Fit for a King...

...or a Queen.

Can't wait to hold court.

Riding Out the Storm...

Saturday and Sunday were spectacular days at Shambhala.  Gabriel and I set up the bed frame and queen size bed in Columbia.  We were treated to an awesome thunder and lightning storm.  We hunkered down at Shambhala and rode out the storm.  The videos of the fun we had are below.

On a less pleasant note, we had a trespasser riding his motorcycle across Jones Mountain.  It appears that he rode past Shambhala on his way to the top and back down.  A neighbor and I confronted him when he returned to the street.  He denied knowing that the mountain was private property.  Following the motorcycle tracks up the mountain, it is clear that he raised and went under the wire rope at the exact location of the No Trespassing sign.  If anyone should see this miscreant again, please let me know so that I can notify the local authorities and/or plan a hunting accident.

 

Columbia Has Landed...

Perched at the edge of my cliff, 6,300 feet in the air, Columbia is the primary tent in use at Shambhala.  The name is subject to change, like everything in nature. 

Spacious living, pristine air -- able to look down on birds in flight like a hawk ready to strike from above the unsuspecting prey below.  Solar powered Pandora supply whispers from Michael Franks, Bebel Gilberto, Phoebe Snow, and Sade on cool breezes in the shade as I lay in my hammock. 

Columbia is the last of the structural building that I plan to do. The deck plan is 10'x12'.  I have completed 10'x10' so far.  This is just large enough for Columbia to be setup.  I'll complete the rest of the deck as time permits.

The few remaining items to complete include:
- designing a cold food storage system (bear and critter resistant)
- kitchen remodel, moved from original location to keep bear and critters out of camp
- bathroom privacy and facility setup
- trash and waste disposal plan
- semi-permanent airgun and archery range
- cinema location; in camp or at the rock amphitheater

The Mountain Man Potluck is this weekend at my neighbor's property.  The family owns Deep Creek Lake, but unfortunately the lake is dry.  I recall days when my oldest son went swimming with his friend at the lake and played in the waterfall on the backside of the dam.  The drought and strained relationships have made times like that a very distant memory. As I stated, everything in nature is subject to change. 

I'm planning to stay at Shambhala over the weekend.  I'm hoping to use my new kitchen.  I should have a running water system designed by this weekend to make things more convenient.  Once the design and fabrication are done, all that I'll need is water!

As I reviewed Shambhala's progress, I noticed that I designed the kitchen directly in the middle of the camp area.  That's not a great idea unless I planned to have bear and other critters sitting around the campfire roasting smores with me.  So, I relocated the kitchen just outside of camp.  There is a solar powered, motion sensor 60 LED High Intensity Flood Light right above the area.  At night, this setup will allow me to see anything milling around the kitchen area, while blinding it to my presence.  This provides ample opportunity to take steps to scare the critter away from camp.

I have not yet named the Guest Tent.  I'm open to suggestions.  However, keep in mind that the name is subject to change; as is the case for most things in nature.

Shambhala Gets Cable...!

...as in Zip Line Cable, Baby!

It's been rumored and now it's a reality -- Shambhala has a Zip Line. It's approximately 150 feet from start to finish.  I have not measured or calculated the angle of descent, but let's just say it is pretty damned ginormous.  Launch site is 20 feet from base to tie-off on an 11-inch diameter pine tree; in Zip Lining, size does matter.  The pine tree rests on a 30 foot high boulder precipice.  This is a great activity to find out if you have really good health insurance coverage that includes Life-Flight.

Before you can experience the thrill of watching the Maiden Run of the Zip Line, you are required to view the safety features that I've integrated into my Zip Line design.

