Jeff Lubeck

A Sunset Atop Mindbender

Do you have a favorite place for a stroll, walk, hike, jog or run at sunset? What is or are yours?

Actually, I have a few and on Friday night I ventured on one of them. The dogs Shae and Merry joined me after work and took the Mindbender route along the top ridge-line of the the East Fork mountains that starts less than a mile from my house all the way to its endpoint. The endpoint offers is a wonderful view of the Pioneer mountains and on this day it included a setting sun.

Fall Sunset on The Pioneers from Mindbender Ridge
Cambo Wide RS Technical Camera with Schneider 120MM lens and PhaseOne IQ 180 Digital Back F5.6 1/60th of a second @ISO 50

The hike takes 3 to 4.5 hours round-trip from my house depending on pace and intent (e.g., photos, no photos). The hike utilizes a well established elk trail that is not maintained by any formal body. Access to the route comes off of Ohio Gulch a little less than a mile from the house just passed the Gun Club. With over 3,000+ vertical feet to be gained (5,520 – 8,622) and a less than obvious access point the route is not heavily traveled.

After leaving the house about 4:00 and reaching the trail-head at 4:15 the dogs and I make it to the end point around 5:50PM. I waited for the sun to set behind the Smoky mountains to the west and took this shot just before 6:00PM. After about 10 minutes of shooting I headed back home. I brought my headlamp with me as I knew most of the return would be in darkness. Given all the long distance back country runs and hundred of hikes at night (with Mark Curtis and now Kyle) I am pretty comfortable in this type of environment.

I do miss a three other walks in particular – all in the state of Washington. The three mile stretch north of our weekend place on Northshore Road (a.k.a. The Burma Road) of the Hood Canal looking upon the rainforest and mountains of the Olympic National Park. The remote dirt road and salt air was something else. I had the pleasure of access to this view from my house of almost 14 years. Then there is Sunset Hill Park in Seattle with a view of the Puget Sound and Olympic Peninsula that takes your breath away. My aunt Ruth – one of the greatest treasures in my life has a park bench placed there in her memory as it was “her” spot. I am honored to have had her introduce and share it with me. Last but not least was the seven mile loop from my house at 36th and Magnolia Boulevard through Discovery Park and back. This loop was a 3-5 times a week event for almost seven years. If you are going to live in a city there was no better place for me.

A Separation ****+

Can all involved in a disagreement be both correct and incorrect, right and wrong, and honest and dishonest at the same time? A Separation written and directed by Asghar Faradhi presents this concept to the viewing audience (and much more) with an astonishing level of nuance that only the very best of films provide. A Separation is the the 2012 Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Film.

Set in present day Tehran, Iran A Separation looks into how principle, custom, law and commitment come into conflict with everyday people who mean well but ultimately are flawed in the eyes of others. The narrative and acting are nothing short of superb and the storyline and setting may be an surprsing eye-opener to audiences from the U.S.

The intrigue and suspense A Separation provides is the 21st century equivalent of Hitchcock’s Stranger on a Train or Rear Window.

First Snowshoe Baldy Sunset

The cold weather and snow from last week continued to stick through the weekend. The Sun Valley Company used the weather conditions as an opportunity to make snow on Baldy in fairly large amounts. On Monday after work Kyle and I decided it was time to test what were the conditions for snowshoeing up Baldy.

The temperature in Ketchum as we headed up River Run was 63 degrees at 4PM. River Run at 4PM during the last days of October is entirely in the shade. The snow was slightly slushy at the start. We decided that the dogs (Shae and Merry) would enjoy the trip. Our goal was to reach the Roundhouse (~ 2,000+ vertical) before the sun fell behind the top of Baldy. Shae, Merry and Kyle set the pace. The evidence the Sun Vally Company is in full operation preparing for the winter season was apparent. The Gondola was operating in Test Mode. Lift Operators were at some the main stations and there were snow mobile tracks all over the snow that had been made.

The amount of snow coverage going up River Run was more than Kyle and I expected. Also, there were large mounds of snow in certain places (from the snow guns) that had yet to be smoothed out by the grooming machines. All of this reminded Kyle and I that Sun Valley has the largest snow making capacity of any resort in the world.

About two-thirds the way to our destination the conditions became quite icy. Luckily our crampons bit into the ice very nicely.

Once at the cat-track for the Roundhouse, we scurried over to the famous edifice. The sun was just above the top of Baldy shining down on the towns of Ketchum, Sun Valley and the Pioneer Mountains.

From the Roundhouse

After taking a few photos, we headed down the mountain. Seeing that Shae Dog had discovered and chased a deer on the ridge-line between the Canyon and Exhibition ski runs. Given the situation Kyle suggested we make our first run of the season down Exhibition. Exhibition is famous around the world as being the most demanding run for mogul competition and part of the original Harriman Cup course. Kyle and I descended the 885 vertical feet the run offers using our crampons and poles. There was enough snow to make the effort fun.

Kyle on Exhibition.

A Sunset Atop Mindbender

A Separation ****+

First Snowshoe Baldy Sunset

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