Lisa and I are on a trip to Northern California to do some hiking in the Redwoods National and State Parks. We had a very long travel day out here that went like this:

Colorado Springs to Denver
Denver to San Francisco
San Francisco to Medford Oregon
Drive from Medford to Crescent City California

The flight from Colorado Springs to Denver was short and uneventful albeit a little bumpy (the flight itself was less than 20 minutes, with a total travel time of 50 minutes from gate to gate). We had a short 30 minutes to get from the little puddle jumpers plane gates to the gates for the big boy planes, so we sped through the terminal to get to the next gate only to find out that all flights to San Fran were delayed due to weather.

After an hour delay we were finally on our way to San Francisco for the 2 hours and 17 minute flight, which was actually a fairly descent flight. In San Francisco we had to switch terminals from the big boy plane gates back to the little puddle jumper, regional aircraft gates. Here in this little and congested terminal it was apparent chaos. I want to say that every flight out of there was delayed for one reason or another and the gate agents really didn’t seem to know what they were doing. We also had airline staff in orange vests that didn’t really have anything to do but stand around. Our flight out of this terminal to Medford, Oregon was delayed “waiting for aircraft”, so we sat around people watching.

To board the plane, we had to go outside the terminal and walk over to a little prop plane (the plane only had 11 rows of seats) that kind of reminded me of what Indiana Jones might have flown in to Egypt back in the 1940′s. As we were walking to the plane, I noticed one of the same orange vested employees that was standing around *inside* the terminal, now standing around *outside* the terminal.

Now it was time for “Airline Passenger 101″. How hard is it to check your boarding pass, find your seat and sit down? And I was amazed at how many people had to go to the bathroom during a 60 minute flight. Remember this plane was very small, 1 seat on one side, 2 seats on the other and a very narrow aisle. When one person gets up it pretty much affects everyone else.

Anyway, it was a very long travel day. After we got to Medford we had to locate our luggage, which actually beat us there, get the car and drive two hours to Crescent City, CA. The drive was actually very pleasant.

Oh, if you’re wondering what the title of this post means: The flight attendant station on the small aircraft we flew on to Medford had several small storage compartments; we were noting the labels on them:

• Tissues
• Plastic Cups
• Napkins
• Misc. Storage
• Beer
• Hand Hold Rope For Ditching (I don’t really know what this means)

After Earth

After Earth

Movie review by Jeff Lucas

The good news about After Earth, the new science fiction epic starring the father and son team of Will and Jaden Smith, is that it isn’t nearly as bad as most critics make it out to be. The bad news is it’s still only an average genre film. It makes the similarly themed Oblivion seem like a classic. None of that will matter to moviegoers who let popular opinion and the internet make up their minds for them instead of seeing it for themselves.

To make matters worse, the director is M. Night Shyamalan, whose early career highs (The Sixth Sense, Signs) have been understandably overshadowed by some recent lows (The Woman In The Water, The Happening). While not exactly a return to form, After Earth is a descent sci-fi adventure.

Set 1000 years in the future after an ecological cataclysm has forced humanity to vacate the Earth and settle on a new planet called Nova Prime, the story concerns itself with the broken relationship between heroic space Ranger general Cypher Raige (Smith the elder) and his teenage military cadet son Kitai (Smith the younger). When Kitai fails to advance from cadet to Ranger, he fears his bond with his father has been broken for good. Heeding his wife’s (Sophie Okonedo) advice to be a father to the boy instead of a commanding officer, Cypher takes the Kitai with him on a space voyage.

The point of their mission has something to do with transporting an alien monster called an Ursa from one base to another. Whatever the reason, the Ursa is a symbol of the fracture between father and son. Cypher is famous for killing an Ursa years ago. We learn later, through a series of flashbacks, that Kitai’s older sister Senshi (Zoe Kravitz) was killed by an Ursa while her younger brother hid. (As an aside, I wonder why they named the creature Ursa. It looks nothing like a bear. Or am I being too literal?)

A freak asteroid storm causes their ship to crash on the abandoned Earth, which is now overrun with dangerous, mutated animals and has an atmosphere which is no longer breathable for humans without chemical aid. With his father gravely injured, it is up to Kitai to make a dangerous journey across an alien (to him) landscape to retrieve a communication device to call for rescue. The dying Cypher can only advise Kitai via radio from the crashed ship. Did I mention the Ursa escaped during the crash? Some of this is quite exciting such as when Kitai is attacked by angry baboons. A flying sequence is also exhilarating. Other parts aren’t as believable, as when the boy runs from dropping temperatures. (Yes, that’s right. He runs from the cold. Hey, Jake Gyllenhaal did it in The Day After Tomorrow!)

