The demise of the Utah Monolith

The following is not my account, but one I found on a FB group for off-roading. 

If you're interested in what exactly happened to the monolith keep reading because I was literally there. On Friday, 3 friends and myself drove the 6 hours down to the middle of nowhere in Utah and got to the "trailhead" around 7 PM after passing a sea of cars on our way in.

We passed one group as we hiked towards the mysterious monolith, while another group was there when we arrived, and they left pretty quick after we got there. For the next hour and 40 minutes we had the place to ourselves. 

I had just finished taking some photos of the monolith under the moonlight and was taking a break, thinking about settings I needed to change for my last battery of drone flight when we heard some voices coming up the canyon.  We were contemplating packing up our things as they walked up, so they could enjoy it for themselves like we did. At this point I looked down at my watch and it was 8:40 PM. 

4 guys rounded the corner and 2 of them walked forward. They gave a couple of pushes on the monolith and one of them said "You better have got your pictures." He then gave it a big push, and it  went over, leaning to one side. He yelled back to his other friends that they didn't need the tools. The other guy with him at the monolith then said "this is why you don't leave trash in the desert." Then all four of them came up and pushed it almost to the ground on one side, before they decided push it back the other when it then popped out and landed on the ground with a loud bang. They quickly broke it apart and as they were carrying to the wheelbarrow that they had brought one of them looked back at us all and said "Leave no trace." That was at 8:48. 

If you're asking why we didn't stop them well, they were right to take it out. We stayed the night and the next day hiked to a hill top overlooking the area where we saw at least 70 different cars (and a plane) in and out. Cars parking everywhere in the delicate desert landscape. Nobody following a path or each other. We could literally see people trying to approach it from every direction to try and reach it, permanently altering the untouched landscape. Mother Nature is an artist, it's best to leave the art in the wild to her.

In today's news:

https://nypost.com/2020/12/05/artists-group-takes-credit-for-mysterious-utah-monolith/amp/

The mystery of the monolith has been solved.

The world watched in wonder when a metal monolith was discovered in the southern Utah desert last month by wildlife officials who were counting sheep from a helicopter – stumping the Bureau of Land Management.

Two weeks after it appeared, the monolith was dismantled by four men.

But then another one appeared, this time across the globe in Romania. And just like the first one, it too vanished.

“The 2.8-meter-tall structure disappeared overnight as quietly as it was erected,” local journalist Robert Iosub told Reuters.

A third one appeared Wednesday, this time a top Pine Mountain in Atascadero, California.

Nobody knew who was responsible for the mysterious structures, until now.

While the monoliths’ origin has sparked countless theories, from aliens to a marketing ploy, a small community of “stunt artists” have now seemingly claimed responsibility — and are even offering up more… for a hefty $45,000 price.

The community of artists known as The Most Famous Artist posted a photo of the monolith on their Instagram account Friday saying only “monolith-at-a-service.com.” The photo of the three-sided metal monolith included specs of the artwork noting: “Authentic dimensions and museum quality materials; edition of 3+1 artist proof; delivery and installation included; Blockchain certification of authenticity, signed and dated ‘The Most Famous Artists 2020’” – and added delivery would take 4 to 6 weeks.

Later in the day the group posted Instagram pics of articles about them from Mashable, Fox News and Artnet – before adding a post with yet another monolith, this one in Joshua Tree National Park, adding “ANOTHER Monolith outside of Joshua Tree. That makes 4. What does it mean?” At the end of the day, to provide proof, the final post featured a masked artist in the process of making one of the mythical monoliths, and poking fun of the alien conspiracies, saying: “You mean it wasn’t aliens?!”

When followers of the account asked, “Was it you?,” the account repeatedly responded: “if by you you mean us, yes.”

In an interview with Mashable, the founder of the collective, Matty Mo, who has been posting about the monolith on Twitter, said he didn’t post the Romanian monolith because: “I only had 3 spots for photos on my site.”

