Proxy Falls

I decided to travel up the old Mckenzie Pass Highway this weekend. It was a beautiful sunny day, the perfect temperature for hiking.

I stopped over at Proxy Falls on my way up. This trail is an excellent place to go for a leisurely hike that leads to two great waterfalls.

The area around the trail is covered in lava rock. Somehow trees have been able to find places to grow between the rocks.

The first waterfall you come upon is the lower proxy falls. During the springtime these falls are surging with water, but if you visit here in the summer months the falls split on the way down. These falls are quite famous among waterfall photographers.

There is a viewpoint on the trail that offers and excellent view. For those of you who might feel more adventurous there are several scramble paths down to the base of the waterfall.

Leaving the lower falls behind, I continued up the trail to the upper falls.

These falls are what gives Proxy Falls it’s name. These substantial falls drain into the pool below, but there is no outlet stream. All of the water soaks down through the lava rock.

If you’re looking for a short but sweet hike, check this place out.

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Using Android Phones with a Prepaid Carrier

I’ve had many people interested in what I did to get a fully featured android phone without the $80 a month contract. Obviously it requires more effort than going down to your local wireless store and buying a phone. It’s not too complicated, as all the phone hacking is done remotely by remotesquad.com.

The prepaid carrier I’m using is PagePlus. You can see PagePlus’ pricing and plans here. They offer both prepaid and monthly plans to choose from.

PagePlus is a reseller of Verizon’s service. You will have exactly the same coverage as Verizon subscribers. Voice, Text Messaging, and 3G Data are all available on the phone and is subtracted from your prepaid balance.
Please note that using the data connection is EXPENSIVE and is there mostly for the convenience rather than being practical for continuous use. I highly suggest keeping the mobile data connection disabled except when expressly needed. Your phone will work normally with WiFi. You can use WiFi as much as you want without incurring any fees. Mobile data is intended for use in the car or other areas where there are no available WiFi hotspots.

As of writing this post here is the list of phones available for use on PagePlus:

  • Sprint HTC Hero
  • HTC Incredible
  • HTC Droid Eris
  • HTC EVO
  • HTC Thunderbolt
  • Motorola Droid
  • Motorola Droid PRO
  • Motorola DROID 2
  • Motorola DROID X
  • Samsung Fascinate
  • Samsung EPIC 4G
  • Samsung Moment
  • Samsung Intercept
  • LG Optimus

Head here to see the current list of phones available: http://remotesquad.com/products-page/page-plus/

Choose a phone that has the features you want at a price you can afford. There are numerous variations. The older phones such as the HTC Hero, Motorola Droid, and HTC Droid Eris are ideal for those looking for a low cost solution. Phones such as the Samsung Fascinate, Motorola Droid X, and the Samsung EPIC 4G are higher end phones that are worth the money if you can afford them.
I’ve used both the Motorola Droid and the Samsung Fascinate with great results. If you’re interested in an iPhone equivalent that is fast, lightweight, and thin I suggest getting a Samsung Fascinate, also known as the Samsung Galaxy S.

You can buy a phone new from a wireless store (known as a no-contract phone). That can be a costly choice (~$500 or more). Most phones are available used from eBay for considerably less ($100~$200).
If you are purchasing a used phone, it is VERY IMPORTANT TO VERIFY THE ESN before bidding on a phone. The ESN is a serial number that is unique to every phone. Phones that have been stolen, lost, or defaulted on have usually had their ESN banned from Verizon’s network. Usually phones with bad ESNs are marked “BAD ESN” on eBay auctions. Sometimes they aren’t or the owner doesn’t know their ESN is bad.

You can verify a phone’s ESN number by requesting it from the seller. Once you have your ESN number, give Verizon a call and ask them to verify if your phone can be activated. If they give the phone a thumbs up then it will work with PagePlus with no problem.

Once you have purchased a phone, the software will have to be modified for it to work on PagePlus. This is where remotesquad.com comes in. Purchase the flashing service for your model of phone here. They will have you install a program called TeamViewer on your computer which will allow them to remotely program your phone over the internet. All you need to do is install the program and connect your phone via USB. They will take care of the rest. Once they are finished your phone will be working with PagePlus.