Jaden Smith spends most of the movie with the same worried look on his face. I’m not sure if this is due to Jaden’s limited acting abilities or if it was a creative decision. When you think about it, the hero’s journey takes him from scared boy to confident young man. He must start as one type of person in order to arrive as another type at the end. Will Smith doesn’t fare much better. The actor’s patented smile and charisma are wasted on the role of a stern authority figure.

While not completely unoriginal, the story does remind me of the old Star Trek episode Arena, in which Capt. Kirk must take on the reptilian alien Gorn in unarmed combat. All the while, Spock and the Enterprise crew can only look on helplessly from space via video screen. Maybe it’s not fair to say After Earth reminds me of the TV episode. Everything reminds me of Star Trek. The TV episode itself was based on a short story by Fredric Brown.

Movies live and die by the fickle factoids of opinion from our fractured mass media. Opinion makers compete to see who can make the most sarcastic comment about a new movie, often without any firsthand knowledge. Many people never read past the headlines about any topic in the news. Hopefully, audiences will make up their own minds and give this like-able, fast-paced adventure a chance.

Epic Movie

Epic Movie Review

By Jeff Lucas

What do you get when you mix together equal parts of Star Wars, The Lord Of The Rings and Alice In Wonderland along with a smattering of characters kids have come to expect from contemporary animated films? The answer is the colorful and exciting new animated movie Epic. Ice Age and Robots director Chris Wedge has created a melting pot of action and fantasy movie greatest hits that should please summer movie audiences eager for the next big thing.

The story starts with an introduction to the tiny world of the Leaf Men. They are kind of like pint-sized Jedi Knights. Although they are small, they are not lacking in heroism. They must protect their kingdom from the evil, decay-spreading Boggans. Think shark-faced, anthropomorphic bugs. Queen Tara of the leaf people has the power to keep the forest alive and heal the plants from the onslaught of Boggan leader Mandrake.

Meanwhile, human teenager Mary Katherine (M.K. for short) has been sent to live with her eccentric father Professor Bomba. M.K. thinks her dad is cracked because he believes there is a civilization of tiny people in his backyard. Before long, M.K. is shrunk down to leaf size and sent on a quest by the queen. She must see the queen’s magical bud safely delivered to a glowworm called Nim Galuu. The queen’s bud will produce her heir.

M.K. is aided along the way by the heroic Ronin, the head of the queen’s guard and by the laid-back Nod, a Leaf Man dropout who would rather be drag racing on bird back instead of facing his responsibilities as a soldier. The cute quotient is provided by Mub, a slug, and Grub, a snail. Most of the comedy relief comes from this slimy, but likeable, duo. It’s their job to keep the bud moist (yuck!). My favorite character is the worm Nim Galuu who is equal parts librarian and revival show preacher with the face of actor Michael J. Pollard.

Characters from M.K.’s world are also mainly included to lighten the story. Professor Bomba, who stumbles around the forest looking for the tiny inhabitants is referred to by the leaf people as a ‘stomper’. Bomba’s one-eye and three-legged pug Ozzie doesn’t let his disabilities slow him down.

Of course the bad guys are hot on the trail of M.K. and company. Mandrake has the power to rot any life in his path and wants the queen’s bud to produce an heir for him instead of the leaf people. Mandrake has one of the funniest lines in the picture. Referring to a minion who is draped in a rodent pelt, Mandrake comments, “You look good in rat. It’s very slimming.”

Fans of fantasy adventures will recognize the tropes of the genre. The quest and epic battles will surprise no one, but are handled well here. A climactic aerial battle between bird-mounted Leaf Men and bat-riding Boggans is a direct call back to the Star Wars Death Star scene.

Not surprisingly, the film has an ecological message. It is best exemplified by Ronin, who explains that his people have “many leaves, but only one tree.” That line could have been cribbed from Avatar.

Parents of children 8 to 10 years old should be safe in taking their kids to this PG-rated adventure. Epic is more violent than Finding Nemo or Toy Story. And the 100 minute length might be too long for younger kids.

Section 16 Trail Head

For memorial day, Lisa and I decided to get up early to beat the crowds and hit a trail. Known as “Section 16″ (AKA Palmer Red Rock Trail Loop), this is a nice 6 mile loop that is very close to town. However since it is so close to town, it’s also very popular; we met quite a few hikers, runners and bikers on this trail. I recommend that if you head out to this trail on the weekend or holiday, you get an early start in the morning.

