Yeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaaaa! Sorry about that outburst!
The resort opens June 10th as scheduled.
Here is the latest for guests of the resort.
Seattle City Light will pick you and your gear up in a high speed 7 passenger boat at the usual location - the dock on Diablo.
Park and unload as usual where you see Ross Lake Resort Parking.
You will unload at the new passenger dock west of the landslide.
The resort truck will pick up all guests and their gear after a short hike - for transport up to Ross Lake.
Our thanks to Tammra Sterling of the National Park Service for providing us with the information and new haul road map.
One more thing to add!
Everyone at Ross Lake Resort cannot express and thank enough the staff of the National Park Service, Seattle City Light and the contractors who all have worked feverishly since March to provide for the safety of visitors, and for developing an innovative solution to the rock slide conundrum.
We are fortunate to have such a fine partnership.
So this summer when you are sitting in front of the cabins or riding up lake in one of the blue boats and you see staff from the National Park Service or Seattle City Light - give them a wave and thank you.
They appreciate the beauty of the North Cascades and this magnificent lake as much as you do!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
When Blue Boats Retire
So I know you have been wondering, "what happens to the legendary, handcrafted, Ross Lake Resort Blue Boats when they retire?"
Well, if you are a good, hard working, trustworthy, loyal, friendly, courteous boat like hull number 78, you are selected to join the working staff and spend many graceful years moving cabins, delivering firewood, shuttling back and forth between the various shops and serving the community of Ross Lake Resort with style and dignity.
But!
If you are shifty, fast, always looking for a party, never checking in with the office until the wee hours, always looking for a wake to jump or a doughnut to perform - there may be only a dismal and glum future for you!
Like hull number ............. 101!
Well, if you are a good, hard working, trustworthy, loyal, friendly, courteous boat like hull number 78, you are selected to join the working staff and spend many graceful years moving cabins, delivering firewood, shuttling back and forth between the various shops and serving the community of Ross Lake Resort with style and dignity.
Legendary hull #78 with Adam Bloom at the helm.
But!
If you are shifty, fast, always looking for a party, never checking in with the office until the wee hours, always looking for a wake to jump or a doughnut to perform - there may be only a dismal and glum future for you!
Like hull number ............. 101!
Hull # 101 - the Hunter S. Thompson of hulls!
Notice that diabolical, grinning, pumpkin
Notice that diabolical, grinning, pumpkin
in the background! What stories is it holding back?
What path will you follow young hulls?
The choice is yours!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Freshly Painted Blue Boats
A new season and another batch of freshly painted boats await the guests arrival.
Winter Hibernation
Shortly after Halloween, when the resort is closed for the winter, the staff move the cabins and buildings out to the log boom, winterize the resort and hunker down to await the inevitable storms.
After this last burst of activity everyone can catch up on some well needed rest, go on their vacations and then slowly begin the process of preparing for the next summer opening.
It begins a period that is almost like hibernation, the pace slows, phones ring less, everyone lingers longer over that hot cup of coffee.
Ross Lake Resort follows a process that is typical to seasonal resorts around the world - except that everything is self contained on floating rafts.
After the holidays, the pace begins to quicken again as furniture is refinished, several new boats are built, and decking planks are replaced.
In April as the weather begins to warm with sunnier longer days, major outdoor projects start.
In May activity dramatically increases and the resort is returned to the summer location and work is non-stop until early November.
Here are some images of the resort in the winter location.
After this last burst of activity everyone can catch up on some well needed rest, go on their vacations and then slowly begin the process of preparing for the next summer opening.
It begins a period that is almost like hibernation, the pace slows, phones ring less, everyone lingers longer over that hot cup of coffee.
Ross Lake Resort follows a process that is typical to seasonal resorts around the world - except that everything is self contained on floating rafts.
After the holidays, the pace begins to quicken again as furniture is refinished, several new boats are built, and decking planks are replaced.
In April as the weather begins to warm with sunnier longer days, major outdoor projects start.
In May activity dramatically increases and the resort is returned to the summer location and work is non-stop until early November.
