Hanging by a thread...

This past weekend, I met up with Rob in Whistler. We'd been planning on meeting up anyways, and Rob had connected on a cool idea for a weekend away: a Zipline Tour. Basically, this company has set up several steel cables between the two mountains of Blackcomb and Whistler. They set you up with a harness and pulley, and in true playground fashion, you zip between the two mountains on the wire! Absolutely awesome! You are so high up in the trees that you often cannot see the ground. It was literally like walking into the Ewok Village from Star Wars. I could have sworn I saw Han Solo kicking around somewhere.

Anyways, it's kinda hard to describe, so I've got some pictures to explain how it works.

This is the height we're talking about. You can see the lines that we were flying across between the two mountains. It may look short from the photo, but we're talking about a minimum of 1100 feet of distance for each line.


These are the stairs of the Ewok Village that you walk off of to start the zipline tour. Just a drop off into nowhere. You can see the ground, but really, from head on, you are looking at going down a mountain cliff. Just you and the harness. Walk off, and hope for the best.

So this is a picture of one of the huts in the trees. There were several of these all over the place, with the zip lines criss crossing between the mountains. Now you can see the Ewok resemblance. This was one of the more interesting lines, as it was the freestyle line, and we were able to go upside down on it without fear of getting stuck in the middle. (Hopefully, there will be video of that stuff when Rob is done editing it)


Here's a pic of Rob and I before one of our trips over one of the lines. Probably 3 or 4 zips in. At this point you're feeling confident about the harness and that sort of stuff, so we were having a great time, letting go of the line, starfishing at several hundred feet in the air, that sort of stuff.

Finally, this is a pic of me breaking into one of the treehouses. I'm in the half cannonball position so that I can slow down and not kill either myself or the tour guide waiting at the top of the line. You can see the brake mechanism at the top of my line, which slows me down into the treehouse. I think this was one of the longer lines, and I was flying across at one hell of a pace.

Anyways, that is basically the trip. I would certainly do it again. There is another trip with lines that are twice as long as the ones that we went on, so it would be even better, I'm sure! They've also got whitewater rafting and freestyle mountain biking up there during the summer. One busy little ski hill, that's for sure!

Airline fun...

Well, as promised, here are the details. Not that it is very exciting or anything, but I'll share the story so that my venting doesn't go unheard.

I specifically purchased a new trombone case that would fit in an overhead compartment. I've talked about that before. However, upon arriving at the airport in Lethbridge, I was still forced to check my horn. Mild panic sets in, but nothing too drastic.

Arrived in Calgary, and promptly found out my flight directly into Victoria was cancelled for some unknown reason. Our group was quickly rushed to a flight landing in Vancouver, and were told that they'd have it all sorted out for us when we came out the gate in Vancouver. Luggage was to be transferred without a problem. Mild panic maintains its level.

Arrived in Vancouver, and promptly found out that the people in Calgary didn't do their job, and no one in Vancouver had any fucking clue as to who we were and what we were doing there. The next flight to Victoria was sold out, so we were all placed on standby, and they were going to fit as many as they could on the upcoming flights. However, most of us (about 50 people) were not going to get there until about 5. Panic increases. When asked about luggage, there was not a problem in moving the luggage to follow us along, and actually it should arrive before the passengers did in Victoria. Panic subsides to lower levels.

After waiting through two flights, finally board at 4:30 for a 12 minute flight to Victoria. At the gate at 5:00, and promptly run to luggage area. Ask if any luggage from past flights is there. When told no, level of panic begins to increase. Conveyor starts to move with new luggage, and the longer the wait, the higher the panic level gets. Finally, all luggage is off, and no trombone. Upon asking at desk again, informed that they will keep looking for it, and will be delivered. Beg woman at desk to call right away so that the panic level can return to normal. Says she'll do what she can.

After several phone calls to the airport and to the Air Canada "Delayed Baggage" number, still no answers as to where the luggage is, or even which city is was last seen in. After asking for a number of people to call when the luggage was found, no phone call was received, and no knowledge of the whereabouts of my luggage was available until I did the calling and research. Luggage finally arrived at my door a full 24 hours after I landed in Victoria, and a 28 hours later than it was originally planned.