To get here, take the U.S. 24/Cimarron Street exit and continue for about 2 miles, turn left on 26th Street. Continue for about 1.4 miles to the 4-way stop and turn right on Gold Camp Road. Continue for less than a mile to the little parking area on the right. If it is full here, continue up the road for additional parking.

Intermann Trail Cutoff

Starting at the trail head, the hike climbs steadily and is a pretty good cardio workout. At about mile 0.95, the trail forks; take the left fork which continues on as Palmer Red Rock Trail, the right fork (Intermann Trail cutoff) will take you to the Red Rocks Canyon Open Space. From here the incline of the hill starts in earnest and can get pretty steep at times. Mile 1.5 starts a series of switchbacks, which makes the climb a little bit easier until you get to the top at mile 2.0. Pause here for a rest and some great views.

View at Top of Switchbacks

From here it’s all downhill with more great views. The trail continues through a heavily wooded area on a gentle downhill slope. You’ll cross a little wooden bridge at mile 3.6; this is another great spot to sit down on a rock, rest and enjoy the shady wooded area. Continue down as the trail connects to a dirt road after forking (we took the left fork, I believe either fork will take you to the same ending spot) which then connects to a paved intersection at Bear Creek Road and Gold Camp Road. If you parked at the trail head, turn left onto Gold Camp Road (watch out for traffic) over the hill and back to the parking lot.

This is a nice little hike clocking in close to 6 miles for the entire loop. The trail can get very crowded during peak times, so watch out for runners and bikers coming from both directions. There are plenty of areas to take in the views and sit down to relax in a nice shady area, so make sure to take advantage of these.

Star Trek Into Darkness

One movie that I have been very excited about is the new Star Trek movie. My brother in law Jeff was kind enough to contribute the following movie review. Thanks for the great write-up Jeff!

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Star Trek Into Darkness

Movie review by Jeff Lucas

Kirk, Spock, Bones and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise are back with another spectacular space adventure. Any doubts about whether director J.J. Abrams could deliver a sequel worthy to his 2009 Star Trek reboot can be laid to rest. Star Trek Into Darkness blasts off with a bravura opening sequence and doesn’t let up until the final credits roll. Along the way, the story touches on themes friendship, duty, loyalty and sacrifice. And let’s not forget, this movie is a lot of fun.

The opening scene proves screenwriters Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof know these iconic characters inside and out. During a perilous mission to a primitive planet, Kirk (Chris Pine) breaks the rules in order to save Spock (Zachary Quinto) who is, in turn, ready to make the ultimate sacrifice to complete the mission and save his friends.

Back on Earth, a mysterious conspiracy leads to a suicide bombing in London. Kirk and crew, after receiving demotions and re-assignments by Starfleet brass over the botched mission, are briefed on the prime suspect identified as former fleet officer John Harrison. Another attack, this time on Starfleet headquarters takes the life of a father figure of Kirk’s.

The head of Starfleet, Admiral Marcus (Peter Weller) reinstates Kirk and crew and sends them on a mission to the Klingon home world of Kronos. Harrison is supposedly hiding out there. The Enterprise crew is armed with some new high-tech drone missiles with which they are to blow the suspect to bits without alerting the Klingons. Needless to say, nothing goes according to plan and the situation is much less cut and dry than Marcus originally presented it to Kirk and crew. A mysterious stowaway (Alice Eve) complicates matters. There are obvious parallels to current evens, but that’s nothing new for Star Trek.

These new Treks would be hollow spectacle if the characterization were not spot on. McCoy (Karl Urban) is just as crusty and cynical as ever. He even gets to utter one of his famous ‘Dammit, I’m a doctor, not a …’ lines. Scotty (Simon Pegg) offers some comic relief, but also has a sub-plot of his own. Uhura (Zoe Saldana) uses her skills as a linguist as well her skills as a warrior. Sulu (John Cho) proves his mettle as a pilot and a command officer. Even Checkov (Anton Yelchin), the least experienced member of the command crew, gets a promotion under fire.

Kirk and Spock are given the opportunity to grow as characters. As the film opens, they are still bickering the way they did in the previous adventure. By the climax, in an eerie mirror image of a scene from a previous Trek film, the two comrades reverse roles. This shows how much they’ve grown to appreciate and understand each other.

Benedict Cumberbatch (What a great name!) as the terrorist Harrison is the real revelation here. His commanding presence and booming voice are matched only by his ability to flip a switch between sympathy and villainy. There has been much speculation about Harrison’s true identity. Suffice it to say Into Darkness is not a remake of Wrath Of Khan.

Visually, this movie is a tour de force. Whether hurtling through space or careening through a city, everything is expertly rendered and absolutely believable. A chase between small spacecraft among the ruins of a Klingon city stands out. Critics and fan boys alike have decried Abrams’ use of lens flares in his previous films. While still present in this film, they are not as glaring (Pun intended).

