DISTANCE BACKPACKER

Hiking 26

2011-10-31T20:57:00.000-07:00

I just saw this website called Hiking 26, and I had to blog about it. I have not done much research on this hiker named Ron Ulrich, but what I know is this: he will hike the Pacific Crest Trail (2600-miles) in 26 weeks, and will wear 26 wedding dresses for the duration of his hike. Yep, that's about one wedding dress per week.

I love this project! Here's why: his endeavor takes all the pretension out the current über hiker-than-thou thing going on in the long distance hiking community. We have so many people attempting speed records every year, using the trail as a platform to raise money for a cause, or showing off the latest ultralight contraptions or techniques. Ron Ulrich's Hiking 26 project is a fresh take on hiking the trail. It is a bit art, a bit challenge, and a slap in the face to everyone that takes their long distance adventure way too seriously. Is this project shameless self promotion? Yes it is. So what? So are all the other hikes that are documented on Trail Journals or Postholer. And people announcing their speed record attempts? It's huge self promotion.

I say, "Go Ron! Go! Have a great hike, and may all your wedding dresses whisk you gently to Canada!

Picture From Sky Camp

2011-10-25T00:23:00.000-07:00

Back in July of 2010, my hard drive crashed on my computer, and I lost a lot of information. What an idiot I was for never backing up information (lesson learned!). I had some pictures on an external hard drive that survived, and they are my only photos remaining from the 2007-2010 era of my life.

I dug out a few pictures of a sunset and sunrise at Sky Camp at Point Reyes National Seashore in California. I love the place, and I have hiked and backpacked there whenever the opportunity arises. Anyway, I thought I'd share some pictures from a trip in 2007. It was the first time I had ever camped at Sky Camp, and I was floored by the views. Enjoy the pics!

Sunset and Waxing Moon with View Out to Pacific Ocean

Sunrise on Dead Tree with Pacific in Background

Sil-Tarp Sunrise at Sky Camp

Gear Review: La Sportiva Wildcat Mountain Running Shoe

2011-10-25T00:22:00.000-07:00

La Sportiva Wildcat Shoe

I walked into the Nantahala Outdoor Center’s (NOC) Outfitter on March 16th just after closing time. My 2007 Montrail Hardrocks were falling apart after a mere 70-miles of hiking on the Appalachian Trail, and I needed another pair of shoes to continue hiking north. The salesman, a previous Appalachian thru-hiker named Alpine, told me that he’d take care of me. Thank God.

My hiking partner, Found (PCT ‘06, CDT ‘10) had a pair of green La Sportiva Wildcat mountain running shoes, which he highly recommended, saying that they are now the new standard for long-distance backpacking. I noticed that Alpine also had a yellow pair. The gear shop sold a red-colored pair of Wildcats for $99, so I asked to try them on.

I tried on my usual size 9, which Alpine thought was a half size too small for my foot - I agreed. Then I tried on a shoe a half size larger, which allowed for more room in the toe box. After ambling up and down a small, portable ramp, I felt that I found the right fit, and bought them. I thanked Alpine for staying 15-minutes after closing time, and walked out with my new pair of shoes.

The Wildcats were super comfortable. Unlike the rigid Hardrocks, which have a rock plate in the sole, the Wildcat’s Frixion soles had give to them, and felt gummy. My feet liked this feeling.

Out on the trail, the soles gripped the AT’s tread of angled rocks and wood steps. I felt confident with each step, and rarely did I ever slip on these surfaces, even when it was wet outside. Muddy conditions were the “achilles heel” of this shoe, as I slipped and slid on ascents and descents. However, I think mud on the AT would cause most trail running shoes to do the same thing.

650-Miles of Wear on these Shoes!

I also found the Wildcats to be very breathable. For the uppers, the shoe uses a lightweight mesh and thin inner liner, and in wet conditions, the shoe drained well, and dried out quickly. I hiked a 350-mile stretch through the driest parts of the Pacific Crest Trail, and my feet never felt stifled by heat in the Wildcats. They were perfect for the PCT!

I liked the lace harness on the Wildcats. The shoes I purchased were roomy for my feet, but I felt that my feet were locked down in place due to the lacing. Finally, I don’t know what La Sportiva did with the laces, but they never came undone on me on the trail.

Mesh Tearing from Sole

Alpine told me that I’d get about 450-miles out of the Wildcats, and he was right. After hiking from Walker Pass to Highway 58 on the PCT in California, I noticed that the mesh was starting to tear apart from the sole on the right foot. Then after hiking another 50-miles into the Antelope Valley, the mesh and inner lining on the Wildcats continued to tear away. However, the soles had so much life to them that I continued to hike in them, and I added another 200-miles to Alpine’s 450-mile prediction.

I highly recommend La Sportiva’s Wildcats for long-distance backpacking, especially if one is going ultralight. The soles are grippy and durable, the uppers are breathable, and the shoe is designed for the comfort of feet. Even though they started to wear out after 450-miles, one can get extra miles out of them. I believe in these shoes so much that I’ve already purchased another pair of Wildcats. This time they are green!

Uncovering the Story of a Helicopter Rescue

2011-10-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

Back on May 11th, the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit airlifted a Pacific Crest Trail hiker near Snow Creek in southern California. The following video shows the rescue:

After watching the video, I could not figure what was wrong with the hiker. She was not unconscious, nor did she have broken leg. She looked fine! I did a little research, and I found a detailed report for the rescue, but the hiker's ailment was never listed. I was puzzled, and wondered if this rescue was actually necessary.

Then I found another video on YouTube that was related to this helicopter rescue. In fact, I recognized the hiker (Annie) telling the story using finger puppets, so I had to check it out:

Well, I guess that answers my question about why the hiker was rescued. I guess that's a legitimate reason, eh?

Props to the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit for doing what they do. Keep up the good work!

I Will Complete the PCT in 2011!

2011-09-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

38-miles to go. That’s all I have to hike to complete my 2003 Pacific Crest Trail hike and the Triple Crown. I embark on that 38-mile adventure today to finish these two milestones. Thank God.For eight years, these last 38-miles have been a haunting reminder that I am not done with the trail. Every year I attend Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kickoff (ADZPCTKO), I see pictures of smiling hikers at Monument 78 at the Washington-Canadian border, and feel frustrated. I’ve not been there yet.

Conditions at Devil's Park in 2003

In 2003, my hike on the PCT was re-routed through the Devil’s Park area of the Wenatchee Wilderness, since the trail was closed from Rainy Pass to Hart’s pass. The only map I had of the area was the free, colorful North Cascades National Park map I got in Stehekin, WA, and it was useless in snowy conditions with limited visibility. I had also made a commitment to be in Seattle, and I had no time to kill a day waiting for the weather to clear, so I bailed on my thru-hike attempt.

I am resuming the hike where I left off: at the Devil’s Dome Loop trailhead. Yes, I am continuing on the re-route from 2003, as I will hike up the Devil’s Dome Loop to Devil’s Pass. From there, I will head east through Deception Pass, and reconnect with the PCT at Holman Pass, where I will make the run toward the border. After I get to the border, I will turn around, and hike south on the PCT all the way to Stehekin, where I will catch the ferry to Chelan. From there, I head to Wenatchee, WA to receive my Triple Crown award at the ALDHA-West Gathering.

The time has come for me to complete this hike, and I will complete it. I have a very detailed Trails Illustrated map (on loan from Chigger!) of the area, better equipment, wit and wisdom from hiking the CDT, and a bitchin’ attitude that I am going to get this thing done.

Weather Forecast for the Next 5-Days... Yikes

The weather is looking like crap again. As in 2003, mid-September is looking really “iffy.” Highs will be in the mid 50’s and lows in low 30’s with precipitation forecasted every day. I figure that if the weather gets really bad, then I will head toward Ross Lake, and complete the trail on the north end of that lake. However, that’s a really bad weather scenario, and I certainly hope to avoid that.

I will be checking in from the trail through my Twitter feed, and I hope to write a more detailed account when I get to Wenatchee. Until then, Happy (and snow-free) Trails!

Three Fuels for Your Alcohol Stove

2011-07-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine is heading out to the Wind River Range for a backpacking trip, and he asked me what kind of fuel to get for his alcohol stove, and this was my response to him.

Typical Alcohol Stove

1. Heet - Gas line antifreeze, which is sold in the yellow bottle. It must be the yellow bottle! If you get the red bottle, you will regret your alcohol stove for the rest of your trip. You can get the yellow bottle it at most automotive stores. You can actually ship it to yourself in the mail, since it has a low flashpoint. Yep, you can actually challenge your own postmaster on this point and win!

2. Denatured Alcohol - You can find this at most hardware stores. I know that stores in Southern California have pulled denatured alcohol (or this link) off the shelves, because the unburned vapor is not good for the atmosphere. Usually denatured alcohol is used as a solvent or a thinner.

3. Everclear - They sell the real stuff in Wyoming (180 proof), and it burns the hottest and cleanest of all three. My companions on the CDT used it for a stove fuel, and were very impressed with its performance. Of course they also made CDTinis (CDT + Martinis) out of it, and served night caps for everyone at camp at night. The problem with Everclear is that it is expensive, but it is ubiquitous, especially in a state like Wyoming. You'd be the life of the party every night if you packed it out with you, cooked with it, and served your friends drinks at the end of the day.

One more thing about alcohol stoves is be careful when using them. Please be sure to monitor them at all times, especially in dry areas. I've heard too many stories on the Pacific Crest Trail, where an alcohol stove got out of hand, and caused a fire. Enjoy your meals on the trail, or nightcaps if you choose the Everclear!

National Trails Day Work Party

2011-06-06T19:59:00.000-07:00

I just spent the weekend with volunteers from the Mt. Hood Chapter of the Pacific Crest Trail Association, where we worked on a section of trail between Rock Creek and Sedum Ridge. The work was done in conjunction with National Trails Day, promoted by the American Hiking Society. Below is a video of the work we did, repairing tread, removing slough, and doing some brushing. The work was strenuous, but a lot of fun. Enjoy!

California Desert Panorama

2011-05-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

I took this shot after hiking south of Mission Creek in section C of the Pacific Crest Trail. I love the desert areas of southern California, and was enamored by the great views of San Gorgonio Peak and Mt. San Jacinto. Have a great weekend out there everyone, and take pictures!

Desert Panorama - Click Image for Larger View

Video of Miller Fire on CDT in New Mexico

2011-05-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

The Forest Service shot this video from a helicopter of the Miller Fire that is burning near the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico. Apparently, the fire has been going on for a few weeks, and now over 300 personnel are fighting the fire. A new fire, called the Sheep Fire also broke out north of Silver City, but appears to be small. Northbound CDT hikers are being directed to go around the fire.

Gear Review: La Sportiva Wildcat Mountain Running Shoe

2011-05-12T06:48:00.000-07:00

La Sportiva Wildcat Shoe

I tried on my usual size 9, which Alpine thought was a half size too small for my foot - I agreed. Then I tried on a shoe a half size larger, which allowed for more room in the toe box. After ambling up and down a small, portable ramp, I found the right fit, and bought them. I thanked Alpine for staying 15-minutes after closing time, and walked out with my new shoes.

The Wildcats were super comfortable. Unlike the rigid Hardrocks, which have a rock plate in the sole, the Wildcat’s Frixion soles had give to them, and felt gummy. My feet liked this feeling.

650-Miles of Wear on these Shoes!

Mesh Tearing from Sole

Alpine told me that I’d get about 450-miles out of the Wildcats, and he was right. After hiking from Walker Pass to Highway 58 on the PCT in California, I noticed that the mesh was tearing apart from the sole on the right foot. Then after hiking another 50-miles into the Antelope Valley, the mesh and inner lining on the Wildcats continued to tear away. However, the soles had so much life to them that I continued to hike in them anyway, and I added another 200-miles to Alpine’s 450-mile prediction.

