Movie Review: 127 Hours

Since it is somewhere in the 20 degree Fahrenheit range today and quite windy, we are decidedly not going on a hike.  Fear not, we will soon be full speed ahead as soon as it warms up.

I thought since we weren't going out, why not write a movie review.  Many of you I assume are also cooped up indoors also.  I know 127 Hours came out over a year ago in theaters, I just heard about it from flipping through HBO's on demand list.

127 hours is bsed on the true story of Aron Ralston, portrayed by James Franco, who intends to spend the day canyoneering through Canyonlands National Park.  He drives in the night before and sleeps in his car and then bikes part way to shave off time.  While hiking to Blue John Canyon he meets two girls and convinces them he is a guide and knows a much more scenic route to their destination.  After he parts with them, he continues hopping through canyons toward his destination.  Climbing down a canyon, he slips on a boulder and falls, in turn, loosening the boulder, which then plummets down towards him, trapping his arm between it and the boulder.  The rest of the movie spans 127 hours with him alone in the canyon desperately trying to extricate his arm while flashing back to memorable moments in his life.  In the end, he realizes that with no hope of rescue, he must amputate his own arm.

I saw the preview and thought that I really needed to see this movie.  I wasn't sure if it was going to be any good or not, but I was intrigued.  For a movie that focuses on one main character, I was blown away.  Though you see Ralston trapped in the canyon for most of the time, there is such an intensity to it that you don't miss other characters.  His story is fortified with flashbacks he has of memories he shared with  important people and hallucinations.

Emotionally charged and inspiring, I think this movie is a must see.  

In it there is also very important lesson that any outdoorsy person needs to remember and that is:  Always tell someone where you are going.

The Almost Successful Ascent to the AT

Oops, this blog seemed to fall by the wayside and never got published.  Hope everyone is off to a great start in the new year.  We have been on hiking hiatus for a short while.  While trying to amuse ourselves with Sprocket, I (Ann) tripped and sprained my ankle.  Needless to say, I was staying off of my foot and am going a little stir crazy and am anxious to get out.

Hike Date:  July 28, 2011

What happens to a couple of hikers who try to hike a portion of the AT (that's Appalachian Trail for those of you not in-the-know)?  Read on and find out!

Francis and I have been dying to get onto the AT for some time now.  We always talk about it and then end up going somewhere else.  While on a determined mission to log data for the North American Field Herp Forum, Francis was choosing areas that did not have a lot of data.  Faquier County, Virginia had absolutely no data logged.  What a perfect place to go, spend some time herping and hiking the AT.

Creature Feature: The Copperhead

The Northern Copperhead:  Exquisite Camouflage

Abnormal pattern Northern Copperhead

This beautiful snake in one of the few venomous species that can be found while hiking in Maryland and Virginia.  Although considered a common species, these snakes are seldom seen due to their preference for nocturnal activity.  The most common times people come into contact with this snake is usually during the spring and fall when these snakes tend to be more active during the day due to cooling temperatures at night.

Northern Water Snake

Deception and Distance

We have exciting news!  We have a new addition to our hiking crew.  His name is Sprocket.  He is a seven-month-old otterhound that we recently adopted.  He will be accompanying us on many of our hikes.  With that in mind, we will add a Dog Friendly rating to our current rating system.  So many people like to take their dogs with them when they hike and it is sometimes hard to know what places are good and if they even allow dogs.

Yesterday we went to Marshy Point Park located on the Chesapeake Bay in Baltimore, Maryland.  It is part of the Chesapeake Gateways Network.  A certain someone told us that this place would be a great place to find salamanders.  Little information was available online prior to our visit but when we got there, there were lots of trail maps and other information about the park.  The trails are all relatively short.  Many have boardwalks to give you the ability to see the bay and the Saltpeter and Dundee Creeks that run through the park.  One boardwalk ended abruptly with no ramp or steps to get you back onto the ground except a ramp made out of haphazardly placed 6"x2" boards. 

Creature Feature: Eastern Mud Snake

This fascinating species of snake is primarily aquatic, usually only leaving the water in search of prey or finding a mate.  Found from Southern Virginia all the way into Florida, the Mud snake primarily inhabits swamps where there is an abundance of sirens and amphiumas, the Mud snakes favorite prey.  These snakes are very strong snakes but rarely, if ever, bite when handled.  The most common reaction to being handled is that the Mud snake will poke it's captor with its harmless pointed tail.  Moving from bodies of water primarily at night also make this species one that is rarely encountered by people but is also a reason why these snakes suffer a high road mortality rate.  While these snakes are believed to exist in high numbers little is known about their actual population numbers due to their secretive existence.

Lesser Known Fact: Mud Snakes have been witnessed using their pointed tail as an anchor in the mud for extra leverage while subduing prey.