In an obvious nod to fans, there are several quick references to Star Trek lore. Gorns and Harry Mudd are mentioned. Even a fuzzy Tribble shows its face… make that its body. For the most part, this works. It’s only in the previously mentioned climactic scene that the filmmakers may have gone too far in service of fandom. It just rings hollow. Add to that a bit of Deus Ex Machina and the movie has its only real flaws.

With J.J. Abrams likely unavailable for an inevitable sequel due to his commitment to direct the next Star Wars film, the future of the Star Trek franchise will probably lie in the hands of others. For now, Trekkers and movie fans alike will enjoy this amazing experience.

Packing for several days or more in the backcountry is always a daunting task; it’s a balance between what I need/want for the trip and a comfortable weight to carry on the trail. Even though it is sometimes very difficult putting together the items I will take with me, I also find it to be a very fun and satisfying part of the whole experience.

Over the years I have put together a checklist that I go through as I am packing. Usually I lay everything out on the floor that I *think* I want to take with me, then as I pack it I check it off the list. Here is a version of the checklist I use; feel free to modify for your own use and have fun!

CLOTHES
___ boots
___ sock(s)
___ liner sock(s)
___ gaiters*
___ camp shoes*
___ lightweight underwear*
___ midweight underwear*
___ expedition underwear*
___ fleece liner gloves*
___ hat
___ fleece jacket*
___ long-sleeve shirt
___ long fleece pants*
___ rain poncho
___ wind/rainproof jacket
___ wind/rainproof pants
___ shorts for hiking
___ towel and/or bandana

SHELTER & SLEEPING
___ tent
___ ground cloth
___ sleeping bag
___ sleeping bag liner*
___ sleeping pad
___ sitting pad*
*Optional items – Some items may become a requirement if hiking in cooler weather

PACKING
___ backpack
___ pack cover or large trashbag
___ daypack, fanny pack
___ ziploc freezer bags
___ lashing twine/straps
___ stuff/compression sacks

COOKING & FOOD
___ drinks(coffee, tea, cocoa)
___ electrolytes
___ food
___ breakfast
___ lunch/snacks
___ dinners
___ condiments*
___ vitamins*
___ water filter/purifier/iodine
___ water bottles
___ water bottle jacket*
___ cook pot
___ cook/eating utensils
___ insulated cup (w/lid)
___ stove & fuel
___ matches, lighter

NAVIGATION
___ compass
___ maps
___ notepad & pencil*
___ eye glasses/contacts
___ headlamp or flashlight
___ extra batteries
___ GPS unit*
___ altimeter*
___ guide book/notes*
*Optional items – Some items may become a requirement if hiking in cooler weather

OTHER ESSENTIALS
___ toilet paper(in ziplock baggie)
___ first-aid kit
___ prescribed medicine
___ knife or multitool
___ waterproof matches
___ firestarter
___ candles*
___ sun glasses*
___ sunscreen
___ Lip balm w/sunscreen
___ bug repellant
___ plastic whistle
___ signal mirror
___ one days extra food

MISC.
___ sewing kit
___ parachute cord
___ fishing gear*
___ duct tape
___ camera, film, tripod*
___ toilet paper
___ toothbrush
___ toothpaste
___ repair kits
___ Therma-Rest chair*
___ binocular/monocular*
___ candle/oil lantern*
___ cards, games*
___ rubber bands
___ watch
___ reading material*
*Optional items – Some items may become a requirement if hiking in cooler weather

Heizer Trail Start

Instead of going to the gym on this Sunday May 12, Lisa and I decided that we would go for a hike instead. This was kind of a last minute decision and we didn’t get started until later in the afternoon. We decided to try the Heizer Trail again; we hiked on this one before but turned around before we got to the top, mostly because of the hot weather (but we also kind of wimped out). The trail is very close to Colorado Springs; a short jaunt up U.S. Highway 24 will get you there pretty quick.

Now a couple things about the Heizer Trail:

1. It’s not easy to find.
2. It’s all uphill.
3. You are rewarded with some great views of Pike’s Peak if you make it to the top, and keep on going a little ways longer.

To get there, take the Cimarron Street exit off of I-25 and head west on U.S. Highway 24 up to Cascade. Once you get to Cascade you’ll see signs directing you to the Pike’s Peak Highway and come to a signaled intersection by Wines of Colorado, take a left here. Take another left on Emporia and then another left on Park Street. Then take yet another left on Anemone Hill Road. This a one lane road that dead ends at private property. The only place to park is in an area that says “No Parking, Snowplow Turnaround Area” (or some such thing). Park here. Then you’ll have to walk 50 feet or so to the trail head.