Enjoy your new smartphone!

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One Year Ago

Today marks the 1 year since I started experimenting with vegetarian eating.

The ideas people have about vegetarian cooking are oftentimes completely wrong. I was no exception. For that first day I had some random dishes for lunch like some salad, half a squash, some spiced zucchini, and some crackers. It was enough to fill my stomach, but only lasted for about 30 minutes then I was starving again.

I wanted to avoid going back to eating meat that day even though I was starving. So I went to a vegetarian restaurant that I’d heard so much about, Cafe Yumm!. That was the best meal of my life. At that point I realized how important protein is to regulating hunger. After that I started making sure to get some form of protein in every meal and haven’t been hungry since. Beans, Tofu, Tempeh, Cheese are some of the great ways to get all the protein you need. In my situation, I needed to continue eating eggs as there was something missing that they provided. Eggs are an excellent source of protein and comparatively easier on your body than chicken, pork, or beef.

Every person is different, and so what works for me might not for another. After several months without meat of any kind (except eggs) eating chicken, pork, and beef make me feel slow, lethargic and dead for the remainder of the day. Avoiding those foods, along with sugar completely changed my energy levels. Further experimentation shows that seafood and grass-fed beef in small amounts seem to be perfectly fine.

After the detox (yes really, there is tons of toxins in factory farmed meat) period of about 6 months I noticed a shift. I used to always be tired and lethargic, getting poor sleep, gaining lots of weight, and always having a cold or feeling sick. Soon I was feeling well rested, and I actually had energy to do things after work and on the weekends. While sitting around watching TV was a heavily ingrained habit, as I began to feel better I had more energy to get off the couch and do everything else I’ve always wanted to try but didn’t have the willpower to do so.

I hope maybe this post has inspired you in some way. Keep in mind, change doesn’t happen overnight but to reach your goals you need to keep chipping away at small pieces, and be patient along the way. You’ll get there!

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Tahkenitch Dunes and Threemile Lake

This hike was quite a challenge for me but I still had fun and got lots of great pictures along the way!

I went with the Obsidians which is a Eugene based hiking group. There was 9 people including myself on the hike.

We started at the Tahkenitch Dunes Trailhead and headed down the trail through the forest to the beach.

We exited the forest onto the dunes. The sand wasn't too bad as it had rained off and on throughout the day.

There was lots of interesting cloud formations that day. This picture was an experiment with a vertical panorama, turned out nicely.

We trudged through the dunes, following posts that had been sunk into the sand.

Lots of dramatic lighting made this cool picture possible.

A cloud front moving in from the ocean. (Click for massive picture)

We eventually made it to the beach where there were lots of seagulls doing their thing.

The sand had a really cool texture from the rain.

We hiked back from the beach up to an overlook onto Three Mile Lake

At this point we split into two groups, myself and 5 others heading into the forest trail that looped back to the trailhead

The forest here was an interesting mixture of tall pines and the typical sand loving bushes found all over the coast. Lots of moss and mushrooms growing all over the place.

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Beet Salad

This makes a delicious side dish. A complex combination of sweet and salty that becomes more than the sum of it’s ingredients. Thanks goes to my mom, Cynthia, for the recipe!

What You’ll Need:

  • 1 1/2 lbs of beets
  • 1 Onion, small, sliced in half-moons
  • 1 tbsp Oregano
  • 6 tbsp Rice Vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp White Pepper
  • Salt, to taste

Preparation:

Boil the Beets for several hours in plenty of water until a fork can be pushed all the way through them. If your beets vary in size considerably, cut the big ones in half so they all finish at the same time.


Quarter the beets lengthwise, then slice across into smaller quarter-moons.


Cut the ends off your Onion then halve. Peel the skins off. Slice into thin half-moons using a sharp knife. If you prefer your onions with less bite, soak them in cold water after cutting. The astringent juices will be drawn out of the onions leaving a much milder flavor.

