More Excuses for Thrift Peak

When someone fails to reach their goal, there are usually many excuses and blames. I'm not excluded! Here's the story of how I failed to reach the summit of Thrift Peak, again, yesterday. I'm sure it will be helpful for the ones who would like to visit this extremely beautiful area of the province and even if they have no plan to go, I hope they enjoy reading this post:
I woke up at 04:00 o'clock in the morning of the 29th and headed south on Highway #2 but turned back before reaching the city outskirts due to lack of confidence! As stupid and insane it might sound and it is, that's what I did. Then I went for my jogging and spent the rest of the day doing different things. I told myself that I would have to do the summit so, again, set up the alarm clock for 04:00 and woke up at that time and headed south again. I only had a quarter of tank gasoline and instead of filling the tank shortly after leaving home, I drove all the way until my stupid and old GPS, which I had turned on to show me the nearest gas station told me to go back to Southland Dr. It would have taken at least 16 minutes! Now at this point the time must be around 04:40 and I know the GPS is full of crap so I go to 130th. Both the damn Shell and Mobil gas station are closed!! So now I'm going further north to 114th to get gasoline. Here I lose at least half an hour, if not more.
My next stop is in Okotoks for a coffee but who has coffee around 05:00? McDonald's. Despite the acceptable quality, McDonald's service is always shit! So here is another 15 minutes or so lost! On the top of that and in order to get to Longview, which is the next destination, although I had no plan to stop there, the GPS, again, took me from an unconventional(!) road and added more to my anger and anxiety! 
By the time I reached the trailhead, geared up and was ready to go, it was 08:10! four freaking hours for a trip which shall not take more than 02:30, maximum! There's no doubt that my old vehicle is a contributor to this. Considering it was a working day for many, there was only one vehicle in the parking lot. It was a beautiful day and it was about to get hot but the trail was so green and wildflowers were seen everywhere. My first setback was when I walked up a big sort of rock and then I realized that I should have walked around to get me to a ridge! That wasted at least half an hour and then continued on a ridge with a drop-down on the left. I was very tired and it was really hot. I had to stop every half an hour or so to drink water and I was trying to preserve it as I didn't have much and there was no water on the trail. Another mistake was bringing the crampons! They were unnecessary wight in the backpack. All of these could simply have been prevented, had I been at the trailhead around 06:00, instead of 08:10! 

Despite the heat the area was green and covered in beautiful flowers

I then reached the spot where I think I could see the fire lookout and it was pretty far! It was around 12:15 or so, 4 hours of hiking and I was at a point where I had to go down and then take a ridge to get myself to the main ridge that leads to the summit! I was very tired and hot and I think for someone in my position, it would have taken at least 2 hours to get to the summit! Then add another half an hour at the summit and at least 5 hours to get back to the car. It would have been 18:00 and I would have had time but the combination of high temperature, exhaustion, lack of water and lack of confidence led to me going back. Besides there was absolutely no one in a 5 km vicinity or bigger and that's always the issue when you hike in a remote area. 
This was the fourth(!) serious attempt that I was hoping to accomplish the mission but I failed again. Now whether I will be in the area or not, is another question which I will answer by saying Yes! Here's my list for a successful hike to that peak:

1) Start at the trailhead no later than 06:00. Stout and I were supposed to have a tent set up in the parking lot or somewhere to be able to start early but I lost my contact with him and I don't think this is legal. Besides lack of water and other services and the isolation are other issues.

2) Drink lots of water and other healthy liquids before the start of the hike, have as much as you can on and store a lot in the vehicle for your arrival. Water is the biggest issue in this hike. I had a Coleman water backpack which was not very helpful. Nothing against it but I think I should have sucked(!) so strongly and I didn't! So I had to open the top and drink from there.

3) Food has never been a problem for me during hiking but perhaps if I had something fresh and easy to digest and absorb, it would have changed my mood because sometimes it's emotional. I had a handful of Almonds and a few Dates from last year(!) still in the backpack. I finish 3/4 of that.

4) Don't haul unnecessary weight. It will be a problem when you start feeling tired. 

I have to see when will be the first opportunity to try this peak again. 

