Research Hari Mix Research Hari Mix

Chasing Neutrons

Hari AaronAsk any tenured or tenure-track professor about their first year and you're bound to get a seasoned, almost gleeful look in return. "Just wait a few years, it'll get easier," they'll say, as they recount the desperate sprint of starting out as a faculty member.A few months into my first year, I can officially report that faculty life presents a daunting set of challenges. And I've had it easy: no cross country move, no job search for a spouse, no young children to raise. But while the honeymoon years of infinite intellectual and recreational freedom that defined my graduate career have come and gone (hey, the pictures on this blog didn't take themselves!), I gaze out at the landscape of opportunities ahead.Lately, I've been coming to terms with the contrast between the countless problems I can work on and the startlingly short horizon defining the frontier of my knowledge and skills. Part of what's made the job so all-consuming have been the strategic questions, the big upfront decisions I make that will shape my research trajectory over the coming years. Not to mention figuring out how these "work" decisions will ultimately fit into a happy and fulfilling life. First step, many a scientist's rite of passage, building my own lab...Sean and I with the new off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy triple water isotope analyzer. Yep, that's what it's called.Using a pair of lasers and super high reflectivity mirrors, we detect the ratios of oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in water vapor based on the wavelengths of light they absorb. I'm also continuing to refine the "piggyback," where a work trip incorporates a bit of play. Case in point, spring break was spent with my student researcher Sean, who just happens to be a superb rock climber (wink). Read more of Sean's exploits here. So we dropped by Yosemite valley for a couple days on the way out to fieldwork in the Eastern Sierra near Reno. I gladly gave Sean all the runout pitches on valley classics including Snake Dike, the legendary line on Half Dome. Hiking out, I noticed a scratchy throat and proceeded to get violently sick for the rest of break and the next couple weeks, but all in all, it was a very successful trip sampling and otherwise.Sean on one of the fun upper pitches of Snake Dike.Stellar views to the Valley. Not a bad way to start a work trip.We snacked on granola on the summit of Half Dome before cruising the hike out.Boca Reservoir near Truckee showing effects of the ongoing drought.Sean sampling a 3 million year old ash, Boca Basin, CA.The Verdi Basin, was by far the most urban of my field areas. We sampled along irrigation ditches and railroad cuts.Oh, and I'll get back up in the big mountains too...I'm just shaking out before the crux!P.S. Thanks to everyone who's reached out to me with regards to the Nepal earthquake. Lots of friends over there have been affected, but luckily a lot of the news I'm getting from the ground now is better than I'd feared. Still many are in need. For those who've been asking, I've been recommending the American Himalayan Foundation as a great organization on the ground that's currently directing 100% of donations to relief and long term recovery in Nepal.P.P.S. A few years ago, I came across a couple mountain guides from Oregon who snapped these awesome shots of me in action on Bugaboo Spire in BC. Somehow my email address was temporarily lost, but look what came in the mail!Running it out on the summit ridge traverse of Bugaboo Spire. What a day! Descending the Kain Route after a day on the North American Classic NE Ridge. Pigeon Spire, which we climbed earlier, and the Howser Towers (R) in the background.

Read More
Sierra Nevada Hari Mix Sierra Nevada Hari Mix

Winter traverse of the High Sierra

Zach slippin along on day 2 of the Sierra traverseWith all of the recent polar vortex talk, it could be easy to conclude that winter, glaciers and climate as we know it are here to stay. Well, out here in California, my good friend Zach and I just crossed the Sierra Nevada. In sneakers. In two and a half days in the heart of "winter." California, if you haven't heard, is in a ridiculous drought right now.Zach and I were excited at the prospect of this unique trip and a chance to visit some of California's threatened glaciers in winter. Borrowing from the light is right, alpine-style ethic, we stripped down to the bare essentials and rock hopped, plunge-stepped, and slipped along icy trail from the Eastern Sierra to Yosemite Valley.Zach and I shouldered our packs near June Lake on the east side of the Sierra.Looking back down to the eastern SierraThe east side of the Sierra is steep. These old tramway tracks gave us a chance to warm up in a hurry!Banner (L) and Ritter (R) dominate the skyline near Mammoth LakesIMG_0802Vastness near Donohue Pass, the first of three passes on our traverseZach surveys the landscape from our first camp. Lyell, the highest peak in Yosemite and home to the Sierra's second largest glacier, is beyond.It wasn't always a cakewalk. It was often easier to stick to the more technical rock than to deal with the uncertainty of snow-covered boulders.This section of snow covered boulders was treacherous. Fortunately, a snapped trekking pole was our only casualty.IMG_0850

