schoolmate. “I never went back to another Juneteenth there.” Many others felt similarly. Attendance in 1982, the year after the drownings, was about two thousand, the lowest in 35 years. It wasn’t just that celebrants were fearful of being harassed, arrested, or worse. Comanche Crossing was sacred ground, land that had been purchased by people who had survived slavery, to ensure that they, along with future generations, would have a place to commemorate emancipation. Now that land had been defiled.

Texas had made Juneteenth an official state holiday in 1980, and celebrations of Black freedom spread to other cities. In 1982 Houston’s Juneteenth parade attracted an estimated 50,000 onlookers. As crowds moved elsewhere, attendance at Comanche Crossing’s Juneteenth ceremonies continued to decline. Arson attacks in 1987 and 1989 caused severe damage to the tabernacle and pavilion, and the structures had to be rebuilt. Concession booths were tagged with racist graffiti.

Many of those who’d grown up with the teens left town. “It was all eye-opening to our generation,” said Nemons. “This was the first thing I saw as far as being a real racial injustice. A lot of young Black folks said ‘I’m done’ and moved.” Over the years, Juneteenth crowds at Comanche Crossing dwindled even more, while the brush along the lake grew thicker and the buildings fell into disrepair. During the past decade, official attendance has sometimes dropped to less than a hundred. When the Nineteenth of June Organization elected former county commissioner William “Pete” Kirven as its new president in 2015, some locals felt optimistic. “I had a lot of hope,” said Judy Chambers, a municipal judge for the city of Mexia and a past member of the organization’s board of directors. She thought the group—and Comanche Crossing—could use some new blood.

That hope didn’t last. Although the new leadership cleaned up the park’s grounds and installed new light poles and swing sets, it also posted a sign banning alcohol, instituted a 1 a.m. closing time, and increased the law enforcement presence during Juneteenth. The new rules did not go over well. “Juneteenth is not worth going out there,” said a Mexia resident who had attended the festivities since he was a boy. “It’s not any fun. So many police you can’t enjoy yourself. I went in 2018. I didn’t like it. I haven’t been back.”

Echols, a member of the organization’s board of directors, said that despite the “No Alcohol” sign, members of the public are allowed to drink as long as they use plastic cups. He agreed that law enforcement had gone overboard in 2018 and “was scaring people away” but added that after the group expressed these concerns to the sheriff, the presence was reduced.

Simmons, the prosecuting attorney at the 1982 trial, is now the district judge for Limestone and Freestone Counties. “This was the Juneteenth place, and it’s a shame we lost that,” he said. “At the time, I looked at it as an incident that needed to be prosecuted. I look back on it now and say, ‘What a tragedy. What a shame.’ The ridiculous idea of going over—three guys in a boat—could they rethink it? It was such a tragedy, not just the loss of three young men but the whole Juneteenth.”

In recent years, awareness of Juneteenth has exploded. Some of that is due to a woman from Fort Worth named Opal Lee. In 2016, when she was 89, she set out to walk from Texas to Washington, D.C., to publicize a campaign to designate Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Last year, Lee collected 1.5 million signatures on a petition in pursuit of that goal, and in Congress, Texas senator John Cornyn and U.S. representative Sheila Jackson Lee filed legislation to take Juneteenth nationwide. The bills didn’t pass, though they have been reintroduced this year.

Perhaps the biggest factor wasn’t a petition or a bill, though, but the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020. In the weeks after Floyd’s murder, the Juneteenth holiday became linked with the national protest movement in support of Black lives. On June 19, hundreds of thousands of protesters hit the streets of New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, D.C., and Houston. All across the country, marchers carried Juneteenth banners as well as signs emblazoned with Floyd’s face and the names of other Black people killed by law enforcement.

Back in Mexia, locals drew a straight line from 1981 to 2020. “When I saw that video,” said Chambers, “it took me back to that place and time where Black men were getting killed on the streets of Limestone County by law enforcement—and back then it was just swept under the rug.” Steen-Medlock said watching the video immediately reminded her of her three friends who died 39 years earlier. “Those three deputies thought, ‘We have a right to do whatever we want to do’—and that meant putting these boys in a small boat, at night, handcuffed, with no life jackets,” she said. “That’s how they dealt with Black people. If it had been white kids, they would have said, ‘Call your dad to come get you.’ But when you’re Black, you’re not treated like that. You’re guilty.”

“It was all eye-opening to our generation,” said Nemons. “This was the first thing I saw as far as being a real racial injustice. A lot of young Black folks said ‘I’m done’ and moved.”

This history helps explain why Chambers, Steen-Medlock, and almost every other current or former Black Mexia resident still believe the teens were handcuffed in the boat. Chambers said she has spoken with witnesses who told her they were scared to testify forty years ago. “I don’t know if you live in a small town in the South,” she said, “but a lot of powerful people in town control others with things like mortgages and loans.” Echols said, “Back in those days, there was a fear of the sheriff’s department. A lot of guys may have had some problems with the law, so they didn’t come forward.”

The foreperson of the grand jury, Ray Anderson, said that jurors discussed the handcuffs at length and subpoenaed Beachum to testify about their presence, but Beachum never showed up. At the time, that spoke volumes to Anderson. “I was never presented enough evidence of handcuffs,” he said. “If I could’ve proved murderous intent, I would have been the first to vote on it. I would have said, ‘We need to make an example—right here.’ ” Now, almost forty years later, Anderson doubts the grand jury got the whole story. “I still feel there was a lot of stuff that didn’t come out.”

Most white officials involved in the case maintain that there was no evidence the teens were handcuffed in the boat. Instead, they cite other factors that could have caused the three to drown. “I’ve taught swimming for years,” said Cannon, the attorney who represented Drummond. “If you’re fully clothed and it’s dark and you’re not oriented correctly, then you panic. You easily panic. I was surprised that any of them got back.”

Daniel Keeling was ten in 1981, and he grew up in Mexia hearing about the handcuffs as a statement of fact. The drownings left him so unsettled that he eventually pursued a career in law enforcement, where he hoped to improve the field from within. Keeling also hoped that he might uncover the truth behind his hometown’s most controversial case.

“Supposedly Drummond took the handcuffs off,” said Keeling, who spent over seven years as a deputy in Hunt County and six more as a deputy constable in Dallas and now works as a corporate security manager. “Well, usually when you’re making an arrest, you put handcuffs on a subject and don’t take them off until you get where you’re going. Did the pressure come down on him to change his story? The blue shield is real. And telling the truth could ruin your whole career.”

What really happened that night? Keeling’s search convinced him that the answer will never be known.

Around Mexia, locals don’t talk about the drownings much anymore. “This is still very raw for a lot of people,” said Steen-Medlock. “They want to forget it ever happened.” The city boasts several colorful murals depicting local heroes and historical figures, but there’s no memorial for Baker, Freeman, and Booker—not at the park, not anywhere in town. There is also no official record of the 1982 trial in either Dallas or Limestone County because the officers had their records expunged. Legally, it’s as if they were never even arrested.

These days, most Black Mexia residents celebrate Juneteenth at home with family and friends. Some hold block parties; others attend events in nearby towns. Many use that week for family reunions, with faraway aunts and uncles taking vacation time to come home to Mexia. But most don’t go to Comanche Crossing.

None of the officers involved in the drownings agreed to speak with Texas Monthly for this story. Archie, who retired from his job as a security guard, lives close enough to Lake Mexia that he can see it from his porch. Drummond retired from a career running a fencing company; he declined when reached for comment, adding, “I’ve done that. It’s been a long time and it’s still relatively fresh on my mind, believe it or not.”

Elliott did not respond to several interview requests. Ronnie Davis, an old friend who hasn’t spoken with him in decades, said the deputy took the incident hard back in 1981. “He looked really bad when I talked to him a week after,” Davis recalled. “It was bothering him that lots of people thought he did it on purpose. No. It had nothing to do with prejudice. Nothing at all.”

After the trial, Elliott moved to College Station and began a decorated career as an investigator with the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office, where he solved the twelve-year-old cold case of a murdered local real estate agent. At Elliott’s retirement ceremony in 2018, one colleague lauded him as a zealous loner, and another noted his “perseverance, integrity, respect, and trust.” Elliott was hanging up his badge because he had been elected as a justice of the peace for Brazos County. To Mexia residents who’ve never forgotten the drownings, the thought that life simply moved on for Elliott and the other officers is maddening. “They got away with murder!” said Edward Jackson, who went to school with the three teens. “Nothing happened to their lives or careers.”

