Peary was an asshole.

This is probably the most recent book to come out about the whole Peary/Cook "Polar Controversy". Now I'm not sure what to think about it. One thing is for sure though, Peary was a milk-whet mamma's boy and a ruthless fame-seeker. He was also a toeless old fart with a huge crew in his 1909 "discovery" of the Pole. Cook was quiet and meek, not boastful, and he was a friend to Amundsen, who seems awesome (though I've not yet read full bios on him) and pioneer of ultralight travel. Well, it sure was a good read.

drawin an' a hikin'

So I gave up awhile ago on trying to track my progress in training for the PCT thru-hike. Lets just say I'm gettin into it. The weather's getting nicer, I've started exploring my local hikes... testing my endurance, seeing how much I have to eat on the trail, and just getting back into being in the elements all darn day.

When I first started working on the schooner Mystic Whaler (I crewed summer '07) I found myself seriously pooped the first few weeks. All that sun and wind takes it out of ya, but then you just get used to it. Always feeling your skin. And some sore muscles somewhere.

I've been exploring gear online and there's tons of info out there, and blogs. I need to find more by short ladies though, to help in the gear department. I will buy a new sleeping bad (finally) and a teensy lite stove before leaving Colorado. I think I can do at least a 2 week hike in May maybe on the AT.

In other news... I'm finishing up the octopus on my USS Constitution drawing.

Sir John Franklin

This was pretty good.

I hadn't realized how OLD Franklin was at the time of the expedition. It was so well funded, and such a huge deal at the time.