Evacuation and Damage

The Park remains closed until further notice. For updated information, call 360 569 2211 ext 9.

The onslaught of rain continued throughout the night. The Paradise telemetry recorded another 7 inches, bringing the total to 18 inches of precip over the course of the storm... and it's still raining!

Aside from the rage of the Nisqually River, Longmire is a relatively quiet place. The NPS has closed its offices, and only essential personnel are allowed in through a backroad (which is largely washed out and requires shuttles). See image above, taken near the Eagle Peak Trailhead...

The flooding has seriously damaged or threatened many of the roads (and even a few of the facilities) in the park. This image was also taken from the Longmire backroad below the Community Building. You can see where the road once existed.

Longmire is isolated by washouts and mudflows, so it feels like a safe little island. Well, "safe" unless you're in the Emergency Operations Center (pictured left) which is being undermined by the Nisqually River... Oh, and some of the electrical and water systems are also damaged, but most of the facilities will probably survive the storm.

I'll provide updates when possible. If you plan on visiting this side of the park anytime soon, consider that it's going to take a few days to repair the main road between the Nisqually Entrance and Longmire. I hear that it's completely washed out near Sunshine Point Campground. And speaking of that campground, it's GONE.

Thai Spring Rolls

Thai Spring Rolls, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

These tasty Thai spring rolls are easy to make and don't require any super-exotic ingredients. Filled with clear noodles, pork, cilantro, pepper, and carrot, they're an explosively flavorful snack that will be sure to please.

Thai Spring Rolls (Po Pia Thot)

- 1 frozen package of spring roll wrappers (8” × 8”)
- 1 lb lean ground pork
- 2 small packages of mung bean thread noodles (4 oz.)
- 2-3 cups shredded fresh carrots
- 4-5 cloves of garlic, chopped finely
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- few drops of sesame oil
- fresh ground pepper
- vegetable or canola oil for frying
- fresh chili paste (optional)
- 2-3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped (optional)

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and fresh ground pepper. Soak or boil the mung bean noodles until tender and cut them into shorter pieces. Add the noodles, carrots, garlic, ground pork, sesame oil, optional chili paste and cilantro to the bowl. Mix the ingredients together until thoroughly combined.

Peel the spring roll wrappers and store them under a damp cloth towel until use. Take about 2 tablespoons of the stuffing and place in each wrapper. Roll the wrappers up and seal them with a few drops of water.

Fry the spring rolls in vegetable oil on medium heat until they turn golden brown and are cooked through. Serve with a sweet and sour sauce, such as nuoc mam.


Recipe adapted from:

Thai Food Tonight

(http://www.thaifoodtonight.com/thaifoodtonight/home.htm)

Sparks Will Fly

Sparks Will Fly, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

As part of a photographic experiment in long exposures, earlier tonight I launched a small shovelful of glowing bonfire embers into the air and onto a very wet, rain-soaked lawn. The end result showed the embers leaving parabolic trails in the air, quite an interesting study of math in nature.

Although, I would hardly call hurling embers a natural occurrence.

Don't worry - the rain was coming down all night and I had the hose handy...no houses burned down in the making of this picture.

Wordless Wednesday - Icelandic Sunset

Near Keflavik, Iceland. Summer of 1973.Copyright © 1973/.. by Rebeckah R. Wiseman

Wordless Wednesday :: Standing By

The Great Forest Park Balloon Race, St. Louis, Missouri
September 1994Copyright © 1994/.. by Rebeckah R. Wiseman

Finally Back on the Road Again

After many, many months of sitting in the same place we hit the road again. We left tonight after Nathan finished his work day, which meant we didn't get very far. Ironically enough, we landed at the same place that we stayed at for our very first official night "on the road". In Brunswick Georgia, at the exact same campground. Pretty cool!

Wordless Wednesday :: Yum

Fresh. Purchased at the field. Scrumptious.

With a penny, just so you can compare the size!