Here are some images of the resort in the winter location.
all photos ©Paul K Anderson
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Ross Lake Resort Announcement
Ross Lake Resort is pleased to announce that they have begun transitioning to new 4 stroke, 9.9 horsepower Yamaha outboard motors.
Over the next two years the goal is to complete the transition of Ross Lake Resort boats to the new motors.
Over the next two years the goal is to complete the transition of Ross Lake Resort boats to the new motors.
Le Bateau Bleu Detritus
The agent for Tombio Barnettii is pleased to announce the sale on TomsList of another of Mr Barnettii's famous pieces of art.
In the manner of Andy Warhol and created in much the same way Chilhully creates his posters for glass pieces, Mr Barnettii has shaken the art world by creating Le Bateau Bleu Detritus.
Critics are hailing his innovative and daring combination and use of fabrics, plastique, and water colors.
Mr. Barnettii offers this starting at $17, 360.00.
thank you for your interest.
In the manner of Andy Warhol and created in much the same way Chilhully creates his posters for glass pieces, Mr Barnettii has shaken the art world by creating Le Bateau Bleu Detritus.
Critics are hailing his innovative and daring combination and use of fabrics, plastique, and water colors.
Mr. Barnettii offers this starting at $17, 360.00.
thank you for your interest.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Richardsonius Balteaus - National Park Service Fisheries Study
©Paul K Anderson
Every trip to Ross Lake Resort I end up meeting very interesting people. Artists, musicians, incredibly talented fishers, craftsmen, National Park Service People.
This trip was no different.
Meet Ashley Rawhouser of the National Park Service, Professor Leo Bodensteiner of Western Washington University, Professor Ruth Sofield of Western Washington University, and Carmen Welch who is working towards her Masters Degree at Western.
Carmen is studying Richardsonius Balteaus eating habits - this information could be useful to understand the effects on the native rainbow and bull trout populations.
For several days they set nets in various locations on the lake. The shiners were sized, categorized and documented.
Later Carmen will remove the otolith (ear bone) to more accurately age the samples.
Then she removes the guts of her sample group and documents if the shiners are eating insects, algae, or zooplankton.
Good luck on the study Carmen, we all wish you the best.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Meet Tom
Tom Barnett, owner of Ross Lake Resort - one of the hardest working, nicest guys I have ever met.
I have a hard time describing what he does because it is nonstop every time I see him.
Yesterday for example:
I hike in and he runs the boat over to pick me up. We rush back so he can start planning wood, then he is running around getting parts, material and tools for everyone and he knows exactly where everything is.
He fixes one thing after another, finishes one job and is told the sink is backed up. Works on that for a while then heads back to the wood shop. On the way he picks up some cleaning solution and prepares the steel roof panels so they are ready for Adam and Mark Bloom who are installing the new roof on the gas shed.
Back to the wood shop to trim the sides of planks on the table. He rushes over to the outboard motor shop where Bruce is welding up brackets, back to the wood shop he starts putting together the new upholstery for one of the boats we all ride in.
Back to the kitchen with empty coffee cups we all left scattered around the docks.
All the while I'm asking him dumb questions. He answers graciously.
Over to the big shed by boat to pick up wood, then cutting apart old planks.
Its non stop especially this time of year.
Carol in the meantime is answering phones non-stop, picking and ordering hats, shirts, jackets, wine glasses, cooking lunch for all of us knuckleheads, preparing reservations, mailings, helping Bailey setup the laundry room, answering my dumb questions - graciously!
Tom - a plumber, mechanic, carpenter, upholsterer, electrician, woodwork, welder, manager, owner, worker bee - nonstop. Phew!
After all this - he cooks dinner for all of us as thanks.
Tenderloin steaks, fresh crab, cheese, potatoes, asparagus - steak oscar! All the while serving us fine wine, excellent whiskey. After dinner it's story time, jokes, laughter.
He and Carol are gracious hosts. They are thankful for their friends - and we know that.
And that's why he has so many decades long friends who want to hang out with him, do a little work, drink a little wine, and share a fine meal.
That is also one reason why so many of his guests keep coming back 10, 20, 30 years and more.