(Photo, top: On a beautiful sunny day the fire lookout could be seen from the beginning of the hike, after, probably 30 minutes or so. Here in this picture it barely can be seen on the third peak from right)

Another American Propaganda

No one can deny American technology. They are on the top of many fields but high technology is not the only factor to consider when it comes to military conflicts. I think Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan are good examples showing that American technology was overcome by other factors. During the Vietnam War, China and the former Soviet Union continuously supplied the North Vietnamese Army with everything they needed. Pressure from the American society to end the war and unbelievable cost, eventually led to introduction of " Make the War, Vietnamese " or " The Vietnamization of the War " Concept by Richard Nixon. That meant if there was a conflict between different Vietnamese, it shall be resolved between themselves. The North Vietnamese entered Saigon, which has been changed to Ho Chi Min City now(!) and the Americans and their allies got the hell out of there. The result was nothing but American casualties, extreme cost and humiliation. Not to mention the South Vietnamese freeloaders who now were a burden to the American society, in other terms, the tax payers! 

Taliban is showing the captures or perhaps it should be said abandoned American vehicles in a parade 

The story was different in Iraq. The Americans overlooked the fact that the country was under the control of Iran. At least the majority of it! The Quds Force and the militia caused heavy casualties to the Americans until 2011 when Obama ordered the withdrawal of the forces but it was not until the first term of Trump that Iran felt a blow when General Qasem Soleimnai was assassinated. 

The third story is even worse! This time the humiliation was enormous! The US left nearly $7 Billion worth of equipment behind when they suddenly left the country but the biggest humiliation goes to the filthy rats of the Afghan National Army! The army collapsed like a porcelain plate on the kitchen counter(!), without even being touched. I don't believe there're nastier and more disgusting soldiers in the entire world than Afghans! 

Then when Trump was campaigning he introduced himself as the Peace President and he said that he would end the Russia-Ukraine War in the matter of 24 hours or some nonsense like that! But then he praised Israel for attacking Iran and gave a 2-week notice but attacked in two days! 

The attacks, despite the facts that caught Iranians by surprise, has not been as effective as Trump claims! Yes the B-2s flew all the way from the US to Iran, which is amazing and they bombed their target without any of them being shot or even detected in the first place, and yes no Iranian plane took off to scare them off but the result was another American propaganda and lie. So the Peace President no only has put an end to the Russia-Ukraine War but also started a war with Iran and encouraged Israel to continue their war with Hamas which now has been turned to war against the civilians! He has picked up a war with Canada, China and the European Union and no one knows where the hell this is going. Good job Americans selecting the 47th! 

(Photo, top: The map shows how the US B-2s and the escort planes flew to Iran from an airbase in MO. I admire Americans for how they played this game because for the previous one month or so there was so much talk about Diego Garcia Base in Indian Ocean and everyone, probably including Iranians, thought that if there would be an attacked, it would start from that base. The American trick was nice and worked)

Same Filthy Animal, Different Look!

The last time I voted in the Federal election was in 2015. That was the year that Canada started its steep decline by handing over to the nasty assholes of the freaking Liberal Party. I was surprised at the time but I think I know what happened. This time I, of course, didn't vote but was baffled by the results! It was bittersweet. The asshole who was leading the NDP, stepped down but Mark " Crap " ney was selected as the Prime Minister! 
It's like we haven't had enough of the asshole Justin T. and now he's replaced with an older version! This piece of dung has taken the footsteps of the younger asshole. Not that it's a surprise. The surprise is the animals who voted for him! Look at what he just announced last week:
The country is struggling with so many problems and he announces a $4 Billion aid to Ukraine! In a country that people are not duped by craps such as Marijuana, alcohol, gambling, Facelessbook and other shit that only have been introduced to keep you busy so you don't know what's going on around you and the Government and its lobbyists can do whatever they have planned to do to make their bank accounts bigger, people would stand against such a pile of shit. Not in Canada, as you can see.

(Photo: This cartoon is created by Bruce MacKinnon. I wanted to be clear, first. This shows an asshole takes over another asshole. The question is who is bigger. I think there's not much difference between these two but Crapney has proved he's such a Baboon)

Golden Dome will never be, Iron Dome is not!

 The problem with people, these days, or perhaps I shall be more specific, after Trump was elected to the White House is that they believe whatever he says! Everyone with a functioning brain should know that this guy cannot be taken seriously in many aspects! I'm not saying that he shall not be watched or paid attention to. I'm saying that he says lots of stupid things and it's up to people to distinguish between nonsense and worth listening to and it's not so hard! Let's go through a few things that he has said so far and all caused controversy:

1) Canada shall be the 51st state of the United States! 