Me at mile 0.61 with highway 24 in the background.

Around mile 1.77 there is a good place to rest at a rock outcropping with some more excellent views. You’ll get a brief reprieve from all the uphill around mile 2.01 with a little downhill portion, but then you hit a little more uphill until around mile 2.39 where the trail flattens out and starts heading more downhill. This is where you’ll start seeing some awesome views of Pike’s Peak!

View of Pike’s Peak Mile 2.54

To be honest, we’re not really sure where this trail ends. At mile 2.97 there is a trail intersection and a sign indicating several different trails. I think that the actual end of the Heizer Tail is at the top of the main uphill portion at around mile 2, but it’s hard to say for sure. We ended up stopping and turning around at mile 3.12.

Overall, this is a very nice hike, if you can get through the first 2 miles of uphill. I would recommend this trail for an awesome cardio and leg workout. If you would like to see all the photos from this hike go to Heizer Trail Photo Album on Google. Some interesting statistics from our hike:

Total Distance: 6.2 miles round trip
Lowest Elevation: 7450 feet
Highest Elevation: 9287
Elevation Gain: 2050 feet

So here it is the beginning of May. Here along the front range of Colorado, we have actually had a bit of snow at the beginning of this month. Even though we need the moisture, I am really hoping that was the end of winter-type weather. I am most definitely ready for some summer activities! Lisa and I have already been out on a couple bike rides this season, but we are really looking forward to getting out there and doing some hiking. I have several goals for this summer from an outdoor activity perspective:

• There’s a short trail nearby that is almost entirely uphill the entire length called the Heizer Trail. I want to hit this on a fairly regular basis for conditioning purposes.
• Knock out a couple more sections of the Colorado Trail. Lisa and I started the goal last year of hiking the entire Colorado Trail segment by segment, starting with Segment 2.
• We are planning a trip to Northern California to do some hiking in the Redwoods Parks (state and national). This is something that Lisa and I are both really looking forward to.
• Backpacking trip: I’m currently planning a backbacking trip with a couple buddies to occur in mid-summer.
• Get out there as much as possible; the summer goes by way to fast!

I’m hoping to take good notes and photos of each hiking and backbacking trip to post here (we’ll see how that goes).

There are many things you can say the book of Genesis is about: It’s a book about creation, a book about the beginning of God’s chosen people, a book about sin, a book about redemption and a book about God’s power (among other things). For me it is also a book about how people should and should not conduct themselves in their daily lives.

In the last few chapters of Genesis we learn about Joseph. Now Joseph is one of those amazing characters of the Bible who is able to conduct themselves with integrity in all situations. Joseph goes from the lowest of the lows, to the highest of the highs in society of that day. As I was reading about Joseph, I was reminded of a couple verses the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians:

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” -Philippians 4:12-13 NIV

Now the way I see it, Joseph definitely knew both of these extremes very well. He went from being the favored son of Jacob (Israel) to being sold into slavery. From being thrown in prison, to being the second most powerful person in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself. However in each of these circumstances, Joseph stays close to God and conducts himself in such a way that those around him can see God at work in him.

Joseph didn’t feel sorry for himself while forgotten in prison nor did he get a big head when Pharaoh put him in charge of all of Egypt. I think people, Christians and non-Christians alike, tend to conduct themselves poorly when there is a major change in their life. They either blame God and say He has abandoned them when things go wrong, or become arrogant when things go right. I know this has been a struggle in my life.

Staying close to God in every situation; this is one of the major lessons I have learned in this study. The other is that God is sovereign and His will be done no matter what we do to try and change it. This is something we see time and time again throughout Genesis. And yes, I have learned that God’s will and plan does include some suffering; there is no way around this. God uses suffering in our lives to grow our character and bring about change in us.

We still have a couple weeks left in Genesis, then we’re off for the summer and start up the Matthew study in September.

Paul

Pike’s Peak from the Midland Trail. April 14, 2013

Today we took a short bike ride on the Midland Trail in Colorado Springs. This hasn’t been our favorite trail to ride our bikes on. It’s fairly disjointed, having to cross several intersection, ride on sidewalks and busy streets to connect various parts of the actual trail.

There are some nice views of Pike’s Peak and the trail goes right by Old Colorado City; we stopped at Colorado Chocolate Factory and picked up some goodies.

We were only riding for about 2 hours, but it was still a fun afternoon!

It seems like the trail just ended close to Manitou Springs at the Briarhust Manor where some deer were chillaxin’ on the lawn.