New Artistic Adventures

Recently I joined a new (2023) local Book to Quilt club (Yes, I quilt. No, not many people know). The group is called Stories to Stitches (S2S). We read four books a year over three month periods. The first month we read and discuss the book. The second month, we participate in a group activity together, and on the third month we reveal a quilt that we made inspired by the book. 

The first book we read together was The Blue Doorknob: The Artistic Life of Cornelia Hart Farrer, by Rita Branham Rodriquez. Cornelia is one of the founders of the Boise Art Museum and Boise's annual Art in the Park. She was also a painter. Rita tells Corneilia's story and includes many of her artworks in the book (especially in the book's second edition). This novel really brings to life the establishment and growth of Boise's arts community. 

The rest of this blog is the narrative I provided with my work that was requested by the club and by the venues where we exhibit our work.

Quilt Description

With the book's color guidance, I chose fabrics, seams, and stitch styles to depict the ebb and flow of Cornelia’s childhood joys; her career preparations and toils; her travelling adventures and celebrations w/family and friends; finding loves and marriage; her contributions to the Boise Art Museum and Art in the Park; and the harshness and abruptness of her life's tragedies and losses. These elements, vertically placed to honor her devotion to Chinese history and culture, resulted in my piece, Cornelia's Life Landscape. 

Details For Readers of the Book/Quilt Lovers

I made the following choices to roughly follow each of the chapters of ed. 2. I did include The Mode fire (not in ed. 2) in my landscape. I did not include anything from chpts 5 or 7. I blended chpts 26, 27, 28 as “time at home/garden” represented in strip 24. I went through the book multiple times and have pages of notes. While it may look like just a strip quilt, it was painfully overthought.  

Strip 1:	Chinese Red and Celadon Green – Mr. Fong’s store, box shaped quilting
Strip 2:	Red/Green/Purple – Chinese New Year’s parade, walking foot (WF) mirror of the fabric’s streamers
Strip 3:	Pink/Blue – Cornelia & Heber (shared birthdays), twin needle FMQ fun bubbles/circles
Strip 4:	Black w/Dark Blue – Heber’s passing, WF single straight (flat)-line stitch
Strip 5:	Pink/Yellow – Flowers at Dilkoosha, FMQ loopy florally stitching
Strip 6:	Multicolor – Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, FMQ outlined “paint” spots
Strip 7:	Prussian (?) Blue – The Blue Doorknob Studio, multi. WF straight-line stitches (routine of work life)
Strip 8:	Black w/Dark Pink – Elizabeth’s passing, WF single straight line
Strip 9:	Predominantly Pink – (non) Engagement cake/party, FMQ loopy stitching
Strip 10:	Blue/Yellow – Gump’s work outfit, WF multiple straight-line stitch (routine of work)
Strip 11:	Black w/Dark Blue – Papa Irving’s passing, WF single straight-line stitch
Strip 12:	Sky Blue/Gorgeous Green – Overseas travels and the green umbrella, FMQ double needle waves
Strip 13:	Black Forest Green – Cornelia meets Beinhard, FMQ loopy fun stitching
Strip 14:	Orange/Red/Yellow – Dilkoosha fire, FMQ thread painted flames
Strip 15:	Navy Blue/White ­– The Mode work uniform, tight, WF straight-line stitching (routine of work)
Strip 16:	Black Forest Green, Earthy Green/Brown – Beinhard reunion/Boise Art Museum ground breaking/Beinhard leaving, FMQ loopy fun lines that minimize in exuberance as Beinhard leaves
Strip 17:	Blue/Beechnut Brown & Pink/White – Vern meeting Cornelia/dating, double needle FMQ
Strip 18:	Navy(ish) Blue and Off White – Vern/Cornelia marriage, FMQ bows (tying the “knot”)
Strip 19:	Rich Greens/Water Blue – First Art in the Park, WF single meandering stitch line (Boise River)
Strip 20:	Black w/Blue & Black w/Pink – Bill & Kanina’s passings, WF double needle straight stitch
Strip 21:	Lilac w/Black – Mama Francis’ passing, WF a few straight lines
Strip 22:	Yellow/Orange – The Mode Fire, FMQ thread painted flames
Strip 23:	Black w/Blue – Beinhard passes, WF straight lines
Strip 24:	Forest Green/Burgundy – Life at home/garden Franklin Street, FMQ big soft loops/curves
Strip 25:	Black w/Blue – Vern passes, a couple WF straight lines
Strip 26:	Black – Cornelia’s final years and passing, less animated/less steady, multi FMQ line stitching.

