Adventures in Onionism

I just had a thought. If you started hiking from the Mexican border right about now, you'd make it to the Sierras (or the Rockies) as the snow was melting and the high passes could be done without much problem. Somebody ought to throw a party. Sad I'm not there; I had a blast at the last 4 ADZ's. I hope NITRO and the mantourage are having fun. Best of luck to this year's hikers, especially Gazelle, Marlow, and Team Bad Wizard on the CDT.

Do not congratulate me yet--I haven't gotten the official lollipop of approval from the lady in Sproul Hall yet, but I uploaded my dissertation to ProQuest, and I have submitted the form with the signatures of final approval from my adviser and other committee members. In other news, I have a cold. I also thought I had a cavity, but the dentist said that too was also just my cold. I am hoping I'll be better in time for the PCT 50 outside San Diego this Saturday, but I can't guarantee it. ADZPCTKO was awesome as usual. Mattress and Heinz were sorely missed this year, but Ducky, Nano, Nitro, and I were keeping hope alive. Thanks to the high precipitation winter, the wildflowers are crazy this year. I used the day on Saturday to go scout out some of the San Diego 100 course in Anza Borrego and Cuyamaca Rancho State Parks. Gorgeous. Representing. I rode the train home on Monday from San Diego to Emeryville. I didn't think it's as pretty as other routes I've taken. M...

What have I been up to lately? I did a speed workout at the track today (part of which was a disappointing 6:04 mile) and I'm getting my dissertation ready to file. I wrote two of my papers in LyX and one in Word, and I'm now converting everything to LaTeX. The next time I get a PhD I will be sure to write all my papers in straight LaTeX from the get-go, because that is how real men do it. This past weekend I set up my replacement Henry Shires Contrail in my backyard to seam-seal it, and realized that I own 6 tents, which is probably too many. Does anyone want a well-used Sierra Designs Lightyear or an REI Roadster? Also, a size-small Gregory G-pack, OR Rocky Mountain Gaiters, size 9-11 or so Yaktrax sole inserts, and similar sized NB inserts (all unused). All free to a good home. I've got a Contrail that's been used less than a dozen times, I think it's a 2007 model. I'm selling that for $120. Most importantly, I'm headed to San Diego on Thursday for the AD...

Last weekend I went down to San Diego (Lake Morena campground, specifically) for ADZPCTKO, AKA, the best weekend of the year. Thursday was Trail Jeopardy, Friday Nano, Gazelle, and I ran to Boulder Oaks and back. That's not that long a run (11 or so) but it was at a pretty good tempo with some good hills. Then instead of one Class of '09 video (that's typically just a bunch of photos of '09 hikers with way too much Ken Burns effect) as has been the case for the last five years, the organizers showed several short films submitted by hikers. The most memorable was probably Jester's Wizards of the PCT . It was fairly Squatch -esque in that it showed a bunch of silly hikers' exploits while also describing the trail. We just saw the desert portion, the whole thing will be finished later this year. (Also later this year, Squatch is hoping to film some friends going after the current 29-day speed record for the high point in each of the lower 48 states.) Saturday D...