This is a video I made at the end of summer of an 18 or 19 miler I ran at sunset. I like how you can see it getting later and later as the run progresses.
Showing posts with label Depeche Mode. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Depeche Mode. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Trail Run up Bair Canyon Utah - following the "Bairgutsman" race route
Trail Followed for the run
During the end of June and the first week of July we traveled to Utah for a holiday. I had planned on running a couple of awesome runs with good friends. The extremely cold wet year eliminated the possibility of running the main route we had chosen so we had to get creative and find something new to run. To test how runnable the Northern Wasatch were and to see what options we had to replace our old run, I decided to take a test run up Bair Canyon which is the course for the Bairgutsman trail race, an 11-13 mile point to point trail race. I was running about 8 miles of the course and then running back so in total I was going to run 16 miles.
Starting at an elevation of 4800' the trail heads straight up Bair Canyon to the summit at 9,500' leaving the total elevation just shy of the 5,000' mark. I started the run at 5:30 a.m. hoping to beat the sun since I am use to running in the mild climate of the PNW. It was quite windy at the start but it was still fairly warm. I had some concerns about the high run-off that would make each of the four river crossings a bit dicey and I was also worried about the snow fields near the summit that were going to be treacherous to cross.
I started off at a nice clip and made it to the first river crossing very quickly. The river was high and frothy but it looked relatively safe. I jumped on in and felt the icy snow melt crash into my thighs. It ended up being quite simple to cross and I could tell I wouldn't have any issues crossing each of the subsequent crossings.
The trail had not seen many hikers past this first crossing this year and the trail began to be quite overgrown. Perhaps the most challenging aspect was the loads of stinging nettle that lined both sides of the trail due to the extremely wet conditions this year. I startled some campers who were sleeping on the side of the trail and weren't expecting to see anyone let alone at 6:00 a.m. I waved and crossed the river again and kept on cruising upwards.
I was also getting covered in hundreds of tiny silkworms that were dangling from the trees. Sometimes I would stop and pick hundreds of the little creatures off of me. Then I noticed a few other unwanted guests hitching a ride... Ticks! I picked several of those off my bare legs and then spent the remainder of the time in the trees and brush petrified of having to pick off ticks when I finished my run. I also began to notice cougar scat all over the trail and was a bit nervous, when a large sage grouse jumped out in front of me. Being already nervous of cougars this opportune explosion of feathers made me nearly have a heart attack. With a huge jolt of adrenaline I powered my way up through the remainder of the trees into the higher slopes of the range. The trail was extremely faint in places making it challenging to follow but my main concern was that on the return down I could easily get lost since the trail would be harder to see as I quickly bounded down the hill. There was also going to be a bunch of branches from mountain mahogany and scrub oak and nettle to sting and scratch my legs as I made my rapid and slightly out of control descent.
I reached snowline at about 7:00 am and found my first snow crossing to be treacherous as I had to slide down a nearly vertical 20' foot snow ledge on my backside. The next challenging snow field was a large side-sloped traverse that angled steeply into the canyon and would have been really bad to slip and slide down on. After crossing this side slope I realized all the switch backs were covered in snow and ice so I just cruised right up the ridge getting scratched and torn up along the full distance.
About two hours after starting out I made it to the summit ridge. The wind was really whipping up there. I decided to summit a small peak to the north of Francis Peak and have a sandwich. I took shelter from the wind behind a communication tower and had a great time on the summit. I changed my socks and started the descent. It went really quickly and running down the snow fields was a blast.
As I predicted the branches and nettle took their toll on my exposed skin and my legs were completely shredded and stung. It is all part of the journey. The descent went extremely quick and I got off the main trail during a slide-rock crossing but found it again and finished my descent with no major issues.
It was a great run and one I will always remember. I really love running in the clouds. Enjoy the footage I took of the run!
Monday, September 29, 2008
My Favourite Band
Why Depeche Mode?
1987
My first recollection of Depeche Mode comes in the year 1987, while listening on a small imitation-wood clock radio, most likely the station was KJQ or what ever was the mainstream station at the time, I heard an intriguing song. It was "Blasphemous Rumors". Being six or seven years old, the lyrics meant nothing to me, but the overall sound was captivating. Was it the electronic melody or the sampled sounds? I couldn’t put my finger on it. Little did I know at that time what an integral part of my life this band would play.