Jay Wallace, the fourth teen in the car, also declined interview requests for this story. Friends of his say that Wallace, now 58, has never talked to them about that night. “I can just imagine what he’s feeling,” Proctor, who grew up with the teens, said. “What’s going on in his head is ‘That could have been me.’ ”

As the officer in charge that night and the one who initiated the arrests, Elliott has usually been considered most responsible for the tragedy. In 2001 Simmons, the prosecutor, told the Texas Observer that Elliott was viewed as a “wild man” and not well-liked by fellow officers. More recently, Simmons said, “I think Kenny was trying to make a name for himself as a hotshot officer, but if you look back on it, why on earth would you have done that?”

A big part of a deputy’s job is learning to deal with crowds, Keeling said. “The way I was taught, you ask yourself the question ‘Do I really need to make this arrest? Are they breaking the peace? Are they causing harm to others?’ If not, let it go.” Keeling added that he remembers the pressure he felt early in his career. “I know the weight of being a young officer—you have to prove yourself. I think it was basically an ‘I’ll show you who I am’ mentality. I think it was one officer’s fault, and the other two backed him.

“Hopefully he’s atoned for whatever the hell he did.”

Pamela, her sister Evelyn Jean, and Patricia Baker under their family oak tree at Washington Park on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

For the first time since her brother’s death, Pamela Baker visited Comanche Crossing on Juneteenth last year. The official festivities had been rescheduled as a virtual event due to COVID-19, but a group of locals set up a few stands and gathered at the park, and Baker met some friends there. She hadn’t wandered the grounds in decades, and now she found herself walking down the caliche road and past the merry-go-round and the dance hall. She pointed out to one of her friends the oak where her grandmother used to serve fried chicken and biscuits to hundreds of fellow campers. The counter her grandfather built was long gone, but the tree still stood. Baker perused the vendor stalls and bought a purse and a plate of fried fish before settling on a bench by the lake. She looked out at the water. Before long, she was crying.

The Nineteenth of June Organization has reached out to Baker about holding a memorial for the three teens this Juneteenth, and she’s thinking about going back. She talked with her children about possibly getting together around the old oak and even rebuilding her grandparents’ counter. Her ancestors celebrated emancipation on this same land while living through their own unthinkable tragedies, and she figures it’s time she did so too. “I don’t think it’ll ever be like it used to be,” she said. “I wish it would, ’cause this is history for us. This is something we should build back up together.”

This article originally appeared in the June 2021 issue of Texas Monthly with the headline “The Ghosts of Comanche Crossing.” Subscribe today.

The above article was published here.

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wayparkingblog · 4 years ago

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How to Find Parking Near Top Tourist Attractions in Seattle

From its breathtaking natural attractions to the must-visit cultural landmarks, you will never run out of things to do in Seattle. Surrounded by mountains, lakes, and park lands, this bustling city with a fascinating past and trendy neighborhoods has plenty for anyone looking to have a good time.

Whether you are road-tripping around the country or getting to know your city better, sightseeing in Seattle by car sounds like a good plan. There is no need to worry about parking in Seattle – the sprawling metropolis has many parking lots to keep your car safe while you enjoy the best sights and experiences. Read on to know more about the must-visit places in Seattle and where to find parking near them.

Space Needle

No Seattle city tour is complete without a visit to the iconic and timeless Space Needle. The 605 ft tall futuristic tower has always been a tourist hotspot since it opened way back in 1962. You cannot possibly imagine a Seattle skyline without this historic landmark. This must-visit attraction in Seattle treats you to panoramic views of the city's downtown skyscrapers as well as the Elliott Bay and the islands in Puget Sound. The Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and Seattle's verdant forests are hard to miss from this vantage point.

Located in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle, reaching the Space Needle by car is easy. Make sure you book passes for your visit in advance for a hassle-free experience. Though valet parking is available at the Space Needle, you can find safe and cheaper Seattle parking lots nearby at Yale Avenue and University Street.

Pike Place Market

If walking through the hustle and bustle of a local marketplace is your idea of getting to know a city, Pike Place Market is the place to be. You'll find yourself among some of the oldest shops in Seattle, family-owned restaurants, crafts and collectibles, antique dealers, small farmers, fresh produce, and so much more on the different levels and hallways of the market. Don't miss the original Starbucks, the famous Gum Wall in Post Alley, and the Pike Place Market's mascot 'Rachel the Piggy Bank' on your list of things to do in Seattle.

Built on the edge of a steep hill overlooking Elliott Bay, the historic Pike Place Market is located between Pike Street and Virginia Street. When driving through, you won't miss the iconic market sign. Parking in Seattle might seem pricey in the downtown area, but you will find affordable Seattle parking lots at Seneca Street and Pine Street near the Pike Place Market.

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Lose yourself among the spectacular gardens and glass exhibits at this one-of-a-kind Seattle attraction. Showcasing the incredible work of glass artist Dale Chihuly, the glasshouse and garden will inspire you with the graceful grandeur of the sculptures set in a natural environment. There are eight galleries to explore; one of Chihuly's largest sculptures can be seen suspended inside the glasshouse and changes colors as sunlight passes above it. You can also munch on pizza and sip wine outside in the garden while watching a glassblower at work. There are daily tours and talks as well as video presentations that tell you more about the artist.

Located in the Seattle Centre, right next to the Space Needle, the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibits are one of the must-see places in downtown Seattle. You can park your vehicle at one of the cheaper Seattle parking lots on 3rd Avenue or Yale Avenue.

Olympic Sculpture Park

The best places in the city are where locals spend their time, like Seattle's Olympic Sculpture Park. Maintained by the Seattle Art Museum, the outdoor sculptures and indoor pavilions are open to the public year-round. Located at the edge of Elliott Bay, close to the tourist hotspots in downtown Seattle, the Olympic Sculpture Park is the ideal place to wind down after a busy day of sightseeing. Take a walk along the beach here, with the Seattle skyline on one side and the Puget Sound on the other. And don't forget to get a pic of the city's skyscrapers with the Space Needle among them.

The Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle is located on Western Avenue, close to Seattle Centre and Pike Place Market. You can easily find cheap Seattle parking spaces nearby on Seneca Street or Pine Street.

Discovery Park

Less than 20 minutes from the city center, the Discovery Park in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood is a wonderful escape from the cityscape. Forest, bluffs, beaches, prairies make up the landscape spread across more than 500 acres. At the western end of the park, jutting out into the Puget Sound stands the West Pont Lighthouse with great views of mountains and the islands of the Sound. Walking trails crisscross the park, including the 3-mile Discovery Park Loop trail, awaiting active visitors. It's no secret that Discovery Park is the most popular among things to do in Seattle for both locals and travelers.

Safe but cheaper Seattle parking lots close to the Discovery Park Boulevard are at Yale Avenue North and East Republican Street.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEATAC)

14-miles south of downtown Seattle, the SEATAC airport is a major hub and international getaway. Whether you are a Seattle local or a visitor, chances are you fly in and out of SEATAC airport to domestic and international destinations served non-stop by 30-plus airlines. Killing time while waiting to board your flight or spending a layover could be like a mini vacation with SEATAC airports many attractions and amenities. Start at the bright and open Central Terminal, watching the planes take off beyond the window-wall on one side. Catch up on shopping at the high-end boutiques and standalone stores or sample the local fare at the restaurants. The Terminal and Concourse B have some great artwork for you spent time admiring. And if you are just looking to relax, try the Massage Bar in the North Satellite or catch a live concert at the terminal.

Paid on-site SEATAC parking is available at the airport. You will also find affordable parking options nearby on the International Boulevard.

