Attitude Issues

Tom learns today that Linny (his best friend in the whole world) has the swine flu and is very sick, so it's off to Salt Lake in the morning to be with Linster. Today is Kobae and Tom's last hike together until March when Tom returns to pick Kobster up for his return to Base Camp.

In the wild, if Kobae doesn't like you, for any reason, he'll try to ram you, dog, sheep, big horn, people, doesn't matter, Kobae has some attitude issues........but it might be different in San Diego. Then again, maybe not.

Kobae Fan Club

Faded Midget (A post Tom thought made it, didn't)

By the time Tom heard the noise, the Faded Midget could have gotten him. Now located, Tom could get the Faded Midget. By catching him and releasing him on The Old Hoeneker, it is Tom's hope, they shall never meet again.

Tuesday Morning

Tom awakes Tuesday morning to a noise in the back yard. Ahh, Kobae's not happy with the deck furniture arrangement.

Kobae's First Day Back in San Diego

Let's see if he remembers his way around.

Kobae's Last Day at Base Camp

It took Tom and two disc golfers nearly an hour to get Kobae out of the tunnel he had dug. First by luring him out with lettuce, then Tom leapt into the hole to get him and he quickly retreated into the tunnel. Tom lured him out again and this time blocked the tunnel entrance with a shovel.

Kobae takes his last dinner at Base Camp before his Sunday nearly 800 mile journey to San Diego for the winter.

Kobae: Winter is Coming

Day temperature is 65 and nights are 40. Too cold for Kobster. He hasn't come out since a brief appearance on Wednesday. Each day Tom climbs down into the hole and feels his shell to make sure he's not cold. The ground temperature is reading between 56 and 58. It's time to take Kobster to San Diego for the winter. Saturday is his last day at the lodge and Sunday is departure day. If he doesn't come out Saturday, Tom will have to dig him out. Not going to be easy. He's way down there.

The Rain, Is Now the River

The Tuesday rain appears to have added six inches to a foot to the river. There are no longer sandbars visible.

Trouble on the Cliff Face?

As Tom travels to Moab. High on the canyon wall at about 4:15pm he can see a blue parka or sleeping bag. When he returns at 6:00pm, it hasn't moved. First picture, slightly left high center, up and down black slice of rock with a half slice to the right of it, the object is above the black slice, just into the sunlight. Tom watches for ten minutes, no movement. At the climbing spot called the Ice Cream Parlor, Tom notifies other climbers to check on the possibly stranded climber a short distance away after their descent. While these sorts of things happen periodically, Tom rarely learns how they end.

Down Hurrah

Hurrah

Up Hurrah

The Rain

The rain fell hard for nearly five hours. The drive way turned into a stream, the rainbow came, the river turned red, and all around Base Camp red, a deeper red, was the color of the day.

First Time

First time Tom has seen lizards eating Kobae leftovers.

Taking the Path Less Traveled

Dinner Time

When Kobae eats, everybody eats. When he's done, everybody is done.

The End of Wednesday

The Chase

Tortoise on a Mission

Kobae finally emerges from the depths and instead of hiking over to the porch as he usually does for food, he heads down the drive way for an apparent hike. Always when Kobae heads this direction, he turns right or left at this location. Left and Tom knows they are headed to Last Hurrah or Jackson Hole. Right and they are headed to #14, Dead End Canyon, Wind Caves, or Hurrah Pass. Today, Kobae doesn't turn left or right. He is on a mission. Straight down the drop off and straight for the sheep pen.

Pinto, Thelma, and Louise

Tom looks out the office window and sees Pinto, Thelma, and Louise looking in Kobae's hogan. It's the first time they have ever ventured up to the lodge. Though he's burrowed deep in the ground Kobae can see the entrance from his vantage point. When dogs do the same thing, Kobae later comes out and chases them (slowly) around the property. But come on, how's he going to chase three sheep?

First Light

The Chinle

Laura, one of Linny and Tom's favorite people returns to Base Camp to continue her study of the Chinle formation. Laura and Tom spend much of Monday hiking and climbing to the Chinle so Laura can take samples.

Kobae Knows The Way Home

In Search of Blue Heron

Saturday Evening

First Thing Every Morning

The Island

First Thing

First thing Tom sees each morning when he opens the front door, patiently waiting for his carrot.

Karen, Megan, Jared, and Chris

Karen, Megan, and Tom hike the Bighorn Trail. Jared, Chris, and Tom kayak the Colorado River.

Monday Says Good Night

Skinny People and a Thousand Eyes

Gaylen and Tom exit the Land of the Skinny People and enter a Place With a Thousand Eyes.

The Quiet River

One thing Tom has learned to enjoy about Base Camp is the quiet time paddling around the island and back up the other side. Today, he takes Shellie with him, and asks her to paddle briefly by herself so he can take some video. Like that, the quiet river was gone and you'd swear she'd been ask to give a kidney.

Keila and Kobae

Kobae wants to go hiking (always). Tom can't go today as he has guests. Keila volunteers to hike with Kobae. Tom gives Keila a walkie talkie to call if Kobae has attitude problems while on the hike. A few miles later Keila calls and says they are done. Kobae is resting in the shade and won't move. Tom ask Keila to herd Kobae to the road so Tom can pick them up in the jeep.