Cable:  
3/16 inch Galvanized Aircraft Cable 
4200 lbs Breaking Strength
Safe Working Load 840 lbs for a Factor of Safety of 5

Connections:
Launch area - Cable wrap around 11 inch pine tree with no other connections
Landing area - double cable connections to cradle cable secured by stainless steel padlock and steel carabiner around 24 inch pine tree (see picture below)

Trolley Kit:
Trolley is aluminum construction, steel wheels, and pressure brake near handles
Adjustable harness
Maximum Load 275 pounds

Brake:
Plastic Impact Block
1/2 inch Bungee Shock Cord
As noted above, Trolley has pressure brake pad that can be applied by victim, I mean rider

Backstop:
17 inch automobile tire
Big Ass Tree

Now that you know my meticulous safety preparation, here is the video of the Maiden Run.

To think that my original plan was to stand directly in the path of the oncoming bucket to get the best angle for the video.  Had I not revised my plan, I may have gotten to experience, "...a magnificent central palace radiating a powerful, diamondlike light...", aka cold-cocked.

I made minor adjustments to the braking system after the Maiden Run, duh.  The successful run makes me eager to tweak this puppy completely so that I can enjoy what I've built.  However, I DO recall Newtonian Physics.  The Force with which the Zip Line trolley hit the brake at the end of the run is equal to the Mass of the trolley and bucket of water combined, multiplied by the acceleration of the Zip Line trolley, Force is equal to Mass times Acceleration (F=MA).  Wow, and I remembered that without going to Google.  So, that means that my fat ass will increase the Mass, thereby generating a greater Force on the brake at the end of the run.  I'm not sure if the brake will be able to stop the trolley with the additional Force.  

My approach to solving the problem relies on applying scientific principles and methodology; I'll sit Gabriel on the bucket.  The Mass will increase, but not by very much.  It he doesn't go SPLAT all over the tree, I think I'll try it.  I'll wear a leather glove so that I can drag my hand along the cable to slow my acceleration.  By reducing the Acceleration, you reduce the Force.  However, if the glove does not fit, I will not commit.

.
Now that I've successfully created the Shambhala Zip Line engineering marvel,  I am sharing my talents with the world.  Below is a video of one of the world's most intriguing engineering conundrums and I've been asked to consult.  Many of the greatest scientific minds from around the world resigned themselves to allow the Cray Super computer to choose The Most Interesting Man in the World who could make this XX problem manageable.  The Cray concluded that the bridge and I have something in common.  Yes, I know it...

 

Would you care for a glass of wine to go with your view?

 The end of the school year and Gabriel's All-Star baseball schedule have made it very difficult for me to escape to Shambhala.  However, I did manage to get there today to make an outdoor furniture delivery.  The temperature was a very comfortable 75 degrees, with a cool breeze. The resin wicker set is comfortable seating at the edge of the cliff and/or around the campfire. Caution, the bugs and mosquitoes are out in force.  Make sure zippers on tents are closed quickly behind you as you enter and exit.  Previously, I've noted that there are still more tasks that I must complete to be able to stay at Shambhala for any contiguous length of time.  I'm getting closer.  I"ll make a few modifications to the guest tent and stay there so that I can put in a full day finishing projects.  It's fun, but a lot of work...

What a Great View to Wake Up To...

...Fuzzy headed kid not included.
Feeling good this morning. Don't have meal and/or cooking equipment which leaves me feeling a little hungry.  Fortunately, Lauryn provided me with a thermos of my special coffee blend, Colombian Dark with Cayenne pepper.  After a few cups of that fiery poisonous mixture, I'm feeling good and the cayenne pepper burned away the hunger pangs (along with the epithelial layer of my throat).

Won't get much done this morning because I have commitments in Los Angeles today.  Shambhala has reached the stage where those who think they are being called, need to understand the true journey to reach Shambhala.  I'm not talking ethereal here; I'm talking about  the ability to just climb the mountain.  Here's what it looks like on my way down.

Bring on the night...

