Halloween

In honor of the holiday, a group of us got together at Willi and Emily's place to carve pumpkins. Here is the evidence and the outcome. Since I've been back from Canada we've been watching horror flicks in the attic on the projector.

My roommates started the tradition before I moved in and we've kept it going and its been fun.

Lord Huron

I hurried through Montana and Idaho so I could see Lord Huron at Kilby Court in Salt Lake. I made it with about 10 minutes to spare. I didn't get to see the opening bands but oh well, I got what I wanted. I've been following this band for a couple years now (they were one of my first posts in November of 2010) and haven't seen them so it was good to get that done. I met up with a few friends at the show and had a great time. Even got to hang out with the band afterwards while eating a burrito at Alberto's. It was a damn good night.

Farewell For Now

Spending the last couple months in Alberta had a lot of ups and downs. I'm glad I was able to head up and help my Dad with his company, and that I was able to take such an extended amount of time off from my regular job in Salt Lake but overall it will be nice to get back to regular life. Its been great hiking and doing some fun things in between measuring and estimating roofs, working with insurance adjusters, and dealing with so many people needing their roof repaired after the hail storm, but I'm glad its over for now. Here is a picture of my office. I took over the kitchen table (thanks Mom). I had about 60 proposals I was working on at the height of things. Crazy. The second picture is of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Boulder Valley, Montana that I took on the drive back down to Salt Lake. 

Never thought I would say this but I think the time away from SLC made me like it more. Crazy.

Lord Huron- Time To Run

Their new album, "Lonesome Dreams" is incredible.

Daytrip to Banff National Park

Took a day trip to Banff with some good friends and couldn't be more happy about it. The whole weekend was great but it was nice to take the gondola up to Sulphur Mountain, grab a great meal at Salt Lick (their mac and cheese is unreal), and walk around main street. Myself, Caitlyn, Josh, and Kathy decided last minute on Saturday we should do it and things worked out great. It was cold, a little rainy here and there but it was all worth it with the views up at the top of the mountain. If you havent' been to Banff, get yourself there.

Deus Handmade Festival

I would like to make it to the next one. Seems like a well put together gathering.

Teen Daze- Gone For The Summer

Church in Calgary

Neighbor Horses

Japandroids- The House That Heaven Built

Way good. Way way good.

Undaunted Courage

This book by Stephen Ambrose has been incredibly captivating. If you've ever been interested in the Lewis & Clark expedition you should read it. I figured since I've been driving up to Canada so much over the past few years and I pass road signs signifying the different places they stopped while venturing to the Pacific Ocean and back almost 200 years ago, I might as well piece the story together and have a decent understanding of what went on. This book is perfect. Compelling from start to finish.

Roxie LS- Lucky To Have Known You

I like how she used old video footage from her families past for this video. I've got some old footage of my grandparents I'm trying to figure out what to do with. This gave me some ideas.

Kid Brother Expedition

Neal and I stopped off at this old abandoned school house in Beazer after spending a few hours looking for lodge pole pines in the community pasture for our tee pee. I love exploring old buildings. I have no idea how old this building is and all the details about it but one day I'll piece all that info together. Its fun having a kid brother to go do things like this with. I wish we usually lived closer together so it would happen more often but I'll take what I can get for now. These past couple months at home have been great. 

Only a 17 year old like my brother could pull off a striped shirt and camo pants. way cool.

Milionyoung & Teen Daze- Us And Them

Stoney Indian Pass

This hike was one of my favorite of all time. From start to finish it was magical. We got great weather, we ate like kings, and we didn't kill ourselves with our pace. We took it all in. With easy vistas like these you gotta. Scott, Brett, and Amy were perfect backpacking companions. I had never gone through the Belly River Valley towards Stoney Indian Pass but had wanted to for several years after seeing some of Scott and Cody's pictures. Next time I plan on going all the way past Cosley Lake, up through the Stoney Indian Pass and over into Waterton National Park. I honestly can't wait to get back there. Glacier National Park was already my favorite NP in the US and this hike I think solidified it for good. *All pics were taken with the iPhone 4s. Kinda wish I brought my Canon but these hold up pretty good I think.

Blackbird Blackbird- All

Builders Apprentice

This has been a good book. I would do a review but to sum it up simply: It is a great book about building houses and all the ups and downs you would encounter while doing so. For being a book about building a couple houses, it does a great job of making it into a legitimate story where I actually really got involved with the characters. I was impressed by that. Very well written.

A Simple View

The Last Bison- Switzerland

I like the concept for this video. Good jam too.

Vimy Peak

Had a chance to hike the second highest peak in Waterton National Park recently with some friends. It was a great day. The highlight was shale surfing down the mountain and pushing large boulders down to the valley below.

