Custom Furniture - pieces that I have built either for myself or my friends here in San Francisco. (updated 11/30/2003)

bike related stuff - various bike and other that I have had over the years (updated 10/2005)

The Wounded Warrior Project which helps Vets be active in the outdoors with the newest generation high performance prosthetics, activities and support groups.  I send them money monthly

2012

I am behind - so this is being updated a bit randomly

• Sept 1st trip to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island WA.  My Dad and I took a 3 day trip with Crystal Seas Kayaking and we stayed with Kaj, Clare and Sebastian Pedersen to bookend the experience.  We had a great time. 

  • Photos from the water - the ferry and the kayaking.  Lots of seals and jelly fish!

  • Photos via the iPhone app Theodolite  - thumbnails and large files here

2011

I had a surgery to deal with a medium sized hernia at the end of 2010 and I have been recovering slowly, so I decided that all hiking trips this year are going to with day-pack sized loads so that I don't re-injure things. Mt. Olympus should be very fun!

• May 14/15 – Guye Peak - a short, fun climb in Snoqualamie WA.  Just what I needed as I recover fitness.

• My brother Jeff went on a climb that I passed up this year since I am still healing up - Mt. Sill - FANTASTIC slide show here

• Aug 3-6 – Mt. Olympus (7,965) in WA. Dan Olsen is pulling the team together and we will have Llamas/Mules to carry our kit into base camp – positive luxury.

• Sept 10/11 Best Buddies ride - we are doing the hundred mile ride this year in remembrance of Roger Lyon (who I went to China with - see below)

• Oct 15/16 – Something local in WA before the weather really turns and yet to be determined.

2010

Kaj has done the usual excellent planning

• April 6-13 - Grand Canyon River Rafting  http://www.westernriver.com/trips/grand6day/index.php

  • here is my Grand Canyon write up and photos!

• Early May - going to Boston for more leadership training

• May 22nd – to be determined, but I suspect a local climbing depending on snow conditions

• June 26/27 – Mt. St. Helens. I have one more permit left for this trip, so it is a first come wins for this trip. Dan, Nick and I have nabbed three already.  This was a very fun trip - the kids had fun and the weather was great

• July 24/25 – Split Mt. in Eastern Sierras (14Ker). This will probably be a 3-4 day trip, although we can try to be aggressive again. It is a long hike into the base camp, but a really enjoyable part of the mountains. We will probably hire a taxi to drive us into the trailhead.  - I missed this hike due to some work related stuff but they summited and had a great time.  Here is Kaj's Kodak slideshow http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

• Aug 28/29 – Middle Palisade in Eastern Sierras (14Ker).   (original Shutterfly photos here ) This will be a 3-4 day trip as well. Another long hike in, but at least we will be fit from the prior month’s climb.   This was a good hike but we did not summit for a couple of reasons - first, it was supposed to be a class 3 (no equipment) rock climb from 13,000' to 14,000' but it was tough and lots of exposure (I don't like that!) and it was super windy the night before - so no sleep.  We turned back at 13K (seen in the pictures where we had lunch).  Later in the afternoon, the weather turned further - snow and a thunderstorm - so we were glad we turned back! 
  

• Sept 18/19 – Mt. Shukshan- It will be a 3-day trip.

• October - early - Cycling trip to Italy - ride is Oct 2-7 but we are going to poke around Italy as well.  Joan, Karen and some of Joan & Karen's friends I have not met yet - really looking forward to it! 