As a guest, I can stay in the Guest Tent.  I still don't have my chemical toilet system setup yet.  However, I do have a toilet seat, toilet paper, and a shovel; should nature call.  Several of the tiki torches have citronella oil and wicks.  I assembled the fuel for the campfire in the fire pit while it was light.  Only a match is required to light the kindling in the fire pit later in the evening.  One of the chaise lounge chairs in the screened tent was moved into the Guest Tent for use as a cot.  My mummy style sleeping bag is unfurled on the cot and I'm ready to experience the night life.

The temperature has dropped into the lower 60's to upper 50 degree range.  The warmth from the fire feels great.  The warmth and smoke penetrate my body as I spin rotisserie style in front of the brilliant glow. The sky is clear and has a three-quarter moon in the southeast.  The stars are too numerous to count.  If my phone battery was charged, I'd use my Sky Map to identify the constellations.  Maybe next time.  No matter, the big dipper can always be counted on to be easy to find.  One of the embers from the fire crackles and soars from the pit. It is guided upward by the smoke and makes a vain attempt to modify the star pattern of the sky; until it looses its thermal energy and fades to black.

Before I turn in for the evening, I want to hear the sounds of he night.  I was a little disappointed that I could still hear dogs barking and vehicles on highway route 18 over a mile away.  The mountain acoustics are pretty strange.  There are  times you can hear a conversation in the valley between people who are 1/2 mile away.  Tonight, I was treated to the amplified sounds of the rushing creek and the boisterous frogs who make the creek their home. With a full belly, pajamas that smell like my campfire, and singing frogs -- it's time to go to sleep.

Guests are Welcome!

The original vision for the guest tent is shown above.   The sequence of events that lead up to pitching the actual Guest Tent is shown in the images that follow.

The 7' x 9' footprint shows the flat area that is available for the tent.  The area requires some grading.  Future plans may include building a deck or platform as a base for the tent.   I'm always looking for a reason to fire up the chainsaw.  As a matter of fact, I bought a chainsaw blade sharpener this weekend from Harbor Freight.  Damn, I don't know how I've been able to make it this far in life without one.

The footprint is roped and the tent oriented to provide the best possible view.  The 7' x 9' tent appears to fit nicely between 2 large boulders.

The Guest Tent has a maximum center height of 6'5".  The tent is made of nylon.  It is in excellent condition.  I believe that I purchased the tent in the mid 1970's.  A rain fly was not included in the original purchase.  I think that a rain fly should be added.

It is perched very near the North/Western side of the cliff with a breath-taking view.  Its proximity to the cliff encourages one to think twice before late night binge drinking.  Oh yeah, I'd suggest going to the bathroom before turning in for the evening, too.

My reluctant volunteer shown in the photos spent much of the day using a concrete chisel to reduce the size of boulders found under the Guest Tent and the boulder under the hammock.  I plan to dress him in an orange jumpsuit on his next visit.  He's looking forward to the cable service I plan to have through Shambhala in the near future.

There is progress.  The video is how Shambhala appears today.  It's Saturday -- I think I'll stay as a Guest...

Above the clouds...

It's been a productive weekend.  To mill or not to mill?  Easy answer, let Home Depot mill so that I can complete Shambhala before I am in need of reincarnation.  This weekend's task is to continue working on the deck for the Columbia tent.  The tent is called Columbia because that is the name the manufacturer, Coleman, put on the box.  It is a rather rare tent as tents go.  It is made from a material patented by Kimberly-Clark laboratories and feels very much like a ginormous Huggies disposable baby diaper.  It is comforting to know that Columbia will keep me dry should it rain or poo.

The deck is one-half completed.  The 2" x 6" x 10' foot planking is hellacious to carry up the hill, but makes one helluva great base when attached to the 3 lodge poles I assembled. So far, everything is leveled and square.  I'll need 12 more planks, then I'll water seal the whole platform.  The first plank attached is a 12 foot long plank installed in the original Simon residence.  Nearly 50 years ago, the Simon cabin was burned to the ground by vandals before it was completed.  I do this to honor the spirit of someone who attempted to live a simpler life and inhale the nutrients that Shambhala provides. 

