CORE GIS--maps for Sightline and the Washington Trails Association

A couple of months ago I did some analysis and cartography for the Sightline Institute. They've been working on the actual and potential impacts of Measure 37 in Oregon, which effectively exempts many parcels from the celebrated land use restrictions that have been in place in Oregon since the 1970s.

The maps have just been published in their new book Cascadia Scorecard 2007, and they've also posted the maps to their website here, here, and my favorite, here.

I also made a map showing temperature changes in the Northwest between 1950 and 2003. I did not do the analysis on this one--the data came from the U.S. Historical Climate Network and were processed by Phil Mote, the Washington State Climatologist.

For another recently completed project, I created a series of maps for the Washington Trails Association documenting the extensive damage to trails and roads as a result of an exceptionally powerful storm that hit western Washington last November. Those maps were printed in their monthly magazine, and my buddy Josh Livni made a very cool web-map with the same base data that WTA will use to update the trails and roads conditions as they are repaired over the summer.

Twin Falls

A couple of weeks ago we hiked Twin Falls, starting from Olallie State Park. This is a great hike for kids, in that it is not too long, there is not too much elevation gain, and the exposure is pretty minimal, except for the viewing platform above the falls at the very end. The platform is of very sturdy construction and has great guardrails, but still, the drop is substantial. We also encountered the profile of an Ent during our hike, which was rather startling.

Lochlan is One!

Last month Lochlan had his first birthday. It is hard to believe that Micro Man is a year old, walking, and starting to talk. We had a party at our house, invited our friends and neighbors over for a pot luck, played in the backyard after the rain cleared, and ate chocolate cake! As far as I can tell, a good time was had by all--especially the guest of honor, who despite seeming a bit confused about why so many people were paying so much attention to him, retained his characteristic equanimity.

We did not go overboard on presents, mostly because there are so many age-appropriate toys in the house already from Liam (plus, well, he's ONLY ONE). However, Lochlan will turn just about any object into a drumstick and start beating out a rhythm on any available surface. Every time we go to the Zoomazium, he makes a beeline for the African drums in the toddler section and just goes to town. I usually have to pull him off the djembe when it's time to go. So we got him some drums, and they were, er, a hit.