Rich culture and heritage, abundant natural wonders, gastronomical delights, and a city vibe that will never fail to impress -- all the things to do in Seattle will keep you busy throughout the day or more. While you experience all that the vibrant city has to offer, make sure you are not worried about how to get around; explore from the comfort of your own car! Just make sure to book your Seattle parking spaces in advance to avoid the hassle of getting stuck during busy hours. Way 47627 Lakeview Blvd Fremont, California 408-598-3338

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mitchbeck · 5 years ago

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CANTLON: (WED) UCONN SEND BLACK BEARS INTO HIBERNATION

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings BRIDGEPORT, CT - After a slow start, the high-end play of the UCONN Huskies allowed them to escape the City of Bridgeport with an all-important victory in Hockey East play, 3-2, over the University of Maine Black Bears before a crowd (if you could call it that) of 559 at the Webster Bank Arena on Wednesday. UCONN's record advances to 8-10-4 overall, (5-7-2 HEA) while the Maine Black Bears record slips to 10-9-4 overall (4-7-2 HEA). Both UCONN and Maine were tied with New Hampshire for seventh place in the conference. All three teams had 10 points. With the win, UCONN advances to a tie with Boston University for sixth place with 12 points. The Huskies controlled the play early in the third period as they sought to break the tie. At times, the Huskies were too cute on their entries during the game, but on the game-winning goal, they executed the entry perfectly. Sophomore, Ruslan Iskhakov, came across the blue line and dropped a pass between his legs to Jonny Evans. He quickly sent a pass to Alexander Firstov. Blazing off the left-wing, Firstov deftly redirected the puck for his seventh goal past Jeremy Swayam at 6:52. Their third straight unanswered goal would not only be their first lead of the game but would also prove to be the game-winner at 3-2. “That is what that line can do, three highly skilled players," UCONN head coach Mike Cavanaugh said. "Ruslan made a great drop pass to Jonny and then Alexander made a terrific backhand play. Three talented players made plays to win a hockey game.” The Tomas Vomacka Show was on display for the rest of the way. The Czech sophomore dipped into his full bag of goalie saves to pull the Huskies to victory. He made several late-game scintillating saves. Maine’s Mitchell Fossier came off the back door on the right-wing with 1.9 seconds left. It was a seemingly open net. Vomacka slid over to swallow the backhand shot. “I was looking at the other guy (on the left-wing). I knew he was there. I got over, and he hit me in the chest,” Vomacka said. Vomacka understated the difficulty involved in the save. Jacob Schmidt-Svejstup then got two shots off the ensuing faceoff. Maine won both the faceoffs and the first attempt was blocked. On the second, with just 25.6 seconds remaining, Vomacka stopped a drive coming off the left point just as the green light came on signifying the end of the game. “He played really, really well tonight. It might have been his best game of the year. Overall, he was really solid,” Cavanaugh said of the player who is clearly the team's MVP. In the third period, Vomacka made 16 saves, many "Golden" scoring chances. He got a lot of help from his defense. Wyatt Newpower had three blocked shots on a PK during the first minute of the man-advantage midway through the period. Adam Karaschik (Ridgefield) took out a Jakub Sirota blast while Brian Rigali sacrificed himself to negate a shot as well. "That’s how you can be an elite penalty killer, by blocking shots,” Cavanaugh said. In the second period, the Huskies picked up where they left off in the first. They were getting some net-front presence and tied the game at two early in the period. Marc Gatcomb sent the puck in deep. Jachym Kondelik hustled in and tracked down the loose biscuit to the right of the Maine net. Kondelik made a sleek, backhanded pass to the front dead center. Senior Alexander Payusov drove full speed towards the puck and one-timed his fifth of the season past Jeremy Swayman at 3:25. “We’ve struggled at scoring goals it was good to see three different players on three different lines score tonight. We have to keep that going,“ said Carter Turnbull. UCONN managed to exit the first period down by just one goal as a result of Turnbull's superb second effort. He took Kale Howarth’s pass on the left-wing, crossing the blue line. Swayman left it out in front, but he sped past the 6'2 defenseman, Jakub Sirota, using him for a semi-screen on his shot. Turnbull got to the loose puck and quickly went to the backhand and chipped it past Swayman with 1:04 left in the period for his seventh of the season. “That was a big goal. It gave us momentum (at the end of the period).�� Turnbull has been their most consistent forward for the Huskies since the break ended. “We’ve been practicing the rebounds a lot in practice, got around him and I got a lucky bounce,” Turnbull said. His size worked in his favor and caught Sirota by surprise. “I think it helped there,” Turnbull laughed and said with a mischievous wide grin. Iskhakov had two shots including the first for both teams, a snapshot glove aside by Swayman, a Boston Bruins draft pick, who's likely to turn pro when the season ends. The Huskies Wyatt Newpower escaped the danger of being ejected early on a strong hit at the UCONN net. Maine's junior Latvian-born right-wing, Eduards Trakmaks, was making a beeline for the net as Newpower was coming to him in hot pursuit from the left-wing. Newpower hit him high and hard. On first look, it seemed like an elbowing as he was falling down and losing his edge, but it left him in a heap. Then after several minutes being attended to by the Maine medical trainer, he left for the locker room without a penalty being called. Tralmaks did return to the game with no apparent side effects. The Black Bears scored the game’s first goal on the power play. Robert Shea and Ben Poisson stopped on the previous shift by Vomacka, did the hard work. The next shift, Poisson won the draw and Shea tracked down the puck in the right-wing corner, advancing the puck to Jakub Sirota. The lefty Czech sophomore shot it from the right point with traffic in front of the net. The hard low shot went off Vomacka’s glove hand and into the net at 12:33 for his first of the season. A little over a minute later Maine found the back of the net again. A good forecheck got them the second goal. Tralmaks knocked the puck from Yan Kuznetsov with a solid bodycheck and sent the puck Mitchell Fossier. Fossier then threw a backhand dart of a pass out front. Tim Doherty put a perfect backhander past a totally surprised Vomacka at 13:38 for his team's second-best goal. His 10th of the season. NOTES: This was UCONN’s third Hockey East game in Park City. They lost to Notre Dame 6-1 back in 2015 and beat Maine 6-3 in 2017. The two schools haven’t seen each other since October of last year. The Huskies now lead the series 6-2-3. The Huskies head to Boston for a date with the 12th-ranked team in the nation, Northeastern, on Saturday at Matthews Arena in another Hockey East matchup. Maine also travels to Boston as well. They have a pair of weekend games at the Conte Forum against Boston College. UCONN returns next week to Bridgeport for the inaugural CT Ice Tournament that will feature Sacred Heart University, Yale, and Quinnipiac University, the state's other three Division I college hockey programs. UCONN plays next Saturday at 3:30 pm to kick off the college action against Quinnipiac University. UCONN doesn’t return to the XL Center until February 1st at 4 PM against New Hampshire another NESN Plus broadcast. Maine associate head coach, Ben Guite, played in Webster Bank Arena with the AHL Sound Tigers in 2001-02. He was traded to Cincinnati and came back to Bridgeport in 2003-04 as a free agent. Maine Head coach Dennis “Red” Gendron was an associate head coach at Yale under Keith Allain from 2011-2013 before the Black Bears job in his second tenure at the school. He was an assistant coach for three years from 1990-93 under the late legendary head coach, Shawn Walsh. He earned two national championship rings first with Maine in 1993 on the only undefeated NCAA hockey champion and with Yale in 2013. The Maine team that won in 1993 went 42-1-2 for the season! The only loss to Boston University was 7-6 in overtime with Mike Prendergast scoring the winner. They beat Lake Superior State 5-4 after trailing 4-2 going into the third. Recently fired Dallas head coach, Jim Montgomery, was then the team captain. He scored a hat trick in the third to propel them to the title. The top scorer was Paul Kariya, the only freshmen to ever win the Hobey Baker award. The game was on NESN Plus and the feed was picked up by TSN in Canada. The last University of Maine player to skate for the US at the WJC tournament was ex-Wolf Pack and Sound Tiger, Greg Moore, who is now the head coach of Toronto Marlies (AHL). Read the full article

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emilysn2019-blog · 6 years ago

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Easy Backpacking Destinations in Washington for Older Kids

Sometimes it can be a little difficult finding easier kid friendly backpacking destinations for your older kids (think 8 years and older). The following is a list of easy first trip destinations for you and your kids to enjoy. Be sure to check here if you have an younger kid or one who wants less of a challenge.

East Bank Baker Lake

Baker Lake Trail, also known as East Bank Baker Lake, is a great trail for young backpackers. The trail winds along Baker Lake and you have the option of hiking two miles to the closest camp sites or continuing on for a total of 4.5 miles to the last campsites. With a minimal gain of 500 feet, your little one will enjoy cruising along on this trail crossing bridges, hopping over streams and taking breaks next to the lake.

Tubal Cain Mine

Tubal Cain Mine and the Buckhorn Wilderness is one of my favorite places to take beginner backpackers. This trail system is packed with a B-17 crash site, mines, mining equipment and trails that lead to some impressive mountain summit views. Camp sites sit below the Tubal Cain Mine along the Copper River, 3.5 miles and 700 feet of elevation gain from the trailhead. The turnoff to climb up hill to check out the crash site is about a quarter mile before the camping area. Follow the trail across the river and traverse across a mountain trail to panoramic views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains.

Ipsut Creek Campground

Backpacking along the old road of Mt. Rainier's north entrance along the Carbon River is one of the best beginner backpacking destinations. With the campground being a former car camping destination, tent platforms, privies and bear boxes are available. From the Carbon River Ranger Station to the Ipsut Creek Campground is 4.9 miles and 600 feet of elevation gain. After setting up camp, you will find there is plenty to explore. Ipsut Falls is only 0.3 miles farther down the trail and if you turn onto the Wonderland trail and hike another 2.7 miles, you will come to a large suspension bridge that crosses the Carbon River heads up to the toe of the Carbon Glacier.