Toss the Beets and Onions together with the Oregano, Rice Vinegar, Salt, & Pepper.
Enjoy!

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Forest Road 1830

I had spent quite a while up in the Fall Creek area last summer. When I was up there in the forest roads I had happened across an unmarked trail that I’ve been wanting to check out ever since I found it. I hopped in the car and headed out.

Passed this spot where there was a forest fire. For some reason this spot is always photogenic.

As I headed up Forest Road 1830 I could go no further. The snow was too deep to continue and I was too far from the trailhead. I decided to do some hiking thru the snow instead.

This area was dull and uninteresting in the summertime, but with all the snow the slash piles actually looked kinda cool.

Huff, puff, almost there!

I knew this overlook wasn’t too far from where I parked. Looked completely different covered in snow.

Hiking through knee high snow in rubber boots really wears you out fast!

The view up there was beautiful. The hills were lightly dusted with snow.

As I was headed back down I spotted this giant ant crawling inside one of my bootprints in the snow.

I headed further up Fall Creek Road to where the pavement ends. There was snow and ice everywhere up here.

The fog rolling into the upper reservoir.

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Tempeh Goulash

This is delicious dish that has a unique flavor to it imparted by the cumin and chili powder. A cross between Italian and Indian cooking.

What You’ll Need:

  • 1/4 cup Olive Oil
  • 4 oz Tempeh
  • 3 Garlic cloves, diced
  • 3 Roma Tomatoes, pureed
  • 2 tbsp Cumin Powder
  • 1 tbsp Chili Powder
  • 2 tbsp Oregano
  • 1/4 can of Black Olives
  • Salt, to taste
  • 1 tsp White Pepper
  • Pasta, Rotellini

Preparation:


Prepare your pasta by heating plenty of water over the stove. Add about 1 tbsp of salt to the water. The salt will permeate the pasta as it cooks and improve it’s flavor. I also add a little bit of oil to the water as well as it helps prevent excessive foaming.


Cut your tempeh into irregular chunks. I usually keep my tempeh frozen and cutting it while frozen causes it to crumble. This requires a SHARP knife. Never attempt with a dull knife! If your tempeh isn’t frozen you can use a cheese grater to get similar results. Place in a small bowl and set aside.


Cut the ends off the garlic cloves. Peel the cloves (crushing them slightlywith your knife helps). Using the flat side of your knife crush each clove by holding the knife flat with one hand and pushing down using the palm of your other hand. This makes it considerably easier to dice. Set aside.


Quarter your roma tomatoes. Remove the stem cores. Puree in a food processor. You can also use canned tomatoes, but the flavor is different using fresh tomatoes.


Split the olives length-wise. For medium olives cut in halves. For large or jumbos cut into thirds. Set aside.

Check on your pasta. Your pasta should be firm but without any chalky flavor in the middle (known as Al dente). If it still has a raw flavor to it then it needs more cooking. It’s important to keep checking while it cooks as the window between undercooked and overcooked is only a minute or two.


Heat the olive oil over Medium-High heat. Add tempeh and spread around evenly. Don’t stir until the bottom has begun to get a nice golden color. If the tempeh absorbs all of the oil and it starts to stick add more oil. Lots of oil is essential for good tempeh. Don’t worry about fat content as ground beef would have a similar amount of fat. Olive oil is an extremely healthy oil. Good for your complexion.


Once the tempeh has turned a nice golden brown add the garlic. You want the garlic cooked but not overly browned.


Add the Oregano, Cumin and Chili Powder. Cook very briefly. You just want to get the spices to break down enough to release their flavor. If you overcook them all of the flavor will evaporate so cook for at most 10-15 seconds.


Add your tomatoes and stir in. If it’s too dry (depends on how juicy the tomatoes are) add a couple tablespoons of water until it has a more sauce-like consistency. Add your olives, salt, and white pepper and mix in. Allow to lightly simmer on Medium heat briefly for about 5 minutes.


While the sauce simmers check your pasta again. Your pasta should be firm but without any chalky flavor in the middle (known as Al dente).  Drain and run water over the pasta. Washing pasta helps with the flavor and texture.