  • Here is the link to the photos on Shutterfly.com - there were a lot!  A great trip!  Good cycling and a lot of interesting side trips. http://www.ciclismoclassico.com/trip_finder/view_trip/127/la_bella_puglia_2010

2009

• April 19 - Jeff and Nick - we hiked Mt. Tam this Sunday on a very hot and sunny day.  The summit was great and we finished it off with a visit to the Tourist Club's Bavarian Beer hall in the wooded hillside above Muir Woods.  A great, fun day

• Pictures here

• Joan Avallone and I take a trip to San Diego to see the city, Dave, Claire, Nicholas and Kathleen Brown.  Joan had never been to the city and she asked me "... tell me why you left again?  (sotto voice - 'idiot')"

2008

• The Shanghai 7 visit China on the SLO Chamber of Commerce sponsored trip

  • Beijing Arrival, The Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven

  • I haven't finished yet - the remainder will go here

  • High-Rez for printing - http://www.sixthelementchina.shutterfly.com

• April 26/27 - Two climbs over the weekend. [1] Guye Peak (5168ft) with a total distance of 7 miles with an
  elevation gain of 4200ft. [2] Silver Peak (5605ft) with a total distance of 9 miles and an elevation gain of 3800ft. This will be a couple of good season openers and reasonable hikes for those less inclined to tackle the mountaineering routes planned for later in the season.

  • Update - the snow was so deep and soft that it was avalanche city and we had a really good time but no summits either day! 

  • Shutterfly hi-rez photos 

• May 31/Jun 1 - Mt. Tyndall, CA (14,015ft). The plan is to ascend this mountain from the Eastern approach using Shepherd Pass. It is a relatively easy route to the summit with some exposure near the top of the summit. The plan is to hike in 8 miles to Anvil Camp. We will stay overnight at Anvil Camp (10,000ft) and go for the summit either on Saturday or Sunday, depending on when we decide to hike in (preferably Friday afternoon). Once we have summated, we will return to camp. Pack up and depart from the area. The route is class two for those who are interested in the grading.

  • Update - we went in via Shepherd's pass and it was warm but we had 3' of snow in the last 10 days at 14,000 feet which made for a challenging day. 

  • Shutterfly hi-rez photos 

• June 28/27 - Engagement party - Marty and Allison in SFO

• Jul 11/12 (Friday & Saturday) - Margaret's dance performance.   Link to the raw files (both JPG and MOV movies)

• July 26/27 - No trip - collides with our annual Business Continuity test

• Aug 2 - Aug 10th - in Carlisle on vacation includes lots of pictures of me and my dad doing iron and wood work :-)

• Aug - we did Mt. Adams here but everyone forgot their camera.  Good time though!

• Aug 22/23 (Friday & Saturday) - Marty and Allison's Wedding  An awesome setting, beautiful ceremony and great party with everyone there (plus I finally got to meet Winnie and Tony!!!)

• Sep 5/6 (Friday & Saturday) - Best Buddies Charity Ride 

• Sept 27/28 - Mt. Shukshan, WA. Another classic for the Cascades and this will be a guided weekend trip. Please let me know your interest as soon as possible, so I can make arrangements for the guide. There will be some climbing on this near the top, for those who are not interested in the rock climbing aspect of the trip.

2007

• New Year's Day ride in San Francisco through the Presidio on my fixed gear IRO
• The trip to London with Tom, Joan and Allison in March
• April 27/29 - Two climbs over the weekend.  [1]Snoqualmie Mountain (6278ft) and Guye Peak (5168ft) with a total distance of 7 miles with an elevation gain of 4200ft.  [2] Silver Peak (5605ft) with a total distance of 9 miles and an elevation gain of 3800ft.  This will be a couple of good season openers and reasonable hikes for those less inclined to tackle the mountaineering routes planned for later in the season.
• May 18/20 -  No trip
• June 29/July 1 - Mt. Langley in Southern California (over 14,000 feet) and this is a 21-mile round trip to be completed in one day.   This is a brutally long day and it is not for the feint-hearted, but if you feel you are at the top of your game and you want to participate in a climb that shows off some of the best country the Sierra's can offer then you should come on this trip.  Be prepared: it is hot, long and strenuous work - expect a long day of 14-16 hours. 
• August 24-26 - Guided trip up Mt. Russell (just over 14,000 feet).  This will be a two day trip requiring a night stop on the mountain.   We will find ourselves in California again for this classic mountaineering route just to the right of Mt. Whitney.  The route will take us up the mountaineer's route for some climbing to get to the summit.  This should be a good two-day event.   