IMG_0843

I survey the scene from our second pass. Tuolumne Meadows is deep in the background.Finally some easy terrain! The low point on the skyline was our highpoint.Hiking down spectacular glacial polish in the Yosemite high country. Our last 25 miles or so were downhill.Half Dome comes into view. Merced Lake was our second bivy spot.Basketball-sized boulders of ice provided an interesting road block for us.Zach emerges from a naked plunge into the iced-over Merced River.Such a pleasure to be on a trail with dry shoes--thanks Zach for building a great fire on the 2nd night so we could dry our stuff.Magnificent Half Dome. The trail was a complete ice rink for miles on end. We slipped and slid our way down to the Mist Trail.Nevada Falls was an icy trickle.The last couple miles were a joy. Here we share a moment by Vernal Falls.Zach crosses Happy Isles Bridge, marking our finish lineWHY DID WE EVEN BOTHER CROSSING THE SIERRA? We'd been talking about what we'd order at the Curry Village Pizza Deck for days.Thanks to Brad and Matt for dropping us off in style, and Seanan for the unlikely encounter in Yosemite and company on the way home!IMG_0966

Read More
Uncategorized Hari Mix Uncategorized Hari Mix

More thankful than ever

Hummus and crackers are a fine way to jumpstart a chilly Yosemite morningI live a charmed life. Occasionally I’ll be stopped in my tracks when I stumble upon an old photo…was I really there? Did I actually drink fermented camel’s milk in Mongolia?!?This year, I have even more reason to be thankful. It’s also the main reason I haven’t posted in a while. Next year, I'll be an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences at Santa Clara University. It’s an absolute dream for me to make this next step, and I couldn’t be happier at the prospect of joining such a wonderful group of people.One of my few leads. I spent a lot of time thrashing around as I hadn't climbed since August!I wasn’t able to get out much this fall as I was super busy with the job search and PhD work. I also messed my ankle up really badly in late September. I’d never rolled my left ankle before but I tore pretty much everything. I’m in really good running shape now and lifting as well, but mountain trips were off limits this fall. I did sneak off to Yosemite Valley for a quick weekend with my good buddy Mike. He led all the hard pitches and I climbed pretty poorly but loved every minute. Found a great veggie burger and milkshake on the way home too…Hula’s in Escalon is tasty!The view of Half Dome after topping out on our last climb.

Read More
Sierra Nevada Hari Mix Sierra Nevada Hari Mix

Late-season Sierra rock

I've taken a few weekend trips to the Sierra before winter truly sets in. First up was Lover's Leap in the Tahoe area with Mike. We've done a fair amount together, and he's really come along as a trad follower and now climbs way harder than I do.On Saturday, we went up a bunch of Lover's Leap moderate classics on the Hogsback and East Wall. I think Pop Bottle takes the cake as the most fun we had. On Sunday, we did a fair amount of anchor practice before Mike took the sharp end for the first time on Deception. This was also a blast and Mike did a fantastic job on his first trad lead.Last weekend, I headed up to Yosemite to take new climbers McKee and Nick on an adventure. We met up with Zach and Emily to toprope on Glacier Point Apron and then climb the Grack.On Sunday, we awoke and left the Valley early in the morning and started up the icy trail towards Cathedral Peak in Tuolumne. By mid-morning it was warm, but the substantial amount of snow and the expansive views gave the high country a winter feel.We roped up covering snow and slabs to the knife-edge ridge between Cathedral and Eichorn Pinnacle. Zach made a nice lead around the corner while I finished the spectacular short route. A wild rappel brought us all back together. We descended during a spectacular sunset and we reached the cars as darkness set in. Thanks everyone for the mountain fun!

Read More
Uncategorized Hari Mix Uncategorized Hari Mix

Yosemite Speed Published

My first attempt at self expression in the mountains was a four day solo trip to Yosemite squeezed between the end of my college freshman track season and my first geologic mapping trip. Firmly rooted in the dirtbag climber ethic, it was fueled by muffins from leftover meal points and youthful optimism. Although it was filled with miscalcuations, it all worked out in the end. In a three day time period, I ended up going on four hikes/runs, including speed records on Yosemite Falls and Half Dome. The full trip report is here.

Read More