<![CDATA[Aleksey's Blog]]> Follow Aleksey's Blog, filter it, and define how you want to receive the news (via Email, RSS, Telegram, WhatsApp etc.) https://follow.it/aleksey-s-blog Fri, 24 Mar 2023 21:06:24 +0200 <![CDATA[Hello again, winter!]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyHGjd-jxgM7N7myhX6zo8SW



]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2023 17:10:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyHGjd-jxgM7N7myhX6zo8SW <![CDATA[Threemile Lake winter hike]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyHwTl7RPrRM1Z8v71dCn6bG
It was my first winter backpacking trip! I was backpacking here last summer, and it was a lot of fun - beautiful place, and just a few people around. But I want to see this place at winter, suspecting it will be all for myself. And this is what exactly happened! I was alone in this area fpr two days, not meeting a single person during the hike and the camping. The weather was wonderful on Saturday, but some rain was forecasted for night, and I was prepared for that. But very powerful wind storm caught me by surprise! Wind gusts tried to destroy my tent at night, and the night was sleepless! One tent stake was torn out, but fortunately the tent remained standing!


]]> Thu, 09 Feb 2023 05:19:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyHwTl7RPrRM1Z8v71dCn6bG <![CDATA[Table for 4]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyFGqnYUUauOvFT72x6uxjiK
]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2022 22:36:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyFGqnYUUauOvFT72x6uxjiK <![CDATA[First Day of winter]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyECoha3CzzRrFhGNgNo2_0q


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHYXlvq9GA0]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2022 20:27:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyECoha3CzzRrFhGNgNo2_0q <![CDATA[My Trip to Australia]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyFZSnsHCBqRyP9M7fKGWt0o
This October I visited Australia. And I have very good reason for this trip - my daughter Ksenia wedding. It was so nice to be in Australian summer during month of October! The wedding was beautiful, the weather was warm, parrots were funny! And I was able to see Blue Mountains (thank you Antonio for driving and Ksenia for convincing Antonio to go there hehe). Mountains are amazing, but I'm still not sure if they are better than Oregon Blue Mountains :)



]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2022 06:28:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyFZSnsHCBqRyP9M7fKGWt0o <![CDATA[Bear in neighborhood]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyEzX_a0YG4r9N5ZnUTwRGH7
One of our neighboor taped black bear tonight
]]> Sun, 16 Oct 2022 00:01:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyEzX_a0YG4r9N5ZnUTwRGH7 <![CDATA[Backpacking in Drift Creek Wilderness]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyEODX7wKEodN3OFESPuQWsX
I hiked this trail twice vefore, and this time I decided to stay overnight on the bank of Drift Creek. It was so relaxing and quiet, and the weather was just right - not too cold and not too hot!


This is my Day 1 hike to the creek:

Length:4.21 mi Elevation gain:174 ft
Moving time:1:43:32 Avg. pace:24:36
Calories:902 Total time:1:50:03

And this is my Day 2 hike back to the car:

Length:4.04 mi Elevation gain:1,463 ft
Moving time:1:44:59 Avg. pace:26:00
Calories:914 Total time:1:57:45
]]> Tue, 04 Oct 2022 05:14:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyEODX7wKEodN3OFESPuQWsX <![CDATA[Smoking a Whole Chicken]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyGAgXCPCZG_dioxzwoq1nFt
Tried to smoke a whole chicken under new roof. I used Big Green Egg and it worked perfectly!

]]> Tue, 04 Oct 2022 04:05:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyGAgXCPCZG_dioxzwoq1nFt <![CDATA[Deck roofing project]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyGK0Nc1DNem9DHgrmwRGUK6
Well, rainy season is coming. It would be nice to have some covered area where grilling season can be extended despite rain! This is why we wanted to install the roof just beneath the deck.

]]> Thu, 15 Sep 2022 04:42:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyGK0Nc1DNem9DHgrmwRGUK6 <![CDATA[Zucchini spread]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyFPsgWzMfn2b9KEpFgimKzx
]]> Sun, 11 Sep 2022 22:08:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyFPsgWzMfn2b9KEpFgimKzx <![CDATA[Pamelia Lake backpacking]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyHuvpgToYYxgn-fx8LWuXng
Originally, I wanted to go to Linton Lake for backpacking. But.... for staying overnight you need to have a wilderness permit. Well, I was not able to get this one. Instead, I got a permit for backapking in Pamelia Lake area. And it was a really great experience! First day I hiked to Hanks Lake, and next day I summited Grizly Peak!