Boulder River

Boulder River, a favorite beginner backpack destination in the North Cascades is 4.3 miles (one way) with 700 feet of elevation gain. A few campsites line the trail, however hiking the total 4ish miles to the end of the trail brings you to a nice campsite. Here you can safely jump in the water and cool off in the summer. This trail features a beautiful double waterfall and close up views of the Boulder River.

Lake Dorothy

Lake Dorothy is a great short hike to a large lake filled with many campsites. Although the milage to the lake is a short 1.75 miles, the route gains 800 feet along the way. This is perfect for an older kid with the endurance for a short up hill climb. If you have the energy, you can continue on past Lake Dorothy to Bear and Deer Lakes for an extra 1000 feet gain and extra 4 miles. Alternatively, you can make Lake Dorothy a base camp and dayhike to Bear and Deer Lakes.

6. Pete Lake: 9 miles / 400

7. Ancient Lakes: 8 miles / 600 feet gain

8. Packwood Lake: 9 miles / 600 feet gain

9. Ozette Triangle: 9.4 miles / 100 feet

10. Dewey Lakes: 6 miles / 600 feet gain

11. Camp Handy – Upper Dungeness River: 7 miles / 600 feet gain

The post Easy Backpacking Destinations in Washington for Older Kids appeared first on Backpacking With Kids.

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frommilestosmiles · 6 years ago

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We recently visited Canada and went on a breathtaking Pacific Northwest road trip, taking in Vancouver, Sun Peaks, Seattle and a few other small destinations in between. The journey was absolutely magnificent and merits sharing in the hope of inspiring you to book a flight, hire a car and take off on your own Pacific Northwest road trip. Use the Expedia planner below to check out the cost of hotels and flights.

Pacific Northwest road trip

Trans-Canada Highway: Vancouver to Sun Peaks via Kamloops

The Trans Canada highway is 7,821 km of tarmac connecting the west coast of Canada with Newfoundland in the east. We travelled just 200 miles from Vancouver, into the mountains north of Kamloops and it was utterly stupendous. Snow covered mountains, pine clad valleys, glacial lakes, frozen waterfalls and rippling rivers create a smorgasbord of views to feast on.

Every visitor to Canada should make a road trip on this epic highway!

Vancouver False Creek at dawn

Sun Peaks to Harrison Hot Springs

On our return trip from Sun Peaks to Harrison Hot Springs (well worth a detour for these views alone) the temperature increases from minus 14 to 5. A whole 19 C change in just a few hours. I’m constantly in awe of the huge peaks and river strewn valleys.

Fraser River in the sunshine

Crossing the Fraser river is a site to behold. Glacial waters stretch languidly to the horizon, surrounded by snow-clad banks and dramatic mountain peaks beyond. Just a day later, how things have changed as the river is barely visible from the bridge due to heavy snowfall. We stop to snap some pictures of the bridge in the gloom but it’s a far cry from the glistening blue of the previous day.

Fraser River in the snow just one day later

Harrison Hot Springs to Seattle via the US border

From Harrison, the land descends into farming land as we head towards Vancouver. The snowfall is so heavy, we can barely see. With poor visibility and heavy traffic speeds drop substantially, extending the length of our journey significantly. Please bear this in mind if you are crossing the border to head for the airport.

Harrison Hot Springs at sunset

The positive news is that drivers in Canada are exceptionally polite and sensible so we didn’t have to contend with crazy drivers as well.

Driving conditions on the Trans Canada Highway

Crossing the border

As you approach the border signs indicate the waiting times for the various border crossings. I’m starting to have serious doubts that we will make it to Seattle by this point however, considering how bad the roads are.

Sadly, our border employee clearly doesn’t like the look of us. He frostily tells us to park up and head into the customs building. We nervously enter, to receive a thirty minute interrogation. As the officer closely examines each of my passport pages, particularly focussing on my Middle Eastern stamps, I feel my blood pressure rising. Questions are coming quick and fast

A U.S interrogation

‘How can we afford to travel so much?

What jobs do we have that pay for so much travel?

What are we doing in Seattle?

Who are we visiting?

How do we know them?

Are we taking them anything?

Have we been on vacation in Canada?

Where are we flying from?

When?

Where are we staying?’

It goes on for what seems like an eternity, and honestly I just want to tell them to mind their own bloody business.

The third degree is frankly terrifying. We know we have done nothing wrong, but we still end up feeling like naughty children. US border staff are clearly taught to be incredibly intimidating.

Anyway, we eventually hear the comforting sound of a stamp in our passports and sigh with relief. The officer then rapidly changes into a chatty, friendly guy who seems curiously interested in my blog, whether I earn money or get sponsored stays. We practically leg it to the car, determined to get out of there before they change their mind.

On a plus note, once we successfully enter the States, the weather eases. The snow turns to rain and the temperature rises. Before long, the sun even makes an appearance.

Washington State, USA

The route between the border and Seattle is typical USA with mega malls lining the highway, interspersed with stretches of wilderness. Mounts Baker and Rainier beyond can occasionally be seen peeping through the trees and our excitement levels increase as we reach Everett, home of The Boeing Factory (we wrote about the best tour I’ve ever done there in a separate post).

Seattle to Snoqualmie

The short journey from Seattle to Snoqualmie is stunning and makes me seriously envious of my friends living in Seattle. Just a few miles from the city, we cross shimmering lakes with mountains glistening in the distance. Yet, Snoqualmie is a world apart, with a quaint western high street and an intriguing railroad museum in town.

Seattle by night

The piece de resistance is of course, the Snoqualmie Falls, a 268 ft waterfall cascading over a steep cliff. There are a variety of trails you can walk in the area, although many are not clear in winter.

Snoqualmie falls

Snoqualmie to Vancouver

Leaving the mountains, the land turns into arable farming pasture, and as we approach Vancouver, we are once again bowled over by how incredible this city is. It is literally surrounded by white capped mountains, glistening in the sunset. Reflections shimmer in the numerous waterways, from lakes to rivers, bays and sounds.

Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Vancouver

The return border crossing is particularly uneventful and considerably less hostile. In no time, we are back in Canada and dropping our car at the airport. By the way, if you want to take advantage of the considerably more attractive shopping prices in Canada, there is a MacArthur Glen Designer Outlet immediately next to the airport. Ensure you allow enough time to indulge, should you want to do any last minute shopping.

Things you need to know for a Pacific Northwest road trip

Car hire warning

Beware, conditions change fast on this road and you should ensure that you hire a suitable car. I booked a tiny car, and the employee at the rental company laughed at us when we explained our plans. It was an expensive mistake, as we had to pay an additional £500 to upgrade to an SUV equipped with winter tyres. Seriously, do not make our mistake, as the roads were at times terrifying. I would have been a stressed out mess had we left the airport with the vehicle we originally planned to hire.

Weather conditions

For weather conditions, you can check the local radio stations and online apps. Our hotel, at the Harrison Hot Springs, also had a road update service providing details of any issues on surrounding roads. If in any doubt, I would recommend checking with locals in your hotel. We Brits are simply not accustomed to these weather conditions and we were certainly naive about how quickly conditions could change.

Harrison Hot Springs lake at sunset

On our journey from Harrison Hot Springs to Seattle, we experienced horrendous snow and poor visibility which melted into rain at the border. Shortly after, we were greeted by blue skies, only to experience further torrential snow five minutes later. The weather is far from predictable in this region.

Plan stops carefully

Other than the warnings about car type and weather, it pays to plan your stops carefully. This highway is not like the UK with regular service stations. It can be over 100 miles between petrol stations, although there are plenty of rest stops with toilet blocks. These rest stops however, often have no other facilities, so be sure to bring snacks and water.

A rest stop on the Trans Canada highway

Also, it would be sensible to have plenty of warm clothing with you. We saw the road get rapidly snow covered on our return from the mountains and major accidents could leave you spending long periods in your car where you will quickly get cold if you need to preserve fuel. We saw a huge truck jackknifed on the highway, and have to assume that was an experienced driver (unlike us!)

Why take a Pacific Northwest road trip

Despite these hazards, this is one of the most stunning road trips I’ve taken. With glaciers, forests, lakes, mountains, and volcanoes, this part of the world is just waiting for you to explore it. Here’s some more photos to tempt you.

North Bend, Washington State

This may be familiar to Twin Peaks fans!

Snoqualmie

Snoqualmie Falls and some selfie taker!