Meet Bruce
This is Bruce! An excellent guy and a welding maniac. Also a pipefitter, carpenter - you name it he can probably do it!
He came up for the weekend with another buddy to visit staff member Lucas (remember the blogpost about the glass blower on staff named Lucas?) and help out Tom on several tasks.
Lucas told Bruce and his buddy if they were coming up they had better cook a really fine meal for him.
Bruce was welding brackets and numerous other items - then he went out and finished building the new float.
Tom is extremely thankful for the help you gave.
I wish I could have stayed one more night because they are going to put on a feast for the staff up at the resort. Prawns, huge sea scallops ........... doh!
Wait a minute? They welded, built a float, then they are cooking a really great dinner and Tom is the guest of honor...........
Who was it that got everyone to paint the fence??? Tom Sawyer? Tom Sawyer, Tom Barnett? WAIT A MINUTE!!!
This is starting to sound like a conspiracy!!! Tom, Tom?
Oh by the way - Lucas can't eat shellfish.
He came up for the weekend with another buddy to visit staff member Lucas (remember the blogpost about the glass blower on staff named Lucas?) and help out Tom on several tasks.
Lucas told Bruce and his buddy if they were coming up they had better cook a really fine meal for him.
Bruce was welding brackets and numerous other items - then he went out and finished building the new float.
Tom is extremely thankful for the help you gave.
I wish I could have stayed one more night because they are going to put on a feast for the staff up at the resort. Prawns, huge sea scallops ........... doh!
Wait a minute? They welded, built a float, then they are cooking a really great dinner and Tom is the guest of honor...........
Who was it that got everyone to paint the fence??? Tom Sawyer? Tom Sawyer, Tom Barnett? WAIT A MINUTE!!!
This is starting to sound like a conspiracy!!! Tom, Tom?
Oh by the way - Lucas can't eat shellfish.
New Road From New Dock
As I mentioned in an earlier post the National Park Service and Seattle City Light is doing a tremendous job on punching in a new road/trail that each of you will use when you come to Ross Lake Resort via the Seattle City Light tour boat.
Final details have not been completed but the new dock will be further west of the damaged dock and a new spur road is being built above up road from the tunnel that we all would ride through after loading the truck with guests and luggage.
Note: The tunnel was not covered in the rock slide - but it is very close to the edge of it and with all of the construction work, including blasting down loose or potentially dangerous portions of the cliff above the rockslide, it is not available for passage by the public.
Here are some of the images from today.
photos ©Paul K Anderson
Top of new spur road from a short distance above the tunnel looking down Diablo Lake towards the west.
Some of the equipment used to establish the foundation/base of the new road/trail
Not too far from the new location of the new dock.
The boat dock unload area for guests.
Final details have not been completed but the new dock will be further west of the damaged dock and a new spur road is being built above up road from the tunnel that we all would ride through after loading the truck with guests and luggage.
Note: The tunnel was not covered in the rock slide - but it is very close to the edge of it and with all of the construction work, including blasting down loose or potentially dangerous portions of the cliff above the rockslide, it is not available for passage by the public.
Here are some of the images from today.
photos ©Paul K Anderson
Top of new spur road from a short distance above the tunnel looking down Diablo Lake towards the west.
The boat dock unload area for guests.
The Old Dock Below Ross Dam
Here is a photo I shot several hours ago of the old dock and ramp that we used to walk up.
National Park Service, Seattle City Light and the contractors are working extremely hard to get everything in place for a successful summer season.
A view of Tom's old truck and the loading ramp at the base of the rock slide. ©Paul Anderson
National Park Service, Seattle City Light and the contractors are working extremely hard to get everything in place for a successful summer season.
Weekend Update
Hi Everyone,
I have just spent the weekend visiting (and helping out where I could) Tom and Carol as they prepare the resort for the opening in just a few short weeks.
We were hoping to move the buildings from the winter locations into the summer configuration but alas the wind wouldn't cooperate.
Any wind over 4 miles per hour can seriously push the buildings around since the sides of the buildings (especially the Peaks) act just like sails on a sailboat.
Numerous tasks were completed by the staff and the 5 of us who came up to help out.
