Spout Hike

In January of 2003 (I think) Neil and I decided to attempt a hike to the spout (A wave driven fresh water geezer on the Southern Avalon Peninsula). This is trip didn't go so well and we didn't actually get to see the spout in it's winter glory. This Year we decided to have another go. The next few photos are of various stages of the trip. Here Neil is on the barrens about 2km from the spout.

Spout Hike

This is a view looking south from the top of the ridge above the spout.

Spout Hike

Neil Surveying the landscape, trying to pick a good route down from the ridge. There is only about 800m of woods between the foot of the ridge and the shore, but this is the hardest part of the trail. on our return in 2003 it took us about 8 hours to get through this section, yes, a speed of 100m/h. Deep snow and fallen trees made travel extremely difficult!

Spout Hike

The Spout is created as a small brook runs down a fracture in the rock leading to a submarine cave. Wave action pushes water in and out of this cave, as waves enter the cave they act like a piston and force air and brook water out through the fractures. In the summer this is a pretty impressive feature. In the winter the fresh water freezes forming a large cone, here we estimated that it is standing about 20 feet above the rock on which it stands.

Sliding at Flatrock

On the north west facing side of the beamer (a 1km long peninsula in Flatrock) the 550 million year old sea bed is exposed and dips at about 20 degrees to the west. This winter ice has formed on several parts of this surface making walking out there an interesting, but possibly dangerous way to pass an afternoon. We also found that the ice can be quite fun as if provides a great surface for sliding - no sled required! Unfortunately this image fails to convey the motion, but rest assured that you can reach some pretty high speeds sliding on these ice sheets.

It should be noted that the beamer is notorious for the lives claimed by the waves pounding it's shores. We were sliding well out of reach of the waves and separated from them by several hundred metres of grass, boulders and rather short trees.

Taking a spin out to Flatrock.

The last snow storm we had in the Northeast Avalon area ended, as most have this year, with heavy rain followed by rapid freezing. This has resulted in some impressive ice sheets. Form this image you may think that I have been foolish enough to drive out onto a frozen pond, however this is just a parking area covered in about 10cm (4 in) of ice. Most flat surfaces in this ares look like this now unless they have been salted. Many car parks, drive ways and even some roads have a healthy coat of ice.

Morning Light

Here is an image I shot back in November while on a prospecting trip on the Baie Verte Peninsula (Newfoundland). We Flew into this location by chopper and spent a week wandering around kicking rocks. This was one of the nicer mornings as it was neither snowing or raining.

Pot Shop, Salluit

Here in Salluit it can be hard to find some of the most basic supplies, I couldn't fine a hammer or paint brush the other day! Even basic food can be a problem, we went almost a week with no bread, milk or eggs in the shops. However the pot shop is always busy and I assume well stocked. Perhaps I should drop in there and see if they could order in some bread with the next shipment!

Chucking rocks in Salluit

My first post for a while. I went for a walk along the beach in Salluit the other evening and noticed some kids playing in a boat, and another kid doing what seem slike a popular pass time here, throwing stones. it is not unusual to see kids standing in the road throwing stones at each other, or at houses, windows, pretty much anything.

Climbing Comp. 2008

Today was a day of climbing - well, not for me - I was photographing, but Lewis did some great climbing. He came second in the Junior division at the Wallnuts Rockfall climbing comp. In this image he is negotiating the Junior final route, which he, and 3 others completed, drawing for first, so to break the draw they climbed in a super final on a different route, he placed second on that route. He did very well, Michelle and I are quite proud of him.

Back in Labrador

Yep, I enjoyed doing GPR in Labrador so much they sent me back to do some more. This time I am working on the Voisey Bay Mine site.
I have been hoping to get onto the Voisey Bay site since moving to Newfoundland 12 years ago. Not sure why, I guess I heard so much about Voisey Bay while I was in University, it is cool to be here - not that I'll see much of it. I think the survey is going to be quite "interesting" so there will not be much play time. I'll try to post some photos.

St. John's -> St. Anthony -> Blanc Sablon -> Goose Bay -> Postville

After about 30 hours home I am off again, not to the desert this time, but to a frozen lake in Labrador. I'll be working on a project to map the bottom of some lakes so the volume of the lakes can be calculated. I'll be using Ground Penetrating RADAR (GPR) towed behind a Skidoo and Sled over a frozen lake. I think it is going to be cold, but It should be interesting.
The plan is that I'll be there for a week, than I'll be going back to Torbay.

Photos to Follow.

The Strip, Vegas

Well I am on the road again, and am staying in Vegas tonight. We are a few blocks from the strip, so I thought that although it is not my thing I should have a walk down there. It is quite a place, it is amazing what money can buy and what an artificial world people can create.I Think I prefer the desert, sure things either have spines, or are poisonous, out there, but at least it is all real.

Trees!

While Exploring today we found some trees and some very nice cactii. The white mountains in the distance are Zion National park.

Hudu?

We started work early today to make the most of the cold (-4C) mornings before it gets too hot, so we were finished with enough time for some exploring. Kanab Canyon is just a few minutes drive north of Kanab. There are some interesting rock formations here, most of which are going to require another visit with a wide angle lens.


I think this is what is known as a Hudu. Basically a layer of very soft sandstone is protected from rain by a cap of harder sandstone. It is this differential weathering that lakes some of the dramatic landscapes around Utah and Arizona.

Northern Arizona

This is a shot of the desert, about 40 km south of Kanab. In the distance you can see the far side of a canyon, not sure how big this one is as we haven't had a chance to get any closer than this. The Grand Canyon is about 85 miles from here.

Kanab, Utah

Well after a very long day we made it to Kanab, Utah. This is the view that greeted me through my bedroom window.

RADAR Station

Over a year ago I visited the old RADAR station at Red Cliff, figuring it would be an interesting place for some photos of old, falling down buildings. Recently, looking at google earth I noticed that I missed some of the larger buildings, so I went back for another look on friday. There are two large buildings still standing and I think they have some potential for some intersting photos. Most of the rooms have few, or no windows, so i'll need to take a flash or some long exposured as I did with this image. It was created by HDR and tone mapping of 6 images.

Off to work

Well after a nice period working from home I am leaving again. I have taken work with a different company, so it is bye, bye Crone. I'll be working for GeoScott, a Newfoundland based company, but my first job with them will be in Arizona. I hope to have the opportunity for some interesting photos from there, so Keep an eye on my blog come Feb.

Moon Over Raglan

My first post for a while - only 6 days till I go home now. This shot was taken looking east from camp. As you can see it is getting pretty winery here now. It is still not too cold, I was working out side in a T shirt for a while today. I expect it will turn very cold, very soon.