Thursday, October 04, 2012

The Story Behind the Top Gear Caravan Airship

In Top Gear (UK - the only real Top Gear) Series 14, Episode 3 James May and Richard Hammond continue their ongoing war against road-clogging caravans by trying a new technology to remove them from the road.  The idea was to make an airship out of a small caravan.  The aviation minded James May would pilot the airship in a race with Richard Hammond driving a special addition Lamborghini Gallardo.  In the episode James May "accidentally" penetrated the controlled airspace of Norwich International Airport while Richard Hammond chases him from below in a one of the few rear wheel drive modern Lamborghini's.  The footage is wonderful, with cuts of the giant red airship billowing in the wind as it drifts above a landing Q400 and is later intercepted by a police helicopter.



In actuality, the scene was well planned along with the construction of the airship.  It was built and piloted by by Lindstrand Balloons and certified by Britain's CAA.  The story behind the science and construction of building the airship compliment the Top Gear episode perfectly.  Check it out.

Monday, October 01, 2012

Fall M Coupe Barbecue 2012

Fall is officially here, which means it's time for the M Coupe Buyers Guide Fall Barbecue.  M Coupe Buyers Guide is the best M Coupe resource on the internet.  We meet at its creator Jon's house every spring and fall to stretch our car's legs a little and geek out in his driveway.  This year we had a record setting 9 M Coupes, 2 M Roadsters, 3 E90 M3's, 2 E36 M3's, and 2 motorcycles.  My brother John flew out for the weekend and drove the new addition to my fleet, a track prepped M Roady (I'll post more about that later).

The New Addition


As the cars rolled into Jon's neighborhood the numbers in attendance this year became staggering compared to previous years.  Lindsey travelled the farthest distance, coming all the way from Bozeman, MT in his Cosmos Black M Coupe with gold wheels.  Colby had the newest addition, with his nearly mint Dakar Yellow M Coupe.  Seth, who I met by refusing to allow his oil to be changed at Jiffy Lube came up with his Estoril Blue M Coupe.

A Record 9 M Coupes





After the obligitory photo session we drove out usual route through Poudre Canyon and Stove Prairie.  The High Park Fire this year had scorched large swaths of the canyon, while the ongoing drought had reduced the Poudre River to a trickle.  The colors of the canyon were diverse, with the usual yellow and orange colors contrasted deeply by black and greys in the burned areas.  There was a certain beauty to the destruction that contrasted the vivid colors of our M Coupe's brilliantly.  The impact of the fire on the community, even after three months, was still fresh.  Signs thanking firefighters were posted by many residents and on Stove Prarire helicopters were dropping straw on mud slide prone burn areas.

80 Years of Automobile Evolution Separated by a Gas Pump



Staging Before the Canyon


Colby's Dakar Yellow M Coupe


Firefighter Gratitude


John Driving the M Roady


Into the Canyon




Drought Stricken Poudre River Slowed to a Trickle


More Gratitude


Headed Up Stove Prairie




See the Helicopter?


John and I had to break off at the end of the drive, but not until we all got together for one last photo session overlooking Horsetooh Reservior.  

One Last Group Shot


John in the Roady


Thursday, September 27, 2012

Wyoming - Cirque of the Towers

The last part of our Wyoming trip would be spent in the Wind River Range.  I've been flying over the "Winds" for the better part of ten years and have yet to loose interest staring down at the most desolate mountain range in the Continental US.  We would be hiking in at the Big Sandy Trailhead for a 48 hour backpack encompassing two nights after our 5:00pm departure.  Big Sandy is the main access point for the Southern Wind River Range resulting in the many cars at the lot and crowds on the main trail that belay the remoteness of the mountain range.  A few miles in the crowds thin out significantly, although I did see a few disturbing instances of poor back country etiquette, namely poop on the trail.

The Cirque of the Towers from 30,000 Feet


Driving into No-Mans-Land


Foothills


Sprinting Pronghorn


We were meeting Jonny V and Sean C at Big Sandy Lake.  They had already established a camp off the main trail before it climbed over Jackass Pass.  We were backpacking off the couch with 40lb and 50lb packs.  It was a slow 6 miles up, but we ran into Jonny V on the way.  We made it to camp just before dark.  Jonny V and Sean had spent the previous week climbing some of the classic routes in the Cirque of the Towers, but planned a rest day hike with us on the following day.  We caught up, shared some laughs, bear-proofed our food, and crashed out.

