I would be a fool not to bestow the annual “Ruler of the Mountain Award” to the mighty and all-powerful Mother Nature who blessed Mountain Jammers with 4 days of sun and bright starry skies.


Yes, that’s right 4 days of non-stop rock and roll hysteria in the Catskill Mountains.  The music started at noon and ran strong on dual stages until 4 am.  


I heard many a noble jammer, say “you can’t see everything” or “I really wanted to see them but didn’t make it”.  


To this I found myself mumbling semi-loud “yeah, yeah”, but you can certainly see a whole heck of a lot, especially if you plan your rest “windows” accordingly and periodically recharge your battery.  (Sorry Michael Franti, I don’t like the hand clapping act.)



Mental and physical stamina is needed to absorb so much music over such a long period of time.  


Strangely, my body (specifically me legs) failed me before my head. Government Mule’s Saturday night set was epic and long. I had to use Jedi mind tricks to stop thinking about how much my body ached from swaying non-stop on Saturday for 12 hrs straight.


I guess that’s what happens after reaching 40 yrs old.  I trained hard this year leading up to Mountain Jam and will do my best to get better for next year as well. It’s my own sort of Tough Mudder.  And a high holy period for the Thunderbird Ranch gang.


As always, the photo opportunities are outstanding.  Between the access to stage, crazy-ass crowd and jolly-green giant green landscape…even an amateur photographer can capture lightning in a bottle. 


I found that zooming in on artists sunglasses during the mid-day sets created amazing depth and fantabulous perspective…

In an effort not to overwhelm readers with too much Mountain Jam chatter (if that is possible)…I will break up my ramble into a few parts.


Click here (net yet…COMING SOON) for 5 Great Mountain Jam 2014 Themes filed under separate cover.


One of the great things about staying so long is that 1) you get to explore the nooks and crannies of the mountain and festive grounds and 2) there is plenty of time to talk music with friends (both old and new).

Yes, that is a young couple taking a nap in the stream

There is a somewhat hidden “Hammock Zone” where you can take in the sights and hear the music while resting your legs

The Merry Pranksters hosted a “Karma Wash” which hopefully did my crew some good

Unfortunately, despite the good weather and the company of a friend, my fear of heights was not overcome when I took to the gondola. 

I do love it though.  


Next year, I am bringing my batting gloves so that when I’m white knuckled on the chair I don’t chafe my hands so badly.