Suburbia and the Bachelor Pad at the Beach

I was at a friend's birthday dinner tonight in a quiet suburb and noticed how different the suburban environment is, compared to my (shared) bachelor pad in Hermosa Beach. I arrived for dinner around 7 pm and noticed the street was almost dead quiet. The street was lined with detached, single family homes, neatly lined up with cars in driveways and a few cars scattered on the street. There was plenty of street parking available.

Flash back to the bachelor pad at the beach. I just arrived here a few minutes ago, shortly before 2 am. The neighborhood is hopping with activity. As I was passing the local bars, I saw a group of partying girls in the street, flagging down an SUV, for I don't know what reason. Even from my upstairs bedroom, I can hear the partying in the distance. Sometime during the night, I will hear the neighbor's grown kid's flashy car squeal into the driveway, stereo blasting away. I'll also hear the ambulance sirens, perhaps to take care of someone who partied a little bit too hard.

After having spent over a year at the bachelor pad, the suburban peace is surreal. It's as if I'm in a different world, where I am the life in the scenery, rather than being the one surrounded by the life in the scenery. I think - I know - I'll eventually want to live in suburbia, but I'm not yet ready leave the bachelor pad at the beach.

Semi-Light Backpacking

I have a friend who would really like me to become an ultralight hiker. That would mean buying an ultralight backpack (44 oz.), bivy sack (21 oz.), and 900-fill down sleeping bag rated to 30 deg. F (21 oz.). Total weight: 86 oz (5 lb, 6 oz). This should lead to a full weight, with basic gear and two full days worth of food, of about 20 lb.

I've opted for the luxury of a free-standing two-person backpacking tent (88 oz.) and a synthetic sleeping bag rated to 25 deg. F (34 oz.). My backpack weighs 60 oz. Total weight: 182 oz (11 lb, 6 oz). With basic gear and two days of food, that should be 26 lb.

On my last trip, my pack was about 35 lb, which is 9 pounds more than it should have been. My camera weighs 40 oz and my fishing gear probably weighs about 8 oz. That accounts for 3 lb. I was still carrying 6 extra lb! Hmmm.

I've already told my friend I've given up on ultralight backpacking. I'll compromise and accept a "semilight" backpack of 26 lb. without the fishing and photo gear. I'll try to shave off 3 lb. on my next trip, then I'll be halfway there.

Fishing, Backpacking, and Photographing Sespe Creek

Today, I got back from an overnight backpacking trip to Sespe Creek with my flyfishing buddy, Bill. We started from the Lion Canyon trailhead near Ojai and hiked about six miles east to where we think the Bear Creek campground is located. There were no fire rings, facilities, or signs indicating a campground, but we were at the right elevation and what looked like the right place along the creek.

Unfortunately, my copy of the topo map didn't have latitude/longitude markings because I photocopied a middle section of a larger map (which I own, so I'm not violating any copyrights), so I couldn't find my location on the map using GPS coordinates. That was a dumb oversight on my part.

We arrived at around three o'clock in the afternoon to a spot along the creek surrounded by a sandy and rocky creekbed. Just in front of us was a large, deep swimming hole, draining into fast, rocky riffles downstream. The water was quite cold, about 50 degrees F, by my estimate. The characteristics of the water seemed perfect for holding trout, but I could not see any fish at all. I cast my fly line with a dry-dropper rig (#16 California Mosquito holding up a #16 Hare's Ear or Pheasant Tail) for about an hour without producing any further evidence of fish.

I was expecting quite a bit more fishing action, but there was none. On the hike back, I bushwacked into some areas that were not well traveled and found the same - perfect habitat but no fish. Actually, I didn't see much life in the form of insects or amphibians, either, although we did hear what sounded like a toad. They say 80 percent of the fish are caught by 20 percent of the fisherman, so perhaps the creek was not occupied by any fish that I'm eligible to catch, but usually, I can at least see the fish, even if I can't catch them.

In any case, I only saw about 100 linear meters of the stream, so I do hope to get back for a more thorough investigation.

The backpacking went well, except my MSR Pocket Rocket Stove did not work on my Primus fuel canister. The compact stove screwed snugly into the canister, and the canister made noise when shaken (as if full of liquid) but when I turned the valve open, I got nothing. Next time, I'll test my equipment before the trip.

I very nearly filled up my 1 GB CF card with pictures taken on my brand new Canon EOS 20D with 17-85 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens. Bill and I spent quite a bit of time taking a night shot of a rock formation crowned by a dying tree. We got a nicely exposed sky with a few stars, a streaking plane, and the orange glow of city lights above the ridgeline. We used Bill's LED flashlight to paint the scene with light for some very interesting effects. I love the challenge and interesting results of long exposure night photography.

It was a very nice, short trip. We learned our lesson about testing equipment and gained some confidence in overnight backpacking. Next time, we should attempt a two night backpacking trip.

Sespe Wilderness Topo Map

Today, I bought a Tom Harrison topo map of the Sespe Creek Wilderness. I have to say, the Tom Harrison topo maps are top-quality and printed maps are a lot easier to use the the Topo! mapping software I bought. Yes, I know that software lets me download/upload waypoints to my GPS and all that, but if I just want to see the trails and the campsites (with up-to-date information), I just can't find anything more convenient than a fold-out Tom Harrison topo. Alright, enough plugging for Tom Harrison.