Harrison Hot Springs lake just off the Trans Canada highway

Frozen water at Harrison Hot Springs

Highway between Kamloops and the US border

Sun Peaks village

Hiring a car and taking a Pacific Northwest road trip is a great way for you to explore nature and sis over smaller places off the beaten track.

Prepare to be wowed on a breathtaking Pacific Northwest road trip We recently visited Canada and went on a breathtaking Pacific Northwest road trip, taking in Vancouver…

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localfreshies · 7 years ago

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New Post has been published on Local Freshies | Be a local wherever you go

New Post has been published on http://localfreshies.com/play-the-game-where-to-ski-for-57-or-less/

Play the game! Where to ski for $57 or less

It’s true… the window ticket price for Vail ski resort is over $180, but that doesn’t mean you can’t afford to go skiing. Just like buying a Rolls Royce, you don’t NEED to go to the fanciest or glitziest resort to enjoy skiing. Instead, make the decision to visit a Mom & Pop operation in your area that either gives awesome discounts or maybe has a ridiculously affordable ticket price. To help in the hunt, here’s a few resorts that you can ski for under $57. If you’re particularly frugal, you can even pick up a lift ticket for under $25! So, don’t complain about the prices… just visit a resort that’s affordable!

Pacific Northwest

Mt Baker

Chairlift at the Mt. Baker Ski Area Image taken by: Carl Schmidt

Mt Baker Ski Area – Image Taken by Iwona Kellie

We’ve talked A LOT about this ski area. Why wouldn’t we? It has a deep history, gets the most snowfall in North America, and plays host to the Legendary Banked Slalom. That’s not all! You can also shred this mountain for ONLY $56 during the week. Now THAT’S a bargain.

Facts:

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Skiable Area: 1,425 acres Trails: 38 runs Vertical Drop: 1,500 feet Snowfall: 663” Mid-week Lift Ticket: $56

Mt Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park

A great morning on Mt. Spokane – Image taken by: Jason

Mt. Spokane on a snowy day – Image taken by: Jason

Located in Washington’s largest state park, this ski spot is deep in the Selkirk Mountains, northeast of Spokane. Located on the same storm track as the Cascade ski resorts, Mt Spokane receives quite a bit of the white stuff but due to its geographic position, they also receive a drier form of snow. And, with the resort getting approval to expand, there will be a lot more terrain to tackle as well.

Facts:

Source

Skiable Area: 1,425 acres Trails: 45 runs Vertical Drop: 2,000 feet Snowfall: 300” Mid-week Lift Ticket: $44

Other discounts: Every Wednesday night through Saturday night, you can go out and make some turns for six hours and it’s only $20 bucks.

Northern Rockies

Pebble Creek

Photo taken by: Tony Harrison – Image appears courtesy – Ski Idaho

The local’s motto is “If you can ski at Pebble Creek, you can ski anywhere.” From our friends who’ve visited this locale, there’s a lot of truth to this statement. Regardless of the acreage, this modest sized ski area has some big terrain as well as wide open corduroy for the beginners. It’s a ski area that will have you walking away with a big grin on your face. We can’t wait to check it out ourselves in just a few weeks. Stay tuned!

Facts:

Source

Skiable Area: 1,100 acres Trails: 54 runs Vertical Drop: 2,200 feet Snowfall: 250” Full – day lift ticket: $47

Addidional Mid-Week Specials (except Holidays – Jan 1 & 15 & Feb 19):

Monday – 2 For 1 Day

Tuesday – Business Card $25 Day

Wednesday – Men’s $25 Day

Thursday – Ladies’ $25 Day

Friday – College ID $25 DAY

Turner Mountain, MT

The massive terrain of Turner Mountain as seen from afar – Image appears courtesy: Turner Mountain

The summit rises about the sea of clouds – Image appears courtesy: Turner Mountain

What do you need for an awesome ski area? Amenities, heated seats, perfectly groomed slopes? Nah. For us, it’s 100% about the terrain, snow, and most of all crowds. This ski area is on our bucket list ever since we heard about it. Only employing THREE folks during the winter, it’s 100% about the skiing and nothing else. A true community resort where the double chairlift was built by volunteers and equipment loaned from the town of Libby.

Facts:

Source

Skiable Area: Unknown Trails: 25 runs w/ ½ being expert Vertical Drop: 2,110 feet Snowfall: 250” Full – day lift ticket: $38

Powder Highway

Mt Timothy Ski Area

Mt Timothy Ski Area from the distance – Image courtesy: Timothy Ski Society

Fresh cords at Mt Timothy Ski Area – Image courtesy Mt Timothy Ski Society

If you haven’t noticed about this list, there’s a theme. These aren’t corporate run outfits trying to squeeze out every dollar from your pockets. Instead, they’re community focused and just trying their best to get people outside. This fall we talked about Mt Timothy Ski Area having financial troubles due to the forest fires. Luckily, they raised enough money to keep the lifts turning AND they were able to keep the lift ticket price at an economical rate.

Facts:

Source

Skiable Area: Unknown Trails: 35 Vertical Drop: 1,017 feet Snowfall: 95” Full – day lift ticket: $50 (CAD)

Manning Park Resort

Hozomeen Mountain – Image taken by: Iwona Erskine-Kellie

Image taken by: Iwona Erskine-Kellie

Located in the provincial park of the same name, this ski area has gone through it’s ups and downs having to close down in 2013 due to $4.2 million in debt. Luckily, the local RV resort purchased the ski area and it was back in full operation as of the 2015-16 season. Enveloped by the scenic Cascade Range mountains, expect jaw dropping alpine vistas. Besides the ski area, there is a LOT of backcountry skiing options available around this jewel of Canada. Definitely worth a visit.

Facts:

Source

Skiable Area: 140 Acres plus open gate policy Vertical Drop: 1,433 feet Trails: 34 Snowfall: 215” Full – Day lift ticket: $57 (CAD)

Lake Tahoe

Homewood

Snowboarder powder slashes his way down to Lake Tahoe – Picture taken by: Kiwi Camera – Appears courtesy: Homewood Mountain Resort

DEEP Powder Day – Appears courtesy: Homewood Mountain Resort

Lake Tahoe is home to LOTS of ski resorts. Of course, the star-studded areas are incredibly expensive but that doesn’t mean you can’t ski in Tahoe for a good price. One of our personal favorites, Homewood resort, is a great option. Besides having some of the best views of Lake Tahoe, it also doesn’t get as crowded as some of the larger resorts around the lake (that we won’t mention by name).

Facts:

Source

Skiable Area: 1,260 Acres Trails: 67 Vertical Drop: 1,650 feet Snowfall: 450” Daily Weekday Lift Ticket: $59

Flexible Lift Tickets: Homewood offers flexible lift ticket pricing if you buy online offering tickets for as low as $44

Donner Ski Ranch

View of Donner Lake from the slopes at Donner Ski Ranch – Image appears courtesy: Donner Ski Ranch

This ski area, located on the famous Donner Summit, is one of the oldest and iconic ski areas on the West Coast. As soon as you step onto the grounds, you can feel that it has personality and charm. It’s 100% about the skiing here and the culture surrounding it. Instead of high-speed lifts and a high-end McMansion village filled with $20 coffees, you’ll be greeted to cozy fixed grip chairs and a historic lodge built in 1947. Definitely worth checking out if you want to feel the soul of the sport.

Facts:

Skiable Area: 460 Acres Trails: 52 Vertical Drop: 750 feet Snowfall: 396” Daily Lift Ticket: $75 Old School Days: $40 (Valid every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, starting January 9, 2018, excluding February 20, 21 & 22, 2018)

Northeast

Mt Abram Maine

Amazing views and awesome corduroy – Image appears courtesy: Mt. Abram

Night time is the right time… to ski that is – Image appears courtesy: Mt. Abram

Being the largest doesn’t mean it’s the best or even the most desirable. Only a few miles outside the town of Bethel, this family run ski area is a great illustration of this. It was the first in Maine to offer a Boundary to Boundary policy. What does that mean? Well, it signifies that if you see a set of ski tracks go into the woods, you can follow them. All they ask is for you to use good judgement and ski with a friend. From perfect groomers to sweet tree lines, this ski area offers as much as the big boys in the region. Another interesting fact is all the trails at Mt Abram are named after Rocky & Bullwinkle. So, get your Boris or Natasha on and get some turns in!