If I was the PM or one of the Premiers I would react with derision and big smirk! What's he going to do? Invade Canada? Come on guys! He's just a nutcase! This is not the same time that Russian Tsar sold Alaska to you for a few thousand dollars! And what have you done with it, by the way? Let's not discuss that here!

2) Alcatraz shall be turned back to a Federal prison! 

Can you imagine how much it would cost to rebuild the prison?! It'd be easier and cheaper to build a new one from the ground up! 

3) We're going to thrive in the auto industry in the US! 

How? By importing or assembling more Japanese and Korean cars?! Why don't you add the Chinese as well? Then your accomplishment will be complete. I think you arrived at the party too late! The only American car company that could fight the Japanese and Korean ones a little bit was Tesla which has gone to shit after the Trump-Musk feud! 

Tel Aviv., Mon., 16-Jun-2025, morning. That is how the Iron Dome defends and protects Israel! What a joke! If it was not because of decades of financial and political support, does anyone think they could kill these many civilians, so far? I had so much sympathy for them at the beginning when the innocent people were abducted and killed during a concert. Not any more. They have killed and starved many civilians without achieving much. Hamas is still there and all the people who survive these attacks will continue taking their steps as much as and as long as they are able to, for generations. Some hostages are still held captive and many died. You did wrong Israel. You need to admit that.

4) We're going to build the Golden Dome and Canadians have shown interest as well! We will protect all by spending some $24,000,000,000 (Apparently the American dollar)! 

First off we just saw how fragile the fake Iron Dome was! That's number one. The so-called Golden Dome will be no different! Secondly, you need to straighten out many things with Canadians before going into the business of defense with them! You can't impose tariffs on businesses on one hand and then hold the other hand for a so-called silly Golden Dome, you blockhead! And then who's going to pay that big bill? You? Americans? Canadians?! The Government of Canada hasn't even been able to meet the 2% of GDP that NATO members are supposed to contribute, for years! You're just a joke, Donald! 

5) We're going to obtain Greenland! 

How? They way that you invaded and conquered Canadians and now rule over the country?! Sending the dickhead Vance and his Indian come-in-to-the-society(!) is not going to do anything to that part of Denmark! You're just full of shit! 

(Photo, top: I think one thing that cannot be denied is that Trump loves attention and that's most likely one of the reasons he decided to run for president in the first place because he didn't do that for the money, for sure. Here his big brain is working on the Golden Bowl!)

The Roller Coaster Weather

Everyone who has lived in Alberta knows that the weather here could change in a matter of minutes. One minute the sun is shining and then hail starts raining on you. After a week of disgusting and polluted air which resembled Delhi, not that I've been there but I've seen the Independence Day Parade and I know how bad the weather is, shower and rain cleaned the air and the beautiful sky of Alberta could be seen again.
I went to Nose Creek Park for a walk and it was very beautiful but when I came back, the rain started. For that I canceled my today's hike! If I want to be honest with myself, the cancellation was mostly due to being lazy and not wanting to go alone but what's the difference?! I'm here and I know I didn't go! 

(Photo: Big, white, beautiful clouds, resembling vanilla ice cream are seen in the sky once again)

The Return of Disgusting, Smokey Summer!

I haven't gone for my regular jogging since Fri., the 6th. Almost a week. A nasty dark blanket of smoke has covered most of southern Alberta and the air pollution index reached 10, yesterday. Today is not better and we aren't in summer yet! This weekend will be the second week that I had planned to go hiking and I will not! I started hiking in May, last year and I achieved nothing! I decided to start in June and I have already missed two weeks due to lack of having a reliable vehicle, mostly and then air pollution. 
Since my first destination is Bob Creek, I told I would be away from pollution and will be able to enjoy the hike but I feared taking my old vehicle and rentals are too expensive and scarce! I was not able to find any rentals less than $210 and adding gasoline would make the cost of hike at least $250. Besides The pollution might have reached there as well. 
Nevertheless I will try to get a vehicle for the 20th and this time I want that summit! 

(Photo: This picture shows a few seconds before a plane lands in YYC. You can see how dark the sky is and there ain't no cloud! They even had the guiding lights which illuminates the path for the pilots at night, on!)