Fire on the PCT - Alcohol Stove Safety

2011-05-07T10:27:00.000-07:00

I shot this video last Thanksgiving at the Mosley Manor up in Milwaukie, Oregon. I focused on being careful with fire on the Pacific Crest Trail, especially in light of the fact that there have been three fires in the last five years started by hikers who mishandled their alcohol stoves. I presented this video at the ADZPCTKO Video Shorts Festival. So, this is for all you hikers out there who missed the Kickoff. Enjoy!

FIve Questions With Uncle Johnny

2011-05-05T18:34:00.000-07:00

Back in March, I had the opportunity to sit down, and have a conversation with Uncle Johnny about his hostel right off the Appalachian Trail near Erwin, Tennessee. I stayed at his hostel back in the early days when I used to attend the National Storytelling Festival, and I remember a time when he had plenty of room to pitch a tent on the lawn. That lawn is now covered with cabins, as he has expanded his operations significantly. I am happy for his prosperity.

I thought it would be great to get him on video, talking about the past, and his interaction with hikers. Say what you want about Uncle Johnny and his strong personality, but he is an icon of the trail, and many hikers have been grateful for his services. I know I have.

Well... here's the video, "Five Questions With Uncle Johnny." Enjoy!

ADZPCTKO Presentations Over the Years

2011-05-04T20:54:00.000-07:00

I love the Kickoff. For seven years I have been involved with it as the Presentation Coordinator, and this recent event was my last in that position. Yep, it's time to move on, and let someone else take over the reins. I believe that one way for organizations to experience healthy growth is that they experience change, and thus my stepping down.

As the Presentation Coordinator, I have introduced many presenters to hikers in the Lake Morena pavilion, and I thought I'd list my favorite presentations from over the years. So here it goes.

Winston Vickers

Mountain Lions and Their Safety - Usually when I announced the presentation, everyone asked, "What about my safety?" Wilderness veterinarian Winston Vickers has traveled to the Kickoff from UC-Davis three times to talk to hikers about mountain lions and the habitat that we hikers enter every time we explore the wilderness. The reality is that humans continue to encroach on their habitat, and thus endanger these beautiful cats. True, we also are risk entering their habitat, but attending Winston's presentation always helped me better understand mountain lions, and how to deal with them should I encounter one. Finally, if there is one thing that was apparent from Winston's presentations, it is his passion. He loves these animals, and he wants us hikers to have a better knowledge and appreciations for them. I hope Winston comes back in the future.

Paul Hacker and Greg Hummel

Geology of the PCT - Greg "Strider" Hummel and Paul "Nohawk" Hacker both hiked the PCT in 1977, and are professional Geologists. Their presentation on geology always fascinated me, so I attended everyone that they did just to see if I could scrape another nugget of information on the subject. The Pacific Crest Trail runs across and along some of the world's most vibrant geological areas. Consider that it crosses the San Andreas (and other faults!) several times, and it contours the Cascades' volcanos from northern California up to the Washington-Canadian border. As Strider always says in his presentation, "Every rock is on a journey," and many of us hikers interact intimately with their journey as we traipse along the PCT.

1959 Thru-Ride

Pioneering Women of the PCT - Barney "Scout" and Sandy "Frodo" Mann led this presentation in 2010, and it featured June Mulford, who along with her husband Don, thru-rode the PCT on horseback in 1959. The presentation also had Teddy Boston, the first woman to thru-hike the PCT in 1976, and Carolyn Burkhart, who finished the same year as Teddy. June Mulford's story was unearthed that year, so many of us there were eager to hear more about her ride on the trail. Teddy, of course, is at the Kickoff every year, and is always entertaining. Carolyn talked about her hike and how it helped her deal with personal struggles in her life. It was a most memorable presentation.

Ken Murray

Mountaineering Skills - On a heavy snow year, this is perhaps the most important presentation at the Kickoff. Ken Murray has done this presentation every year that I have been involved with the Kickoff, and he balances the serious nature of hiking the Sierras along with making it an enjoyable experience. Ken has also demonstrated how to ford river crossings, using an ice axe, and how to make a self arrest - all in the rugged conditions of the pavilion! Ned Tibbits of Mountain Education has also helped Ken over the years, lending his rich mountaineering experience to the discussion.

Class of 2004 Photo Presentation - This is the class video that started a tradition that has endured to this day (Class of 2009 is the only one that has not been shown). In 2005, Weathercarrot put together a photo presentation that set the bar high, and is now the standard by which all photo presentations are judged. Panning in on dramatic images while mystical, ethereal music played in the background, he created the genre of video pleasure for eyes longing or eager to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Thank you Weathercarrot!

Those are my favorite presentations at the Kickoff from over the years. I am sure that the Kickoff will continue to flourish by bringing in knowledgable, talented, and entertaining speakers for years to come. In the future, I look forward to enjoying those presentations as a participant, and not as a coordinator.

Big Bear Lake for Easter Sunday

2011-04-23T22:05:00.000-07:00

I pulled off the trail today to go to worship on Easter Sunday. I have extra time on my hands, so I thought the opportunity could not be passed.

Spring continues to erupt throughout southern California, and a friend of mine reminded me of the significance of this time through the words of Martin Luther who said: "Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf of spring time." Of course the resurrection of Christ is central in the promise, but it is the 'ordinary' things in life that remind me of that great gift. Yes, even the small, but colorful phlox ring out resurrection, even in a seemingly barren, desert landscape.

I am staying at the Big Bear Hostel here in Big Bear Lake, California. I have the whole place to myself! A hiker named Ari was here earlier today, but he left the trail to go to Los Angeles, and eventually to the Grand Canyon. He said he could not handle the southern California desert sections, and was tired of the exposed sections of the trail. I was puzzled to understand why he was leaving the trail, as I am really enjoying the desert environs.

I head out tomorrow after Sunday services. I only have another 56-miles to hike by Wednesday morning, so I still have time to kill. Therefore, I purchased a pair of hand loppers, and I will do some maintenance on the trail as I hike. I thought I might as well take care of some of those stupid branches that cause us hikers to stumble or get caught in our eyelids.

Happy Easter everyone!

At the Saufley's in Agua Dulce

2011-04-20T01:31:00.000-07:00

I have been staying at Donna Saufley's place (Hiker Heaven) in Agua Dulce for the last day, and I am enjoying my section hike on the PCT. Section E was wonderful, and filled with poppies, water, and fair weather. I am tackling Section C next, and I begin hiking at Cajon Pass tomorrow. I am tackling Section C, because the re-route around Deep Creek is shorter than the huge 60-mile re-route that goes around the Station Fire burn area. I leave tomorrow, and I will be on the trail for the next 132-miles. Yipee! Happy Trails.

Poppies are in Bloom in the Antelope Valley of California

Off the Appalachian Trail... Being FED on the Pacific Crest Trail

2011-04-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

Found and Freefall at Elk Park (19E)

I finished my 400-mile stretch on the Appalachian Trail on April 3rd, so I could fly to California for an interview with the Pacific Crest Trail Association. I am happy to be off the AT.

There are things that I really appreciate about the Appalachian Trail, but I am resolved that the trail is brutal on the knees, hips, ankles, and every joint below the torso... seriously. The tread on the AT is rocks, roots, log steps, and mud. I am not sure the trail has to be that way. I think there must be a culture of machismo among the trail clubs that leave the trail in such a state of... blech!

I am now on the Pacific Crest Trail, and I am enjoying that better tread, grades, and weather. The PCT is a hiker's trail. Distant views are abundant along the trail, there's a sense of wilderness, and at this time of year, there's nobody out here. I have this trail all to myself - it's a great feeling!

Abundant views are on the Pacific Crest Trail!

I just finished hiking Section F (Walker Pass to Hwy 58), and I am taking a day off in Tehachapi to rest. I hobbled into town with an ingrown toenail, which I removed last night (don't ask!). I also discovered a tick under my armpit while I was showering last night. How long had that thing been there? Due to a bad childhood memory, I absolutely hate ticks. Anyway, that problem has been resolved too.

I am looking to also hike section E and D while I am out here. Section E travels through the western arm of the Mojave Desert, which should be nice due to cooler temperatures. Section D travels through the San Gabriels and up over Mt. Baden Powell, which should be adventurous. A little bird told me that Section D might be closed due to a previous fire, so I may end up doing Section C instead. I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

Hike on!

Out of the Rain! Into Uncle Johnny's Hostel!

2011-03-31T14:50:00.000-07:00

Found Hiking in Mist

As I write this post, it is raining cats and dogs outside. Right now, the southeast is just a big wet, muddy mess. The skies have been gray for 5 out of the last 6 days, and everything is just plain damp. This the the cold, wet AT that I signed up for!

When I started out on this hike, I was stunned by the nice, sun-filled skies. Temperatures were in the 60's and 70's, and I remember thinking to myself, hmmmmmm... it seems like the weather should be really crappy at this time of year. Well, it's now really, really crappy.

On top of Big Firescald Knob

Nonetheless, I had one really nice day between Hot Springs and Erwin, and I took advantage of it - I took a lot of pictures, and hiked a 20-mile day. In spite of shifting rocks under foot, Big Firescald Knob had great views of the low country (and perhaps Knoxville) to the east and the Blue Ridge to the west. It was an awesome day to be outside!

I have been hiking with Found (PCT 2006, CDT 2010) since Georgia, and I really enjoy his company. What's interesting about our hiking relationship is that we are both interviewing for the same job with the Pacific Crest Trail Association. How crazy is that? One thing that I have discovered on these long distance trails is that it is a small world. I have run into many hikers that I know (or hikers that I've heard of) on the trail over the years, so may be it's not so surprising. While we may be competitors for the same job, we are companions out here on the trail. I like that.

There was no view down to the Nolichucky River

I have only 50-miles to go before I am finished with this odyssey on the trail. This next section of trail includes Big Hump and Little Hump, and Roan Mountain, which I remember being very scenic. However, it looks like the weather will continue to rain over the next few days, so I am not guaranteed any sweeping views. I will be getting off at Elk Park on Sunday, where I will meet up with my friend and 2009 CDT hiking companion, Patch. I look forward to our meeting.

I am happy to be out on the trail, and I will check back in soon!

Found's All You Can Eat Supper in Hiawassee, Goergia

2011-03-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

Found and I stopped at Daniel's in Hiawssee, Georgia for supper. It was an all you can eat supper, and we loaded up on the food. Below is a little video of Found talking about his delight over the food. Enjoy!

Impressions: Two Weeks on the Appalachian Trail

2011-03-26T14:07:00.000-07:00

Found taking a break at shelter
in North Georgia

Like the teeth on a gear, the Appalachian Trail has so many little ups and downs, and makes it one of the more physically challenging hikes of the the Triple Crown. I had forgotten how taxing the grind of ascents and descents are on the body (yep, my knees are feeling it!), and I am now looking forward to rest here in Hot Springs, North Carolina, before hiking the last 110-miles of this journey.

This is the earliest I have ever set out on a trail (March 11th), and I am both bored and intrigued by the landscape of the southern Appalachians. On the one hand, it is a grind to see a lot of the same scenery (dead leaves, rocks, denuded trees), while on the other I am watching spring foliage slowly explode, hearing more birds chirping, and seeing more wildlife. It truly is a spectacle that only be seen by living in the wilderness on a day-to-day basis. This spring spectacle seems more pronounced as I fluctuate from high to low elevations, where wildflowers are already in bloom.