Over the next week I will write more about winter configuration, tasks performed, the rock slide and introduce you to an excellent group of people I met that were studying the red shiners that are in the lake.
I have just spent the weekend visiting (and helping out where I could) Tom and Carol as they prepare the resort for the opening in just a few short weeks.
We were hoping to move the buildings from the winter locations into the summer configuration but alas the wind wouldn't cooperate.
Any wind over 4 miles per hour can seriously push the buildings around since the sides of the buildings (especially the Peaks) act just like sails on a sailboat.
Numerous tasks were completed by the staff and the 5 of us who came up to help out.
Over the next week I will write more about winter configuration, tasks performed, the rock slide and introduce you to an excellent group of people I met that were studying the red shiners that are in the lake.
New Listing on TomsList
The agent for Tombio Barnettii, has just announced the offer to sell a major piece of art by this recently discovered, exciting artist.
Mr. Barnettii, head of the Pickett Range Collective of Individualistic Abstract Environmental Impactionistic Modern Art, has recently completed and unveiled his latest creation titled Pancaked in Blue.
Tombio Barnettii's mixed media, wall hanging sculpture is a fusion of steel, aluminum, plastic, glass, chrome, rubber, fir, and particularly nice gneiss from the Skagit pluton.
"It is an amalgamation of all I stand for - technology vs tradition, the force of nature battling the hand of man, the now vs the perpetuality and duality of the everlasting," said Mr.Barnettii.
It measures approximately 19 feet long, 8 feet wide, and about 2 feet thick. Weight is estimated at 4000 pounds.
Mr. Barnettii, head of the Pickett Range Collective of Individualistic Abstract Environmental Impactionistic Modern Art, has recently completed and unveiled his latest creation titled Pancaked in Blue.
Tombio Barnettii's mixed media, wall hanging sculpture is a fusion of steel, aluminum, plastic, glass, chrome, rubber, fir, and particularly nice gneiss from the Skagit pluton.
"It is an amalgamation of all I stand for - technology vs tradition, the force of nature battling the hand of man, the now vs the perpetuality and duality of the everlasting," said Mr.Barnettii.
It measures approximately 19 feet long, 8 feet wide, and about 2 feet thick. Weight is estimated at 4000 pounds.
Asking price $197,000.00
Notice From TomsList
Note: You have been selected to view this notice because you have previously expressed interest in an item listed on TomsList.
After lengthy discussion, the owner of the blue pickup truck listed on TomsList has removed the item from the for sale auto category.
After lengthy discussion, the owner of the blue pickup truck listed on TomsList has removed the item from the for sale auto category.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Opening Day in the Lowlands
Hi Everyone from the North Cascades!
Its nice and warm out here in the lowlands of Puget Sound. But just 45 miles east up SR522 our local ski area - Mt. Baker (just a few hours ago) closed for the season. Skiing was excellent. 6" of fresh snow overnight. Any moguls left standing from yesterday were blown apart and smashed down by skiers and snowboarders as the snow transformed from powder to heavy North Cascades cement to wonderful, magical corn snow.
The tulip festival in the lower Skagit River Valley is winding down.
And this was opening weekend in the lowland lakes. Just up the road at Lake Padden, here in Bellingham, hundreds of Dad's and Mom's are out showing their young ones how to catch their first trout. It's not as special as catching a wild Ross Lake trout - but none the less - the kids will never forget spending time with their parents out on the water.
Its nice and warm out here in the lowlands of Puget Sound. But just 45 miles east up SR522 our local ski area - Mt. Baker (just a few hours ago) closed for the season. Skiing was excellent. 6" of fresh snow overnight. Any moguls left standing from yesterday were blown apart and smashed down by skiers and snowboarders as the snow transformed from powder to heavy North Cascades cement to wonderful, magical corn snow.
The tulip festival in the lower Skagit River Valley is winding down.
And this was opening weekend in the lowland lakes. Just up the road at Lake Padden, here in Bellingham, hundreds of Dad's and Mom's are out showing their young ones how to catch their first trout. It's not as special as catching a wild Ross Lake trout - but none the less - the kids will never forget spending time with their parents out on the water.
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