Orange Peel

Every day many oranges are prepped and zested.
Zesting is the process where a thin strip of the outer peel is removed. It looks like thin strands of orange, smells wonderful, and adds amazing color.

Used for garnishing the Braised Ribs at work at Zion Lodge, they look sort of weird to just be placed in a bowl hoping people would eat them. We'd get questions like, "Is this a new kind of orange?"
or " What happened to these oranges?"
So, I started slicing them into rounds, and placing them on ice. Now, the employees like to eat them. Just made sense to me. Not everyone wants to commit to a whole orange, one they'd have to peel and everything. Now, they can take one round slice, or two, or just have at it.


At home I dry the peel in the gas oven. The pilot light does all the work. I googled "Vitamin C in orange peels".

Here's one websites take:

"Orange Peel is one of the greatest sources of vitamin C on earth and should not be left out of your diet as a natural and potent way to enhance your immune system and ward off invasive infection. It is an old and reliable digestive, but important new research has demonstrated promising antioxidant activity."

http://www.herbalextractsplus.com/orange-peel.cfm

That's good enough for me. As a natural source of vitamin C the whole orange is excellent.
Once it is dried the peel is somewhat leathery, and a good trail treat. It takes awhile to chew, but provides a satisfying change to Ramen and oatmeal.

I always wash fruit before preparing any dish.

Gifts and Warnings

Yesterday I received a package via UPS. A manager brought it to me while I was at work. It felt like Christmas, and I tore open the package as soon as it hit my hands. My curiosity was rewarded: a red ultralight tarp weighing 7 ounces sent to me so I would have the opportunity to test this new fabric and its design features.

But, I would have to wait until I got off work to really take a good look at it.

My blog:
http://thefemalesurvivalist.blogspot.com
has 4 photos and more specs.


I love how people are always pushing the limits. The tarp has many warnings written on labels sewn to it. There are dangers associated with pushing these ultralight minimalist limits.
Many dangers are simply avoided by common sense. Don't wrap your face in a water proof tarp. You could suffocate. Don't cook or use matches anywhere near it; it will easily burn. Don't let kids play with it without supervision. It will not last forever. Retire it when its worn out.

There are also silly mistakes when no limits are pushed. People hiking in heat without any water. Weekend Warriors hiking so far they become exhausted and get lost. People starting signal fires and burning up acres of land. Playing with poisonous creatures. Trying to pet a buffalo. Silly mistakes that can cost lives.

Bottom line, a good measure of common sense and recognizing our mortality will stave off many dangers. Both of these come with age. Its up to us to teach the kids.

It never hurts to read the fine print either.

The Comfort Zone

Last night I did steaks again. Not really my comfort zone. A culinary area I have yet to develop confidence, I'm glad the chef is not giving me an option. I do my best, temp by touch, and cross my fingers when the order goes out. So far, one refire each night: under, not over, cooked.

Getting out of one's comfort zone is good. Makes a person alert, detail oriented, brain cells developing new connections. Gray matter in top form.

I'm sure Lewis and Clark got out of their comfort zone. I bet Alexander Graham Bell felt some unease. No doubt Bill Gates had sleepless nights.

Discovery and Adventure happens out of the comfort zone. Where would the human race be without pressing some personal boundaries of ease and contentment?

OK, broiling New York Strips and Rib Eyes is really not world news. But, I'm game. And that's what really matters.

Lady Mountain, Zion National Park

My friends at work all know I love to hike. Not just the easy stuff, and the cement and well blazed trails. Adventures are always in order. So, yesterday the chef gives me a trail to look up:

Lady Mountain.

I googled it:

http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-lady-mountain.htm

Sounds interesting. It starts right here, and I must have hiked past the left hand turn heading up the steep incline several times already. Must be fairly overgrown.

But wait. Did it say 80 feet of rope? What are 5.7 YDS ratings?

"This has an over-hanging, 8-foot boulder move, rated at 5.3 YDS. It is found a little less than one-mile into the ascent. Let the best climber in your group take the rope up the unprotected section where they will find a re-bar eyelet anchor. They can then belay less experienced climbers. Keep in mind that the exposure on this move is about 80 feet and the consequences of a slip could be severe."


The survivor in me says this is above my skill level. Way above.

I've done the Pine Oven scramble, hiked the entire Appalachian Trail. Didn't need any ropes or belays.
I've hiked the entire Pacific Crest Trail and been up Mt. Whitney with an ice ax. All this can be done alone.
Angels Landing was pretty cool.

I think I'll pass on the Lady.

The Dream Catcher

I finished my dream catcher, which took on the shape of a Thunder Bird because of the frame I found ( a branch which forked).

Its fun creating things, even while working at the park. Lots of found objects to work with. Making art with recycled and found objects has its appeal. Things that otherwise might find their way into a landfill can be used in many ways.

That is the dogma of a green life:
Recycle, Reuse, Reduce, Repair.

We can recycle the aluminum, plastic, glass, tin, and paper that one just keeps acquiring in daily life.

We can reuse an item. Using the plastic bag that our groceries comes in for a trash can liner. Reusing the plastic liner bag that bulk items are sold in for liners, and reusing the zip lock bag after washing it are all examples of this.