Trillium in Bloom along AT

Every thru-hiker has humble beginnings, and I am reminded of that when I meet a lot of these newbie hikers. I cannot believe how much stuff a lot of these hikers carry! However, I am reminded that I also started out with a 50-pound pack on the AT in Maine in 2000.

I get a lot of questions from other hikers about gear. I have been asked about my pack, and how I fit so little inside of it. Some hikers have asked me when they should switch out their jackets, or when to start carrying bug spray. I try to offer some advice, but I am hesitant to dole out too much. I feel that people need to discover some of these things themselves. I did tell one hiker not to buy the same backpack that I have, only because he would also have to switch out his sleeping bag and tent to make things fit. He agreed that switching would be a bad idea at this time.

I have received a lot of trail magic out here. One guy was cooking hot dogs at Woody Gap, and another was passing out chips and honey buns just north of Davenport gap. I've also had hamburgers at Hogback Gap, sodas and chips at Unicoi Gap, and I am sure that I've missed out on many more trail magic opportunities.

Oak Tree at Georgia-North
Carolina Border

The trail magic thing here in the south has me feeling a little conflicted. No doubt will I turn down a free hot dog, but I wonder if many of the northbound hikers get a little spoiled. When I hiked southbound on the AT in 2000, I had a woman buy me lunch in Gorham, New Hampshire, which was completely unexpected. That was the only trail magic I received until I hit Virginia! Out here, I have received it 5-times in 2-weeks! Honestly, I think hikers need to be a little more hardened to their experience.

Similarly, I am also amazed by the number of vendors, hotels, and hostel owners out here who are scratching for business from hikers. It seems like every gap (Woody, Neels, Dick's Creek, Winding Stair) in Georgia and North Carolina has free hiker shuttles to hotels, hostels, or an outfitter waiting to change out one's heavy pack for a lighter one. Again, when I stated out my hike up in Maine, I had none of those options! I lament the commercialization. However, I can see the flip side to the coin that it's good for one to have options to switch out gear to encourage a lighter, more enjoyable hike.

A Snowy, Foggy Morning on the AT

All in all, I am charmed by this experience, and I have met some wonderful people out here. The people out here love to be outside, and enjoying the wilderness. Hiking the trail is an enriching experience for anyone, which teaches responsibility, simplicity, and a deep care for creation. I love this lifestyle, and the people who embrace it. I love these AT hikers!

Rest in Hiawassee, GA

2011-03-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

I am in Hiawassee, Georgia for a short break. I stayed at the Blueberry Patch Hostel, which is 7.4-miles outside of town, and I definitely recommend staying there. I get back on the trail later this afternoon, and then I will huff it to Fontana Dam, where I will be arriving on the 20th of this month. I am really enjoying my AT experience again, and after eleven years off this trail, I have to say that there's not much of it I recognize! So, in some ways, I feel like I never hiked this trail before. More to come later.

Looks Like Great Weather Ahead

2011-03-10T17:29:00.000-08:00

The rains have moved through Georgia, bringing with it cold temperatures and high winds. However, the weather report looks great for the next three days.

I am excited to get back on the Appalachian Trail. I am poising myself to hike 20-mile days up to Fontana Dam to meet up with Squatch there. Although this will be a short journey (3 1/2 weeks), it should be epic! I

The Hiker Hostel in the North Georgia Mountains

hope to check in again in four days with a full report with my impressions.

I am staying at a lovely hostel called the Hiker Hostel. This place is seriously the Taj Majal of hostels. It is a beautiful log cabin with three levels for hosting hikers. The owners, Josh and Leigh Saint, have decorated this place with all kinds of pictures from their previous hikes. This is the place to stay in North Georgia.

Video: The Green Tunnel

2011-03-07T00:03:00.000-08:00

This video about the Appalachian Trail's green tunnel is making the rounds on the web, and I agree that it is pretty sweet to watch. Enjoy the AT in 5 minutes!

Green Tunnel from Kevin Gallagher on Vimeo.

Appalachian Trail Hike: 3-Weeks

2011-03-03T10:24:00.000-08:00

I learned the other day that I will only be on the Appalachian Trail for three weeks. I figure that's enough time to scramble up to Erwin, TN (or perhaps a little further) before I have to catch a flight out of Knoxville. This is certainly not bad news, because I am leaving the trail to interview for a job with a well-known trail organization. Yep, I have the opportunity to land a dream job, so I have to go for it.

That said, after the interview, I plan to hop on the Pacific Crest Trail near Mojave, and hike south for a few weeks. I am pretty excited about that. Now, if only I can figure out a way to hike on the Continental Divide Trail for a few weeks, then the circle will be complete. Who knows? It might happen.

I leave for Georgia in a week, and I getting excited. I have a lot to do in the next week to prepare for the AT, and living the drifter lifestyle for the next two months. Look for more updates here as March 11th approaches.

Time Lapsed Hair Growth on the PCT

2011-02-20T01:17:00.000-08:00

I found this gem on YouTube, and I had to share. It's short, sweet, and to the point. Enjoy.

Getting to the Appalachian Trail's Southern Terminus

2011-02-16T23:59:00.000-08:00

Freefall at Springer Mountain, GA

I am making plans for the Appalachian Trail... finally. One thing is certain: I will be meeting up with Squatch up at Fontana Dam, NC around March 20th. However, getting to the Appalachian Trail's southern terminus (Springer Mountain) is still up in the air.

I did a Google search "shuttle to Springer Mountain, Appalachian Trail," and I turned up a wealth of information. Whiteblaze.net had some great suggestions.

Hiker Hostel, which is operated by Josh and Leigh Saint (770) 312-7342 looks to be the top choice. They offer a Thruhiker Special, which includes a pickup at the North Springs MARTA station, one night's stay, breakfast, 8 oz. of denatured alcohol, and a shuttle to Amicalola Falls State park. As of 2010, they charged $75 for the service, which seems very reasonable. I first read about them in an A.T. Journey's Magazine, and have been eager to check out their place. I also know that Josh and Leigh hiked the AT in 2000, so I guess I am biased to choose them. I signed up for a reservation online, and I look forward to hearing back from them. Hopefully they can swing the ride.

There's also a guy named Survivor Dave, (678) 469-0978 who also provides a shuttle from the North Springs MARTA station. The good news is that it looks like he keeps things simple: he takes one to the trailhead. The bad news is that he does not post a price. That actually deters me from choosing him. Second, I think it would be easier if there was a way to sign up for a reservation online instead of having to make a call. Not that I am averse to the phone. It's actually a west coast-east coast thing. As I research this at 8pm on the west coast, I am not apt to make the call at 11pm EST, and I am not going to remember to do it the following day. Nonetheless, he seems to run a good barebones service.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy also provides a shuttle list, which includes others like Appalachian Adam and North Georgia Outfitters. Based on what I've seen online, I imagine anyone operating on their own schedule or with a myriad of needs can score a ride to Springer Mountain... I think I did (keeping fingers crossed)!

Fuel Canisters and the PCT

2011-02-15T21:28:00.000-08:00

Do you carry an Optimus or MSR Whisperlite stove that uses Isobutane fuel canisters? Are you hiking the PCT, and looking for places along the way to purchase fuel? Check out Erik the Black's webpage on places to purchase fuel along the way. It's a pretty good resource for planning a hike on the PCT. Perhaps one could cross reference Erik's information against Yogi's PCT Guide.

Click the Pic to Go To Erik the Black's Site

Are you planning on mailing fuel to yourself? Did you know that you can send most stove fuels through the mail? Check out Ken and Marcia's website Gottawalk, which has a page dedicated to stove fuel and postal regulations.

Click the Pic to go to Ken and Marcia's Website

Finally, have you not purchased a stove or made one yet? Check out Sectionhiker.com for some recommendations on buying a stove that uses isobutane canisters. If you want to build your own alcohol stove, click this link to build Scott's Pepsi-G stove. I build one of these stoves in 2003, and it still works great to tis day!

Another Beautiful Day Hiking in the Bay Area

2011-02-13T10:56:00.000-08:00

This is a blog about long-distance backpacking and thru-hiking. Recently, I have been posting about frolicking in the outdoors here in the Bay Area, and I will continue to do so. After all, what do long-distance hikers do in the offseason? True, some will head south to hike the Florida Trail or perhaps portions of the Arizona Trail, but not all of us the year-round luxury or resources to do that. So, we hike on the weekends, and in our own parks.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to head up to Point Reyes National Seashore... again! Yep, I think I've been there maybe 20-times for a day hike or a backpacking trip, and I absolutely love the place.

I never get bored with Point Reyes. Every time I go there, I feel like I am walking into an area rich and diverse in history, plant and animal-life, geology, and geography. For starter's, this place shifted 21-feet to the northwest in 45-seconds during the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906 (take the earthquake trail, located on the San Andreas fault to learn more!). Geologists say that the rocks in Point Reyes are the same as the rocks in the Tehachapi Mountains 310-miles to the south

Point Reyes also hosts elephant seals, whales, dolphins, tule elk, bobcats, coyotes, red-tail hawks, porcupines, reptiles, and the list goes on. I cannot think of another place that I have hiked that is so rich and abundant with animal-life.

Finally, plant-life is off the charts. According the National Park Service website:

"The broad range of plant communities supports over 900 species of vascular plants - pretty amazing! This number represents about 15% of the California flora. Sixty-one species found in Marin County are known only from Point Reyes."

One can stumble upon redwoods, Douglas fir, horsetail, sword fern, seaweed, algae, poppies, buttercups, and lilies.

Below are some pictures form my recent hike along with my friend Lynn. My legs felt great yesterday, and I am really getting my sights set on my hike on the Appalachian Trail coming up in March. Yep, I am going to get on the AT for a few weeks and walk with spring! So, I am looking at these Bay Area hikes as a good primer for my upcoming section hike. I will share more about that later on.

Up on the Sky Trail in Point Reyes

Approaching the Sky and Woodward
Valley Trails

The Most Awesome Tree Ever!
Located On The Sky Trail

Seagull Perched on Arch Rock

View North From Arch Rock

Lynn Runs on Beach Below Arch Rock

Marin County Hiking At Its Finest!

2011-02-06T23:25:00.000-08:00

Map of Mt. Tamalpais State Park and Muir Wood National Monument

Describe a classic hike in Marin County, and one might get several responses: "Take the Miwok Trail in the Marin Headlands" or "Climb the summit of Mt. Tam for panoramic views!" I offer a classic route emblematic of the Marin County hiking experience that captures its diversity, beauty, and challenge.

With my friend Lynn, I started out on the Dipsea trailhead at Stinson Beach (a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area), taking a small side road, and crossing Highway 1. The trail climbed gradually through coastal chaparral, and briefly entered a forest glade, offering cool shade on this warm, sunny day in February. The trail topped out at an overlook, offering splendid views of Stinson Beach, Bolinas Bay and Bolinas Lagoon.

Freefall with Stinson Beach in the Background

We re-entered forest, and descended shortly to a bridge, which is the intersection of the Dipsea and Steep Ravine trails. Lynn and I crossed over Webb Creek continuing east on the Dipsea trail, and then climbed a long series of stairs up steep terrain. As we ascended occasional trail runners passed by us - this trail is famous for an annual footrace! We continued huffing and sweating up the trail under a canopy of madrone and bay trees, which later transitioned into a young redwood forest. The scene was serene!

The Dipsea trail left the shade and continued through sunny open space, offering beautiful sweeping views of the Marin Headlands and San Francisco to the south, Oakland and Mt. Diablo to the east, and the Farallon Islands to the West. Here, Lynn and I took a break to eat a sandwich, bask in the sun, and admire the views.

Lynn Poses Near a "Family Circle" of Redwoods.