]]> Tue, 06 Sep 2022 03:15:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyHuvpgToYYxgn-fx8LWuXng <![CDATA[Backpacking trip to Threemile Lake]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyFomanT7EbkokFW8UNEQjUn
Finally I accomplished my first backpacking trip! Before I was doing car camping, but backpacking is the next level!
I successfully tested my equipment and had a lot of fun! Ready for my next trip!

]]> Tue, 23 Aug 2022 07:57:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyFomanT7EbkokFW8UNEQjUn <![CDATA[Ksenia and Antonio's Visit]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyFd_pM7X-Lz9HOFESPuQWsX
Finally Ksenia and Antonio were able to visit us. We have very good time togeather- cooked some food and explored Oregon

]]> Fri, 19 Aug 2022 00:43:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyFd_pM7X-Lz9HOFESPuQWsX <![CDATA[May 19 - USSR Pioneer Organization birthday]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyHRW14uYhJ-oYfjc6hd5eWF ]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 17:28:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyHRW14uYhJ-oYfjc6hd5eWF <![CDATA[Testing my backpacking gear]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyFVIfBkkgdwxpJTpfXVttXD
Last night I was testing my new set of backpacking sleeping gear! It was cold and rainy night (~38 F) and I was surprisingly warm in my new goose down quilt! Well, maybe it was not a big surprise, considering how much I paid for this quilt! (~$500). But it is so light weight, warm and compact!


Meanwhile, same night, a few blocks from our street - check this out!
]]> Mon, 09 May 2022 04:58:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyFVIfBkkgdwxpJTpfXVttXD <![CDATA[Amanda trail]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyGbHED6RMWI1XMq2h3ehXEp
Amanda's trail is the least explored trail in Cape Perpetua Scenic Area. It goes from City of Yachats to the top of Cape Perpetua. I was planning hiking this trail back and forth from Yachats, but.... I had a ride from Yachats to Cape Perpetua visitor center (thank you Tatiana) and hiked two trails: Saint Perpetua trail to the top of Cape Perpetua and then hiked down to Yachats using Amanda trail. So who is Amanda? Amanda was a blind indian woman who got separated from her doughter by Indian Agents, and the trail was named after her. Actually, the trail was officially closed by red tape with the notice: "hazordous tree and bgidge construction". First, I was scarried away by this notice, but I met fellow hiker who said: "I just maid it, it was sketchy, but I got it". So I decidet to take a risk a go to this trail. Yes, the tree blocking the trail was huge, and the way around was challanging, but I made it too!




Length
4.91 mi
Elevation gain
1,122 ft
Moving time
1:58:58
Avg. pace
24:15
Calories
1,032
Total time
2:17:54
]]> Sun, 13 Feb 2022 01:03:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyGbHED6RMWI1XMq2h3ehXEp <![CDATA[Winter trip to Kurgan]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyGQLvbjVHVoEnKSkciKEY1s
Finally, I was able to travel to Russia during the winter! And I have double excuse to do so: First, I missed Russian winter, especially during holiday season. And second, my mom's birthday is December 31!
The trip was smooth and easy, and I had a stop in New York before flying over Atlantic - it maks a big difference for the comfort. The weather in Kurgan was nice: the coldest temperature was about -22F, but most of the time the temperature was around 14F

]]> Thu, 27 Jan 2022 01:40:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyGQLvbjVHVoEnKSkciKEY1s <![CDATA[Snow on Ridremont, 2021]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyEwVK2rfERyr1T72x6uxjiK
Soon after I left for Russia this winter (just on Christmas Day) the snow came to Eugene. I was lucky to escape, but it was beauteful!

]]> Wed, 12 Jan 2022 19:28:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyEwVK2rfERyr1T72x6uxjiK <![CDATA[New design of my website]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyEserbUQaGroaJCIqJppjfU
Hi guys,

I just re-designed my website recently. How do you like it? Is it better than before?
]]> Mon, 10 Jan 2022 20:57:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyEserbUQaGroaJCIqJppjfU <![CDATA[Thanksgiving turkey]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyEZ7cV90e6paYfjc6hd5eWF
We don't eat turkey very often, this is why I have very limited experience of roasting them. And every year I try different recipes. This time it was Alton Brown version of turkey roasting.
I think it was successfull roast - the bird was moist and perfectly cooked. And delicious too!




]]> Fri, 26 Nov 2021 18:03:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/kEj9-cH1gyEZ7cV90e6paYfjc6hd5eWF