New Skills

Curved seams, free motion quilt (FMQ) anything other than a straight-ish line, double needle FMQ (be advised--less movement is possible), using modern facing and triangle corners to finish and hang the quilt. 

 Where Did The Time Go?

It's been a decade since I added to the blog. Gads! So much has happened, too much to write. So many mountains, travels, a couple moves, new friends, passings of family and friends. Just. So. Much. The thought of capturing it all, or even the highlights, is overwhelming; yet there are so many great stories. Maybe I will share those, but sometimes it is just best to pick yourself up out of your to-do pile and continue on. 

While so much of my life has been boots-on-the-ground mountain adventures and sports with my fantastic husband and many friends, anything new in your life is an adventure. You should think of it as such and then just do it...and then write and share about it. You never know who you'll inspire, or teach, or make smile, cry, or laugh. It's important because, The Journey Matters. 

Dickey Peak 11,145 ft

High point: Pahsimeroi Mountain Range, Idaho

Dickey Peak

Dickey Peak has been on my list for several years. It’s accessibility from Highway 93 and short, steep approach has been appealing. I also knew it had back country ski possibilities and was looking for Lost River options for Steve. An excellent weather window was forecast for Easter weekend, 2014, so we set our sights on Easter Sunday and headed out from Pocatello a little before 5 a.m.  Driving through Mackay, we immediately noticed the snow was coming off the south and western aspects of the Lost River peaks quickly. As we turned off the road to Arentson Gulch and were able to evaluate our west/northwest ridge approach, it was immediately obvious that there would be no “skinning up” for Steve. Scattered snow patches along our approach were going to mean a few wardrobe/gear changes along the way.

The Pashimeroi Mountains

We parked off the road at 7,459 feet, which we later learned would be a good spot. We started out about 8.15 a.m. The dry land section proceeded quickly and then we were in the lower level snowfields. We were able to make our way all the way through this section with the rare, knee to crotch-deep post hole.  The wind was light and the temperature comfortable as we moved from the continuous snow field to pick our way thought the scree field and snow patches of the steepest section to the upper ridge. 

At about 10,680 feet is where we chose crampons and axes to proceed to the summit. The snow was quite good but on the warm side in places. It could have been kick stepped for the most part, but it was faster not to. The wind stayed light and calm and it was deliciously silent, except for our movements. We were at the summit around 2.30 p.m., which is exceptionally slow (totally me there) and included gear changes and adjustments,. With no wind, perfect temps, and silence, it was so pleasant….nothing was threatening and other than knowing there would be warm(er) snow to deal with down low, no real reason to rush…it truly was a Sunday stroll.

Splattski!

The summit views were stunning, as they are in spring: crisp blue sky, bright white snow, and dark terrain features, punctuated with greens and browns as far as the eye could see. At the summit we looked at our descent options. There was a number of glissade options, but most of them involved a long traverse across Dickey’s base to return to the car. So we headed back toward our original glissade option that paralleled our ascent. As we set up to glissade our biggest concern was snow depth. If the snow was thin, we’d either have to plunge step down or go back to the ridge and take the screeway. Steve went first. Yea! It was perfect, so perfect in fact that I started sliding before I had my axe positioned.  Millisecond correction later and it was everything I (we) could do to not just slide all the way down the gully. What fun! 