We then descended steadily east on the Dipsea Trial through a mixed forest of Douglas fir, tanbark oak, and madrone trees. We came to an intersection of the trail which alerted us of a bridge closure over Redwood Creek at Muir Woods National Monument. Instead of taking the official detour, we chose to be adventurous, and continued on the steep drop down the Dipsea. We easily crossed shallow Redwood Creek near the dismantled bridge, and entered Muir Woods.

Muir Woods influenced me to move out to California... seriously. When I first saw the old-growth redwoods here in 2002, I was amazed and awed by their size - I had never seen anything like them before. I was also blown away by the fact that they are located so close to San Francisco. I continue to be enamored by the redwoods. Muir Woods is an outdoor cathedral filled with 250-foot tall redwoods, sword fern, sorrels, and banana slugs, which should be visited by everyone. That said, on this Saturday, it seemed like everyone was visiting Muir Woods! Through the first mile of our hike, it was hard to escape the crowds wanting to visit this place, but after crossing the fourth bridge, near the Alice Eastwood Trail, our journey was less congested and much quieter.

Our journey continued up the Bootjack Trail, which follows narrow ravine of Redwood Creek. Several times I was drawn to photograph quaint, beautiful falls and mushrooms along the trail. We climbed steeply out of the dark canopy of redwoods, and re-entered a forest dominated by mixture of young redwoods tanbark oak, and bay trees. Along the way, we passed a few hearty tourists, who had hiked more than 2-miles form the Muir Woods parking area - props to them for sucking the marrow from the bone of life!

Falls on Redwood Creek

Lynn and I left the Bootjack Trail, and reached the Pantoll Ranger Station after a short .4-mile hike on the Alpine Trail. At the busy campground, we sat down for a rest, which included a second lunch, and refilling the water bottles. I admired the number of outside cycling, hiking, or just frolicking in the outdoors - this is how life should be!

We continued our journey on the Steep Ravine Trail, which follows the aforementioned Webb Creek back to the Dipsea Trail. True to its name, the trail is indeed steep in many areas. At one point along the way, Lynn and I had to climb down a 10-foot ladder! Nonetheless, it was a beautiful descent through a deeply carved ravine, lined with thickets of sword fern and the occasional forget-me-not flowers. At one point along the way, I had to stop and admire what appeared to be a rare trillium. We also ran into several hikers going the opposite way, scrambling back to the Pantoll Ranger Station before the sun set.

We reached the Dipsea Trail again, closing our scenic loop hike. We ascended familiar trail, but were treated to a different scene, as the sun was starting to set. The coastal mountains of California now had deeper colors and more depth in these golden hours - my camera was very happy to be out of the harsh mid-day light.

Lynn and I scrambled down to Stinson Beach just in time to catch a picturesque California sunset. Kids were still playing on the beach, and couples were basking in the final rays of sunlight on what had to be one of the most beautiful days in February ever! I thought about the wonderful diversity I had just experienced: beach, forests, ridges with panoramic views, redwoods, and deep ravines. Can I experience Marin County more fully?

Sunset at Stinson Beach

Urban Backpacking Trip to Hawk Camp

2011-01-31T01:22:00.000-08:00

It's nice to have a car to go places for hiking and backpacking. Ever since I got rid of my truck four years ago, I am not traveling as much to backpack those special destinations. I now rely on friends to drive, public transportation, and my own two feet (yes, my own two feet!) to get around.

Sunset Picture of the Marin Headlands from Bobcat Trail

One of the joys I have discovered about being in San Francisco is that one can simply walk out the front door, and go on an overnight backpacking trip without the car. Recently, I took a trip to Hawk Camp, which is located in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The beauty of walking from the front door to the campsite is that the city itself becomes the hiking landscape. Who says that mountains, trees, and rivers have to be the dominant features? Hiking through the city is seeing the culture at work, the citizenry at play, and becoming more familiar with the urban geography and its unique features.

I hope the video I made captures some of the nuances of urban distance hiking, and the reality that our wild spaces are closer than we think. Bear in mind here that those coyote yelps and owl hoots are just a few miles from San Francisco! This is cool.

Pictures From Sky Camp

2011-01-29T18:55:00.000-08:00

Sunset and Waxing Moon with View Out to Pacific Ocean

Sunrise on Dead Tree with Pacific in Background

Sil-Tarp Sunrise at Sky Camp

Question and Answer with Sage Clegg

2011-01-25T23:57:00.000-08:00

   A few months ago, I read about Sage Clegg through a Google Alert. Sage completed her hike on the Continental Divide Trail on August 31st, and two weeks later, she set out to hike the Appalachian Trail, finishing on Christmas Eve. For those of you who don’t know, Sage is the first woman to complete the Triple Crown in less than 18-months. Her hiking credentials are off the charts, as her first thru-hike was a rare southbound trek on Pacific Crest Trail - that’s rad! She also completed here CDT-AT hike in just over seven months. Sage is a machine.

   The following is a virtual question and answer session with Sage. Thanks to Sage for allowing all of us to learn what makes her tick, her highs and lows, and how she got that name ‘Sage.’ Enjoy!

Where do you live, and what do you do for a living?

   Northern California is my home. I grew up in a small town in Mendocino county, went to college in Santa Cruz, and am currently attempting to move to Tahoe to learn to ski. I work as an instructor for Outward Bound (but not much in the past 2-years) and as a wildlife biologist in the Mojave desert.

  Tell me about your gear. What was you favorite?

   This year I used an Osprey Exos 34. To date, it is the most comfortable pack I have used because of the ventilation system, but I went through 3 packs in the 4700-mile season - Osprey is working on the problem. Last year I used their Tallon 33, and I loved it, except that it wore out 5 shirts, not to mention some of the skin on my back - that is not an issue with the exos - I used the same shirt for 4600-miles!
   I used my MontBell Super Stretch 30 degree bag for the entirety of my Triple Crown. I love this sleeping bag amp; can't believe it worked so well even in the uber cold of the AT. I also used a silk liner and a MontBell UL sleeping bag cover. I carried 2-puffy jackets and used them as blankets inside the bag each night. In Colorado I was worried about being cold and carried 3-puffies, but that was a bit overkill.
   My tarp is a little 8oz thing I bought off a friend. I have no idea who made it, but it was perfect for me.
   I am sponsored by OBOZ shoes based in Montana. I used a pair of their shoes for 900 miles on the PCT, and this summer tried a variety of their shoes, all of which are awesome. I started out with the Hardscrabble, moved to the Contour, then the Sawtooth, and found the Dash before I went to the AT. When the snow storms hit and my toes started to freeze in the runners I had a pair of the Galatin's shipped out and I LOVE them. I always think I should be stoked on runners, but then when I get into a light hiker my feet are usually happier.
   I use Superfeet insoles, and for much of the CDT I carried Crocs to give my feet a break on road walks. A friend told me he made some Croc insoles with a belt sander, so I convinced a guy at a ski shop to help me make a pair. They were awesome with the Sawtooths, but wouldn't fit in the Contours, so they made their way to the bounce bucket.
   I am attached to everything in my pack, but my favorite thing is my mp3 player. I really enjoyed the company of music. I had some rules about when and how I listened to it, but I would have music in my ear (I have A headphone rather than two so I can hear my surroundings) about 8-hours a day.

How did you get the trail name “Sage”? That is a trail name, eh?

   Nope. I was born and my parents decided to call me Sage. Little did they know they dubbed me with a trail name from day one. I am pretty sure I would have acquired a trail name if I hiked a trail around other people, but since I am always going the wrong way nothing has ever had time to stick.  

How did you first get interested in thru-hiking? Any inspirations or motivating factors?

   When I was 14, I went on an Outward Bound course. On day 3 I decided to become an instructor some day, and that is when the PCT entered my consciousness. I always assumed the PCT was an unattainable goal. Then, in the fall of 2008 I found myself ending my 6-year instructing career with Outward Bound, because they were shutting down my bases (Montana and Texas). I was devastated, but I decided to double time on my other job, Tortoise biology in the Mojave.
   I arrived in the desert for a contract and two days into the season the contract got canceled. I was down two jobs in the span of two months. I called my friend Pepper and he said whenever he is down on his luck and feeling poor he goes for a hike. I asked where I could hike in November and he mentioned the Grand Enchantment Trail (GET). Two weeks later on November 14, 2008 I set out from Albuquerque on my first thru-hike on a deserted and freezing GET. My 29th birthday was on the 18th, and I sat down eating a birthday brownie a friend had given me, and I decided I would hike 3000-miles before I turned 30. 27-days later I reached the Arizona-New Mexico border completely in love with thru-hiking, 450-miles closer to my goal of 3000.   

According to reports, you are the first woman to thru-hike the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide trails in an 18-month period. Was that your intention when you took your first steps on the PCT? If not, what led you to go for it? How does it make you feel to be the first woman to hike all three trails in 18-months?

   When I started my southbound PCT hike in 2009, I wasn't sure if I could even get through Washington. Then I made it to Oregon, and took a 20-day break to go work a course in the Sierras. When I returned, I wasn't sure if I would make it to California. Then California hit, and I was running to get through the Sierras before winter shut me out. Even when I reached Campo I still didn't believe I could do it, but I had.
   I went out to try and finish the GET a few days after I finished the PCT. Two days into that hike it was my 30th birthday. I woke up early, shooting for a 30 on my 30th, but when I stood up from lunch I could hardly walk. I had strained both my knees on the wonderfully steep and uneven terrain of the GET - I guess I had gotten soft on the PCT trail tread! I walked the 80-miles to Safford Arizona, going backwards down hills and trying to convince myself to go home and heal up, but letting go of a dream has never been my strong suit. I begrudgingly left the GET for home with 218-miles left to go for a winter of doctor visits and physical therapy routines.
   When I started the CDT in May, I was uncertain if I could even make it through New Mexico, much less to Canada. The miles started passing, and I got into the groove.
   In Pie Town, New Mexico I was reading the register and saw Li Brannfors entry from 2007. He had signed with this awesome looking CDT/AT logo and from that moment on I couldn't shake the idea of hiking them both in a season. I tried to talk myself out of it for a lot of reasons. Would I be able to handle 8 months of hiking? Would I get out to the AT and have a GET knee injury again? Would it even be fun anymore? Would I ruin my passion for hiking? But the thought of hiking the AT southbound in the fall meant fall colors, no bugs, fewer crowds... and I just wanted to try it. The idea was something logic and reason could not sway. So I told myself that if I finished the CDT before September 1st I should go out to Maine. Travel from Montana to Baxter State Park fell into place so easily, and then suddenly I was hiking on the AT!
   I didn't realize I would be completing my Triple Crown in 18 months until I was wandering through Vermont one afternoon. Once I realized that it definitely had an effect on me. Suddenly I had a time goal and my ego was attached to the hike for the first time. I couldn't believe that I might be the first woman to have done this. There are so many other amazing female hikers and athletes out there, and I am sure my “record” will be surpassed as soon as other women realize that it can and should be done. Part of me wants to try for a calender year, but right now I don't really want to cover all that ground again.
   I hope my 18-month triple crown will inspire other women to get out and hike. Solo or not, thru or section, heavy or light, it doesn't matter. I think the world will be a better place if more people know themselves and true wildness better. Getting out onto a trail is one of the simplest paths to self discovery. John Muir hit it on the head: Going out is really going in. I hope I have been able to open the door to the interior for a few people other than myself. Hiking feels so selfish sometimes, but I want my adventures to be shared, so I am not the only one who gets the glow.   

What was it like for you to go from thru-hiking the CDT, a largely non-blazed, navigational challenge, to a white blaze highway like the Appalachian Trail?