Facts:

Skiable Area: 560 Acres

Trails: 54 Vertical Drop: 1,150 feet Snowfall: 115” Weekday All-Mountain Lift Tickets: $39

McCauley Mountain Ski Area

Near the summit of McCauley Mountain – Image appears courtesy: McCauley Mountain

Mogul filled Heidi’s Run under the chair – Image appears courtesy: McCauley Mountain

Growing up in Chicago, my father used to talk about skiing at a place called “Old Forge” back in the late 50’s. A big smile would suddenly form as he reminisced about his “skiing days.” Years later, I began to research to see what happened to this place. It’s now called McCauley Mountain! Although very, very small, this ski area has all the skiing and snowboarding variety you’d find at the larger resorts on the East Coast but in a very inexpensive package. Outrageous bumps and double-black glades, as well as easier trails from the summit, it has it all. Don’t believe us about the double black glades? Well, it’s produced three Olympic alpine skiers and two Olympic Nordic skiers (with a third—a female biathlete—qualifying now). Not bad for a small hill, eh?

Facts:

Skiable Area: 75 Acres Trails: 21 Vertical Drop: 633 feet Snowfall: 225″ Weekday All-Mountain Lift Tickets: $30

As you can see, no matter where you live in North America there are ways to get on the snow at a decent price. So, this season don’t give the excuse that it’s too expensive. Instead, head to a Mom & Pop resort, support local, and feel the REAL soul of skiing.

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adyeri · 7 years ago

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Uganda Safari

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

About

Popularly known as the Mountains of the Moon and was discovered by white explorers in 1889. Everyone from experienced hikers to casual day hikers find the Rwenzori Mountains National Park a magnificent environment, with its non-volcanic mountains capped with snow, massive ice-rime sculptures, awe-inspiring vegetation and unique fauna. The mountains are 120 kilometers long and 48 kilometers wide were forced up during the creation of the Great Rift Valley.

At the centre of the range are six snow capped peaks. The highest Mountain of the range, Mount Stanley is the third highest mountain in Africa after Mounk Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. Mount Stanley’s highest peak, Margherita rises 5,109 meters above sea level. Other peaks in the range include Alexandria, 5,083 meters; Speke, at 4,890 meters; Emin at 4,791; Gessi at 4,715; and Luigi di Savoia at 4,627 meters. Interestingly more people visit the Rwenzoris to explore the vegetation than to climb the glaciers and peaks. Because of the strange evolutionary pattern, common plants grow to absurd proportions. Lobelias weigh in at 60 kilograms while heather shoots upto 10 meters.

The people on the lower slopes of the Rwenzori Mountain are the Bakonjo. Strong and energetic, they are well suited to life in the mountains, which are an integral part of their traditional beliefs.

Over 500,000 Ugandans living below the park boundary are dependent on the park watershed for year round agricultural production. Major crops include coffee, beans, maize, yams, Irish potatoes, and wheat.

Getting there

Ibanda, the nearest town to Nyakalengija Park headquarters (the starting point for climbing in the mountains), is about 69 kilometers from Fort Portal, 25 kilometers from Kasese, and 389 kilometers from Kampala. It is served by a good tarmac road from both Fort Portal and Kasese. The nearest large town Kasese was served in the past by rail from Kampala but has an airstrip in place to accommodate air charters.

When to go

Constant mist covers the mountains all year round. The driest months are usually July and August, and December to February. Visits at any other time might be disappointing.

Where to stay

Along the central hiking circuit, camping sites are available at convenient stopping points. Accommodation is also available in Kasese at the Margherita Hotel and several lodges.

Sightseeing

Head south out of Fort Portal town on Kyebambe road towards Kasese. About 5 kilometers out of town on the left side of the road, stand at the Karambi tombs, where Toro King Kasagama and his son Rukidi II are buried. There’s not much else to see before the Rwenzori National Park turnoff but the scenery along the way is beautiful, and you pass through several small towns. Some 54 kilometers from Fort Portal you come to the turn off to Ibanda and the Nyakalengija Park headquarters. From there its another 10 kilometers to Ibanda and another 5 kilometers through banana and sugar plantations before you reach Nyakalengija where the hiking trail begins.

The usual trip to Rwenzori Mountains lasts seven to nine days, which is just long enough to hike the well travelled central circuit trail. Shorter trips can also be arranged but they do not reach the high mountains. It is best to allow a minimum of six days even for shorter trips. No special climbing equipment is necessary unless you attempt one of the summits although you have to keep in mind that hiking is tough work, usually in poor weather and should not be taken lightly. Carry along a map or one of our knowledgeable guides can avail you with one. We recommend you but the Ruwenzori Map and Guide by Andrew Wielochowski.

Before you attempt a climb or high altitude hike, make sure you are aware of the dangers and symptoms of mountain or altitude sickness which can be fatal. These symptoms usually become noticeable after 3000 meters. Mild symptoms include headache, nausea, and slight loss of coordination. Severe symptoms include abnormal speech and behavior, severe nausea and headaches and persistent coughing spasms. If you have any of the severe symptoms, immediately descend to lower altitudes.

Be aware too of the dangers of hypothermia. You have to waterproof most of your items. Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature is lowered usually caused by a combination of wet and cold condition. Note that severe symptoms of hypothermia include disorientation, lethargy and mental confusion.

The central circuit is by far the most popular hike or climb. Like others it begins at Nyakalengija park headquarters and takes you through the Nyabitaba hut at 2,651 meters. It is a fairly easy walk of about four to five hours. On the way you pass through a small coffee plantation and meadow before hitting the bush and later the forest. Please wear long trousers as the nettles can be nasty. The trout filled Mubuku River is on your right as you start the journey. You cross a couple of streams and then the Mahoma River before climbing the ridge to Nyabitaba.

From Nyabitaba you can tackle the trail in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction.

The next day’s hike on the anticlockwise circuit is tough, taking a minimum of seven hours before you reach the next night stop of John Mate Hut, at 3,505 meters. The path takes you down through the forest dropping steeply to Mubuku River, which you cross by the Kurt Schafer Bridge. You then climb up steeply up the bank and walk several kilometers through bamboo followed by another arduous ascent with many rocks on the path. There you begin to enter the Moorland zone and giant tree heathers are everywhere. Giant Groundsels also flourish. You will stop for lunch at the Nyamileju Hut.

From Nyamileju it is another two hours or so to the John Mate Hut through a giant heather forest following the course of the Bujuku River.

An alternative night stop is the Bigo Hut at 3,445 metersanother kilometer or so of tough track through a bog, which often requires wading through deep mud or leap from one grassy patch to the next.

From Bigo the circuit trail heads south west. To continue on the circuit trail from the John Mate Hut on the third day you head towards the Bujuku hut at 3,962 meters. This may take upto siz hours depending on the condition of the Bigo Bog which may be slow going if the mud is deep. You pass through another bog before reaching Lake Bujuku, majestically set against a backdrop of Mount Baker’s scree slopes and affording views of Mount Stanley and Mount Speke. If you intend to climb Mount Speke, make this you base, but you have to spend an extra night to do this. To scale the highest point in the Ruwenzoris you need to base yourself at Elena hut which is about two kilometers off the circuit trail and a three to four hour walk from the Bujuku Hut.

From Lake Bujuku head south to Lake Kitandara at 4,023 meters this takes you to the highest point on the circuit trail the Scott Elliot Pass at 4,372 meters. Kitandara Hut close to the foot of Elena Glaciers are positioned on the floor of Lake Kitandara. This idyllic spot is about a four hour walk from Lake Bujuku.

The following day you begin your descent to the east and head to Guy Yeoman Hut at 3,450 meters. You can also opt to stay the night at the Kabamba Rock Shelter which you reach first.

Plan on about a five hour hike: first a very steep ascent to freshfield pass and then a drop down to Bujongolo, a cliff over hang providing good shelter. After passing through the bog from Kabamba you come across the Yeoman Hut on a ridge above the stiff valley.

The next day which could be you final one on the circuit, you head down the steep valley through bamboo forests and bog across the Mahoma River and two minor streams, to the Nyabitaba Hut. This part of the journey should take about five hours. From there you can push on for another three hours to Nyakalengija base.

In addition to the many unusual plants you see on your journey down the circuit trail, you also may come upon some of the diverse birdlife and animal species that make this their base.

Primates and other mammals in the park include the Chimpanzee, Rwenzori Colobus Monkey, black and white colobus monkey. Blue monkeys, duiker, hyrax and serval.

Some unique birds in the Rwenzori include handsome francolin, olive pigeon, and white-necked raven.

#Uganda_Safari #Mountain_Hiking

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anagamitofotografia · 4 years ago

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News reports and interesting up-dates on POS Hardware and POS.

The merry-go-round at the park on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

Until she didn’t.

“After what happened with my brother,” she said, “we weren’t interested in coming out here anymore.”