We then hiked over rocks back to the lower snowfield and donned snowshoes for the lesser-fun section. The snow trolls had great fun placing random (post) holes for our pleasure and their entertainment. It wasn't horrible, but it might have made the top five. Back on dry land we headed over to the road to find it had turned into a river. Good thing we hadn't taken it farther up. Soon, we were back at the car, beer, chips, sandals and smiles.  On Easter Sunday, I am grateful to still be on mountain tops in exquisite weather! For more photos of this Idaho classic click here!    

4.6 mi (round trip)

3,832 ft (Garmin) gain

Total time: 10 hours (if you're not lollygagging you can knock this off much, much faster)

Weather: clear, below freezing (start) ~ 45 degrees (high) on mountain, no wind

#116 Pavlos-Petros Peaks. Idaho Summits 2011 Fall Outing

Summit of Pavlos comes into view above tree line.

The Idahosummits.com Fall Outing participants converged on Christian Gulch in the Pashimeroi Mountain range on October 2, 2011 for an outing objective of Pavlos Peak, (11,109 ft) a Class 2/3 climb. For those that wanted a mountain 2-fer, there was an option to continue an additional mile to Petros Peak (11,060 ft), a Class 3/4 climb.

Most of my Pocatello mountaineering friends had low to non-existent climbing seasons this year as a result of other commitments and/or injuries, so I prepared to meet up with the Idaho Summits group on my own. Being adverse to uber-early drives from Pocatello to unfamiliar back-country destinations, I decided to camp at Christian Gulch the night before.


Leslie, George and Sean in camp.

I thought I left early enough, but I never seem to plan for overshooting my turnoff, which of course I did in my haste to beat nightfall. After a 30 minute side trip, I was back on course. After a half hour on washboarded gravel road, I was pleasantly surprised, in the middle of nowhere, to see a red truck I didn't recognize, with a driver, I didn't recognize, who stuck his arm out his window and waved me toward him. "Anywhere else, this would be a huge mistake," I said to myself as I proceeded my little Versa toward his truck. In the meantime, he stepped out of the vehicle and came toward my side window, which I had rolled down. "Hi Margo, I'm George (Reinier, an Idahosummits.com message board regular)." (Sigh of relief) "Hi...great to meet you George." As my odometer indicated I had two more miles to go before turning off, it was convenient that George decided to be the outing greeter. If he hadn't been, I would probably still be driving around out there.


Sean, Leslie, Margo, Dave, Alex, Steve, John, Dylan
George and Eric (photo by Dan Robbins)

George was concerned that I might not be able to get my commute-practical car all the way to camp, so he lead the way, waiting at any moment for the "I-give-up" flash of my headlights. It was pretty rugged for low clearance, but the headlight flash never came, as I made it there by dancing back and forth across the lane, dodging big rocks, ruts and gravel piles. By the time we made camp, the intermittent sprinkles that started when I met him had turned into a light rain.

At camp, I met Sean (Duffy), another message board regular, and a friend of his, Leslie Fairbrother, from Hailey, who arrived 15 minutes or so before me (George had greeted them at the trailhead too). Initially, there was no real time for pleasantries as we all were busy getting tents up and food down, pretty much in that order. Regarding tents up, you always hear to assemble a new tent yourself before taking it out in the back country. I can report that "seeing" it assembled in your front room is no substitute for the actual hands-on activity. I asked George to help me with the tent on my second attempt when the rain had died down a bit.


SummitGirl enjoying the crux.

By popular request, Delta (Steve Weston) had made dinner for the campers but he didn't know if he was going to make it in all the way to camp that night to cook it for us himself. So earlier that day, Delta had taken his Tuscan Stew over to George's house to bring out for us. George took care of heating up dinner too. (And, it was AWESOME!!) Now, the rain is coming down quite steadily as the four of us huddled under a pine tree, eating dinner, and staring at the fire in the fire pit about six feet from us. Then George says, "I have a gazebo we can put up." I quickly wondered how we ever had an Idaho Summits outing without this guy before? So the four of us spent the rest of the night under the gazebo, next to the fire, getting to know each other as the rain finally subsided and the clouds parted to a stunning starry night.