   My first lesson was that the AT was no cakewalk. I couldn't believe that THOUSANDS of people had scrambled over those rocks and roots! The second lesson was that I realized I hike to be free. The white blazes were always telling me where to go. I felt stifled on the AT and had to work really hard to adjust my perspective so I could enjoy my time out there. For a more thorough explanation check out my last postholer entry.

Were there any challenges to going straight from the CDT to the AT? How were you feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally at the midway point and at Springer Mountain on the Appalachian Trail?

   Katadhin kicked my ass. I took a zero on day two to recover and tried not to freak out too much. I was really worried I would have a GET repeat. By the end of the 100-mile wilderness my knees still hurt, but they were walkable, and I knew that as long as I didn't go too hard I could stay on the trail. I almost quit at the end of Maine because I was hating the trail and I had a good work offer back in California. I couldn't convince myself to leave though. I kept thinking that if I came off I would have to hike ME again and I don't ever want to deal with those bog bridges and SEGAL (Sensless Elevation Gain And Loss) trail again.
   At Harper's Ferry I got food poisoning, but the weather was really good and my spirits were high despite having to dig holes every couple of hours.
   December was filled with snow and ice storms and the only reason I didn't come off was because I was so close to the end. The last 24-days of my AT hike were some of the hardest days of my life. My motivation had tanked and things that had once been fun were miserable, it was too cold to crave ice cream, I was worried about finishing on time, getting out of my sleeping bag was almost impossible (one very cold morning it took me 4-hours!). If I had been fresh four blizzards in a row would have still been hard, but it is amazing how much attitude controls enjoyment. I had run out of tolerance and patience for challenge and it took everything I had to plow through the snow.

Of three trails, what was your favorite trail? Why? If you could hike one over again, which one would you do first?

   The CDT is so wild. I loved it. The PCT is stunning and allowed me to fly along at a pace that doesn't seem possible. I don't think I will re-hike either in their entirety again, but they will both be incorporated into routes I am making.  

Describe for me your favorite moments on the AT, PCT, and CDT? What were your most miserable moments?

   AT - High: Cutting down a christmas tree with the family at Standing Bear Farm during a bilzzard induced zero day. Low: Bailing to a low route in the Smokies after deciding I was too much of a wimp to hike over drifts of snow alone for 6 days.

   CDT - High: So many, it's hard to choose. Seeing a pack of 5-wolves on a hill top at sunset near Lima. Seeing and hearing my first Willow Fly Catcher in the headwaters of the Missouri River. Low: Sleeping by a broken bridge near twin lakes, CO after a 15-hour day in which I hadn't even gone 30-miles (I was pissed) and having nightmares all night about the bridge breaking. In the morning I crept over the broken bridge, went into town, and re-united with my friend Ahab, from whom I had been separated the day before. He informed me that there was another un-broken bridge about 3-minutes upstream from where I had crossed. I couldn't believe I had been so unaware!

   PCT - High... Yep. That is how I felt on the PCT. My night at Drakesbad Guest Ranch was AWESOME! They fed me the most amazing steak I have ever eaten along with endless cups of hot chocolate, and then I got to have the whole hot spring pool to myself and sleeped on a comfy couch! Low: Getting snowed out of the sierras the first time. The storm hit just after I crossed Donahue pass and I came out at Devil's Postpile. I was pretty sure I would have to miss the 250-miles I had been most looking forward to, and that was pretty devastating. A friend of mine helped me figure out a way to get back into the mountains with only missing about 10 miles of trail. A weather window opened, and I made it over Forester Pass before I got snowed out for a second time. Creativity, flexibility, and the help of friends let me stay on the trail and have a successful hike, but I have never felt so sad and disappointed as I did on October 4, 2009 when I hitched into Bishop.   

What are your plans for the future? Another hike?

   This off season I hope to learn how to communicate more effectively by finding my inner computer geek side. I want to be able to get the word out a bit more about how cool hiking is and advertise the Emily Sandall Foundation. As I hike, I am trying to raise funds for the Emily Sandall Foundation, a non-profit that creates opportunity for true childhoods all over the world. That means they give scholarships for backpacking trips here in the states and provide mini-grants and other financial support to people doing grassroots projects that work against child labor. Check out emilysandall.org for more info. This foundation was created in honor of my good friend Emu who passed away in a hiking accident on Half Dome 4-years ago. She would have loved thru-hiking and I think about her often when I am on the trail, so my footsteps are for her. Figuring out how to ask for money and to communicate to a larger audience is something I struggle with - I don't want to feel like I am bragging or begging. I do believe whole-heartedly in the organization I hike for, and I also know that me telling other people about my adventures will inspire them to get out and challenge themselves too. I just have to buck up and learn to sit in front of a computer.
   This summer I am hoping to put together a route that connects the Pacific Ocean in Mendocino to Death Valley. I'm calling it the Japhy Ryder Route and hope to start it this June.
  
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone wanting to do a long distance hike, what would you tell them?

   You have to go to know. Get yourself out the door! (It is worth quitting your job for, the universe will provide, and money isn't everything. Just try it- life isn't a chess game, you can't plan it because plans fall through-- JUST LET YOURSELF GO HIKING!!).

How are you readjusting to life after the trail?

   I just went to an acupuncturist and she said the symptoms I was describing are what people usually say when they go into the backcountry. I guess for me it is reversed because I am more comfortable out there than in cities.  My readjustment could be going worse, but it is pretty intense at the moment. My truck died while I was away, and since it was at my house I have had to scramble. I do have an amazing community here in central California to help me out. I have a great place to stay while I recollect the pieces, sort through 8-months of mail, buy a new truck, get my teeth filled (I ate too many jolly ranchers on the trail I guess..), and search for work. All my dreams of renting a place in Tahoe and skiing all winter have been put on hold, but surfing and spending way more money than I have isn't that bad either. I will start work sometime in March, so for now I have to provide myself structure. I think this is the hardest part. I have too much freedom at the moment, and my drive to do hard things is non-existent. I am a bit of a couch potato these days, and the efficiency standards I have held myself to for the past 8-months have no place in my current lifestyle.
   Last winter I got pretty depressed and I hope to avoid that this year. I am trying to get into running shape and do yoga, but I am so used to having my exercise be a part of my daily life that carving out time for it is a challenge. I guess it is a challenge I will just have to rise to if I don't want to ferment in self pity this winter.
   Another thing to help me avoid the post trail blues is the planning of the Japhy Ryder Route. Even though I don't need to use maps every day I still get to look at them, and it is quite therapeutic.

Zoning Out on Water

2010-12-05T13:25:00.000-08:00

I wonder how much time I have spent watching water rushing down through a creek or stream. To sit on a rock at the edge of a stream is zen-like and peaceful. What is it about water that captures my attention? Is there some kind of sub-conscious thought about returning to the primordial waters of my mother's womb? Or am I simply mesmerized by the unabated flow of water? I don't know.

Life Giving Water On The Appalachian Trail from Heald on Vimeo.

This video from the Appalachian Trail is a reminder of the simply beauty of water. Yes, it is a kind of earth farty video, but I was taken back to those times of sitting by a source of water, drinking from it, and just simply watching it. Water...

Cliffhanger Pimping the Bartram Trail

2010-10-11T20:35:00.000-07:00

Bartram Trail Historical Sign

Cliff "Cliffhanger" Hardin (AT 1990, PCT 2003, CDT 2005) put together this nifty little posting about hiking the Bartram Trail, which follows 18th century naturalist William Bartram's route through in the southern Appalachians through Georgia and North Carolina. I don't know much about the Bartram Trail, except that it is about 137-miles long, and it intersects the Appalachian Trail near Wayah Bald, which also happens to be its highest point. Nonetheless, I am somewhat curious to hike this trail since it is a shorter long-distance trail, and that it has some serious, historical value. Cliffhanger has hiked the trail five times, and I intend to get information from him about the trail when I hike it in the future.

So Far Completes the CDT

2010-09-27T22:33:00.000-07:00

So Far in New Mexico

So Far, one of my Continental Divide Trail hiking partners from last year, finally finished the CDT today. Congratulations to you So Far! Now that you have completed the Pacific Crest and Continental Divide Trails, you are now fully prepared for the rigors and high adventure of the Appalachian Trail. Mmmmmm... Yeah! Portland awaits your return to civilization. Safe travels, and I will see you soon.

Osprey Envoy: Sage Clegg (CDT Hiker)

2010-09-23T17:01:00.000-07:00

I was just checking out the blogosphere, and I ran into Osprey's Envoys, and I noticed that one of them hiked the CDT this past year. Her name is Sage Clegg, and she just recently finished her hike. She posted her experience of being home a week after her hike, and I was certainly taken back to the feelings of re-adjustment I had after I finished the CDT. Certainly, when I finished, I was relieved, but it didn't take long before I was feeling the itch to get back out on the trail again. Sage is feeling the same way. The good news is that she did something about it: she went to Maine. Go Sage!

By the way, if one becomes an Osprey Envoy, does that mean he/she can inherit a sweet Exos pack? Hmmmm...

Panorama From Max Patch

2010-09-23T00:14:00.000-07:00

I am experimenting with a panorama making application on my computer. Unfortunately, I don't think that it will save the pictures ar a big file. I you know of a good, easy panorama stitcher that is easy to use for a Mac computer, then let me know. Otherwise, enjoy the view from Max Patch!

Panoramic view from Max Patch on the Appalachian Trail (Click to see larger image).

2010 CDT Hiking Video

2010-09-22T17:52:00.000-07:00

I just saw this little video nugget posted by Rudy "Cupcake" Guenaire. Excellently done video... Check it out!

Recent Rains in Oregon Open and Close the PCT

2010-09-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

Photo provided by blatantgizmo on Flickr.com

While I have been away from Oregon on my small Appalachian Trail adventure, Oregon has been pounded by early rain. My friend, Sweet Potato described the rains as "monsoon-like," and he mentioned that he had some water leak into his basement. From what I have seen the rains will subside for September 21-22, just in time for my return to Oregon!

I got word from PCTA Regional Representative, Dana Berthold, that the recent rains have closed parts of the PCT around Mount Hood. In a communique to the Mt. Hood Chapter of the PCTA, Dana says:

"The heavy rains of recent days have caused new landslide activity in the Zig Zag canyon. The PCT is currently impassable to stock, and dangerous for hikers. The FS hopes to get an emergency crew out to improve the trail enough for hikers, but, for stock a more long term solution will need to be implemented, likely next summer. (This slide area is near the same spot where a new bridge to repair an older slide had just been installed.)"

It sounds like a two steps forward, and one step back situation for trail maintainers who just put in that bridge. I will be eager to know when trail crews will venture into the canyon to begin trail work, as I would be eager to jump into the action. Hmmmmm...

On the same note, I also read a report that the recent rains have re-opened the PCT in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, which had been closed due to the Pyramid Butte Fire. Apparently, you win some, and you lose some. Safe hiking out there folks!

ALDHA - West is this Weekend

2010-09-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

The 15th Annual gathering of ALDHA-West is this weekend (September 24-26) at Camp Morning Star in Angelus Oaks, California. Apparently, this is the first time that ALDHA-West will be gathering in southern California. I have read through the grapevine (Facebook) that there are a lot of hiker trash and some trail angels (including the Andersons) that will be there this weekend.

One of these days, I will make it there, but I get a feeling I will only make after I have fully completed the PCT, and my Triple Crown. I am just 38-miles shy! Nonetheless, I keep hearing great things about the event, and I should make it a priority to head there once a year. That said, I already have ADZPCTKO and PCT Days in Cascade Locks on list for the year, and I just cannot make all the trail events. Where are my priorities?