She paused and looked toward the lake. “My brother,” she said, “he didn’t deserve that, what they did to him.”

Pamela Baker sitting in the park tabernacle on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

A bridge over Lake Mexia.Photograph by Michael Starghill

The teens were nowhere in sight.

Mexia High School yearbook photos of Anthony Freeman, Carl Baker, and Steve Booker.Gibbs Memorial Library

“Carl was like Mark Spitz,” said his friend Rick Washington. “He could dive in the pool and swim underwater and come up at the other end.”

The pavilion and tabernacle at Booker T. Washington Park on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

The VICA Building Trades club at Mexia High School in 1979, which included Carl Baker, Anthony Freeman, and Jay Wallace.Gibbs Memorial Library

James Ferrell’s Black Frontier Riding Club on a trail ride to the Juneteenth celebration at Comanche Crossing, year unknown.Courtesy of James Ferrell

The concession stands at Booker T. Washington Park.Photograph by Michael Starghill

If found guilty, the officers faced a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of $2,000 per teen. “I could get that much for starving my dog,” said Kwesi Williams.

The pavilion at the park on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

“It was all eye-opening to our generation,” said Nemons. “This was the first thing I saw as far as being a real racial injustice. A lot of young Black folks said ‘I’m done’ and moved.”

What really happened that night? Keeling’s search convinced him that the answer will never be known.

“Hopefully he’s atoned for whatever the hell he did.”

Pamela, her sister Evelyn Jean, and Patricia Baker under their family oak tree at Washington Park on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

This article originally appeared in the June 2021 issue of Texas Monthly with the headline “The Ghosts of Comanche Crossing.” Subscribe today.

The above article was published here.

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afrolatinxsunited · 4 years ago

Text

News reports and interesting up-dates on POS Hardware and POS.

The merry-go-round at the park on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

Until she didn’t.

“After what happened with my brother,” she said, “we weren’t interested in coming out here anymore.”

She paused and looked toward the lake. “My brother,” she said, “he didn’t deserve that, what they did to him.”

Pamela Baker sitting in the park tabernacle on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

A bridge over Lake Mexia.Photograph by Michael Starghill

The teens were nowhere in sight.

Mexia High School yearbook photos of Anthony Freeman, Carl Baker, and Steve Booker.Gibbs Memorial Library

“Carl was like Mark Spitz,” said his friend Rick Washington. “He could dive in the pool and swim underwater and come up at the other end.”

The pavilion and tabernacle at Booker T. Washington Park on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

The VICA Building Trades club at Mexia High School in 1979, which included Carl Baker, Anthony Freeman, and Jay Wallace.Gibbs Memorial Library

James Ferrell’s Black Frontier Riding Club on a trail ride to the Juneteenth celebration at Comanche Crossing, year unknown.Courtesy of James Ferrell

The concession stands at Booker T. Washington Park.Photograph by Michael Starghill

If found guilty, the officers faced a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of $2,000 per teen. “I could get that much for starving my dog,” said Kwesi Williams.

The pavilion at the park on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

“It was all eye-opening to our generation,” said Nemons. “This was the first thing I saw as far as being a real racial injustice. A lot of young Black folks said ‘I’m done’ and moved.”

What really happened that night? Keeling’s search convinced him that the answer will never be known.

“Hopefully he’s atoned for whatever the hell he did.”

Pamela, her sister Evelyn Jean, and Patricia Baker under their family oak tree at Washington Park on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

This article originally appeared in the June 2021 issue of Texas Monthly with the headline “The Ghosts of Comanche Crossing.” Subscribe today.

The above article was published here.

youtube

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pezonesnegros · 4 years ago

Text

News reports and interesting up-dates on POS Hardware and POS.

The merry-go-round at the park on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

Until she didn’t.

“After what happened with my brother,” she said, “we weren’t interested in coming out here anymore.”

She paused and looked toward the lake. “My brother,” she said, “he didn’t deserve that, what they did to him.”

Pamela Baker sitting in the park tabernacle on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

A bridge over Lake Mexia.Photograph by Michael Starghill

The teens were nowhere in sight.

Mexia High School yearbook photos of Anthony Freeman, Carl Baker, and Steve Booker.Gibbs Memorial Library

“Carl was like Mark Spitz,” said his friend Rick Washington. “He could dive in the pool and swim underwater and come up at the other end.”

The pavilion and tabernacle at Booker T. Washington Park on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

The VICA Building Trades club at Mexia High School in 1979, which included Carl Baker, Anthony Freeman, and Jay Wallace.Gibbs Memorial Library

James Ferrell’s Black Frontier Riding Club on a trail ride to the Juneteenth celebration at Comanche Crossing, year unknown.Courtesy of James Ferrell

The concession stands at Booker T. Washington Park.Photograph by Michael Starghill

If found guilty, the officers faced a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of $2,000 per teen. “I could get that much for starving my dog,” said Kwesi Williams.

The pavilion at the park on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

“It was all eye-opening to our generation,” said Nemons. “This was the first thing I saw as far as being a real racial injustice. A lot of young Black folks said ‘I’m done’ and moved.”

What really happened that night? Keeling’s search convinced him that the answer will never be known.

“Hopefully he’s atoned for whatever the hell he did.”

Pamela, her sister Evelyn Jean, and Patricia Baker under their family oak tree at Washington Park on April 21, 2021.Photograph by Michael Starghill

This article originally appeared in the June 2021 issue of Texas Monthly with the headline “The Ghosts of Comanche Crossing.” Subscribe today.

The above article was published here.

youtube

0 notes

trailcatjim-blog · 18 years ago

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Mount Despair, North Cascades

July 27-29, 2006

Mount Despair (7292′)

For this year’s installment of our annual Midsummer Climbing Trip, Eric, Jon, Ryan, and I (“the regulars”) were joined by Adam, Justin, and Matt (“the uninitiated”). Our goal was to climb Mt. Triumph and Mt. Despair over a four-day period. However, as often happens in the North Cascades, things didn’t exactly go according to plan; a combination of stifling heat, hideous brush, rugged terrain, and lousy route-finding decisions gave our goals and souls a good thrashing. When all was said and done, we had managed to compress four days of climbing into three days, tucked in only one summit, and experienced far more despair than triumph. Nonetheless, we all viewed the trip as a big success and are already looking forward to next year’s adventure!

Day 1 — Our first route-finding error came very early in the trip. In fact, it was before we even left the Thornton Lakes Trailhead. We debated over three main options for approaching the 6100-foot pass above Thornton Lakes: (1) follow the winding trail 5½ miles to the lakes, then head up to the pass, (2) follow the trail 1 mile to Thornton Creek, then head cross-country up to the ridge and over to the pass, per Cascade Alpine Guide recommendations, or (3) head cross-country directly upward from the trailhead to the ridge and then continue over to the pass. We settled on Option 2, thinking that CAG surely wouldn’t lead us astray. (Yes, I can hear all of you mountaineers out there, snickering and chortling at this fallacy.)

We hiked the road/trail for a flat mile to Thornton Creek, backtracked about 50 yards, then plunged into the bushes. Travel was actually quite reasonable—steep but open forest slopes—for the first 1000 vertical feet, which validated our decision. However, things got ugly in a hurry. First, we ran into a series of cliff bands that pushed us over to the left, through thickets of slide alder. After much unpleasant contouring, we encountered a ferny talus slope above a 3800-foot hanging meadow, but this talus ended abruptly in a dense forest of scrub cedar. For the next two hours, we battled straight uphill through 1000 feet of nasty cedar limbs and thick brush, in full afternoon sun, with blackflies biting and wasps stinging (Adam and Ryan both got stung on their faces). Group despair was in the red zone, and if our retreat route hadn’t been so repulsive, we might all have bailed out of the trip right there!

Eventually, we reached a rocky shoulder at 5300 feet on Thornton Ridge, above the brush and cedar. Our moods improved greatly, along with views of the surrounding peaks. We traversed northward over rock and heather, staying on or east of the crest. After circumventing a 6200-foot horn on the right, we angled up to the crest at a point just west of Thornton Lakes and closely south of 6050-foot Thornton Pass. It was already 6:00pm (7.5 hours from cars), so we established a camp among some flat benches on the crest. Our goal of reaching Triumph Pass today had withered in the afternoon’s brush and heat—as had our energy and desire.

A new game plan was drafted over dinner, while we watched the sun setting behind Mt. Baker. Due to concerns about wet weather possibly moving in by the next evening, we decided not to move camp over to Triumph Pass. Instead, we would leave our camp here at Thornton Pass and attempt a day-trip over to Mt. Despair. This plan made logistical sense, even though Mt. Despair looked disconcertingly far away. Tomorrow would obviously be a long day, but it was probably advantageous to our plan that we didn’t know just how long!