Mix the pasta into the sauce. Check the flavor. Add more salt if the flavors seem too mild. The right amount of salt will make the flavors jump out. Too much and it will taste salty.

Serve with some grated parmesan over the top and enjoy!

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Climbing Spencer’s Butte ’10

This was an interesting hike. I hadn’t been to Spencer Butte in probably at least 12 years. It was raining heavily so I packed rubber boots and a rain jacket, along with some gloves and other cold weather clothing. Good thing I did as I didn’t expect what I found at the top.

I took the steeper and shorter trail that leads up the western side of the butte. It was a steep but fairly easy hike compared with the other more commonly used trail which has a lot of difficult rocks to climb over near the top.

As I reached the summit I started to notice patches of snow, and as I reached the peak it was snowing heavily. It was beautiful up there in the snow, though it was also very cold. Most of the other people only stayed a few minutes up top before having to go back down. I was the only one dressed for the cold.

Turns out it was a good thing I was prepared, as after about half an hour passed the weather changed, the snow stopped, and the clouds began to clear.

You could see off in the distance a break in the clouds forming with daylight peeking through. As the clouds covering the butte cleared you could see the valley below covered in banks of puffy white clouds. You could see them climb the side of the butte and disperse as they reached the top, like dry ice fog rolling out of a cauldron.

Pretty soon you could see the Rockies in the distance, dusted with snow.

It was like being on a movie set, the rapid change from thick pouring snow and in about 30 minutes becoming a clear sunny day. Meanwhile the sun was setting, adding even more dramatic color to the landscape.

As I headed down the east side trail I spotted a log covered with green moss & little orange mushrooms.

The misty forest with the setting sun.

This trip served as a reminder that braving inclement weather can have it’s own rewards. Oftentimes it can make nearby locales an attractive day trip.

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Tempeh Curry

This recipe was originally a chicken curry recipe which I tried converting over to use with Tempeh. Turned out great!

I followed the same recipe as the original which was originally posted by showmethecurry.com. Thanks Anuja & Hetal for the inspiration!

The process is the same except I used Tempeh instead of chicken.

  • I cubed the Tempeh and fried it up first, so it could get nice and brown (essential for good flavor). After that I followed the recipe as it was written.
  • Fried 1 tbsp cumin seeds, with 2 black cardamom seeds and a cinnamon stick. Have to be careful not to let them over-brown or burn! You just want to get them hot so they release some flavor into the oil.
  • Add in the onions and cook till they turn translucent, then add the garlic and ginger and brown.
  • Add the diced tomatoes and let them cook down a bit.
  • Added in the Chili Powder and about 1tbsp Garam Masala
  • Then I added about 1/3 cup of water (because the chicken normally adds that extra moisture) and 1/2 cup of yogurt. Make sure to taste your yogurt before adding. If it’s a sour tasting plain yogurt add a little bit of sugar to it until it tastes milder. Let the curry slowly simmer while covered.

After about 10 minutes of simmering I tasted the curry and added more salt and some black pepper. Added a tablespoon of lemon juice and served over brown rice

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Tarragon Yukons

Browned Yukon potatoes mixed with Tarragon and S&P. Simple, yet absolutely delicious! The sweetness of the Yukons is enhanced with the aromatic anise flavor of the Tarragon.

What You’ll Need:

  • Yukon Gold Potatoes
  • Tarragon (usually dried)
  • Salt
  • White Pepper
  • Olive Oil

Preparation:

Preheat your oven to 350°
Slice the yukon potatoes into thin discs, about 3mm thick. Toss with olive oil, tarragon, salt, and pepper.

Use your eye as a guide. The potatoes should be coated with oil without any of it pooling at the bottom. Add enough tarragon so that it coats the slices well. In this batch I used about 2 tablespoons tarragon, 1 tbsp of salt, and 1 tsp white pepper.

Lay out onto a baking sheet, and bake until the tops begin to brown (about 25 minutes). No need to flip them as they will cook evenly on both sides.

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