Here is a sampling of my favorite 2014 videos. You may find more in the above trip reports. Enjoy!

Movie from an alcove at Table Rock, Day 7, 12.4 mb (Click the image to see the short video)

Movie of Lobo Linguistics, Audio! 21mb (Click the image to HEAR the short video)

Movie of El Lobo, 11mb (Click the image to see the short video)

Movie of canyon walk, Day 5 of backpack - 12.4mb (Click the image to see the short video)

Movie of Teton Cruise #1, Day 1 - 7.0 mb (Click the image to see the short video - 7mb)

Kathleen and I hiked a good deal in the Sedona area during the winter of 2013-2014. We also day-hiked often in the Coconino NF surrounding Flagstaff. And, here are a few videos from the Redrock - Secret Mountain Wilderness:

Movie of ledge walk above arch #1, 10 mb (Click the image to see the short video - 7mb)

Movie of ledge walk above arch #2, 17 mb (Click the image to see the short video - 7mb)

Movie of Ruination in the Redrock-Secret Mountain Wilderness, 22.0 mb (Click the image to see the short video - 7mb)

Movie of Ruination in Loy Canyon, 9 mb (Click the image to see the short video - 7mb)

     Hi, Rob here. A Solstice Saturnalia Salutation to you!

     I found myself feeling sorry for any man who was not free to abandon whatever futility detained him and walk away into the desert morning with a pack on his back. Colin Fletcher, The Thousand-Mile Summer.

     I am writing this note after the review of trips from 2014. Yes, it was the year of the foot. In too many ways. First, there was a prolonged struggle with plantar fasciitis, which caused abandonment of a long Grand Canyon hiking permit and also prompted some lower mileage adventures.

     Then, after dealing unsuccessfully with insurance death panels (I'm still alive, yet my bank account nearly died) the foot became functional. In the midst of Fall hiking, I slipped off slickrock made doubly slick by post thunderstorm mud on my boots and broke my ankle. Knocked about in the Needles District. I self-extracted myself from the Canyonlands backcountry over three days of hiking, only to once again face the insurance company death panel. Well, that severely cramped my hiking and trip season. All the same, my yearly totals were OK, given over two months invested in recovery.

     Prior to being able to shuffle around the neighborhood, I invested a good deal of time in replacing most of the maps in the WV (Wildernessvagabond.com) trip reports. I had used these wonderful google dynamic topo maps, but then google began changing their codes - over and over. So, I produced maps and made them into *.jpg files so they don't get dropped from support and so I can focus on new adventures. I hope you enjoy the new maps.

     I also finished reports from 2013, including Gravitating to Great Basin, and Salubrious Superstition Wilderness Day Hikes.

     A data sketch from 2014 includes:

     Hiking - total miles = 1,008.6 (ERM* = 1533.5)

of which Backpacking = 228 miles (ERM* = 388.2)
and Day Hiking = 780.6 (ERM* = 1145.3)

     Bicycling - total miles = 1555

of which Self-contained touring = 364 miles
and Day Touring = 1191

     I'm pleased to report that I have exceeded that 1,000 mile mark for hiking (bicycling too). Also, I'll add the last trip report in the new year.

*ERM - Energy Required Miles. A mile is added for every 500' elevation gain or loss. It's a very serviceable method of estimating energy required miles.

     Thanks to co-adventurers who enhanced the fun in the above trips, including Kathleen, Dave R., Bob B., Cheryl S., Ben M., Decker U., Bert F., George W., and Nancy W. Thanks one and all.

     The adorable Kathleen and I are well, and we plan to continue to enjoy what is left of our public lands in 2015 :-)) We wish you the very best. Finally, please remember, wherever you go there you are. Let's all work for more peace and less repulsican.

     Take good care, Rob