Reduce consumption of goods, like trendy clothing and impulse spending on plastic decorations for holidays. One thing I've never understood is the plastic Easter eggs hung on trees in springtime. Its junk. Its ugly. Plastic Santa clauses, like giant airbags on lawns with plastic Rudolfs and fake flowers.

And, repair. So many things are going the way of planned obsolescence. Its cheaper to buy new than pay someone to repair it. Few people know how to repair anything. Its not a skill we're taught anymore. Sewing, mending, soldering, gluing, refinishing furniture.

I say bring back old fashioned skills for a greener society.

Turkey Feathers and Stuff

A day off from work, a hike on the Pa'rus Trail and back along the road yielded 8 turkey feathers and a bottle.

Automatically I'm thinking Dream Catcher. Yesterday I found one turkey feather. Of course I attached it to my day pack.
The trail gods must be honored.

My room is still somewhat sparse and undecorated. I've had this room nearly two months now. Its pretty nice. Designed for two, it has two single beds which I pushed together to make one, two closets, two dressers and a night stand. One window which opens to the stairs and cliff view. I love it.

So, with the white walls holding just one calendar and one collage of trail photos, I decided the Trail Gods must want more. As homage, I'll get this dream catcher underway and continue building it the next two months.

Abandoned Stuff?

I decided to hike the Narrows in Zion National Park again. Today, with an early start of 8 a.m, I arrived without crowds. Not a soul in sight, except those on the shuttle bus.

By the time I finished the Riverside Trail at the Temple of Sinawava, and prepared to enter the waters of the Narrows, I'd seen plenty of abandoned water bottles, shoes, sandals, hats, and tissues.

Can't believe someone would leave these trail shoes. Can't believe someone would leave these sandals. Would someone be in the Narrows already, and leave their shoes here on the ledge for when they got back?

That may have been the case. I passed a couple people on the way back from their prebreakfast hike. A lady told me they started at 6:30 a.m. Avoid the crowds, get a true feeling of adventure. I forgot to ask them if those were their shoes.

I saw a baby's outfit mid stream upon a rock.

Interesting what the river washes up.

The Short Version

I've developed a mantra for life:

Past is about Lessons
Present is for Living
The Future is Opportunity

It all started out when I pondered the habit of harboring regrets and worries about normal everyday life.

I realized the past is only about the lessons we've learned. Whatever happened is over and there is no virtue in reliving it. Make whatever amends possible, then move on. But, take the lessons learned on the journey.

The Present is about living. Living in the here and now, seeing everything around us. Experiencing all the fun activities.
Take stock. All is well. Life is good, and there are always good people who would like to share it with us. In whatever place we presently are, live life fully right now. Enjoy. Its said the only animal that doesn't know life is about fun is the human being.

The Future is Opportunity. With the lessons learned, and the skill of living life now, opportunities are just around the bend. Worrying doesn't change anything. Taking advantage of opportunities does. Being open to change, to adventures, to new friends. Those opportunities will happen without any worry on my part. The great thing is I get to choose which ones to follow through on.

So, that's my short version on a positive outlook on life. A positive world view.
Working and playing here in Zion National Park a positive attitude is important.

Hanging out with positive people, hiking,writing and watching deer.

Stalking Deer

The other night while walking along the east side of the Virgin River here in Zion I startled a deer feeding. It jumped, took a few steps, then continued. I usually speak to them and assure them of my peaceful intentions.



As I meandered along, a gray fox startled a deer, which ran, and so did the fox. I guess it was a mutual startle. The fox began trotting down my path, so I stood perfectly still. I wear a black fleece, and dark pants, so by dusk, there's no telling what I appeared to be to this creature.



It was so cute how he'd walk a ways towards me, raise his head to see better, then continue towards me. I made no sounds, no movement. Perhaps I looked like a tree, maybe an unfamiliar stump.



I've heard the best way to stalk a deer is by only moving when it feeds, when it's head is down. Deer are very cautious, so one would take a step, stop as the deer looked around. Wait til it resumes feeding, take another step. Tom Brown's books, very interesting and well written, talks about this.



Here in Zion deer abound, and they're not skittish. Walking home from work last night around 11:00 p.m I passed through a herd of 4. They were browsing on either side of my only sidewalk passage, making it necessary to pass between them.



This is one of my favorite perks working in a National Park : the ability to interact with semi-wild creatures on a regular basis.

The Big Picture

They say to look at the big picture. And, a person has to focus on details.

When the information is contradictory, then you go with instincts.

There's always lots of advice, and I'm struggling here to sort it out.

Working a seasonal job is not really that easy but its very stimulating. No doubt there. New people, new location, new circumstances.

And it ends, so a person tolerates stuff just to make it to the end. Looking at the big picture, the sins of a very few aren't worth calling it quits. They are just minor details.

The big picture has the bridge in it. Whether we burn the bridge, or keep it open is important.

A bridge is the symbol of hope. Hope for a continued journey, hope for a better other side, hope for connection to further goals.

In the end none of it really matters, the race is only with myself.