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Tour De France 2005 :

Tour De France 2005

Updated: Jun 15, 2008 3:26pm PST

Bike Rides : Bicycle Ride tracks around the Bay Area (courtesy of the Garmin Edge bike computer and Google Earth)

Bike Rides

Bicycle Ride tracks around the Bay Area (courtesy of the Garmin Edge ...

Updated: Jun 02, 2009 12:10am PST

Half Dome Hike, June 13, 2009 : We did this hike, one of the longest and most famous in Yosemite National Park, on June 13 , 2009. Statistics says that about 50,000 people do this hike in a year without any accidents. We were not so lucky- we got stuck on the top of Half Dome in bad weather, had to endure a slow and treacherous descent, and witnessed a man plunge to his death on the steep granite. We all got down safely, thanks to a mixture of preparation, good physical condition, and pure luck. In case you are thinking of going to the Half Dome, here is my 0.02 on the cable route: 1. The hike is pretty demanding physically, and the last part has exposure that can only be defined as deadly. Read as much as you can on this hike and especially on the cable route, so you know what to expect. I am glad I did. 2. In dry weather if you slip, you most likely would die. In bad weather, if you slip you definitely would die. Play it safe, bring a professional climbing harness (with thigh loops), TWO carabiners and daisies, and wear them on the cables. It does not slow you all that much and you will be spending most of the time waiting for other people anyway. You may not get as much of adrenalin rush knowing that you are clipped in, but if you slip, you won't die, and that's definitely worth something. 3. Even if you wear a harness, chances are most other people would not, so if the weather turns bad suddenly, you will get stuck behind them, and will get hypothermia. Bring a light waterproof jacket, a light fleece vest and an energy gel or two with you (you want something that you can eat with one hand). 4. If the weather looks anything but blue skies, DO NOT go up beyond the base of the Sub-Dome. Sub Dome trail has the same exposure as the cables, and there is nothing to clip to on it, so in wet weather it is potentially more dangerous than the cable route. There always will be another day to do it. Don't think that if others are going up then it is safe. Most people who hiked up a mile of vertical would not stop and turn around, even if it means tempting the fate. Don't do it, and play it safe. Besides, the summit view in bad weather is nothing special.

Half Dome Hike, June 13, 2009

We did this hike, one of the longest and most famous in Yosemite Natio ...

Updated: Jun 16, 2009 12:48pm PST

Tour de Tahoe 2008 :

Tour de Tahoe 2008

Updated: Sep 08, 2008 2:12am PST

Squaw Valley USA, February 23, 2008 : Skiing Squaw with Max, Seva, and Vova

Squaw Valley USA, February 23, 2008

Skiing Squaw with Max, Seva, and Vova

Updated: Mar 04, 2008 12:31am PST

April 27, 2008 Squaw Valley :

April 27, 2008 Squaw Valley

Updated: Apr 28, 2008 10:29am PST

President's Day Ski trip, Tahoe 2008 :

President's Day Ski trip, Tahoe 2008

Updated: Mar 03, 2008 8:29am PST

Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA :

Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA

Updated: Feb 15, 2008 12:30am PST

Tour of California, Stage 3, Patterson Pass : Amgen Tour of California Stage 3. Patterson Pass (some of these pictures were also published on cyclingnews.com)

Tour of California, Stage 3, Patterson Pass

Amgen Tour of California Stage 3. Patterson Pass (some of these pict ...

Updated: Feb 21, 2007 11:33pm PST

Squaw Valley, February 2009 :

Squaw Valley, February 2009

Updated: Mar 05, 2009 9:02am PST

Halloween 2009 in San Francisco :

Halloween 2009 in San Francisco

Updated: Nov 02, 2009 12:01pm PST

NEWS: Russian Solution CD Release Concert 2009
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