As described, Shambhala's surface material is decomposing granite.  Sleeves for the tiki torches were inserted by driving metal poles into the surface to loosen the granite. Once the hole was created, the pole was removed and a pvc sleeve was inserted.  The tiki torches will add ambiance and I hope the burning citronella oil wards off insects.

When I left home at the beach this morning, the skies were gray, blanketed by a heavy marine layer -- June Gloom.  It was about 59 degrees and the morning dew sprinkled parked cars.  So much moisture in the air, I expected that rain was possible.  No matter, I'm headed to Shambhala.  A place above the clouds.  As I climb above 3000 feet, I can see blue skies and feel the 81 degree sunshine on my face. 

My arrival time puts me at the hottest time of day, on an especially hot day, on a day that requires many trips up and down the mountain.  One must be prepared for exhaustive work in such conditions by taking the necessary actions to absorb perspiration.  The old saying that "cleanliness is next to godliness" is followed by the reality that "funky is next to nobody".  My newly discovered solution for remaining fresh and non odoriferous in conditions that invoke profuse sweat and potential body odor -- panty liners. I'm partial to Care Free Originals.  They have a fresh scent, compact, inexpensive and make great tinder for fires.  Hell, they are the Swiss Army Knife of personal hygiene.  Place a liner under each arm pit of your shirt and a liner in the crotch of your boxer drawers -- Voilà! -- instant fresh prince of the outdoors.  No more skid marks AND, add a little hand sanitizer and a match to the used pad and you have damn-near spontaneous combustion!

Of course, the proper way to end such a great day is to bathe in the waters of the Eternal spring. This is a "clothing optional" area.  In reality, anyone needing to wear clothing is probably at the wrong spring.  Word to the shy, clothing is not permitted at the Jones Beach area.  Jones Beach is easily located.  It's the sandy area of the spring with the guy signing for you to "take it off" while floating paper airplane dollar bills at you.  However, should you see or hear a banjo, I strongly recommend that you cut your visit short.
 

Tikis and Milling

I've determined that it's too difficult for me to write about work already completed before I keep a daily journal.  Therefore, I'm going to keep a day-to-day record and use my "time machine" dialogue to document work already completed.

I planned to go to The Rock (aka Jones Mountain) today.  Got caught up in a business conference earlier, so I was unable to get to the mountains.  Gabriel has a baseball game tomorrow and I have a training class on Friday, so I may not make it back to Shambhala until Saturday.

Taking a few of the tiki torches on the next visit. The torches will provide great ambiance and the citronella oil will ward off mosquitoes. 

Planning to open my mill to make lumber from felled trees.  News flash -- making lumber is VERY HARD WORK. It took me an hour to cut a piece of wood that is only big enough for me to use as a paddle for Gabriel's butt.  It's a darn good paddle, but I need to finish the base for my primary tent.  I am leaning very heavily in favor of getting 4x8 foot sheets of plywood from Home Depot.  Yes, it will be difficult lugging wood that large and heavy up the hill.  However, if I have the wood cut to 4x6 feet sheets, the wood might be easier to lift and control.  As I stated previously, I MUST finish the base and install the bathroom so that I can stay overnight.

In the Beginning...

Shambhala is commonly understood to be a "place of peace and tranquility".  Tibetan sacred texts speak of a mystical kingdom called Shambhala hidden behind snow peaks.  Both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions say it contains a magnificent central palace radiating a powerful, diamondlike light. 
   
Creating Shambhala began January, 2015 on property owned in the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California.  This blog is intended to show the work, energy, and fun that is going into creating Shambhala.   Shambhala is real and is my sanctuary.  It is a place of peace and tranquility.  The area chosen is entirely made of decomposing granite.  This is great because the area may get a little dusty, but it does not get dirty or muddy when it rains and/or snows.  The overall pad size is 30 feet by 75 feet.  It is unlikely that I will be able to have a road constructed up the mountain to reach the area, so I have decided to build Shambhala using the raw materials on the land.

