(2022-04-08, 08:23 AM)trailhound Wrote: Brice, I thought that your picture looked familiar. We saw the same rock in 2007. It's a big horn sheep although the horns could use some curvature.

You're probably right about it being a bad depiction of a bighorn.  Or maybe it's intentionally stylized and just happens to look like another type of animal.

I didn't make it into the target canyon beyond.  Didn't feel comfortable downclimbing a slippery dryfall without any assurance I could get back up.  I should have done a forum search beforehand :-)

I looked at some old trip photos from 2019 after working my fourth 14 hour day this week and wondered where it all went wrong. I miss my old life & especially Death Valley.

TacoLand - Who on their deathbed ever said: "I didn't spend enough time on the job"? Absolutely nobody. Tell them to take their job and shove it. Then get back to Death Valley. The day will come when you will not be able. Get there now while you can.

(2022-04-09, 10:37 AM)trailhound Wrote: TacoLand - Who on their deathbed ever said: "I didn't spend enough time on the job"? Absolutely nobody. Tell them to take their job and shove it. Then get back to Death Valley. The day will come when you will not be able. Get there now while you can.

That's funny. I used to say almost the exact same thing to my students. It went more like "On your death bed I guarantee you will not be thinking about that last paper you didn't finish. Look at yourself, figure out what you will be thinking of, and make sure you give it attention - every day."

But, Taco, don't be too hard on yourself. Many of us have jobs where some times we do get very over worked. Some times we need to suck it up and get stuff done, hopefully with a payoff which in turn lets us do / buy things we need. Or have a good retirement! Balance.

Me? I'm retired now. People ask where I went on my "vacation". I don't have "vacation", I have my life, and I make some trips in it, but no longer need to separate work / play. I earned it, by putting in some of those tough days/weeks when I was younger!

Well, I was fortunate enough to be able to work remotely and schedule my life almost exactly how I wanted it for the last 20 years. Lots of camping, traveling, wasting time, etc.

Unfortunately one of my closest friends died in an accident, so I have stepped in and am now running the non-profit they founded as I was the only viable candidate ... otherwise it would have folded. Lots of people counting on me, and the non-profit means A LOT to me personally, so my usual laissez-faire attitude towards life ain't cutting it anymore.

Fingers crossed I can get down to Death Valley this winter and let loose. Until then, keep those trip reports coming, y'all!

(2022-04-10, 06:51 PM)TacoLand Wrote: Unfortunately one of my closest friends died in an accident, so I have stepped in and am now running the non-profit they founded as I was the only viable candidate ... otherwise it would have folded. Lots of people counting on me, and the non-profit means A LOT to me personally, so my usual laissez-faire attitude towards life ain't cutting it anymore.

Condolences on the loss of your friend. Sounds like you are doing a Good Thing there, and probably really making a difference, which is admirable.

I have some TRs coming. Still sorting out the photos.

Tacoland - I see that your situation is different from working some odious job. I stand corrected. Please watch your health both physical and mental. Burn out is very real. You can end up working 60 or more hours a week to accomplish what you used to do in 40.

(2022-04-11, 08:27 AM)trailhound Wrote: Burn out is very real. You can end up working 60 or more hours a week to accomplish what you used to do in 40.

This is very true. And burnout can also cause folks to make mistakes they otherwise wouldn’t have made, which then ends up taking even more time to fix, and it just becomes a vicious cycle. It took me a long time to learn this, partly I think because it doesn’t seem to be emphasized enough at some higher-ranked universities. MojaveGeek, I think your advice to your students is worthy of applause. I’ve met too few professors who have had a similar attitude.

Kudos to TacoLand for taking over the helm of the non-profit organization. That’s a great thing you are doing, and I hope you are able to find a way to successfully balance your workload and also find some time for traveling. Any chance you might be willing to share more info about this organization? I’m curious.

trailhound – no harm, no foul! I still feel the same way you do about no job being worth more than your life and have preached that for as long as I can remember. Just weird stuff comes up on occasion that throws you for a loop.

I've actually been clocking 80+ hours a week since December, so that's a wee bit unpleasant. Turns out there's a reason most people don't work two full-time jobs. My bad!

Anywho, here's the last photo I shot during my 15th trip to DV in March 2021 .... good times! Can't wait to go back with the new truck!!!

https://sierrawave.net/73848-2/