The next morning, Eric Larsen showed up from Idaho Falls before the 8 a.m. original start time. Dave and Alex Pacioretty drove in not too long after. Alex was on his second day of leave after completing boot camp in Oklahoma, having just flown into Salt Lake City the morning before. He was ready for some mountains. Dan Robbins had picked up Delta outside of Craters of the Moon, where Delta had spent the night in the car, and John and Dylan Fagden finally made it in from Boise. Dylan had all of a couple hours sleep, having gone to his homecoming dance the night before. A pretty dedicated team I would say....

 

Petros from Pavlos summit.

Our trip itself is well described by both Dan's and the Fadgen's trip reports. Here is my video from the summit of Pavlos (turn the volume down...it's just wind). With the multitude of reports coming out from various outing participants, I have no longer tried to put a different twist to the narrative, and instead have taken to making a photo video from pictures my team members send to me. It took me a little longer than usual to finish this particular video, as I had been looking for the "perfect" song. I think I nailed it...it fits the characteristics and landscape of this trip, and it eludes to a (now) inside joke, having nothing to do with me by the way.

It was great to climb again with old and new friends. I am forever grateful and pleased to know these truly wonderful people and am thankful they let me join them to enjoy the rugged back-country of Idaho. Climb On!


SummitGirl on Pavlos

#112, North Twin Peak, #113 Red Cone Peak, Lost River Range, Idaho

North Twin Peak (c), Red Cone Peak (l)

When Dan put the note out that he was looking for hiking partners for the weekend of the 20th, I was initially excited, then a little concerned. I had just come off of a foiled Buck Mountain (Tetons) attempt and was really re-thinking my abilities. Buck Mt is third class, with some snow and an awkward, and draining, rock garden. I had gotten sick four times before reaching the saddle and then fell asleep at 10,400+ ft. Anyone who knows me knows that sleeping is something I never do in the mountains...I am too excited about being in the mountains to sleep. Apparently it just wasn't my day, but could I recover enough in barely a week to climb again?

I held out on a final decision until Thursday night when Dan put out a second note announcing that he, Zach and Tom Lopez, like "the" Tom Lopez, would be joining us to climb North Twin Peak, 11081 ft, in the Lost River Range (LRR) near Sunset Peak. Climbing with the IdahoSummits folk is a high priority on my list, but getting to climb with the man who wrote "the" book on Idaho climbing ...wow, priceless.



So with Steve's blessing to back out of our trip to City of Rocks with his friends, I did a little "wow I get to meet and climb with Tom" dance and then the furious packing, celiac-friendly carbo loading, and hydrating began.




View in the meadow.



I met the guys in Arco Saturday morning, and then off we went. We drove high into Elbow Canyon, started hiking along the road into a meadow, and then made an error...we kept climbing too far into the canyon and missed our right fork. We regrouped, checked maps, and thought through our location. We then began traversing, and steeply ascending, to achieve a spot somewhere near treeline edge to get a visual on our actual location.

As we contoured the slope and came out of the trees, we saw we were now in the right fork of Elbow Canyon, and not far off of our location estimate...but we definitely were not on the ridge we thought we were going to ascend in the first place.




Dan in the canyon heading toward the saddle.
North Twin (l), Red Cone Peak (r).

Regardless, the canyon was gorgeous, offering great views all around and the scree was easy traveling. We climbed up a shoot to get out of the canyon and made our way up to the saddle approach with only a small section of loose side-hilling to deal with.

The saddle was beautiful with flowers in bloom, bees buzzing, and butterflies flitting everywhere. We then picked our summit approach line from the saddle and began up the ridge to North Twin. Zach and Dan were ahead of me and Tom followed shortly behind us.




View from the saddle. Sunset Peak to the left, Sunrise, right.

 As we looked up, at a point approximately 200 ft below the summit, a Rocky Mountain Big Horn sheep "scout" appeared above us on a tower and peered down at the curious-looking multicolor "sheep" below.

With my amazing zoom I managed a pretty descent photo of him. Shortly after, we saw the rest of his herd, or harem, up on the summit. They checked us out for a bit, but as I slowly and quietly climbed up higher to reach Zach and Dan, they scattered.