Anyway, for your viewing pleasure, here's a video of Nimblewill Nomad getting his Triple Crown Award back in 2008. Enjoy!

Hit and Miss Ready to Finish the AT

2010-09-20T22:29:00.000-07:00

First AT southbounders, Hit and Miss on top of Max Patch

While out on a 70-mile section hike on the Appalachian Trail, I ran into Hit and Miss, a young couple from New York, on top of clear and scenic Max Patch. Both of them had identical, ultralight backpacks that I had never seen before - Miss stitched them together - and I had no idea that they were southbounders on the AT, since I thought September 14th was too early to see southbounders. However, after some questioning, they told me that they are the front of the pack, and that they were planning to finish in ten days. Cool!

I asked them if there was anyone behind them (I figured that someone has to be chasing the leader!), but they told me that they were unaware of anyone right behind them. They told me that they would welcome other hikers to join them for the march to Springer Mountain to have some different company.

Band of brothers from Virginia, Toothpick and Thrillbilly

About 6-hours later I ran into the chasers at Walnut Mountain Shelter: Toothpick and Thrillbilly. The two are brothers from Virginia, and they started their AT hike three weeks after Hit and Miss started their hike from Mt. Katahdin on May 27th - to say that they are hustling to catch them is an understatement! I told Toothpick and Thrillbilly that they were about a half day behind Hit and Miss, and that they had planned on camping near Davenport Gap that night. Also told them that they planned on arriving to Fontana Dam on Friday the 17th, and Toothpick's eyes lit up. He and Thrillbilly had the same plans to arrive in Fontana by Friday.

I wonder if Toothpick and Thrillbilly caught up with them. I wonder if Hit and Miss really don't mind the company for the last 7-days of their journey. I wonder if there really will be a genuine race to the top of Springer. Hmmmm... I can't wait to hear how it unfolds. Good luck to you Hit and Miss, and Toothpick and Thrillbilly. Enjoy the rest of the trail, and congratulations on completing the Appalachian Trail!

Trail Maintenance: Report from the PCT - Part II

2010-08-07T00:24:00.000-07:00

Freefall maintaining trail in Section O

The “O” in Section O means “OPEN!” After working two more hitches with members of the Northwest Service Academy on a three mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail from Peavine Creek to Red Mountain, and after hiking from Interstate 5 (Castella) back to Burney Falls State Park with a pair of hand clippers, I can with certainty say that Section O has never been in better shape - seriously. That said, there are still brushy sections on the trail (Red Mountain to the PCT crossing at Grizzly Peak Road), and blowdowns between Mushroom Rock and Alder Creek Trail. However, one Forest Service employee mentioned that he would be clearing the rest of the blowdowns soon, so there’s reason to be ever more optimistic on trail conditions through the section.

My volunteer service on the PCT is over for the meantime, but I sure wish that I could stay out here. Seriously, I have thoroughly enjoyed sleeping out in a tent every night, getting my hands (and the rest of me!) dirty every day, hanging out and eating supper with the trail crew in the evenings, and hiking the trail in my off time. I also got to make a big contribution to a trail that I so dearly love and enjoy, and I leave here knowing that users of the PCT will have a more enjoyable experience.

As I mentioned earlier, I got to hike Section O during one of my breaks, and the hike was so different than my 2003 thru-hike experience. In 2003, I was suffering from an in-grown toenail, the heat was terrible, and the “O” in Section O stood for “Overgrown.” I remember manzanita, deer brush, vine maple, and tree branches growing in either side of the trail, and interlaced, which made the hiking a frustrating adventure. Now, the corridor through Section O is very agreeable.

Trail Maintainer John Lyons

Another huge reason why the trail is in good shape is due to the Lyons' Pride, a trail crew headed up by John Lyons, who is also a backcountry horseman. He has led a crew in May, June, and July, clearing brush and cutting trail near Ah-Di-Na Campground, Centipede Gulch to Butcherknife Creek, and from Deer Creek to Grizzly Peak.

When I ran into his crew, there were about 15-volunteers there, and among those volunteers was Warner Springs Monty. Monty was hiking the trail, but got off because his foot was giving him problems. Instead of heading back home, he decided to help the Lyon’s Pride with cooking duties, since he is after all the stellar head chef for ADZPCTKO.

Monty was sure surprised to see me hike into the basecamp. He introduced me to everyone who was doing trail crew, and I was kindly offered a soda to drink. I introduced myself as a trail maintainer to the crew, and I told them about the section that I was maintaining. I was offered supper, and I enjoyed some incredible barbeque chicken, salad, macaroni salad, and potatoes. I rested at that campsite for about two hours, said my goodbyes, and I moved on to the summit of Grizzly Peak.

Vandalized fire tower on top of Grizzly Peak

One of my memorable experiences from my 2003 hike was camping out on top of Grizzly Peak, so I went for a repeat performance. Again, I had wonderful sweeping views of Section O as I viewed Mushroom Rock to the east-northeast, Bald Mountain and Red Mountain to the East, 14,000-foot Mount Shasta to the northwest, and Castle Crags to the West. The view was breathtaking.

One disappointment I experienced was the seeing the vandalism of Grizzly Peak fire tower, which was built in 1953. In 2003, the windows were still in place, but now the glass is broken and scattered all over the top. The bedspring that was in the tower in 2003, now sits near a newer, but ugly solar-powered weather station. The peak is a mess, and I hope someone from the Forest Service or a volunteer group can get up there and clean it up. Nonetheless, I found a spot for camping, and I enjoyed another stunning, memorable sunset and sunrise on the peak.

Chris Pyper of the Northwest Service Academy

There's a ton of work to do out on the trail, and each year, following winter's storms, the trail is littered with blow downs, the tread is eroded, or the brush creeps in yet another foot. It's a never ending process. Props to all those trail maintainers out there who give their time and talents to keep the PCT open for hikers and equestrians. It's awesome! Finally, I want to give a shout out to Northwest Service Academy's PCT II crew: Kate, Vyper, Shaughn, Sam, Max, and Libby. Thank you for a memorable July 2010, and thanks for choosing to work on the PCT. Also, thanks to the PCTA's staff (Technical Advisor, Greg Baxter; Regional Representative, Ian Nelson; and Assistant Regional Representative, Val Sokolowski) for your guidance with all trail projects. You are making a difference!

Trail Maintenance: Report from the PCT - Part I

2010-07-14T15:22:00.000-07:00

Tamping dirt on rock water bar

Damn it's hot up here in Northern California. For the last six days, I have worked with volunteers from the Northwest Service Academy's PCT II crew to clear three miles of trail from Peavine Creek to Red Mountain in the infamous Section O, and let me tell you, IT IS HOT! Every day temperatures surge into the mid 90's, and from what I've seen in the weather reports, it is supposed to get warmer. Ugh.

Nonetheless, I am having a great time doing the much needed work on the trail. I get to work with seven twenty-somethings, who are all keeping me on my toes, but I am keeping up with them. I get to live in my tent at Headwaters Camp in McArthur-Burney Falls State Park. I get to work and sweat every day. I get to do a lot of reading - something I don't do enough of back in San Francisco! Finally, I get to experience the whole trail crew culture, which has intrigued me ever since I ran into trail crews back on the Appalachian Trail.

Northwest Service Academy PCT II and Freefall

The first two days of our hitch (that's what trail maintainers call their trail maintaining sessions) I helped install a rock water bar, which helps divert water off the trail and prevent erosion, and I assisted with doing some rock work to help repair/rebuild tread. Kate and Vyper, the two leaders on this trail crew, told me that the first mile following Peavine Creek needs this tread work, because the tread had eroded into a U-shape. They told me that the main culprit of this erosion are cattle, which freely graze in the mountains.

I did brushwork on the last four days of the hitch. I ran a Stihl four stroke brush cutter, which has this awesome three-pronged blade on it, for two days, and on the other two days, I lopped and swamped. Swamping means that I picked up brush that was cut by the cutter, gathered it into stacks, and dumped it as far off the trail as I could. If I wasn't swamping or lopping branches, then I was removing staubs, which are the those small stumps from bushes that are left over after clearing with a brush cutter. Many of the staubs are from vine maples, which seem to grow crazily on the PCT in Northern California. The work is tedious, time consuming, and when done during the heat of the day, kind of gnarly.


Morning view of Mount Shasta from the Hat Creek Rim

I am currently staying at the home of Georgi (Firefly) and Dennis (Fire Walker) Heitman in the Hat Creek Resort area near Old Station. I have never been here before, and now I can understand why hikers really enjoy coming here to the Heitman's. There's a lot of room to spread out here, and Firefly does a great job of making hiker's feel welcomed. Her hospitality has been much appreciated, especially after hiking 46-miles from Burney Falls and over the blistering hot Hat Creek Rim to get here. I got to see Weather Carrot and Squatch while I've been here, and tonight I get to visit with Brenda Murray from the PCTA, and I looking forward to telling her about my latest adventure here.

I have two more hitches out here, each of which will be four days long. After the next hitch, I plan to hike all of Section O to Dunsmuir, and then hitch (another use of the word!) a ride back for the final hitch (original use for the word). After that, I will come back here to the Heitman's on the 27th, and from here I will hike to Belden to complete my hike of Section N. What a way to spend a July! I only hope I don't melt by the time I finish my work and hiking. Let's hope for cooler weather.

Taking the Next Step

2010-06-13T23:10:00.000-07:00

For the longest time, I observed the hard, gritty (and somewhat unheralded) work of trail crews on long-distance trails. These crews are made up of volunteers, interns, and youth corps members, and I have always envied their choices to take time out of their lives to do such valuable work.

So, I have made the choice myself to get out on the trail, and get my hands dirty. Yes, I will be one of those trail workers moving rocks, lopping branches, doing cut and fill, and installing waterbars on the Pacific Crest Trail. I will be based up at McArthur-Burney Falls State Park for the month of July, and I will be serving with the Northwest Service Academy. I look forward to the opportunity to get out of the city, and live in a tent for the month. Most of all, I am eager to work side-by-side with other volunteers, who share a passion for the trail, and serving the trail community in a fun and unique way.

I look at this opportunity as the next step in my hiking career. The trail has given me so much, and now it is time that I give something back. Have a great summer!

Google Maps on Postholer.com

2010-02-20T20:57:00.000-08:00

Recently I discovered some cool maps on postholer.com. The maps feature most of the major long distance trails in the United States, and are good fodder for winter daydreams. I could not figure out the "location" menus on the map, but one really sweet feature is the MyTopo view. Seriously, check it out.

Triple Crown Recipient Video

2010-01-02T19:08:00.000-08:00

Prodeal put together this video for ALDHA-West, and it features all those who received their Triple Crown Award for 2009. He did a wonderful job with putting this together. Check it out.

2009 Triple Crown Video from Bristlecone Media on Vimeo

I am myself hoping to be in the next video for 2010. I've got 30-miles to hike on the PCT, so I cannot be a Triple Crowner until I get those last miles done. Yes, I am a stickler for details!

Half Gallon Challenge on the Appalachian Trail

2009-12-23T19:48:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Disco (PCT 2004, 2008, CDT 2006) for posting this little nugget, an NPR report on the half-gallon challenge at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. The story is from 2008, but it will take you down memory lane, especially if you have done the Appalachian Trail. Enjoy!

Desert Protection Act of 2010

2009-12-22T12:19:00.000-08:00

Senator Diane Feinstein has introduced the Desert Protection Act of 2010, which will set aside 90,000 acres of wilderness and establish two new national monuments that would encompass more than a million acres (a good image of the proposed national monuments is here). This sweeping legislation would also help protect wildlife corridor and provide a larger buffer zone for the Pacific Crest Trail in southern California.