Mo, who once transformed the famous “Hollywood” sign in Los Angeles to read “Hollyweed,” “would neither confirm nor deny that he was taking credit, and wouldn’t share additional proof,” Mashable noted.

“I am not able to say much because of legalities of the original installation,” Mo wrote to Mashable via Twitter. “I can say we are well known for stunts of this nature and at this time we are offering authentic art objects through monoliths-as-a-service. I cannot issue additional images at this time, but I can promise more on this in the coming days and weeks.”

Meanwhile, potential collaborator Carlos Estrada noted on Instagram: “did me and @themostfamousartist make the monolith?” to which The Most Famous Artist responded in their own story: “NOT NO.”

Mashable noted that photographer Erik Junke, aka @photojunke on Instagram, could be another collaborator, adding that Junke posted images of the California desert captioned “Doorway” and “Doorway II.” The posts were also tagged “#monolith” and were included in the stories and were reposted by The Most Famous Artist and captioned: “Are people talking about monoliths or something? It’s like they didn’t see it coming.”

And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul

John Muir

Sitting pool side reading a book enjoying a brisk Phoenix evening while sipping a nice adult beverage has its benefits over living in the sticks listening to the coyotes while freezing ones backside off!

via Instagram

It’s been almost a month since I’ve posted anything! Totally unacceptable. Sorry my friends. I’ll make my way to the wilds somehow. 🌄⛰🌳🏜

via Instagram

Heartbreaking

CARLSBAD, Calif. — A Carlsbad woman found stabbed to death on a trail in Hosp Grove had been posting messages online, searching for a hiking partner.

Lisa Thorborg, 68, had only lived in Carlsbad about six months, before she was found stabbed to death in Hosp Grove West, just blocks away from her home on Buena Vista Way.

The former physical therapist posted on Nextdoor earlier this month, searching for a hiking buddy.

"Hiking anyone? I am looking for a friend to go hiking with. I am a moderate hiker, 68 years of age and I would love some company," Thorborg wrote on November 9.

Neighbors on Nextdoor said they reported the victim's post to Carlsbad Police investigators, who still want to question a man seen in the area Monday morning at the time of the murder.

The person wanted for questioning was described as white or Latino, 5'10" to 6'3" tall, husky, wearing black, and walking with a limp.

Neighbor Gary Dwelley called police Friday afternoon after he went for a bike ride with friends near Camp Pendleton on Las Pulgas Poad, and noticed a man acting strangely.

"We tried to talk to him. He acted very strange and then he took a swipe, almost like he's swiping us with a knife. But he didn't have knife and he did it in the air," said Dwelley.

Dwelley said one of his neighbors found Thorborg's body on the trail while hiking Monday morning with family.

"They saw somebody who they thought was sleeping. They yelled at them. They didn't move and he went over and inspected the situation -- and he was with his daughter and his granddaughter -- and he realized what the situation was and they went and they called 911," said Dwelley.

Thorborg was a former resident of Portland, Oregon. Her husband passed away in 2017 and she moved to Carlsbad in May with her daughter's family, according to her profile on Nextdoor.

Neighbors are organizing a walk to honor the victim. They will meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 28 at the trailhead parking on Monroe Street in Hosp Grove. Jason @BeardedOverland www.pioneeringaz.blogspot.com

A prayer this Thanksgiving

I woke up and read Psalms 28 this morning, imagine my surprise to read that a prominent politician tried to quote it this morning as well.  I'm not surprised that they got it wrong. Our country is short on real leadership, days like today prove that. In 2020 we really need to take time, and fast, pray, and reflect not on what we lost, by what we have left. In fact we really shouldn't be feasting this year, not after losing so many fellow citizens, jobs, and basic freedoms like meeting together in church. As a nation the leadership we needed was a call not to celebrate, but mourn and ask for forgiveness. We've been though a lot this year, it's ok to reflect on that. Everyday is not guaranteed to be better than the previous. 