I lost the two extra days of preparation that I had hoped to get by coming back to Victoria. However, no damage to the horn, so I cannot complain that much.

Pics and new story coming about my weekend in Whistler, traveling 100 feet in the air on a steel cable between mountains!

"Gonna Fly Now"

Well, it's been an interesting last 36 hours. I'll get in to more details later, but I'm still unpacking. However, I thought it was important to make note of a huge loss to the music world today. Maynard Ferguson, legendary trumpet player, passed away today at the age of 78. Even if you don't know of his music, you've all heard him play, specifically in the Rocky theme, "Gonna Fly Now". Maybe take a second to find a recording of him online somewhere, have a listen. Might not be your style of music, but you can't deny the man's talent.

Lazy Days...

Well, change of plans... no Barkerville today. That's alright though, I was really just interested in the candy and amazingly huge (read: maggive) apple fritters that they sell there. However, Lazerslug's girlfriend informed me that they are made and sold in town as well, so I'm not so screwed out of good junk food after all! I'll be making a trip to the bakery shortly after breakfast, for 2nd breakfast.

We're gonna spend the day at Ten Mile Lake. Kinda like Park Lake, but bigger, cleaner, and more trees, and it has a playground. Closer to get to, as well. I'll have to practice first, however. I've spend the last three days working out 22 measures of an Ewazen piece I want to do for my grad recital. Been driving me nuts. One of those mind blocks, where I just can't seem to get it down exactly. But, you can't practice the wrong notes, gotta practice the right ones, so I've been doing it over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over...

Gene thinks I should just do a disseration on Ewazen music. At the rate I'm going, I'll have played the all but one work for solo Bass Trombone, and I'm even looking at learning that one too. Scary thought, call myself an Ewazen specialist. I don't know, it's great music, I'll probably record the one that I played for the concerto competition last year. Really well written, and enjoyable for everyone listening and playing. His quintet music is spectacular, but bloody hard. I have not really listened too much to woodwind stuff, but from what I have heard, it is also written well. He really learns the instrument before setting out to write for it, because nothing is impossible to play, just hard to do. You don't say "how the fuck do I do that?" like you do with some other composers. You just realize that it'll take some work, and bang away at it for three or four days straight...

Anywho, 6 days of vacation left...

Vacation Update

Well... I've been up to lots of relaxing as of late. Mostly lounging around the house, reading and practicing. At night we usually meet up with Megan's brother (Lazerslug, from "Geek in a Machine Shop") and his girlfriend. They're lots of fun to spend time with, and lately we're been playing a game called "Killer Bunnies". Megan was introduced in her last visit, but I was a bit skeptical from her descriptions. However, I must say that it is an interesting game. I won't go into too many details, but it certainly brings out a vindictive streak in people! Man, you can really get some vengeance vibes when you kill someone's bunny! Anyways, long story short, fun game, fun times thus far.

I think we're planning a trip out to a place called "Barkerville" on Monday. I went last year when we were here; it's a heritage town, basically a functional gold mining town from the turn of the century. Everyone dressed up in period outfits, with stores and such from the proper time period. Interesting stuff. They've got one hell of a candy shop, and that's the main feature for me this trip. Last time, I didn't capitalize on the candy, but no mistakes this time!

Anywho, time for some more laziness....

Vacation!

It is certainly nice to be able to sleep in, and do what I feel like during the day. I forgot I liked to not work. Must be why I enjoy the school year so much.

Anyways, we've arrived in Quesnel, BC, where we will be spending the majority of our vacation. Basically I'm going to sit around and play with the dog, and read some books, and practice. Gonna be a good time!

We went to the Columbia Ice Fields on our way up here. Was a great time! When we reached the top part of the tour, it was snowing on the glacier, so that was cool. And a trip in those huge bus things is always fun! We got some pictures, but I'll probably wait until we're back to post them. This isn't my computer, so I'm not gonna go messing with that sort of stuff on it.

Anyways, I'll keep posted on the vacation stuff as it comes up.