Friday Photo: Guanella Pass 4x4 Snow Run

Happy May Day!!!  For this Photo Friday I chose to do 3 shots.  This was on a 4-wheeling trip with my friend Mike 'Treeroot' Davidson up to Guanella pass Feb 2007.  He belongs to a local Toyota LandCruiser club that often makes trips all year long into the deep Rocky Mountains.  A BIG Thanks to him and allowing me to tag along....I really enjoy getting out to the mountains with him...get away from the city for a while and we always have a blast!!

This day the wind was whipping and the snow was DEEP!!  It did end up clearing and we had an awesome time playing in the fluffy Colorado snow.

Rough Road????  I think yes.


The snow was DEEP!!!

You can view more photos from that day by visiting my gallery

-Ian

More Knives to Share

I thought I would post more knives from my collection.  I started looking into fixed blades mainly because I don't have any and it would be nice to have when we go on hikes or camping.  I started looking at reviews and I belong to www.bladeforums.com and found some great write-ups on RAT Cutlery knives.  They are the perfect blend of function and form.  they really can take some abuse and after watching these destruction tests on YouTube where the user hacks at cinderblocks, 2x4's, metal plating and only when jumping on the handle twice with all 250lbs of body weight does the blade snap.  Not to mention the warranty from this company is outstanding.  Basically if you break it, they will replace it for free!!

I've picked up a few models.  The RC-4, RC-5 and RC-6.  I can't wait to try them out this year camping!!



[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="RAT RC-5 with Sheath"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="RAT RC-5 logos"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="RAT RC-5 and RC-6 side by side"][/caption]

If you want to see more photos of the RAT Cutlery knives I have you can visit my gallery

I have also picked up a couple of Spyderco knives to share.

This is a picture of 2 Spyderco Ladybugs.  They are ment to be on a key chain so they are rather small but the bright colors are perfect for finding them easily

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="Orange and Yellow Ladybugs"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="Orange Ladybug"][/caption]

This is a Yellow Ladybug with H1 steel.  H1 is a new steel out of Japan that is perfect for wet and salty enviroments as it does NOT RUST!!!!  Spyderco makes many H1 bladed folders now and has been put to the test by scuba divers, Alaska Fishermen and anyone near or around water.  This size would be perfect for a tackle box.  Maybe a fathersday gift???  I know the knives my dad has in his tackle box tend to get rusty.  He might just see one of these in his future.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="H1 salt LadybugKiwi gentilemens folder in Black Pearl"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="Black Pearl Kiwi"][/caption]

This is a Spyderco Cricket.  Another small knife, great for discrete carry and women love this size folder.  This happens to be a Cabon Fiber version that only sold in Japan.  I have seen quite a few Serrated Edged versions of this knife but never seen a Plain Edge so this will be going in my display case

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="Carbon Fiber Cricket PE"][/caption]

you can see the other

Spyderco knives here

I'd like to get your opinions on these so post a comment below!!!

-Ian

Friday Photo: Twin 50's!

This was taken in northern Colorado in the Pawnee national grasslands. This is a pair single round bolt action 50-caliber rifles that are owned by one of my friends. We spend the day and find a safe spot and scout the area before we begin target practice. We typically set up a target 1/4 to 1/2 mile away but this rifle is capable of 1 mile+.

For those less rifle savvy, the large block on the front of the muzzle is a muzzle break. This causes the hot gasses to exit back and away helping with recoil.

Firing this rifle is really fun and does sound like a tank going off but it really doesn't kick like you think it would. Just don't stand directly behind or too close to either side of the weapon. As it goes off, the muzzle break kicks up dust and the blast does create a little bit of a concussion wave around it.

Check out the rest of the pictures here.

- Ian

Spyderco Knives

I wanted to have the chance to introduce folks to one of my hobbies.  I've always had a knife for as long as I could remember it must have been something I found interest in when I was a boy scout and I have always lived by the boy scout motto "Always be prepared".  I've had hundreds of knives over the years, folders, fixed blades many different makes, models and brands.  I don't remember when I first stumbled upon Spyderco but I fell in love instantly!!



Spyderco HQ:   820 Spyderco Way Golden, CO

For me it was the patented hole in the blade that assists you in opening the knife I really loved!  Most of their knives also have a clip so that you can hang it off the inside of your pocket so you don't have to hunt in your pocket among keys and everything else to use your knife.  My first Spyderco was a Native, it was the perfect size and shape for me and then I discovered that this knife company is based here in Golden, Colorado!!  Sal Glesser the founder of Spyderco is a down to earth man and has not let the success of his company let him forget his roots and those that made his company grow, the consumer.