Rocky Mountain Big Horn sheep "scout."



The three of us continued on and worked our way through some ledges. In short order, we reached the summit with Tom following shortly after.

From the summit, after the requisite video, splattskis, summit (and other) photos, and snack break, we made a tentative plan to descend to the saddle, climb up to Point 10,286 and take the "right" ridge back down. Back at the saddle, the plan was still a "go" and within minutes we were at the top of Point 10,286. Here we found a Rick Baugher summit film canister with his note that indicated he was at the summit 18 years ago. We also learned the peak's name was Red Cone Peak, a to-a-tee descripter. We signed his summit note and then surveyed our descent options.





Splattski, summit Red Cone Peak,
N. Twin in the background. Zach, Dan, Tom and Margo.



It appeared that after a steep pitch immediately off of the summit, to the east, that travelling would be easier via the Cabin Fork Canyon rather than the ridge as we originally planned. So off we went. When we arrived at the canyon scree, some of it was easier travelling for awhile but then it turned into "pay attention" scree. Regardless, we all made it back down into the forest, into the meadow, and back to the car without incident.

On the drive back out of Elbow Canyon we startled up a black bear that, quicker than we could grab phones or cameras to document it, hauled up a rock face. A reminder to folks in the LRRs...that there are bear out there...best enjoyed at distance.

After a long day of climbing in the LRR, the obvious option for dinner was Pickles Place in Arco. :-)  My GPS battery died, so here is the route I estimated off of the points I did capture...mapped it in Google Earth.


Route in relief.

It was a great day in the LLRs, made better with the company of Idaho Summit folk and the opportunity to meet the author of my Idaho climbing bible.  Thanks everyone for letting SummitGirl join you. Climb On!

#111 Bald Mountain



One of the stellar views from hiking Baldy



Bald Mountain Trail

I must have had a pretty stupefied look on my face when she asked, “Margo, do you want to do a hike up on Baldy (i.e., Bald Mountain) with me in the morning”?  Not hours before I had just returned from my solo ascent of Grays Peak in the Pioneer Mountain Range of Idaho. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all up for mountains...the number in the title attests to that fact. And Grays was a respectable near 4,000 ft gain over 7 miles, so I am no slouch. But, frankly, I am of a certain age, where any summit is something to celebrate…just after a few days, not hours, of recovery. So two in a row...ahhhh, I don't know. “We don’t have to go to the top, we’ll just go to the gondola and ride down,” she added. “Well, how long will it take?” I asked. “About 2 hours,” she stated. Well, I don’t have any blisters, no cuts, no injuries from Grays…just really, really sore muscles. Okay, well this might help with recovery. “Ok, sure.”  So at 8:00 a.m. we are off to Baldy or Sun Valley Ski Area, as most folks know it, to head off on a 2.5 mile hike of less than 1.5K vertical. According to SummitPost,



"Bald Mountain...is home not only to North America's first ski resort, but also includes exciting hiking terrain along with unbelievable scenery."

I've been skiing here for years, but really hadn't considering hiking it before. So we are off on our beautiful, leisurely hike, and then something happens to me.  

Carol leads

When we reach the “decision” point, it’s only a mere 2.5 more miles to the top…3,000 ft vertical total. And I can’t help myself…how can I be this close and not go to the summit? “I think we should go to the summit,” I announce. Well alright then. And we continue on. Past wildflowers, ski towers, memorials to loved ones (really...it's a great idea), and beautiful healthy trees.  We climb gently ever higher and make the summit 10 minutes ahead of pace.   

An example view.




But then I notice...we're at the "ski" top...not the summit. "I need to keep going, I will only be a few minutes." Neither Carol nor I had brought anything other than water. After all, we were hiking for 2 hours...that's it. "I really need to get something to eat, and I've been to the top oodles of times," the former Sun Valley ski patroller says. "Absolutely." So we decide that she will go down and I will go up and we'll rendezvous for coffee at the lodge. 