Day 2 — We were up at 5:00am and moving by 6:20am. From Thornton Pass, we descended steep heather to about 5300 feet, then started contouring northward to Mt. Triumph’s southwest buttress. This involved an hour-and-a-half of flailing through shoulder-high scraggly brush, slipping over steep, dewy grasses, and crossing a deep erosion gully. We eventually came to a cascading stream that flows over bedrock slabs adjacent to a forested rib. Making good use of route beta from Chris Robertson and Mike Torok, we down-climbed the slabs for 200 feet, then cut into the forest and plunged down super-steep duff for another 500 feet. At 4600 feet, we traversed northward across mossy cliffs and entered the pleasantly open basin below Triumph Pass. An ascent of steep talus and grass got us to the breezy, 5500-foot pass by 10:10am (3.8 hours from camp). Mt. Despair, which was 2 miles away as the crow flies, still looked so distant, but we figured our progress would be much faster from here on.

We quickly descended a north-facing snowfield to 4900 feet, traversed around partially frozen Triumph Lake, and gained a moraine on its west side. After re-ascending to about 5300 feet, we began a long traverse across heather and slabs and several ravines to reach 5100-foot Upper Despair Lake at noon (5.6 hours from camp). This scenic location called for a lunch break and, for lake-loving Eric, a quick swim. Knowing that our return to camp would be fairly strenuous, Justin and Ryan opted to relax here rather than continuing up Mt. Despair. We were all tempted to keep them company at the sunny and seldom-visited lake, but the summit beckoned.

After lunch, Eric, Jon, Matt, Adam, and I headed up a heathery ridge east of the lake and then ascended talus and snow to a cliff band below the peak’s southeast face. I suggested surmounting this cliff at an apparent weakness on its left (southwest) side. The entire climb reportedly involved only Class 3 scrambling, so we were all somewhat surprised to encounter uncomfortably steep, down-sloping rock here. Out came harnesses, rock gear, and one 25-meter scramble rope—along with some dismay at the fact that our other rope was down at the lake! We had no choice but to climb via several short pitches using our one half-length rope. This was certainly not going to be the quick scramble that we had envisioned. Adam announced that he’d had enough excitement at this point, so he headed back to the lake.

The remaining four of us surmounted the cliff band via two short roped pitches on solid but mossy granite, with Matt taking the crux Class 5 lead. Above, a heather-and-rock face swept upward to the summit block. A few snow patches clung to the face, but their thin, overhanging edges and bad runouts didn’t make them appealing. We carefully scrambled upward on steepening terrain. Approximately halfway up, Eric decided that “climbing on rocks held together loosely by dirt and heather” just wasn’t his cup of tea; he found a place to wait while Matt and Jon and I continued up. We all were getting concerned about the time, but the summit seemed irresistibly close now.

I arrived at the base of the summit block first and was discouraged to see no obvious scramble route up the final 100 feet. More despair! The best option appeared to be a short, vertical dihedral on the right side. We didn’t really have time for another roped pitch, but none of us wanted to turn away now. I quickly roped up and led the enjoyable Class 5.0 dihedral to the sharp crest. From there, we easily scrambled to the summit, arriving at 3:40pm (9.3 hours from camp). We stayed just long enough to peruse and sign the old Trailblazers register, which indicated that our ascent was the first since 2004 and only the tenth since 1999. It was probably a good thing that swirling clouds obscured our view of the surrounding peaks, because there was no time for gazing. However, there was time to honor one of Jon’s personal mountain traditions: being photographed on a summit while eating his grandmother’s homemade cookies.

Leaving the summit at 4:00pm, we rappelled over the dihedral and carefully down-climbed to where Eric was waiting below. Getting past the cliff band was a big concern now; our short rope was going to require two or three time-consuming rappels, and anchor points could be hard to find. Eric saved our bacon here by finding an easy Class 3 down-climb route along the east ridge (obviously, this is the standard route that we should have found during our ascent), and soon we were all safely below the cliff band. At 5:30pm, we rejoined the rest of our party at Upper Despair Lake.

It didn’t require too much math to figure out that we’d be getting back to camp after dark. The only question was how much nighttime travel we would have. Our intermediate goal now was to reach the waterfall stream before darkness fell. From there, we would ascend to a high talus field that we’d seen from Triumph Pass, then traverse below the long palisade of Thornton Peak until we could angle up to the northernmost saddle of Thornton Pass. If this worked, we could avoid nearly all of the bushwhacking we’d done during our morning traverse. Traveling by headlamp, however, meant that any unexpected obstacle would likely lead to a cold bivouac on the talus field. I dearly hoped that our group karma bank was full.

One or two at a time, we left the lake and began the 2-mile traverse over to Triumph Pass. Adam blazed out front, whereas Matt and I started last and reached the pass at 7:45pm (3.8 hours from summit). When I arrived, the others were sitting somberly on the lee side of a boulder as a misty wind blew up from the south. I sensed that something was wrong and inquired about the group’s status. Justin informed me that his insulin regulator had malfunctioned during his aerobic climb to the pass, leaving him with a dangerously high blood-sugar level. He’d just made appropriate adjustments, but it would take about two hours for his level to return to normal. For a typical diabetic person, this situation might require a two-hour rest, which would result in all of us being benighted at the pass. But Justin isn’t typical; he’s a remarkable endurance athlete who runs marathons and rides double-centuries. Digging deeply into internal energy reserves, he shouldered his pack and headed out.

Our group of seven stayed close together while descending the treacherously steep grass and talus slopes to 4600 feet. Jon led us the entire way downhill, then across mossy cliffs into the forested rib, and then up to the waterfall stream. We’d achieved our goal, arriving there at 9:30pm just as darkness fell. Justin happily reported that his blood-sugar level was back to normal—for the time being—and we all took in food and water at the stream. Headlamps went on, and the next leg of our trip began. It was an epic in the making.

The next several hours are blurry in my mind. There was some initial thrashing through brush, an ascent of a narrow rockslide, kicking steps across a steep snow chute, and endless traversing over a mile-wide talus field. Seven headlamp beams cut weakly through the inky blackness and light fog of this moonless night. Ryan led much of the way, up and over rocky outcrops, down and around snow tongues. Several times, we stopped so that Jon could review the photos on his digital camera in hopes of identifying terrain features. His photos showed talus extending up to the pass, but we repeatedly bumped into vertical cliffs whenever we reconnoitered upward. At one point, I found a chockstone-choked chimney that seemed to reach the crest above, and I was ready to rope up for a short climb. Fortunately, the others thought it was more prudent to keep looking; who knows where this chimney might have led? We continued traversing into the night.

I think it was around 11:30pm when a whoop broke through the quiet. Eric and Ryan had spotted what seemed to be a breach in the cliffs. We eagerly followed their voices and found ourselves on a ridge crest. Our campsite had to be somewhere on this crest! Feelings of triumph soon turned to despair, however, when we realized that the crest was interrupted by a series of rocky horns and clefts. In daylight, this would be simple to negotiate, but in foggy darkness it could easily lead us to an impasse. We pressed onward at an agonizingly slow pace and started to take note of possible bivouac spots underneath boulders. It was after midnight and our campsite seemed to be a sunrise away. I regretted not bringing more clothes in my summit pack.

At 12:20am (8.4 hours from summit), Ryan’s headlamp beam caught Jon’s yellow bivvy-tent nestled among some rocks. CAMP!!! Shouts of delight rang out! After a full 18 hours of travel, we’d arrived back home. Within minutes, stoves were roaring, snow was melting, and belated dinners were being prepared. Our reactions ran the gamut: Jon repeatedly and exuberantly announced how ecstatic he felt; Ryan, Eric, Adam, and Justin quietly acknowledged feeling renewed energy; I felt overwhelming relief; Matt doubled over in fits of vomiting and dry heaves from exhaustion. By 2:00am, all lights were out and we were sound asleep.

Day 3 — Our campsite slowly came to life in the morning. Thornton Ridge was sandwiched between low clouds and valley fog, and a few drops of rain fell. During breakfast, we recounted our surrealistic memories of the previous day and night. Neither the weather nor our collective mood prompted additional climbing for this trip, so we packed up and headed down to Thornton Lakes. Stopping only for lunch at the lowest lake, we enjoyed a pleasant hike out through shady forest and cool air. Along the way, our trail banter included a discussion of options for next year’s trip. Nothing was decided except that it involve less brush and less intrigue than this one!

Stats (car to car): 24 miles, 12,000 feet gained.