I had limited listening for the next few years. My next real contact with their music was probably 1991. I was 10 years old in that glorious summer, and I had a friend who’s older brother was a “Waver”, you know the guys with long hair on one side of their head, with the other half, shaved off. Well he had just bought the Vinyl for “Violator”. My first time hearing “Enjoy the Silence” was mesmerizing. It was like discovering the lost city of Atlantis. Could there really be a world of music out there that I didn’t know about? I can remember really loving “Policy of Truth” as well. Later in that same year I purchased “Catching up With Depeche Mode”, a compilation of their earlier stuff. I found it had “Blasphemous Rumors” but some new songs I hadn’t heard before. It played in my small cd player endlessly. I captured a few of DM’s “Violator” songs on tape, recorded from the radio, and loved the tapes to the point that they wouldn’t play. That was the extent of my Depeche Mode listening until 1996.
At this point I was working at Granite furniture on the night shift. I found myself instantly drawn to one of the employees in the set-up and visual section of the warehouse. James started talking about his musical interests, and I quickly found he was a fountain of knowledge, trivia, and music, from the era and genre. He began to bring me albums from his collection. The first being “Speak and Spell” followed by many other earlier albums and cds from similar artists. Over the next year I began to become obsessed. The sounds of clanking metal, the haunting melodies, the dark lyrics, began to take on a new level of understanding for me. I began to play these many tracks endlessly in my car, as Tim and I drove around at nights, discussing life, love (well what we thought we knew of love), fishing, and happiness in our naive and innocent way. The songs began to be a soundtrack for my teenage years. I had dealt with some trying situations, and many of the tracks struck a chord with me.
My brother got home from his mission early in 1997 and he decided to take me on my first prospecting trip. I had always been interested in prospecting and treasure hunting and had all of the stories memorized. Our first trip was to our old family hunting spot that my dad had found good evidence of mining activity at. As we drove up there in his little Nissan truck, he popped in a tape he had bought from “The Good Will” donation house for $0.98. The tape began with the screeching sound indicative of “I Feel You” and as we began to enter the mountains on that rainy spring morning, Depeche Mode took on a new depth for me. It was at this point that my brother and I knew we were onto something big, combining good music with adventure! For the next 10 years we probably listened to that album 100’s of times on our prospecting adventures. I have fond memories of hearing the bluesy sound of DM mixed with fantastic electronic pulses in the background of a rattling dusty road in some forgotten corner of the Uinta Mountains. My obsession with the group began to become deeply emotional as the different songs and albums began to be linked with some of my most exciting, frightening, and intimate thoughts and experiences.
Ultra came out that year and it was magic. Finally, I had new stuff for me to sink my teeth into. Sister of Night was a particular favourite from the album. It was nice to know DM had pulled through their darkest moments with a new album, and were so happy doing it that they were here to stay. Shortly after this release, DM announced a tour and a new best of Album. 1986<1998, which was a two disc set from these years of the bands music. I waited in line at the record store to get my own copy with the special third disc extra. These two discs, orange and blue, are probably my most played discs I own. I have actually purchased them three times because of various reasons, but mainly abuse.
These two discs became the backdrop of the infamous “Delta Hunt 98’”. Where my car miraculously drove itself at 60 mph on cruise, in 6 inches of snow, while Tim, Bradford and I slumbered (I was driving). I awoke to the site of a deer in the road. Sufficeth to say, 15 doughnuts later, and a similar experience to that of John Candy in Plains, Trains, and Automobiles, we were back on our way to Delta, Utah, a “little” wiser. I have the sweetest memory of this trip, as it was really the icing on our friendship, and adolescence, and marked an end to our innocence. Shortly after this we were all on our own pursuing our different paths in life.
Previous to Delta Hunt 98, I was lucky enough to get tickets with James and his family to the Concert for the 1998 show. This was my first DM concert, and my most memorable because of it being my first. We drove down with James in his parents van, and I think we laughed the whole way down and back. The concert was awesome, and I can’t describe the feeling I got being there that night, but it is a similar feeling when you know you are experiencing something almost outer bodily or when you know you are experiencing greatness. The stands were swaying, and the energy in the crowd was like lightning. I was so caught up in the moment, that I can’t tell you what exactly, it was like for me. That night saw the start of a true friendship that will last the eternities. At that point in time, I knew that I was at some sort of climax in my life, and I was in a lot of ways.
Over the next few years I used the new internet as a way of checking out DM stats, trivia, and music. I was extremely pumped for Exciter and James got a copy from Napster before the release. I was in love all over again. Though to date, Exciter is not my favourite of their albums, it has its moments where it is. There was a new concert to follow this album up, and I once again was marveling at the genius behind this trio from Basildon. I went through phases of this song, or this album, or that, and was blown away by Playing the Angel several years later. The concert was insane, and the tickets were a gift from James and Jenny because I couldn’t afford closer seats, and it was Vye’s first DM concert, and though I don’t think her experience was anything like my first, she still loved it. In fact she was pregnant with Kaleb, and he loves music almost as much as me, especially “Daddy Music”.