After an initial reading, I am excited by this legislation, since it is setting aside large portions of land for zero development. However, it looks like there are provisions for easing the permit process for wind and solar developers, but it looks like their access to wild, lands is off-limits. As California seeks to develop renewable energy (which I think is great!), this legislation will establish parameters, which we need. Unplanned, unfettered projects need to work within guidelines. Hike a National Scenic Trail, and one will notice places where unplanned development has spoiled wild lands for everyone (i.e. Sugar Top in North Carolina, which is painfully visible on the Appalachian Trail, and a lot of the Front Range along the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado). The proposed Sand to Snow National Monument in the San Gorgonio Mountains will provide a greater buffer from development for the Pacific Crest Trail.

I look forward to hearing and reading more about this bill. I am sure that it will be argued (as it has already on the blogoshphere), but I think this congress and administration will pass it. I will keep my fingers crossed.

NIDO is the Way to Go!

2009-12-12T01:46:00.000-08:00

After hiking the Continental Divide Trail, I am convinced that Nido powdered milk, which is made by Nestle, is the preferred powdered milk to buy. I first heard about Nido from Dicentra, who is a trail food guru, but I had trouble finding it. I was reminded that Nido is usually buried in the Mexican foods aisle in the grocery store, and it is nowhere near the baked goods aisle, where one will find the usual Carnation or store brand powdered milk. Although I am not a big fan of Wal-Mart, I did find it there for about $5.00 for a 14 ounce can.

Nido tastes like real milk. Forget Carnation or the store brand version of powdered milk. Even the now defunct Milkman Instant Lowfat Dry Milk (with "the kiss of cream"), which I used to enjoy on the trail, does not hold a candle to this stuff. Nido is dry whole milk, which has real milk fat in it. Apparently, one has to be conscious about keeping the stuff really dry, because if Nido get damp or wet, it can get rancid in storage. Yes, that's how true and awesome the stuff is, so keep it dry hikers, and enjoy Nido for your powdered milk on your next long-distance hike!

ULA Sold!!

2009-12-06T16:31:00.000-08:00

I recently learned that ULA Packs has been sold to a new owner, named Chris McMaster. Check out this article to learn more. As a satisfied owner of a Conduit pack, it will be interesting to see how the sale changes the character of the packs. My guess is that they will make more packs for climbers and skiers to expand their client base. I think all of us in the lightweight hiking community are holding our breath over the next few years to see how things will turn out.

On the Continental Divide Trail

2009-07-20T23:28:00.000-07:00

I am hiking the Continental Divide Trail! I am publishing posts at my CDT blog at hikethecdt.blogspot.com. I will resume publishing posts at this site when i am finished in November.

Freefall

Flextrek 37-Trillion

2009-03-19T00:11:00.000-07:00

I just had to post this. Enjoy!

Documenting Your Hike via a Geo-Diary

2009-03-15T15:59:00.000-07:00

In preparation for my hike on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), I have been trying to figure out how to put together a geo-diary of my hike. Ultimately what I would like to do is put something together in Google Earth (everyone should have Google Earth downloaded on their computers!) that would have the path I followed for my CDT hike. I want to post pictures and notes on this map, and make it an interactive experience for friends and family who will be following me on my hike. However, I have had a hard time trying to figure out how to remotely upload GPS information when I find myself in town taking a zero day.

Today, I discovered EveryTrail.com, which has the answer to my problem. EveryTrail allows one to upload GPS information to their site, which can be imported into Google Maps and Google Earth. BINGO! They also provide capability for one to plug a map widget into a blog, which will display an interactive map of one's journey along with pictures and notes. One can also go to EveryTrail's site to check out a trip. Here's a link to see what it looks like. Cool eh?

Before I get too excited, I certainly need to try all this out before I do this blindly on the CDT. First things first: get a cable that I can pug into my Garmin eTrex Vista GPS. I have an older serial port cable that's not going to work on my Mac - I need to check and see if I can get a cable that has a USB connection. Second, I have to relearn how to use my GPS. It's been so long (2003) since I've used it. I have a VHS tape that teaches one to use a GPS, but the last time I tried running it, I could not get the VCR player I unearthed working right. By the way, check out this video before throwing out that old VCR.

I may try out the widget on this site before I throw it on my soon-to-be-built CDT blog - yes, I will be doing a separate blog for the CDT. Anyway, look for the EveryTrail widget on this site, perhaps starting today. Perhaps I can record my hike to Best Buy to see if they have the cable I need for my GPS. I think I can still remember to enter waypoints!

PCT Monument at Southern Terminus Restored

2009-02-08T00:45:00.000-08:00

Props to Brian "Panama" Gill for restoring the weathered PCT monument at the southern terminus. In an e-mail sent to Greg "Strider" Hummel , Panama wrote:

"I Brian Gill 'Panama' dedicate the restoration of the pacific crest trail monument to all hikers and lovers of this trail. On 2-2-09 at 8:30 am I attempted to bring back to life our beloved so cal pct monument with great success in spite of the fact it looked close to being replaced. I scraped all loose and peeling paint. Patched all cracks, holes and damaged areas. Primed all exposed and patched areas then applying two full coats of paint. Had one or two large patches I had to short cut with expandable foam as I ran out patch and caulking. Will return on kick off to remove a few temp patches then touch up. Monument will then receive one full coat of water proofing, angle brackets and looking into a new register box with a sign "please don't stand on monument'. Still have to get the ok on that."

Among thru-hikers, this monument is probably the most photographed place on the Pacific Crest Trail, which means that for this year's hikers, they will get a photo of the monument in as tip-top shape as it is going to get. I will say that it is going to be hard to keep people from jumping on top of it! Perhaps a sign might deter hikers from piling on top of it.

Below are before and after pictures that Panama sent along. Enjoy!

Before

After

Homemade Energy Bars

2009-01-27T00:41:00.001-08:00

I have been making homemade energy bars lately. I got recipe off the web, and I modified it a bit to include some other ingredients that I like. I made my first batch on Saturday, and I dehydrated them for a day. Today, I tried my first bar, and I thought it tasted great. I made a second batch tonight, and I thought I'd write my recipe here:

1-cup Peanut Butter
1-cup Honey
1-cup Powdered Milk
1-cup Oats (finely chopped)
1/4-cup Raisins
1/4-cup Chopped Coconut
4-Tbsp. Wheat Germ
2-Tbsp. Flax Meal
2-Tbsp Molasses

Mix Ingredients together in a large bowl and shape into a bar with hands. Put into a dehydrator for about 8-hours. Let cool, and wrap for later hiking trips.

Boots or Trail Runners???

2009-01-24T01:16:00.003-08:00

Shoes! Yes, shoes! I like to think that they are my gear item of the week. Truthfully, I have been pondering them for the last month.

I thought that I would start out wearing the Aku boots that I won at Trail Days back in 2001. Those boots are in good shape, since I hardly wear them. However, I think back to my Appalachian Trail hike and the time when I walked in a driving rain storm towards Hanover, NH with a pair of sloshy, heavy, water-logged Asolo hiking boots. How miserable it was to wear those "waterproof" pieces of crap that practically doubled in weight from all the water they absorbed. I tried to dry them out by stuffing newspaper in them and setting them in a sunny spot for a day, but I think all I did was create a hot, steamy culture inside the boots, suitable for the proliferation of jungle rot organisms. Needless to say, I switched to a lighter Merrill hiking boot, which did really well on the AT. Still, I yearned for fleet feet. Enter the trail running shoe.

I saw people wearing trail runners on the AT, but I stuck with what I had. When it came time to plan for my PCT hike, all I heard about was how most hikers wear trail runners, so I thought I would give them a chance. I wore New Balance 805s and 806s for most of my hike (the first 750-miles I used two pairs of blown-out running shoes), and I loved them. Nary did I experience major foot problems, and they dried out a hell of a lot quicker than big, clunky boots. I was a convert to trail runners.

Beginning the CDT in the middle of June means that I will be slogging through snow, and from what I understand, a good deal of rain. A part of me says, go back to boots, at least for the northern portion of Montana, but I think back to my previous AT experience, and again I am resolved not to wear them. So I have decided on the New Balance trail runners again - as they say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

I picked up a pair of 811s at the New Balance store here in San Francisco. Since the 811s are last year's model, the salesman knocked $20 off the price. I also went to geardirect.com, where I found the even older 810s in my size for $56 a pair, which I thought was bargain, so I bought three pairs! Now I am all set for the shoes for the CDT, which means I can now ponder other details of my hike, like making my own food for the trail. Time to research energy bar recipes!

Fruit Leathers!!

2008-12-08T20:54:00.000-08:00

In preparation of my CDT hike, I am making fruit leathers. Tonight, I found raspberries for $1.00 for a 6 oz. container and strawberries for $1.89/pound at the Haight Street Market. I also had cranberries in my freezer, and an apple and a lime in my fruit basket. Making fruit leathers is easy, so I am providing instructions for the raspberry fruit leather:

(2) 6 oz. containers of raspberries

1/3 cup of sugar

1/2 lime juice

1/3 cup of water

Combine ingredients in 1-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10-minutes - stir occasionally. Pour mixture in a blender and blend. Pour mixture on parchment paper or plastic insert that came with your food dehydrator, and dehydrate for 7-8 hours or until it has a "leathery" texture. Place leather on pizza pan and cut with pizza wheel. Roll pieces in saran wrap and store in freezer until ready to use.

You can cook up any number of berries in the same manner. I also added a half of an apple to my strawberries when I cooked them up, and in the past, I have added bananas, oranges, and pomegranates in other mixtures.

Try out fruit leathers for your next hike. They really go a long way in making your hike a more enjoyable experience.

Back on Track!

2008-12-03T23:12:00.000-08:00

I went hiking up to Point Reyes this past weekend with Stormy (PCT 2003), and it was perfect. What a relief it was to get out of San Francisco to be out in the wilderness! We were not hiking big miles, and some of our hiking was on the beach (California Coastal Trail in the future???), which was such a refreshing change from being on a narrow, undulating trail.

I had been in a dispute with my roommate for the last few weeks, since he owes me back rent. However, tonight we were able to come to an agreement and work out our differences. He paid me half of the rent for this month, and he has promised to pay the rest of what me owes me little by little. He says that he will have the rent for January for sure.

What a relief it is to get things resolved, because if I had tried to get into a legal battle with him, it would have cost both of us a lot of money, and perhaps jeopardized my plans to hike the CDT. So after tonight, I think I am back on track to hike for sure.

I have noticed that there are a few others who are committed to doing the CDT in 2009. It seems like most people are going northbound. Is there anything I can do to convince them to go southbound? Northbounders, if you are reading this, CHANGE YOUR MINDS!!! Well, I guess we all have to hike our own hike, and pursue our own journeys, but it would sure be nice to have a little company!

I am so dreaming about the trail, and getting out of the "real world" for a while. All the complexities of this "real world" are just too... complex! I yearn for the different complexities: weather, maildrops, distances between water, whether to hike up that ridge or not, etc. These complexities are really home for me.

I purchased a really nice Mountain Hardwear Cohesion rain jacket at REI for only $59! It used to be priced at $150, but somehow made its way to the clearance rack. I've never really had a good rain jacket, since I believe in wearing one only when I stop for a break to retain warmth. However, after reading Yogi's book on the CDT, I thought it might be a good idea to add a quality rain jacket to my arsenal. I also picked up some liner gloves and a few pairs of Smartwool socks. Shoe purchases are next.

Lucky to Hike - I Think!

