Radio Radio

I can't really explain why I love The Best Show on WFMU so much, other than it's damn funny. It's been hell trying to explain the show, but I know people who would love it. It's, by far, my favorite show on public radio. So I started shoving some clips around and out pops this:





It's not for everyone, and pretty much nobody I know likes it the way I do. It sort of pours the medium itself into a new form. I should really stop now.

Trinity Alps '08

It was fun. And cold. That's the trip in two sentences. But the cold was a unique experience. It was literally Mt.-Everest-Base-Camp-cold.

We made it from Humboldt Bay to the Trail Gulch trailhead in 3 1/2 hours, and used the remaining twilight hiking up to the lake.

Headlamp hiking? Fun. Setting up camp in the dark? No problem. Setting up camp when it's freezing?

Things you need working fingertips for:

1. Zippers
2. Tent poles
3. Stakes
4. Lighters
5. Stoves

...and so on. It was snowing lightly while we set up.

Secondly, freezing water is a drag. I think that's why my water pump popped a crack. Plus, sleeping with all your unfreezables (contacts, Nalgene, saline, etc) sucks.

Shawn thought it might have been in the teens overnight, including wind chill. Oh yeah, it was windy, too. A tree blew down overnight.

I had a zero degree mummy zipped/cinched up with only a periscope hole to breath through. Charlie was on a mat, under a blanket, which was inadequate. Sorry, Charlie.

Shiver, almost sleep, shiver, cover Charlie, stay awake, cover Charlie, sorta sleep, check watch, think, doze, wake. That was the night.

Charlie popped my Thermarest that morning. I guess we're even.

So, the next day was beautiful. And cold.

We hiked up to Deadman's Peak (7200 ft) and spent the "warm" part of the day up there. This made up for the night, and then some. The view of Shasta was exceptional, the vodka was just right, and the dogs got to rest.

We discussed the difference between misery and suffering, and decided that we were only suffering that night.

On the hike down from Deadmans, discomfort (both general and specific) gave us the kick we needed to say "No seriously, let's not repeat that."

In the end, it was fun. And cold.

For Those About To Murder The Classics

Almost nobody knew the song(s) all the way through, but these are the awesomest.

No amount of post-production could bring Katsten's vocals up, but it was fun as hell to put "Eru" and "Rockhouse" together for one epic jam.

There actually could be more cowbell.

Let me know if you want the mp3s, you know, for evidence.