Welcome, Owls!

Since late last summer, one of my goals for 2010 was to hike the Icicle Ridge Trail in its entirety, from Stevens Pass to the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth, Washington. Looking for company, I seemingly found a willing accomplice in the form of one Kelly Tjaden.

So it was, on Wednesday, August 21, I departed for Owl Farm in the great State of Washington for yet another backcountry adventure.

We decided to incorporate our interest in backcountry excursions by forming the Inter-Galactic Legion of Owls (IGLOO) for like minded individuals who like to frolic in the forest and wallow in the wilderness (http://gonzopublicrelations.blogspot.com/2009/08/ode-to-owl-elegant-fowl.html). We do not discriminate: IGLOO has a very diverse membership, including screwheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, waistoids, dweebies, the doomed and other mutants.

The only requirement to become a fully practicing member of IGLOO is that you like to get out into the backcountry. Our mascot, if you will, is the antagonist from Frankenstein Meets The Space Monster (that 1965 classic sci-fi stinkeroo), one Dr. Nadir (below).

Captivatingly played by Lou Cutell (you might remember him from other roles like "Amazing Larry" in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, "Deacon" in Little Big Man or "Frightened Villager" in Young Frankenstein), Dr. Nadir is best known for his line: "Range, 700. Maximum firepower!"

Oh, by the way, IGLOO does discriminate against one group in particular: whiners need not apply.