(no subject)

Almost forgot a book, bad Java! I enjoyed, as per usual, the latest Nevada Barr mystery featuring Anna Pigeon, National Park Ranger. This one is called Hard Truth, is set in Rocky Mt. State Park, and features beautiful scenery, a former-rock climbing protagonist learning to live her life post-fall from a wheelchair, her elderly MD aunt, someone (two? three someones?) who isn't what they seem, a clan of polygamous Mormons, wolves, and a rescued kitten. Can you say, "Here I am, your demographic!"

There was an aside about trail maintenance that got my attention. The farther away from a main area it is, the less upkeep is performed on trails to allow experienced hikers to enjoy the feeling of discovering the trail for themselves. It was startling, actually. Here I always thought they were less maintained because it was so much more of a pain to get the materials back in there. Huh, and humphh! OTOH, they're right, and, it's probably both.

I've got to get out more. I signed up for a backpacking trip at the end of the month and am looking at other camping, backpacking, and hiking trips, and maybe kayaking training and/or sailing lessons. I might get back into leading hikes, too, except, then I have to be around. We'll see.