Splattski

So I head up a fraction of a mile and a few feet more. From the top where there is an old lookout, I get views of yesterday's peaks from the west and can see my yesterday, Grays Peak, summit.  I photograph a few peaks of possible future interest and head down.


The Pioneers famous threesome

So this is the best part. If you hike up, you can ride down for free. First the chair lift and then the gondola. It was great. No stress on the knees...wonderful!! ...And it still counts as a peak. For now, I have been down numerous times, strapped to boards, and up the mountain once. It counts. Yeh, and it's all good.


No GPS, no stats. It was only supposed to be a little hike...What I do know is that turned out to be 5 miles, 3,000 ft, another bagged peak, and a fun time with one of my favorite friends. What an awesome weekend!!    

If you haven't considered it before, add hiking (or mountain biking) on Bald Mountain and a latte at the lodge to your bucket list.  

Chairlift Down

 

Gondola Down



 



Peak #110 Grays Peak, Solo #2

Grays Peak from 9200ish feet.

I have kept this peak at the top of my list for a solo outing and this was the weekend to go after it.  From SummitPost, "Grays Peak is a large hulking summit that stands out from the main crest of the Pioneer Mountains like a soar thumb. Although not as high nor rugged as its Pioneer counterparts, Grays Peak is still an attractive cone-shaped peak that is especially beautiful in winter."

I had checked into Grays in 2009 after my first solo. The folks on the Idaho Summits board recommended it for its proximity to the road (I drive a Nissan...not an off-road friendly vehicle), straightforward approach, and at class II/III, depending on conditions, was within my abilities, especially as a solo.

"Hal" at the trail head.

I decided to take the west ridge approach both ways, thinking it was easiest but noted that it would be relatively easy to bushwhack down to the Federal Gulch trail should I need to get off of the ridge. I took my GPS, with an estimated approach route, and unlike my first solo, a hard copy topo and a trip report.

I left Friday afternoon to stay with friends in Hailey and left at 6:45 a.m. to reach the trail head for a reasonably early start. According to my beta, it would be 5 miles and 4500 feet.

Heading to the high point at 9200ish ft.

When I reached the summit in almost exactly 4 hours, I was pretty stoked and in a little disbelief. After all, I got wrapped around a couple rock outcrops at lower elevations that ate up some time and I took a number of micro-breaks (stop for a moment until your breathing stops racing) when I was climbing above timberline.

View from 9200 ft

So, my ascent time seemed a little good to be true, but overall I felt pretty good, so I guess it was possible.

While on the summit I noticed weather building to the west and heading my way. Nothing too immediate, but sure enough to get a move on. So after the requisite snack break, 360 photos, video and Splattski, I was off.

Splattski!!

I made the decision because of the weather that staying on the ridge may not be a good idea. When I spotted the lower trail I bushwhacked a rib down toward it and followed the trail until it tied into the Federal Gulch trail.

Feetski!!

Once on the lower trail, I took my time to "smell the roses" as it were, or in my case, photograph butterflies. Where the trail came near the stream it was flooded so I spent some time trail- and vegetation-clump hoping to stay dry. The vegetation is some sections was SOOO tall that I couldn't see the trail in front of me, or under my feet, so I proceeded by "feet feel." A few stream crossings later, I was back at the car and then the shower started...perfect timing.

Bushwacking to the Federal Gulch Trail.

It took me 6 hours for the entire trip, including breaks. According to my GPS, total elevation was 3760 ft, and 7 miles long. Even though it wasn't as much elevation as I expected, I moved along quite well considering. I saw NO ONE, I heard nothing other than the sounds of nature. I left no trace. Thank you Sawtooth National Forest, Ketchum Ranger District for the non-motorized wilderness experience and for accurate signage. Thank you IdahoSummits Board, as always, for your knowledge and encouragement and friendship. Thank you family and friends for your support.

You can't buy more nature...only preserve, protect and enjoy it!

On may way out I stopped by the Hyndman Trail head just to, you know, look around...like at Cobb and other ideas.
:-)


My Route.