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Post by Stormrider on Dec 22, 2020 9:44:28 GMT -6
Well, I hear that we may still be able to see them for a few more nights, however, last night was the best line up of the two. So I will keep trying to see it for a few more nights.
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Post by Andorinha on Dec 22, 2020 22:58:22 GMT -6
Yeah, should still be pretty close to the same sight we saw on the 21st even for the next three or five days.
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Post by Stormrider on Dec 23, 2020 7:05:17 GMT -6
I didn't see anything last night. Just two little stars not even near each other. Clouds weren't as bad last night. Will look again tonight.
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Post by Andorinha on Dec 23, 2020 11:23:15 GMT -6
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Post by Andorinha on Dec 24, 2020 15:19:56 GMT -6
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Post by Stormrider on Dec 24, 2020 15:52:47 GMT -6
Nice! And a 17.5" screen.
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Post by fanuidhol on Dec 24, 2020 16:57:58 GMT -6
It has an integrated graphics card which does not say what exactly the model number is. If you do get this one, you may have to stick with low graphics. A discrete card would be better. If you click on the more info tab next to graphics card it will tell you.
I change back and forth among graphics settings even with a discrete card depending on the load.
But, yay!!!!!!
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Post by Andorinha on Dec 27, 2020 14:43:25 GMT -6
After three months absence from climbing, I finally got out on the rock today. Did fairly well, took only one fall on the easiest route, one that Maria pioneered (first ascent) back in 2002 -- oops, one of her handholds broke when I used it, and I went spinning off the wall -- debating if I should tell her that I have now "modified" her route, afraid she'll make me super-glue the handhold back on... The other three climbs went well, no screams of pain from my "bad" shoulder, and my leg flexibility was quite good. We'll see how the joints feel tomorrow. Looking at a Dell lap top that has the up-graded graphics system that Fan suggested. It is only another hundred bucks or so, but has a 15 inch screen instead of 17. Hope to be back on LORO in a couple of weeks. That's weird, the picture seems to have double=loaded!? Me in white helmet and blue shirt. Attachments:
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Post by Stormrider on Dec 27, 2020 17:08:37 GMT -6
Glad you got out for a climb. Looks like a pretty steep wall.
Good news about the laptop and being able to play soon.
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Post by fanuidhol on Dec 28, 2020 8:15:51 GMT -6
Good deal, Andy! Looking great. Hope you are doing well today.
What can you tell me about the rock layers?
And Tad is looking forward to Holdo buying him some pints!
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Post by Andorinha on Dec 28, 2020 11:09:33 GMT -6
This rock is generally called the Catalina Gneiss, a series of strangely mixed up, partially melted and then recompressed granitic stones that form the discrete, banded "layers" of most of the lower ranges of the Catalina Mountains. The layering makes this formation look like a sedimentary rock series, but closer examination reveals its igneous/ metamorphic origins. The two component rocks are the vastly ancient Oracle Granite, 1.4 billion ya, and the relatively new Wilderness Suite Granite 57 - 45 million ya. I've been trying to get local geologists to explain to me what caused the discrete banding in some outcroppings, while other areas have the various color shades all swirled together in twisting patterns, with no real banding. Also something that puzzles me is how the darker bands are classed as remnants of the original "cream colored" Oracle Granite, while the lighter bands are from the Eocene Age Wilderness Suite Granite. How/ Why did the ancient Oracle Granite grow this much darker? I have, so far failed to understand the formation mechanisms, something about altered minerals under heat/ pressure -- but why would this not also alter the Wilderness Suites granites, giving us a uniform dark mass? At any rate, for climbing purposes, this gneiss is somewhat problematic, it is not as solid as either of the parent granites, and chunks of this gneiss break off unexpectedly -- but, especially for winter climbing, the lower levels of the mountain where this rock type is exposed are much warmer and receive a lot of human traffic. I'll try to include another picture that shows the rock more closely to reveal the twisting bands, showing that this is indeed not parallel layers of sedimentary rock. From J.E. Spencer: www.azgs.arizona.edu/photo/banded-gneiss-catalina-highway
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Post by Andorinha on Dec 28, 2020 12:39:57 GMT -6
Found the companion photo, almost at the top: Attachments:
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Post by fanuidhol on Dec 28, 2020 18:47:28 GMT -6
Really cool, Andy! I am very intrigued by the rock layers. Thank you for explaining them as best you could. Thanks for the pictures!
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Post by Stormrider on Dec 28, 2020 23:48:29 GMT -6
I don't pretend to understand it all, but it is most interesting how the layers form and change.
I like seeing your pictures, too.
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Post by fanuidhol on Dec 29, 2020 6:55:22 GMT -6
I should ask — How high are you? A double entendre question...
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