Since my first Spyderco Native my collection has grown to over 150 and it continues to get bigger, I thought I would share a few of them:



My spyderco dump!



This is called the "Q".  Spyderco attempted to make a super lightweight folder with using laser cut blades, a wire clip and skeleton handle.  They also attempted to make different blade designs for marketing.  They have become quite collectible.



These are called "Bugs", they were meant as fun little working replicas.




This is called the Poliwog.  One thing about Spyderco designs is they focus on ergonomics and function....many times Spyderco's have been called ugly but I think they are quite beautiful.  This one happens to be designed by Eric Glesser, the founders son.



This is the Spyderco Kopa.  It has Dark and light pearl and Abalone inlays.



Spyderco Kiwi.  This is one of the few Spyderco knives that doesn't have a clip.  This Kiwi has a bloody Jasper inlay done by Santa Fe Stoneworks

You can see the rest of my spyderco collection here

And for those that have been wondering, yes, I cut myself all the time.  It seems like tradition that every new knife I purchase, I get cut at least once.  It's a good reminder to respect these tools!

- Ian

Friday Photo: Savery Savory Mushroom Tower

Today's Friday Photo is of the water tower that supported the mushroom farm which used to be near 112th and Sheridan in Westminster, CO in the 1930's and 40's.

I took these photos in June 2006 - They had pulled the rusted and nearly erased water tower down to restore it as a historical mark for the area.  This always makes me very happy to see this happen... I think even with the forward movement of development in the area that the history should still be preserved in some way.

Shortly after they brought the water tower down they had someone working on replacing all the metal work and then they began painting it.

The idea behind the water tower was to have it look like a can of mushrooms you would buy at a local market.  Take a look at the rest of the photos to see how they restored it.  I still have to go back at some point and get a picture of it after they put it back on the top of the tower... but for the sake of reference, here's a painting of how it turned out:

-Ian

How to charm a couple of Cobras

This weekend I had the opportunity to do a photo shoot with 2 rare snakes.  I'm putting together a calendar for my local Mustang car club.  I was surprised when I got a submission from one of the members and it was 2 Shelby Cobras.  Unfortunately the pictures were too small to use.  I asked the person if he would have the time to have me come down and get some high resolution shots and he said yes!  I drove about an hour and a half to his location but it was all WELL worth it.





When I got there he opened up his "barn" to uncover 2 beauties just begging for attention.  Both of these cars are original Shelby Cobra's but not built in the 60's, they happen to be built around 2000 by Shelby Automobiles.  We took a few photos inside the barn before wheeling them out onto the pavement.  We found that moving them around was easy at times but harder to get them in position for shooting so the owner fired them up and WOW!!  Talk about waking the neighbors!!



I photographed them for a couple of hours and in a couple of positions and I think I got a few good shots!  We put the red race-ready cobra away and then I heard, " you ready to go for a ride?"  OH YEAH!  Getting in and out of a car that was meant for racing required a bit of finesse and those that know me know I have 0 of that stuff.  Once nestled it's a bit tight but that's the whole idea.  He started up the 427 Cubic inch engine and it roared through every bone in my body.  He needed to get the mail so off to town we went.  I was really surprised how tight the suspension felt and how nimble this engine on wheels felt!  Once we got on the road there's where the car really wanted to GO and go we did, there were several times we hit over 100mph in seconds!    Needless to say I have a permanent grin that will probably last a month!

[vimeo 2138604]

Spooky Night 4x4 Run

In October every year the Rising Sun Toyota Land Cruiser club sets out on a night run to celebrate Halloween.  This is my 2nd year going to this awesome get together and it was such a wonderful turnout!!  My buddy Mike asked me along with some other mutual friends in his newly transformed FJ80.  An unsuspecting grocery and kid carrier turned into 4-doors of Colorado trail pounding fun!





Anyway, we started with a cookout near Rollinsville, just an hour outside of Denver.  There were so many that showed up this year because of the Indian Summer we are having that the cook out turned into a feast!  There were chili's, hot dogs, brats, chips, cookies just about everything you can think of and more than enough food to feed an army!




As dark fell we began packing up the food and jumped in our 4wheeling rigs, this year there were around 20-25 vehicles. We had such a great time, no break downs or problems.  This year was much different in there was no snow.  The first run Mike and I did it was cold and is was very snowy. We all had a great time with a big group of wonderful people.  Hopefully we can do it again next year!!  You can see the rest of the photos here.