Highlights of 2011

The year is just about in the books and it was so full of change it made my head spin.  Lousy PHD programs took another one of my closest friends across the country.  So there was one less number to call for last minute trips which led to a lot of solo mountain bike rides and tamer outings.  I hit up the Honky Tonk Happy Hour after work on Fridays like it was my job and found a whole new family of Honky Tonkers.  When I needed a break from it all there was always the baseball diamond.  I went to more baseball games than I ever have in a single season in 2011, and had a winning streak that lasted until the final game I went to.  My record of attended White Sox games ended at 6-1.

Opportunity came knocking more than once, I climbed Camel Back Mountain at dawn outside of Phoenix, AZ.  There was more climbing with the Chicago Mountaineering Club, I went to Devils lake 3 times, my cousin invited me on a 4 day fishing trip to Lake Clinton (I still have never caught a fish) and took a trip out to Yosemite that really got my head right.   I saw the sun rise and set all over the country.  My GoPro Hero Helmet Camera became my favorite piece of gear.  I documented my morning commute, cross country mountain biking, rock climbing and anything else that caught my eye.  I saw some amazing art and some great rock shows.  

By the numbers I spent a total of 11 days sleeping with my head in the dirt, climbed 30 pitches with 5 days on the rock,  3 days of skiing, 0 powder days.   I was on a bike around 300 days this year with an estimated 5500 miles of pavement behind me. 7 White Sox games and 2 Cubs games.

The year started off with a blizzard that shut down the whole city.

Lake Michigan right after the blizzard.

This sunset photo took me so far from my back porch where it was taken.

A happy day with Dr. Vincent Pham who was bound for sunny California.

One of many Chicago White Sox winners including my first Opening Day.

A fog on the lakefront path.

Go Go White Sox.

My Go Pro helmet camera mounted on my touring bike.

May Arizona trip to visit with Chris and his wife Kassie. 

Top of Camel Back Mt. AZ.

The "L" ride home on the Orange Line.  The end of my AZ. trip.

Go Pro Rig on my MTB.

4th of July with Melissa. 
I took this picture after every White Sox winner it was my good luck charm.
Ozzie would leave the team come the season's end.

The Beer and Crew for Tour de Fat.
 I love it when the mountain culture comes to me.

The Bikes.

The Ballyhoo.

Devils lake.  One of many trips.

Brendan leading my first multi-pitch climb in Yosemite National Park.

Atop Tenaya Peak in Tuolomne Meadows in Yosemite National Park.

California Sunset.

Brendan and me atop Cathedral Peak.  It was bad ass.

The Honky Tonkers got out of the bar and went on the road to the Homer days Harvest Festival.

At summers end this sunset appeared over the Yorkville Days festival grounds.

A day a of hiking at Devils Lake Wisconsin.

I never quite saw the park like this before.

Magic Hour atop the East Bluff Trail.

Wisconsin Dells.

Best Halloween costume ever.  Aron Ralston anyone?

 

The best Thanksgiving turkey fry in all of Chicago had me keeping the beat into the night with Steve and Jonathan. 

I did a lot of living this year. Here's to next year's adventures.

Chicago Winter Survival Guide

Satellite view after last years blizzard.

Home sweet H.O.M.E.S.

Nowhere else in the world have I heard the weather described in finite terms.  In the middle west it is rampant.  The second that September comes around it is echoed through out the land, "Summer is gone"  It is said with the absolute certainty that it will never be back.  Ever.  I get it people are getting their minds set for a cold and brutal couple of months.  The winters here are survivable though and we make it to Summer every year.   I personally love Old Man Winter.  The year before I started biking in the winter though I had it tough.  Now I have my own set of helpful tips.

Number one: Hibernation is not an option.  I know too many Chicagoans that bury themselves under blankets and wait for their late February/early March trip to Arizona.  Get out in it.   Stay just as active as  in the summer months and you will change with the seasons.  I ride my bike all winter and besides the clothes I wear I don't notice much of a difference.  However clothing does matter.  The majority of my winter layers started out as inexpensive GI gear bought at an Army Navy surplus or handed down from servicemen friends and relatives.   Season by season I upgraded one piece to a sport specific article.  Now this is what gets me though most of what mother nature tosses at me.  Remember there's no bad weather only bad clothing.   Chicago's average wind chill is 24∘

A fleece lined wind breaker and jersey for temps down to 40∘.

Below 40∘ I add a base layer.

At 30∘and lower I add a fleece vest.

With shorts that convert to pants for the teens and below.  

A full length bib is under it all.

Number Two:  Keep a rosy view.  What really gets to me is not the biting cold its the lack of sunshine.  Chicago gets and estimated 43% sunshine in the winter and it will get you down.  I've gone to extreme lengths to see the hope of sunshine.  Even woke up to see it at the horizon before it went into a cloud covered sky.  However even this is not the answer because sleep deprivation won't help you any either.  In comes eye wear.  I advocate protecting your peepers all the time.  Invest in some interchangeable sunglasses.  Mine not only have an amber lens but a rose colored one also.  Switching them in for the doom and gloom outside might just trick your brain enough to where you don't notice the gray so much.  And when it is too windy I bust out my ski goggles.  Go with a low tint and you will be able to wear them at night with the aid of street lights.

 

For my head I have a GI Issue insulated helmet liner.

The chin strap goes in the holes and under the chin.

The peripheral vision is unobstructed.  This thing is perfect.

Number Three: Fire and Friends.  Find your self a bar with a fireplace and invite your friends.  Support is crucial and there is something about a fire that makes things special.  One of my warming memories is going to a friends house for a dead of winter BBQ every Monday and eating in front of their wood burning stove.  It is something I've been meaning to recreate at my current locale.  Give yourself something to look forward to every week and you won't be counting down the days till Spring Training in Glendale.  So keep the grill out and for a list of pubs with fire places click here.

Finally keep a weathered eye here are some of my favorite weather sights with lakefront cams. NOAA and Midwest HazeCam.