The Hitch'n Post

Glass Buttes, OR, is interesting both anthropologically and geologically because it is a place people have journeyed to continuously for 14,000 years and still do to this day to collect obsidian. This has been a destination because the obsidian that can be collected at the surface and near the surface with a little digging. Obsidian collected at Glass Buttes in 2016 Obsidian is used to make spear tips, arrow heads, knives, scrapers, essentially all manner of cutting instruments. In the stone age, the edged weapons and tools that could be created with obsidian were critical to survival of early peoples because they depended on these weapons for defense and hunting as well as the tools for processing hides used to make shelters and clothing. Modern day spear tip created in 2016 Testing on blood residue found on ancient tips collected at Glass Buttes has revealed interesting details of what the environment was like many thousands of years ago. Did you know that camels ori

Becky and Scout at Glass Buttes, OR, June, 2016 We're planning a spring camping trip to Glass Buttes, OR, to enjoy the great outdoors, campfire, collect obsidian, and to view the glorious stars. We hope family and friends will be able to join us, here are some of the details. When: April 6. 7. and 8, 2018 Where: Several options for camping and other accommodations include: Our 2016 primitive campsite (no water, no restrooms, no tables, you have what you bring). Here's the location:           2016 Campsite coordinates 43.560078, -120.005598          Chickahominy Reservoir - Services include: water, campground, restrooms - this is 30 minutes east of our 2016 primitive campsite on Hwy 20. Bend, OR is about 1.5 hours west of  our 2016 campsite on Hwy 20 and has hotels, restaurant, gas stations, a great vacation destination in its own right. I'll be providing more information on the history of Glass Buttes, climate, and photos from our 2016 trip i

Becky belaying another climber Becky took Climbing 101 at Stone Gardens in Bellevue, WA, on Friday evening.  She learned how to tie into her harness with a Figure 8 knot and how to belay another climber with a Air Traffic Controller (ATC) belay device. Then she climbed a 40 ft. wall while being belayed. Watch the full video of Becky climbing here . Becky climbing on belay

Matthew on the climbing rock at Marymoor Park Winter can be a bit long in the Pacific Northwest, with the shorter days and lots and lots of rain we look for indoor distractions. This winter we have been exploring the indoor climbing gym. This new interest started for us just after Christmas when Nathan and Matthew - both of whom had been climbing for several months - headed out to do some bouldering at the Marymoor Park climbing wall. It was a rare sunny day so Becky and I decided to tag along. When bouldering they don't use ropes, instead they have a "crash" pad made of foam to fall onto. This limits how high they can safely climb so the challenge in bouldering is more about strategy (a.k.a., Beta) and technique than about how high the climb is. Nathan on the inner-wall at Marymoor The days of winter are short so headlamps were needed before the fun was over. We were back again the next weekend and this time I borrowed a pair of climbing shoes from Mat