2006

• April 29/30 - Local trip to Mailpost Peak & Mt. Si - 2 days, 15K+ feet of vertical in 14 miles!  - pictures as soon as i get them from Kaj
• May 20/21 - Mt. Muir  over 14,000 feet.  This is a 19-mile round trip to be completed in one day.  Print pictures from shutterfly.com - http://sixthelement.shutterfly.com
• My friend Deanna received her Doctorate in Egyptology this year.  Here are some photos
• May 26+ MOVING DAY -see pictures!
• America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride - Lake Tahoe
  Sunday, June 4, 2006 <registration done!>
• June 24/25 - Mt. Langley in Southern California (over 14,000 feet) and this is a 21-mile round trip to be completed in one day.  Print pictures from shutterfly.com - http://sixthelement.shutterfly.com
• Saturday, July 15 - Healdsburg Harvest Century Bicycle Tour   Print pictures from shutterfly.com - http://sixthelement.shutterfly.com  - this was really, really fun ride - beautiful
• August 19-27 - Climbing on the West Coast of Scotland.  Route to be planned, but the goal is knock of some additional Monroes (mountains over 3,000 feet) as part of Kaj's goal to collect all 360 of them.  This will be a week of Bed and Breakfast coupled with some good hikes and beer in the evening :-)
• September 10th - SEATTLE ESCAPE FROM THE ROCK TRIATHLON - 10th annual Mercer Island, WA <registration done!>
• Sarturday 9/23/2006 Liz and Craig's wedding
• Sunday 9/24/2006 - 10/1/2006 Nantucket
• Saturday 10/07 - I was on the USCG Cutter Dorado to watch the air show for Fleet Week in San Francisco Bay!
• Best of Moab Tour 10/12-15 - This was a trip that my dad and I had been talking about since 1988 when we first started mountain biking together - and my mom came too!
• November 5 - <registration planned>- Treasure Island Sprint Distance Triathlon

2005

• April 16/17       - local hike WA
• May 14/15       - Napa Valley Great Grape Escape sprint Triathlon
• May 21/22       - Mt. Langley - snowed in so we did Mt. Muir
• June 5, 2005    - Lake Tahoe Century
• June 18/19      - Mt. Muir
• July 9'th - 24'th - vacation -Europe 2005 - London & Paris
• July 22/23       - Mt. Rainier
• July 31            - Tiburon FD sprint Triathlon
• Sat/Sunday 9/3 - I went hiking in Sequoia with my friend Joan to prep her for walking to Machu Pichu in October.  Saturday warm-up is here and Sunday up to 11,200' on Alta Peak is here
• September 17/18 - Breaking big rocks in Carlisle MA
• 2005 Cal Football Season
  Day Date Opponent Location TV Outcome/Time
• Sat 10/15 Oregon State Berkeley TBA
  Sat 10/22 Washington State Berkeley TBA
• Treasure Island International Triathlon 2005 -- Sprint Distance
  Sunday, November 6, 2005 @ 7:15 am; Swim 0.5k, Bike 20k, Run 5k
• Sat 11/12 USC Berkeley TBA
  Sat 11/19 Stanford Stanford ABC 4:00 PM 

2004 and older stuff...