As I layed the map open in front of me, I got a very good feeling of knowing where I want to go and what will be around me when I get there. It also opened my eyes to how abundant trails are even nearby. Sure, the Sespe Wilderness may not be as famous as Yosemite, but it is wilderness, nonetheless, in all of its natural beauty. It even includes undamned waterways, like Sespe River, one of the few places left in Southern California that (might) have Southern Steelhead. When I have the time to get away for an extended weekend during the right season, the John Muir Trail is great, but for a quickie local overnight hike during the rest of the season, there are plenty of options in Southern California wildernesses, like the Sespe Wilderness.

A friend tells me that Highway 33, which goes from the city of Ojai to the upper Sespe Creek trailhead may be closed. I'll have to check on that. Oh, did I mention I'm planning to go hiking and fishing along the upper Sespe Creek this Friday? This will be a practice/conditioning trip for the John Muir Trail.

Photographer's Mind, Zen Mind?

I was walking along the Hermosa Beach Pier this evening when I started to think about what pictures I'd take when I get my new digital camera (an EOS 20D). I was thinking about subject, composition, lighting, and all the other things that go through the discriminating eye of the photographer. As I was doing this, I made a sudden realization. I was seeing everything in three dimensions, and my thought was effortless.

Normally, when I'm going about doing routine and mundane tasks, like driving, reading email (junk email), or waiting for a new software update to install, I see a very flat picture in my mind and I don't notice much. Furthermore, when I try to pick out visual cues from what I'm seeing, it takes effort.

As I was thinking about taking a picture, though, everything I was seeing popped out at me. There was suddenly a sense of depth and liveliness to the scenery around me. I was noticing things. Interestingly enough, this was relaxing and effortless. I could feel my pulse slowing down and my blood pressure decreasing. My breathing became deeper and more regular. I felt like I had become part of my environment.

This sounds very Zen-like, doesn't it? It reminds me of the book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by a monk named Suzuki. That's a great book for learning Zen meditation. It makes the point that the Zen mind is like the mind of a beginner, a mind that experiences openly. I felt very Zen-like at the time, too.

Now, I need to apply the beginner's mind principle to all the things I do, especially the things that have become mundane, like driving. Maybe getting back into my photography hobby will let me do that.

Buying a Digital Camera - Canon EOS 20D

As I get back into my photography hobby, I'm looking to catch up technology-wise. So, my next camera is going to be digital. I've been spoiled by the creative control of an SLR camera, so consumer point-and-shoots are out. I'm hooked on Canon's superior electronics and ergonomics, so that narrows down my choices to Canon digital EOS cameras. My dream camera is the EOS 1Ds Mark II, but at $8,000, that would take a serious bite out of my next major purchase (house, car, etc.). I really like the full-frame digital sensor of the 1Ds M2 because of the depth-of-field offered by a full frame. On the other hand, 45 oz. is a bit on the heavy side. At the low end are the digital Rebel models, but I want a little more control than that.

That leaves me with the EOS 20D at a reasonable 20-something oz. in weight and all of the creative controls I want, not to mention a top-notch digital sensor with high sensitivity and sharpness and low noise. The only serious shortcoming of the 20D is the 1.6x smaller (than 35mm) digital sensor, which means I lose a little over one stop of depth-of-field control (if I understand the optical equations correctly). The price is modestly high ($1,939 with 17-85mm f/4.5-5.6 IS USM lens) but justifiable for the features and quality offered by the 20D.

I've been trying to justify purchasing an EOS 20D on financial terms. I figure the cost of purchasing and processing a roll of film is $5. If I avoid using 400 rolls of film, I've paid for a $2,000 camera. At the peak of my photography hobby, I was easily using 5 rolls per week, but now I'm down to 1 roll per month. I figure with a new camera, I'll get back up to 1 roll per week, which would take 8 years to justify the cost of the $2,000 camera. Then there's the $100 compact flash card, the $400 580EX flash, and the $500 75-300 mm IS USM lens. All of which will add another 4 years to break even. That's 12 years to pay off $3,000 worth of camera by avoiding the use of film.

I have more interesting plans, though. I'd like to sell my photographs. I understand you can get $100-$500 for each photo that's published by a magazine. If I can get $250 worth of photos published per month, I'd pay off the $3,000 in equipment in 14 months. Then I can go on to buy the 35 mm f/1.4L lens!

I recently ordered "The Photographer's Market" through Amazon.com. This book lists all the magazines that accept freelance photography submissions. I think $250 of photos sold per month is doable. That will also spur me to get out more.

Preparing for the John Muir Trail (JMT)

I've been dreaming of hiking and fly fishing along the John Muir Trail (JMT) for a long time. I finally got around to making some reservations today and found that the reservable wilderness permits for the first two sections in the North are taken through August. I did manage to reserve Little Yosemite Valley through Tuolomne Meadow for September 9-11, and Tuolomne Meadow through Red's Meadow for September 15-18. Yes, that is two consecutive weekends.

I have reservations for four. I'm definitely going myself, and counting on my fly fishing buddy, Bill, to join me. That leaves space for two more adventurous souls.

I'll see if I can reserve the other sections of the JMT for weekends earlier in the summer.

Damn, "bernie" is taken!

I really wanted my user and domain names to be "bernie", a name that I identify with much more closely than "yoobb", but alas, "bernie" was already taken. That's what I get for being a techno latecomer when it comes to blogging. I still haven't used Internet chat! If anyone would like to help me with that, please do!

What made me finally get a blog? I got "blahg envy" after looking at Oskar's blah blah blahg.