 I admit that I am not the best at stopping to document my daily activities.  I think it stems from the fact that I don't think many truly care about what I am doing in my life.  I assume that most people are like me and have many personal concerns that require much of their attention.  Why take the time to read about someone else in a Blog post?  However, it appears that I am in the minority (yet again) as I do not even find it necessary to have a Facebook account.  There are few people who I call friends.  They are "real" and not "virtual" people who I see when possible.  It's ok if we don't talk for months.  It is great to see them when I do.  And, guess what; we have hours and hours of face-to-face conversation because we have not spoiled the plots by posting our lives for all to see on social media.

The site plan was drawn on the original image of the site.  Measurements were made and a general idea of what I wanted started to take shape.

To reach the site, the trek from street level is about 1/4 mile with a 300 foot elevation gain. Climbing Jones Mountain will take your breath away in more ways than one. I like to think of it as purging the urban air with all of its impurties and replacing the air in the lungs with refreshing and healthy mountain air. One can really tell the difference once the exchange has taken place. Breathing is much easier and refreshing. I suggest that anyone who does not get winded while in route to Shambhala, either climb Jones Mountain again or run up Jones Mountain to reach the site.

Building and maintaining the site has been challenging.  Mother Nature wreaked havoc via unseasonable snow and strong winds in the area.  I have had to rebuild the screen tent 3 times so far.  I replaced the factory aluminum poles with 1/4" and 1/2" EMT to add strength to the framing structure.  Some of the tarp areas were reenforced with additional 4 mil tarp.  Areas of the mesh were sewn and repaired.

 However, one area has only had to be created once and continues to be a favorite place -- the hammock.  The area selected is between two 7 foot  round pine trees.  I'd like to remove the granite boulder directly under the center, however, it does not pose an immediate problem. 

The hammock provides orchestra seating to listen to the creek winding through the valley below as the wind gently rocks the hammock to and fro.  The urban world fades away as you ingest the mountain air.  A short nap in the hammock is in order and is rejuvenating. 

The hammock has become too popular.  There are times that I would like to relax in my hammock and find that others have taken liberties. :<)

Buddhist texts say that Shambhala can be reached only by a long and difficult journey across a wilderness of deserts and mountains, and warn that only those who are called and have the necessary spiritual preparation will be able to find it.

If you feel worthy and choose to take the journey to reach Shambhala, you will find that it is still a work in progress.

The screen tent has been resurrected, the kitchen is taking shape and the fire pits are ready for use.  Two milestones are the completion of the tent base and the bathroom.  The tent base will allow me to pitch the 8' x 10' "A" frame wall tent.  I plan to build furnishings for the interior, however, I need to read more on how to build furniture from raw timber.  The other milestone is the bathroom.  Currently, anything other than urinating at the site is complicated.  There is a Porta-Poti 6000 toilet that is going into service very soon.  I've modified some aspects of the toilet to make it more user friendly.  The modifications are not limited to the commode chair that serves as the framework for the toilet.  Tent and toilet make it possible for me to stay overnight.  

As the Shambhala creator and ruler it is incumbent on me to provide all of the essentials needed for a comfort level to help one seeking enlightenment.  The lama stated that the ruler of Shambhala is 'ever vigilant in the cause of mankind': he sees all the events of earth in his 'magic mirror' and 'the might of his thought penetrates into far-off lands'.  He stressed that the secrets of Shambhala are well guarded, and that it is impossible for anybody to reach Shambhala unless their karma is ready and they are called. Similarly, the Hindu Puranas say that a future world redeemer -- the kalki-avatara, the tenth and final manifestation of Vishnu -- will come from Shambhala. 

This is the first post of many that will show Shambhala to the world.  However, "...it is impossible for anybody to reach Shambhala unless their karma is ready and they are called."