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Viewing 1 - 3 out of 3 Blogs.
Are you up to the Slush Cup Ch
MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK -- Christy Kinney was well equipped for this August backcountry ski trip. Boots and skis. Check. Ski poles. Check. Inflatable raft. Check. Warm clothing. Check. Sunglasses. Check. Cheerleader costume. Check. A costume may seem unusual for a ski trip. But this IS NOT an ordinary ski trip. This is the annual Slush Cup. In the Tatoosh Range -- a group of mountains just south of Mount Rainier -- lies a mountain lake nestled in a rocky basin at the foot of the Pinnacle Glacier. The tarn is frozen much of the year, but by late summer the snow and ice melt, revealing a shallow lake. And that's when it's time for the annual Slush Cup, which got its start in 2003. The idea is simple. Ski down the glacier that drains into the lake and then skim across the now-melted lake. All on snow skis. The goal is to ski or snowboard completely across the lake from the snow to dry land on the opposite side. And while it's a test of skiing skills, the annual gathering is much more than that. It's a reunion and a costume contest. "There's people here that we don't see but about once a year when they happen to get together for this event," says Ron Jarvis, one of the founders of the Slush Cup. This year's Slush Cup included a cheerleader, a chicken, a businessman, a naughty nurse and Santa Claus. While the Slush Cup has turned into a reunion as well as an event for spectators, it's still about skiing. Without the skiing, there would be no costumes, no reunion and no spectators. The difficulty of skimming across the lake varies each year, depending on how much of the lake has melted when the skiers gather. Slush Cup participant Josh Hummel estimated the lake to be 100 feet wide and 100 feet long. This year, skiing across the lake was tough because it had all but melted, making for a longer crossing. In 2008, according to Slush Cup regulars, it was easier because there was more snow and ice, making for a shorter crossing. Ski techniques vary. Slush Cup vet Chris Cass, who made it all the way across, says, "The key to getting across the pond without sinking in the middle is coming in with a lot of speed." He says it's important to "hit the water fast and keep your (ski) tips up so you don't nosedive and sink right in the middle of the pond." But Hummel, also a Slush Cup returnee and one of the top backcountry skiers in the state, sees it differently. "You've got to sort of lean forward and you want to lean back," he said. "It's sort of like water skiing in a way. Once you're actually on the water, everything calms down a little bit -- unless you're falling." Skiers do fall as they try to traverse the lake, forcing a swim to the shore. "That water is cold," says Jim Jarnagin. "I only went in once, I'll just put it that way." Kinney, dressed as a cheerleader, says: "My technique is the same with jumping off cliffs or anything, it's just turning my mind off. I know what I have to do.
Posted On 08/31/2010 03:23:45
Coast guard to patrol more dur
By Cindy Clayton The Virginian-Pilot The Coast Guard is planning to step up patrols during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend . During the holiday, which will be preceded by National Safe Boating Week, the agency is asking boaters to be cautious and get a free boat safety check before heading out on the water. The Coast Guard also is reminding boaters that consuming alcohol while operating a boat is illegal. Always check the weather before a boating trip and make sure to wear a life jacket, a Coast Guard news release said . About 90 percent of boaters who drown are not wearing one. Other tips include filing a float plan to let someone know where you are going and how many people will be aboard. Keep nautical charts, a GPS device and a reliable radio or other means of communication with you. The Coast Guard recommends using a marine radio set to VHF Channel 16. Cell phone service can be unreliable on the water, and batteries can fail. The agency also reminds boaters to avoid overloading boats and to carefully navigate unfamiliar waterways. - safety tips, online Visit the Coast Guard Auxiliary's website at , the Coast Guard Boating Safety Resource Center page at , the Coast Guard's Vessel Safety Checks page at www. vesselsafetycheck.org or the National Safe Boating Council's site at council.org.
Posted On 08/27/2010 00:05:58
The magic of sun, sea and tea
OK, it's called The Dartmouth Steam Railway on the notice boards outside Queens Park Station at the top of Torbay Road, Paignton. But for locals like me it will always be the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway. Never mind. That steam train trip to Kingswear and back remains a classic. It's a comfortable opportunity for visitors to relax and do some great sightseeing. There's also a wide variety of wildlife cameos on offer. From the carriage window I've seen foxes on the railway embankments and seals hauling-out on shoreline rocks. Dolphins leaping as they crossed Tor Bay have been spotted off Roundham Head, and I've watched porpoises close to shore. Gannets diving into the sea to grab young mackerel or other fish from the shoals near the beaches also provide exciting marine dramas. And gulls, waders and birds of prey feature in the on-going Bay show. The Channel views often include big vessels, from cargo ships to the occasional ocean liner. Then there are the pleasure boats, ferry boats and fishing boats leaving, or returning to, the harbours of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. On the morning of my recent journey the steam railway staff were busy on Queens Park Station as I boarded the train that was pulled by the Lydham Manor engine. Then, with a toot and a puff of steam, we were off. Sitting next to the carriage window I had Bay views on the left and urban fringe countryside views on the right. The guard checked passengers' tickets and soon we were above Goodrington Sands, with the flumes of Splashdown Water Park above the prom. Looking back beyond Roundham Head I could see the hills of Torquay, Hope's Nose and Thatcher Rock. The sun shone from a blue sky and the Bay sparkled. Southward across the water were Brixham and Berry Head, our national nature reserve. Youngsters were chirping away as they pointed at things from the carriage windows. And a moment or two later we were crossing Broadsands Viaduct for a great view of Broadsands Beach and Churston Point. Marridge Wood was behind Elberry Cove. Inland the holiday camps were busy. A brief stop at Churston Station ended with a whistle and toot that sent us on our way again. Passengers were chatting, kids were chuckling, and many adults were under the spell of the South Devon countryside. Then all of a sudden we were in the darkness of Greenway Tunnel. And the kids were yelping with surprise and excitement before the Lydham Manor returned us to the sunshine. The view of Maypool and the Dart estuary was spectacular as we crossed Greenway Viaduct. But the panorama was dominated by the vision of Britannia Royal Naval College on the hillside of Dartmouth's suburbs. That set the seal on the occasion. And soon the train was crossing Waterhead Viaduct above the creek at Kingswear to stop at the station. Most of the passengers got off to catch the Lower Ferry to Dartmouth. But I was content to stretch my legs on the platform before settling on my carriage seat for the return to Queens Park Station. Well, the total experience of the journey is high on my list of personal attractions. And it was great to travel divorced from the vehicle congestion of crowded urban streets and roads, and the racetrack noisy atmosphere of dual carriageways and motorways. The journey had lifted me out of the urban rut into a 3D world of sun, sea and steam engine magic. KNIGHT AND DAY (12A) .....
Posted On 08/19/2010 04:20:42
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