After my first surgery I went to Richies house so I could have Tracy care for me while Vye was at work. I was withering away and could not eat a thing. I was so weak and looked like “Mister Burns” from the Simpsons. I began to get really sick and began to faint, or pass out in the shower, or while lying on the bed. My health took a turn for the worst and my mom stayed up with me all night, one night, because she swore I might pass in the middle of the night and Vye was too exhausted to stay awake another night in a row. The next morning I was told by my surgeon if I didn’t eat and start improving I would have to go to the ICU. I couldn’t stand the thought of another IV or being fed by a tube. I finally had Vye get my Exciter DVD and my mom bought some ensure. I sat in Richies family room and blared my DVD and began to sip the ensure. Within a few minutes my spirits began to sore (drugs may have helped the soaring as well, but that is another story), I began to feel the music, and it was almost like liquid music in my veins. By the end of the concert I was “Pointing” to the music and had drank a full ensure. It was a turning point for my health.
Throughout my undergraduate degree, I can remember reading in the quiet alcoves of the Stewart Library with the sound of Depeche in the background. They were a constant companion, as I pulled many all-nighters in a lab staring through a microscope, or at home cramming for a test. I have run many miles to Depeche, cried to Depeche, laughed to Depeche, formed relationships while listening to DM, I have discovered endless layers and insite to myself and others while listening, and I have lived with Depeche for almost two decades. When asked why is Depeche Mode my favourite band? I can’t simply answer because I like their songs, or their music speaks to me, I can’t say anything at all, because I can’t possibly do their music and what it means to me justice with the confines of the English language. I feel I have an intimate connection with their music, and I am anxious for what events in my life will be played out, over the fantastic sound of my favourite band.
1987
My first recollection of Depeche Mode comes in the year 1987, while listening on a small imitation-wood clock radio, most likely the station was KJQ or what ever was the mainstream station at the time, I heard an intriguing song. It was "Blasphemous Rumors". Being six or seven years old, the lyrics meant nothing to me, but the overall sound was captivating. Was it the electronic melody or the sampled sounds? I couldn’t put my finger on it. Little did I know at that time what an integral part of my life this band would play.
I had limited listening for the next few years. My next real contact with their music was probably 1991. I was 10 years old in that glorious summer, and I had a friend who’s older brother was a “Waver”, you know the guys with long hair on one side of their head, with the other half, shaved off. Well he had just bought the Vinyl for “Violator”. My first time hearing “Enjoy the Silence” was mesmerizing. It was like discovering the lost city of Atlantis. Could there really be a world of music out there that I didn’t know about? I can remember really loving “Policy of Truth” as well. Later in that same year I purchased “Catching up With Depeche Mode”, a compilation of their earlier stuff. I found it had “Blasphemous Rumors” but some new songs I hadn’t heard before. It played in my small cd player endlessly. I captured a few of DM’s “Violator” songs on tape, recorded from the radio, and loved the tapes to the point that they wouldn’t play. That was the extent of my Depeche Mode listening until 1996.
At this point I was working at Granite furniture on the night shift. I found myself instantly drawn to one of the employees in the set-up and visual section of the warehouse. James started talking about his musical interests, and I quickly found he was a fountain of knowledge, trivia, and music, from the era and genre. He began to bring me albums from his collection. The first being “Speak and Spell” followed by many other earlier albums and cds from similar artists. Over the next year I began to become obsessed. The sounds of clanking metal, the haunting melodies, the dark lyrics, began to take on a new level of understanding for me. I began to play these many tracks endlessly in my car, as Tim and I drove around at nights, discussing life, love (well what we thought we knew of love), fishing, and happiness in our naive and innocent way. The songs began to be a soundtrack for my teenage years. I had dealt with some trying situations, and many of the tracks struck a chord with me.
My brother got home from his mission early in 1997 and he decided to take me on my first prospecting trip. I had always been interested in prospecting and treasure hunting and had all of the stories memorized. Our first trip was to our old family hunting spot that my dad had found good evidence of mining activity at. As we drove up there in his little Nissan truck, he popped in a tape he had bought from “The Good Will” donation house for $0.98. The tape began with the screeching sound indicative of “I Feel You” and as we began to enter the mountains on that rainy spring morning, Depeche Mode took on a new depth for me. It was at this point that my brother and I knew we were onto something big, combining good music with adventure! For the next 10 years we probably listened to that album 100’s of times on our prospecting adventures. I have fond memories of hearing the bluesy sound of DM mixed with fantastic electronic pulses in the background of a rattling dusty road in some forgotten corner of the Uinta Mountains. My obsession with the group began to become deeply emotional as the different songs and albums began to be linked with some of my most exciting, frightening, and intimate thoughts and experiences.