Searching for West

I think this short film is pretty good. A bit dramatized but still good. It seems like the issue they seem to be basing the story around has a simple solution. Maybe its just me. I kinda just wanted to say, "Hey buddy, just don't hunt as much this season and kick it with your wife and new kid. All the wild game will still be around next season". Overall I like how it was put together.

Grizzly Bear- Yet Again

Horseback Riding

being able to go horseback riding on my favorite piece of land was quite the treat. thanks Cristy.

In The Pines

We can debate this all day long but that wouldn't get anybody anywhere. I typically (like most people) find the original song to be the best when it comes to covers but I enjoy all three of these versions of Leadbelly's "In The Pines", I don't really know what to think. LP does a great version as she lightens things up with a ukulele. At the same time Kurt Cobain really put this song on the map in the 90's with his Unplugged version for MTV that I really can't say which one is best. I like 'em all. Give them all a whirl and let me know what you think. Leadbelly is one of my favorite folk artists. His story is even as good as his music. Look into it. You'll be glad you did. All I have to say is that I'm very very grateful to John and Alan Lomax and their work preserving and recording music.

Alt-J

Great Song, from a great album, from a band I'm really growing fond of.

Liberty Vintage Motorcycles

Handmade Portraits: Liberty Vintage Motorcycles from Etsy on Vimeo.
Came across this video and had share it. I respect this guy a lot. Sometimes I wish I would just quite what I'm doing and just work in a shop building motorcycles and cars.

Bear Den

The other day my little brother Neal told me about a bear den he found down by Lee's Creek and without hesitation I convinced hime to take me their. He had heard about it from a neighbor a little while back and came across it with a little searching. Once we got there we had to get inside. If you're wondering if its safe to be in a bear den, the answer is pretty much yes. It is summer time, bears hang out in the dens during the winter months and don't stick around where they hibernate. I'm glad I have a stud of a little brother that enjoys going on motorbike expeditions like this one. Makes me wish I grew up in the rolling hills of Alberta rather then the suburbs of Southern California. Also, its Neal's birthday today. Happy Birthday buddy.

Will Stratton- You Divers

This track may be in my top five songs of 2012. The whole album is beautiful, but this song is a masterpiece in my opinion. Here is a link to his site.

Waterton Wheels Shine & Show

One of my favorite things to do as a kid was go to car shows. The most memorable one happened just around the corner from my house in California at the parking lot of the In 'N Out Burger. I stil really enjoy car shows but I don't make it to many. Waterton has a rather nice one every summer that Pat's (the local gas station/moped rental/convenience store). It doesn't disappoint. This year didn't change. I got to spend the day with the Low sisters walking around and enjoying every car. Karli had a fun fuji instamax camera she snapped some pictures with. There was even a fully decked out RCMP officer in the iconic red mountie uniform. Pretty successful day.

PS the pictures you see here were taken with my iPhone.

Aaron Joseph Puzey- Idaho

My buddy Aaron is an incredible musician. He traveled around a bunch this past summer and got to see a lot of america bouncing from state to state in a car. This particular video was filmed in North Carolina by his friend Benjamin. Its raw thanks to the filming of it being done on an iPhone 4s. Enjoy.

Canada Extras

A few more from the trip up to Canada. First one is Paula and I in Glacier, Second one is Damien getting the perfect shot of Katelin near the visitor center on Logans Pass, Third one is of a relaxing day in Waterton, Fourth is of the crew who showed up for the gathering At Cody's cabin, Fifth is of Matt and I driving Amy's VW bus around. Matt put it in gear as I put the clutch down and steered. It was brilliant and successful. We made it around like it was nothing. Everything about the trip was perfect. I'm glad such a good group of friends got to see how things are up north. Between all the things we did in Montana and Alberta, there wasn't much more a human being possibly could do to properly be introduced. Looking forward to the next trip up there.

Halls- White Chalk

Chief Mountain & A Fake Sunset

A storm rolled in out of nowhere and created this rare picture of the sun trying to burst through the clouds behind Chief Mountain. It's rare because the sun doesn't set behind Chief but this picture makes you think it does. Way to go mother nature. Well done.

Sunray Kelley

This cat is unique. He is so crazy its cool. More of his work can be found at www.sunraykelley.com

Roadtrip Revisited

^View of Waterton from the Prince of Wales Hotel.

^Levi knows how much I enjoy Redvines.

^Cameron Lake

^Carthew-Alderson Summit Hike.

^In the clouds.

^The hike got magical. Not even kidding.

^Looking into Glacier National Park fromt the summit.

^More magic.

^Paula, damien, and myself enjoying this little waterfall.

^Some of the men of the expedition.

More pics from the trip. I wish I had more but these should give you an idea of what it was like.