 Psalm 28:1–9 (NIV): 

1 To you, Lord, I call; 

you are my Rock, 

do not turn a deaf ear to me. 

For if you remain silent, 

I will be like those who go down to the pit. 

2 Hear my cry for mercy 

as I call to you for help, 

as I lift up my hands 

toward your Most Holy Place. 

3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, 

with those who do evil, 

who speak cordially with their neighbors 

but harbor malice in their hearts. 

4 Repay them for their deeds 

and for their evil work; 

repay them for what their hands have done 

and bring back on them what they deserve. 

5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord 

and what his hands have done, 

he will tear them down 

and never build them up again. 

6 Praise be to the Lord, 

for he has heard my cry for mercy. 

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; 

my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. 

My heart leaps for joy, 

and with my song I praise him. 

8 The Lord is the strength of his people, 

a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. 

9 Save your people and bless your inheritance; 

be their shepherd and carry them forever. 

Jason @BeardedOverland www.pioneeringaz.blogspot.com 

An end of an era.

After a decade of living in the middle of no where, we moved to the big city. Well almost. We've relocated to Chandler just southwest of Phoenix. While it has the feel of rural living, being surrounded by alfalfa fields, it's still the largest city we've ever lived in. The sounds of people are overwhelming sometimes. I sound a little crazy hermit there!

Not only have we relocated, we've also moved into our first apartment, and as empty nesters! Franken-Daughter is staying behind to start her own life in Mohave county. So with no ranch work to be done, no maintenance on a house, I have a ton of extra time on my hands!

Let's see what develops...

Jason Smith about.me/theoriginaljasonsmith

I literally just had this conversation yesterday with someone.

I couldn't have said it better than today's devotional from the Bible App...

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 NKJV

Who hasn't thought of Philippians 4:13 before a big test, meeting, or game? Maybe you were the athlete who quoted it after completing a nearly impossible feat. Or maybe it was quoted to you by an old acquaintance after they explained an, "amazing business opportunity." "Sure it sounds risky," they said, "but just like the Bible says, 'You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.'"

Too often, Philippians 4:13 is quoted for self-motivation alone. A more secular version might sound like, "If we set our mind to it, whatever it is, we'll accomplish it." Sure, "through Christ" is in our Bible version, but hopefully He's not there to just give us strength to accomplish our goals. Does Christ give us strength to do wonderful things including athletic feats? Yes. However, the original author of this coffee-mug verse wasn't trying to win the Iron Man or triple his income in as little as three months (neither of which are necessarily bad things). Paul was writing—from jail—to the church he helped start in Philippi.

If Paul had the power to do all things, wouldn't "get out of jail" be at the top of his to-do list? After all, if he could really do all things, he'd be all-powerful. The next three verses give additional meaning to verse 13. Paul described experiencing poverty, hunger, want, and despite it all, contentment. Then, he added verse 13 to basically say he could do all this only because of Christ. Paul's words were less about motivating the Philippians to accomplish great things and more about inspiring them to trust God despite horrible things. In fact, the original language reads more like, "I have strength for all things. Why? Because Jesus." (Ephesians 3:14-19)

Jason Smith about.me/theoriginaljasonsmith

I’m just amazed at what the iPhone 12 Pro can do in lowlight situations. I’ve paid twice the amount for a DSLR to take the same pictures. What a time to be alive!

via Instagram

As the sunsets on one chapter a new one begins

As 2020 ends, we are finishing our move from the country to the big city. We started the process this past spring, by mid November we will be 100% city dwellers. That's a first for me. Going forward I'm not sure how the Blog will look, or what direction I'll go with it. Only time will tell. 

It would be fitting to close the blog at this point. 12 years ago when I started it, we were moving to our ranch, now we are full circle moving to the Phoenix area. A redneck in the city, that could be interesting!

Jason Smith about.me/theoriginaljasonsmith