• My trip to Melbourne & Sydney Australia as well as New Zealand in October/November 2004
• 2004 Triathlons - Napa, Tiburon, Alameda & Treasure Island
• A gaggle of us on Half Dome August 2004
• Kaj and I doing the major goal of 2004 - Mt Langley -14000'  we were ultimately unsuccessful in summiting due to daylight restrictions but this was one of the best hikes we have done in years
• Kaj and I acclimatize at 9000' on Mt Eddy in July 2004
• My solo trip to Paris, France in November 2003
• Pete & Tenley's Fohl's wedding in October 2003
• Climbing North Palisades with Kaj and Steve Talmage in July 2003 (includes pictures from Steve)
• Climbing Mt. Hoffman and Toulomine Peak in Yosemite with Kaj June 2003
• Climbing Mt. Shasta in 2003 with Kaj, Turloch, Patrick and Steve Talmage (from Steve's CD-ROM and my camera)
• Climbing Mt. Shasta - Kaj's scanned photos (since we didn't have electronic copies)
• Climbing Amelia Earhart in 2002 with my brother Jeff and Kaj  
• San Francisco Triathlon - my second Tri in 2003.  Allison joined me this time around.  We had a great time and agreed to do it again next year 
• Napa Valley Triathlon - my first Tri where I was enthusiastically cheered on and photographed by my friend Allison.  It went very well and was extremely fun.  I highly recommend it!
• Blacksmithing a Mobius strip on Christmas Eve, 2002 in Massachusetts. Thanks to my father for advice, materials, tools and help!!
• September 2002 San Francisco GrandPrix Bicycle Race
• Kaj and Nick tackle Mount Rainier for the second time, August 2002 where Kaj successfully summitted but I did not. Click here for the video and here for the pictures. The movie is Windows Media 8 and should play on Win98 machines and later - if not let me know, I have a lesser quality one I can post for you.
• Kaj and Nick hike Half Dome, North Dome & Indian rock as prep for the big ascent on Mt Whitney - which is also here - June 2002
• The Big Tahoe House - Fohl/McGillvray/Mortimer/LaRocca/Farmer-Noble with a visit from Julie Viola
• Photo Gallery - Climbing Parson's Peak in Yosemite - August 2001
• Photo Gallery of Rome - August 2001 with Tom McGillvray - incomplete but lots of stuff already
• September 2001 San Francisco GrandPrix Bicycle Race
• Me and my climbing buddy Kaj on the endless summer hike for the perfect California scenery (0.7 Mb)
• Me and my Dad trekking through the Germany Black Forest (1.6 Mb)
• A retrospective of my friends Tina & Steve who got married last October (2.8 Mb)
• Quote.com ascent of Half Dome in Yosemite 1998 - photo gallery
• Le Tour de Mont Blanc - the further adventures of Tim & Nick Fohl with REI overseas (1.3Mb)
• various bike related stuff
• See me surf at Nancy Emerson's school http://www.maui.net/~ncesurf/ncesurf.html  It was a small day, so the waves aren't too rockin'    (Realplayer 1.9 Mbytes)  I had a fantastic time and if you are raw beginner like me, I highly recommend the 2 hour, 5 day private lesson.  Experienced surfers told me I in the five days, I progressed the equivalent of 8 years worth of 'teach yourself' - plus Nancy is fun to hang with in the water!
• The Fifth Element (this site's namesake, via an inside joke)
• Have you heard of Ringworld?? (by Larry Niven ISBN: 0345333926)

The Ringworld is a very interesting Science Fiction construction that LOTS of people have been fascinated with since it was first published in 1971.  Anyway, I stumbled on a larryniven.org dedicated to Mr. Niven's work (and Ringworld in particular) and pulled in this animated conception of the initial approach from deep space.  The artist (Perry Papadopoulos) has done a fantastic job capturing the feel - I've re-compressed the animation in Quicktime 4 in order to get a high quality yet smaller file size - check it out here

• Kids and baby pictures of my friends:

• Eddie and Olivia Kraebel with mom & dad (Rockin' Robin and Jeff) (61 KB))

Best viewed with IE5.0 and Quicktime4.0 -- but you do what you want.

(note:  some of these materials are animated slide shows - encoded with the latest Microsoft media player - in theory compatible on Macs and Windows machines --If you are using Windows NT4.0 with player version 6.4 it may take as long as 90 seconds to start playing once the file has downloaded - ?why? - I don't know but it still works eventually)