Our Gear



Setting Off


Easy Hike



Sunset Over Big Sandy Creek


Entering the Bridger Wilderness - No Hang Gliding!


Meeting Up with Jonny V.


All Smiles


Dinner


The next day we got up early and planned a hike up Jackass Pass to the Cirque of the Towers.  To keep the weight down Jo and I were hiking with only one Nalgene each, meaning lots of stops to "make water".  Sunrise water runs to the shore of Big Sandy Lake rewarded me with some of the most captivating scenes of the trip.  The hike up to The Cirque was a steep climb, but we had only a small pack between us so we made good time.  The route took us by several pristine alpine lakes, who's crystal clear water begged me to jump in for a swim.  Hypothermia was my only deterrent.

Morning






Making Water


Breakfast


Headed up the Jackass Pass


Looking Down at Big Sandy Lake


North Creek


Brown Trout You Could Touch



War Bonnet Peak Over North Lake


Our Crew


At Arrowhead Lake we broke off the main trail and climbed a boulder field under War Bonnet Peak.  The VW Beatle-sized boulders had equally massive holes between them that would result in certain injury if fallen into.  The climb up the boulder field ended in a narrow pass that acted as our gateway to one of the most beautiful places I have ever experienced. The Cirque of the Towers is a deeply carved bowl-shaped valley surrounded on three sides by precipitously steep vertical walls.  The peaks that make up the cirque are Shark's Nose, Lizard Head, Warbonnet, Warrior, Wolf's Head, and Pingora Peaks.  Almost all of them have classic climbing routes that attract climbers from all over the world.  At bottom of the cirque is Lonesome Lake which is fed by a clearwater stream meandering down the cascading natural staircase that is formed by the base of the peaks.

Arrowhead Lake & The Boulder Field


Snow


Entering the Cirque of the Towers


Pingora Peak


The Falls


360 Degree Pans



Our Crew


Lonesome Lake


Near the water falls at the center of The Cirque we took in the grandeur of our surroundings and enjoyed a lunch of trial mix and twizzlers.  After lunch, I volunteered to rescue a plastic knife Jonny and Sean had accidentally dropped into the creek by submerging the top half of my body in the freezing water.  I'll save you the dramatic descriptions and just say it was Fucking Cold!  After operation knife rescue was complete we hiked down to the lake in search of moose.  On the way marmots and pika scurried through rocky areas, but the pika were too elusive for me to photograph.  Pika are one of North America's most climate change-affected animals, ironically, freezing to death in thinner and thinner snow packs.  I really wanted to snap a good shot, but just couldn't land one.

Marmot


Mitchell Peak


Lunch


War Bonnet Peak from the Cirque


Hiking Back Down the Boulder Field


Blue / Green Water of North Lake



Racing the Sun


On the hike back down to our camp we raced the sun, making it just before dark.  At dinner Sean shared his Velveeta Mac & Cheese, which combined with my huge appetite and a dusting of bacon bits, was the best Mac & Cheese I've ever had.  I would need it for the hike out in the morning.

Mac & Cheese with Bacon Bits for Dinner



At sunrise Jo and I hiked over to Black Joe Creek to make water.  It would be the last morning of our trip so I made sure to soak in it.  As the sun rose steadily between the peaks, its orange rays painted the valley in morning light. The warm rays cut through the chilled air over the glassy-still water of Big Sandy Lake.  The effect made all the little details of the moment come alive; the moss on the rocks, the flowers in the fields, even a simple brown moth reflected a medley of colors.

Morning


Sunrise Rays


Glassy-Still Water of Big Sandy Lake


Morning Colors







Another Water Run





The hike out was mildly painful, but nothing like what Jonny and Sean experienced with their 70lb packs.  And they had to make two trips to hump all the climbing gear out!  At the trailhead I found a swimming hole in Big Sandy Creek and forced myself into the freezing water.  It was paralyzing at first, but after a few moments of intense pain my body surrendered to the cold.  The relaxing effect was intoxicating, but soon my thoughts and pulse slowed to a sluggish pace meaning it was time to get out.  For over an hour the muscle tissue deep below my skin was cold to the touch.  It was a perfect way to end a great trip.

Hiking out




Ouch



Tired Dogs


The Coldest Swimming Hole Ever




Trout's Eye View



Long Drive Home