Ultra came out that year and it was magic. Finally, I had new stuff for me to sink my teeth into. Sister of Night was a particular favourite from the album. It was nice to know DM had pulled through their darkest moments with a new album, and were so happy doing it that they were here to stay. Shortly after this release, DM announced a tour and a new best of Album. 1986<1998, which was a two disc set from these years of the bands music. I waited in line at the record store to get my own copy with the special third disc extra. These two discs, orange and blue, are probably my most played discs I own. I have actually purchased them three times because of various reasons, but mainly abuse.
These two discs became the backdrop of the infamous “Delta Hunt 98’”. Where my car miraculously drove itself at 60 mph on cruise, in 6 inches of snow, while Tim, Bradford and I slumbered (I was driving). I awoke to the site of a deer in the road. Sufficeth to say, 15 doughnuts later, and a similar experience to that of John Candy in Plains, Trains, and Automobiles, we were back on our way to Delta, Utah, a “little” wiser. I have the sweetest memory of this trip, as it was really the icing on our friendship, and adolescence, and marked an end to our innocence. Shortly after this we were all on our own pursuing our different paths in life.
Previous to Delta Hunt 98, I was lucky enough to get tickets with James and his family to the Concert for the 1998 show. This was my first DM concert, and my most memorable because of it being my first. We drove down with James in his parents van, and I think we laughed the whole way down and back. The concert was awesome, and I can’t describe the feeling I got being there that night, but it is a similar feeling when you know you are experiencing something almost outer bodily or when you know you are experiencing greatness. The stands were swaying, and the energy in the crowd was like lightning. I was so caught up in the moment, that I can’t tell you what exactly, it was like for me. That night saw the start of a true friendship that will last the eternities. At that point in time, I knew that I was at some sort of climax in my life, and I was in a lot of ways.
Over the next few years I used the new internet as a way of checking out DM stats, trivia, and music. I was extremely pumped for Exciter and James got a copy from Napster before the release. I was in love all over again. Though to date, Exciter is not my favourite of their albums, it has its moments where it is. There was a new concert to follow this album up, and I once again was marveling at the genius behind this trio from Basildon. I went through phases of this song, or this album, or that, and was blown away by Playing the Angel several years later. The concert was insane, and the tickets were a gift from James and Jenny because I couldn’t afford closer seats, and it was Vye’s first DM concert, and though I don’t think her experience was anything like my first, she still loved it. In fact she was pregnant with Kaleb, and he loves music almost as much as me, especially “Daddy Music”.
After my first surgery I went to Richies house so I could have Tracy care for me while Vye was at work. I was withering away and could not eat a thing. I was so weak and looked like “Mister Burns” from the Simpsons. I began to get really sick and began to faint, or pass out in the shower, or while lying on the bed. My health took a turn for the worst and my mom stayed up with me all night, one night, because she swore I might pass in the middle of the night and Vye was too exhausted to stay awake another night in a row. The next morning I was told by my surgeon if I didn’t eat and start improving I would have to go to the ICU. I couldn’t stand the thought of another IV or being fed by a tube. I finally had Vye get my Exciter DVD and my mom bought some ensure. I sat in Richies family room and blared my DVD and began to sip the ensure. Within a few minutes my spirits began to sore (drugs may have helped the soaring as well, but that is another story), I began to feel the music, and it was almost like liquid music in my veins. By the end of the concert I was “Pointing” to the music and had drank a full ensure. It was a turning point for my health.
Throughout my undergraduate degree, I can remember reading in the quiet alcoves of the Stewart Library with the sound of Depeche in the background. They were a constant companion, as I pulled many all-nighters in a lab staring through a microscope, or at home cramming for a test. I have run many miles to Depeche, cried to Depeche, laughed to Depeche, formed relationships while listening to DM, I have discovered endless layers and insite to myself and others while listening, and I have lived with Depeche for almost two decades. When asked why is Depeche Mode my favourite band? I can’t simply answer because I like their songs, or their music speaks to me, I can’t say anything at all, because I can’t possibly do their music and what it means to me justice with the confines of the English language. I feel I have an intimate connection with their music, and I am anxious for what events in my life will be played out, over the fantastic sound of my favourite band.
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