Step by Step: The Catamount Trail

The Catamount Trail, as you can see on the sign, is a cross-country ski trail.  It runs 300 miles, the entire length of Vermont from the Massachusetts border to the Quebec one.  Maintained since 1984, it was inspired by the much older hiking trail, The Long Trail.  In the off-season - and thank goodness we don't have any snow just yet - it is open to hikers.

7 for 7 on fitness goals for the week and I've raised my daily step goal to 10,000.  Maintaining that through the winter might be a challenge but at least for the moment, I'm up for it.

Star Trek: Empok Nor

Episode: "Empok Nor"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 5, Episode 24

Original Air Date: May 19, 1997

via Memory Alpha

Garak episode!

In the midst of conduit repairs, Chief O'Brien finds he needs a replacement part.  Spare parts for the Cardassian-constructed station aren't exactly easy to come by and, for technobabble reasons, can't be replicated.  He travels to Empok Nor, an abandoned station, with a small crew, including both Garak and Nog.  Unfortunately, in addition to the usual booby traps, the Cardassians left behind a couple of guards, preserved in stasis.

The heat rises when Garak is exposed to a psychotropic drug that turns him into a killing machine.  At first, he targets the "bad guys" but once they're taken care of, he turns on his friends, ultimately killing Crewman Amaro.  I'm not sure "Empok Nor" is a good episode, exactly, but it's a good one for Garak development, pressing hard on the question of whether or not he can be trusted.  Pairing him with O'Brien, the combat veteran of the Cardassian War, also opens interesting avenues.  

Like "The Ship," "Empok Nor" also makes a point of giving names and lines to red shirts...

Acting Notes

via Critters Wiki

Tom Hodges played the role of Crewman Pechetti, an engineer on the mission who meets an unfortunate end.  Hodges was born in Chicago, July 1, 1965.  He is best known for playing Bruno in Lucas and Rich in The Hogan Family.  Other films include Revenge of the Nerds II, Steel Magnolias and Heavyweights.  Other television appearances include L.A. Law, The Facts of Life and JAG.

Step by Step: Calais

Northwest Vermont, where we live, is the warmest part of our state.  The Champlain Valley is afforded some protection from nordic winds by the Green Mountains to the east and the Adirondacks to the west.  As a result, we also hit peak fall foliage later than the rest of the Vermont.  Traveling beyond our region in any direction, we get a preview of what's coming.  This weekend, we drove to Calais to the east of us.

I've been thinking a lot about how photography falls short in capturing the magic of autumnal splendor.  Mind you, the limits don't stop me from trying but there's no denying the third dimension of depth matters.  A single tree is never monochromatic.  Its interior leaves are a slightly different shade from the ones that get more sunlight so there's a dappled effect as one moves past.  There's the dazzling play of sunlight bringing out varying color notes at different times of day.  Walking through a forest can be like strolling past stained-glass windows on all sides, including directly above.  So yes, the photos are wonderful but you really have to be here to understand.

7 for 7 on fitness goals for the week.

Star Trek: Worst Case Scenario

Episode: "Worst Case Scenario"

Series: Star Trek: Voyager

Season 3, Episode 25

Original Air Date: May 14, 1997

via Memory Alpha

Torres discovers a holonovel in the ship's computer based on a Maquis mutiny.  The adventure soon becomes the talk of Voyager, with Janeway's encouragement.  Tuvok, of all people, had created it as a training module in the early days of the mission.  Now he worries it sends the wrong message to the crew.  The Captain, on the other hand, sees it as healthy and much needed entertainment.  She even encourages the author to finish the story.  Unfortunately, our old pal Seska, who appears in holographic form, set a few booby traps in the program before she left the ship.

"Worst Case Scenario" is a lot of fun.  Having Seska back, in particular, is great.  As I've written before, though, I think it's a shame the series mostly backed off of the Maquis-Starfleet tension.  Why plant that seed if you're not going to draw from it more?  I feel the same way about the Tom Paris redemption saga.  Chakotay punched him the first time he saw him on the bridge!  That moment promised more than has been delivered.

But that's no reason not to enjoy "Worst Case Scenario."  Once again, Voyager builds on ideas from NextGen's Moriarty arc and I definitely approve of that.

Production Notes

via Memory Alpha

Richard Dale James was the production designer for 151 episodes of The Next Generation and 168 episodes of Voyager, including this one.  He was born in Fort Worth, Texas, April 7, 1936.  He graduated from Texas Tech.

James and set decorator Jim Mees won an Emmy for TNG's "Sins of the Father" and were nominated for three other episodes.  Voyager highlights include the bridge and the captain's ready room.  Film credits include Getting Even as production designer and Local Hero and The Beast of War as art director.  

James passed away in 2024 at age 88.

Step by Step: Autumn 2026

Vermont is famous for its fall colors.  According to the online trackers, we still have a few weeks to go until peak foliage but I will do my best to document the changes.  I took the two photos below in the same spot six days apart.  As you can see, there's still a lot of green but the progression, once it starts, moves quickly.

Monday, September 21

Sunday, September 27

7 for 7 on fitness goals this week.

Star Trek: Blaze of Glory

Episode: "Blaze of Glory"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 5, Episode 23

Original Air Date: May 12, 1997

via Memory Alpha

General Martok brings an intercepted message to Captain Sisko.  The Maquis have launched cloaked, guided missiles at Cardassian targets.  Both leaders know the fall out from such an attack could be disastrous.  Sisko knows of one man who can help him: the traitor Michael Eddington, currently serving out his sentence in a Federation prison.  Meanwhile, Nog, back on DS9 as a security officer, is struggling to win the respect of the Klingons on the station.

The episode feels like exactly what it is: an effort to tie up the Maquis storyline as neatly as possible so the writers could move on from it.  Eddington gets a noble death, at least in his own eyes (spoiler).  The movement is reduced to single-digit membership, just enough for Voyager if they want to return to the thread, which they never really do.  I'm not much of an Eddington fan - "look at me, I'm so smug."  Thus, I'm okay with moving on, too.  The Nog development is more meaningful, long term.

Acting Notes

via Memory Alpha

Gretchen German played the role of Rebecca Sullivan, Eddington's wife.  German was born in Austin, Texas, March 18, 1961.  Most of her work has been on television.  She's had recurring roles on Wings, Almost Perfect and Home Improvement as well as guest appearances on Will & Grace, Family Tree and Pacific Blue among others.  Her films include A Man Called Sarge and What Matters Most.  

Step by Step: Balnea Spa

Happy Equinox!

My wife and I spent some time at Balnea Spa in Bromont, Quebec this past weekend.  I have written about our love for thermal spas before, most expansively here.  For me, there are few things more relaxing than a hot bath.  As phones are typically forbidden within the facility, a spa is a wonderful place to unplug, one's only responsibility giving in to calm, pleasurable sensation.

Given the phone prohibition, my photos are not from the spa itself but from the surrounding area:

7 for 7 on fitness goals this week.