2008-11-30T23:13:00.000-08:00

As I have been preparing for the CDT, I have been thinking about how lucky I am to be doing this - I think. As of late, I am trying to evict my roommate, who has not paid his rent or utility bills for the last two months. So, I have had to absorb these costs, because he is a freeloader and a deadbeat. I am in the process here in San Francisco of having him evicted, which may take another week or two!

My roommate could destroy my goal of hiking the CDT. I have been setting money aside to do this hike, but I had to use it all up to pay his rent for last month. Tomorrow, rent is due, but since I have a family who is caring, I will be able to afford the rent for this month. I hope I can recover my losses by getting someone to move in here in the middle of the month. I guess I will see what happens. That said, because of the losses, I may not have enough to do the trail.

I have been working in Palo Alto on the weekends to earn some extra cash. I will have to be very disciplined about depositing my money in the bank, so that I can build up may savings again. Anyway, if I can get enough collected together by May, I figure that I will be lucky to hike the trail.

Mountain Bikes on the CDT

2008-10-22T22:30:00.000-07:00

Apparently the Continental Divide Trail has some of the same issues as the Pacific Crest Trail:

"Speaking of advocacy, thousands of acres in the Gallatin National Forest, including several epic sections on portions of the Continental Divide Trail, may soon be closed to mountain bikers. Forest managers are moving forward with a plan to designate the land as a wilderness area and off limits to bikes."

I found this snippet at Bicycling.com, where they seem hopeful that the area through the Gallatin National Forest will be designated a "National Protection Area," which would continue to allow bikes on the CDT. I am sure that there are some complex land use issues here (i.e. history, tradition), but I think the article is moot when it says: "[Patricia] Dowd added that an additional 1,300 miles of trails and roads were already open to bicyclists in the Gallatin."

What? 1,300-miles of trails and roads already open to cyclists? Why can't cyclists be content with that amount of open trail?

My hope is that the CDT follows similar rules as the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails and not allow mountain bikes on the trail. I am a cyclist myself here in San Francisco, and I recognize that there are some places where bikes do not belong like sidewalks, interstates and National Scenic Trails.

CDT Map on Phlumf.com

2008-10-19T13:44:00.000-07:00

I am fascinated by maps. When I was a kid, I used to sit in a rocking chair and study the Time-Hammond world atlas, noting the locations of streams, lakes, and mountain ranges in places like Argentina or Madagascar. I always wondered how these places appeared.

When I first saw the three-foot long map of the entire Appalachian Trail sometime back in the 1990's, I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Many times I had hiked a small section of the trail from Iron Mountain Gap to the Nolichucky River in Erwin, Tennessee, and I always wondered about other sections of the trail. That map showed that there was a lot more to the AT than the southern Appalachians, and I yearned to wholly interact with that map by hiking the whole trail, which I did in 2000.

Recently, I been fascinated with the Google Earth map of the CDT on Phlumf.com. In fact, there are many more pictures of Google maps on this site that has me so freaking "geeked" about hiking the CDT. As I look at this map, I feel like a kid again, as I daydream about the lakes, streams, and mountains in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.

I am posting my daydreams of the CDT on my trail journal. Please check them out, and feel free to sign my guestbook. Daydreams will eventually turn to reality! Check out this link of the map below and daydream with me.

Weathercarrot's Photo Tribute to Gene Espy

2008-10-16T00:15:00.000-07:00

Weathercarrot is back in the Bay Area after a successfully serving the 27th Annual Gathering of ALDHA as its presentation coordinator. We had a chance to catch up today over lunch and talk trail and life. It was sure good to see him.

Since my computer was the final staging area for putting together a photo tribute to Gene Espy, who is recognized as the second man to hike the Appalachian Trail, Weathercarrot gave me permission to upload the video to YouTube, and host it on my channel. I feel honored. Espy hiked the length of the AT in 1951, just three years after Earl Schaffer, and he is certainly another pioneer in the long-distance hiking community.

Props again to Weathercarrot for putting this video together with great care and reverence. Enjoy.

Protecting the Pacific Crest Trail

2008-10-05T00:12:00.001-07:00

A great article from Oregonlive.com on the pressing need for the funds to preserve the Pacific Crest Trail. Check it out here.

Discovered a Website for CDT Planning

2008-09-28T22:31:00.000-07:00

I am watching Disco's Walkumentary, which details his journey on the CDT. In the video, he references Jonathan Ley's maps. I did a quick search for Jonathan Ley, and I discovered his website: http://phlumf.com, which has some sick information on the CDT. I am going to link it here on my blog. CDT 2009 Baby!

Billygoat Speaks

2008-09-24T00:11:00.000-07:00

I ran into Billygoat at Pacific Crest Trail Day a few weeks ago - I think many of us thru-hikers can say that he is our hero. Our conversation was pleasant, and we talked about his hiking into the California wilderness with two backpacks (you must ask him about this yourself!).

Anyway, I told him that I saw an article and a video about him that was done by the LA Times, and that I thought it was really well done. He agreed. I told him that I had shot video of a conversation we had in 2006, and I asked if him if I could put that on my blog. Of course, he had no objections. So below is a short video about how he explains thru-hiking to a non-hiker. Enjoy!

ALDHA - West Gathering this Weekend

2008-09-15T20:47:00.000-07:00

While I was hiking up in northern Oregon, I ran into Warner Springs Monty up in Cascade Locks. "What the heck you doing up here?" I asked him. He responded saying that he was doing some "trail angeling," and then he was going up to Wenatchee, Washington for the ALDHA-West Gathering . "Cool," I said, "Can I get a ride up to Panther Creek tomorrow?"

Blunt as I may have been, I certainly had a heightened sense of curiosity surrounding this event on Septenber 19-21 and the ALDHA-East Gathering event on October 10-12. What the heck goes on at these events?

I spent a little time with Weathercarrot this past weekend, and I learned a lot more about what goes on. These gatherings are similar to the Pacific Crest Trail Kick-Off events in that they provide programs and workshops for hikers to attend. Much more than that, they are events where hikers get to hang out, talk trail, and just be a hiker.

For those of us who have been bitten by the hiking bug, these events are necessary. Popular culture blesses going to college, incurring debt, getting a desk job, having a family, getting a mortgage, and blah, blah blah. Taking six months off to go hike a trail goes against that norm, and for those of us who do it, we need a support system that blesses long-distance hiking.

I won't make it to either of these events this year, and the Pacific Crest Trail Kick-Off will continue to be my support event. Nonetheless, I hope to get to one of these gatherings.

Mountain Lion Fends Off Hikers!

2008-09-14T19:20:00.000-07:00

I caught this article in the Onion, which had me rolling with laughter. Certainly, the wheels were turning in my head, because the article, despite its morbid absurdity, has a hell of a lot of truth in it. Our wilderness adventures transform us into visitors in the living space of wildlife.

Dr. Winston Vickers, a wildlife veterinarian from UC Davis, spoke at ADZPCTKO back in 2005-6, and reminded all those in attendance that everyday hikers enter prime mountain lion habitat throughout California. Shrinking habitat and more people in wild areas unfortunately means that there will be more encounters between cats and people (and perhaps their pets!). What is more unfortunate is that when mountain lions and people have nasty encounters, both parties lose. People get severely injured and the mountain lion is subject to elimination.

I saw a mountain lion in 2003 near Grizzly Peak, and I just met a hiker in Washington who had a similar benign encounter. When I saw the lion, I remember feeling shock, fear and awe, but afterwards I felt extreme privilege and honor for having seen it. I was also reminded of my visitor status in the wilderness, and I must say that I had a different mindset for the rest of my hike.

Enjoy the wilderness out there visitors!

First Night in Oregon

2008-09-07T22:21:00.000-07:00

Saturday August 31st

I am back on the trail! However, I am not quite on the PCT. I am camped out right next to Little Crater Lake, but it is a relief to be camping out here in the Oregon woods. I will say that I am already a little lonely, but I am sure to meet up with other hikers tomorrow.

Neighbor J picked me up at the airport in Portland around 5:00. He arrived with Phantom (AT 01, PCT 05) in a borrowed Isuzu SUV with a canoe strapped to the top. we loaded up my gear and quickly made our way towards Mt. Hood, only stopping to pick up a few last-minute supplies. Neighbor J said that he was meeting up with Tourist (PCT section hiker 2007) and her friend, Sweet Pea (Amy) up at Timberline Lodge, and he asked if I was interested in joining them for supper. "Why not?" I replied.

When we arrived at Timberline, the temperatures were bitterly cold (and a sign of things to come!), so we rushed to get inside. Just as we walked in, we met up with Tourist and Sweet Pea, and we went upstairs to grab food and talk trail, which I have not done for a while. Over supper, I learned that Tourist and Sweet Pea had over the course of their hiking camped out with a group of former ex-cons, whom they said were really cool. Tourist also talked up a storm and entertained us singing "REI" to the tune of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song." It was awesome.

Time got away from us, and we realized that we needed to get out of Timberline, so I could get out on the trail and Neighbor J could return the SUV he had borrowed. After saying our goodbyes, we walked outside, and noticed that there was a layer of snow on the cars in the parking lot. Snow! This is August 30th! Anyway, we boogied down to the car and took off.

As we descended, the snow turned into a light rain, and as we drove further, the skies began to clear. After about a half hour trip, we pulled into the Little Crater Lake Campground area and found the trailhead.

The weather is milder down here at Little Crater Lake, and there is not a cloud in the sky. It is very quiet out here, and I must admit that I am not used to it. Living in San Francisco has got me so used to consistent noise, and when I don't have it, it makes me feel that loneliness I had expressed earlier.

Off to bed. I have a full day ahead of me tomorrow.

Just off the Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

I am in Portland resting my tired legs and sore feet after a whirlwind of hiking over the past five days! Over the next two weeks, I will be adding my journals from the trip along with pictures and video, so stay tuned!

I will say that I enjoyed meeting many of the PCT hikers while hiking southbound from Panther Creek back to Cascade Locks. Although most hikers were still excited to be on the trail, many expressed a sense of urgency to finish before the bad weather begins in the northern Cascades, and a few hikers just seemed ready to be done with it.

So the story goes on the trail in southern Washington in early September. Regardless, I told them that they have much beauty ahead, and I made the bold prediction that they will have great weather ahead (it was crappy in Oregon!). If I was wrong they could blame God, not me! Hike boldly!

Kicking it Old School!

2008-08-30T00:19:00.000-07:00

I will pack up my gear tomorrow morning, and I have decided to kick it old school on the trail. Yes, I will bring the North Face Recon book bag on the trail - the same pack I used on the PCT in 2003. I have to really consider what I bring with me if I am using the book bag - I cannot pack a bunch of extra gear. The only issue that concerns me is the stress on my shoulders that I will be experiencing from the weight of the pack.

I talked to Neighbor J on the phone tonight, and he will be picking me up up in Portland. Because of the planning that he is doing the Pacific Crest Trail Day on September 6th, he will be taking me up to Timothy Lake tomorrow night. I will be starting a little earlier than planned. No biggie since I am eager to get on the trail. Here I come Mt. Hood!

Flying to Portland Tomorrow

2008-08-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

My flight leave San Francisco tomorrow at 2:50, and I cannot wait to get the heck out of here. The daily grind of work and play needs another hiking interruption. I am also thinking the same thing about the yearly grind of work, work, work: it needs a 6-month hiking interruption. With that said, I will use this trip as a litmus test for hiking the Continental Divide Trail next June. If I am "geeked" to be out on the trail after 4-days, then it is seriously time to start making plans for the CDT.

On Sunday, I will be starting my hike at Timothy Lake, and then I will make my way north for the next six days. I am considering some alternate routes around the Mt. Hood area, but I will need to make a run to REI in Portland to get a map and explore my options. If necessary (and depending on how I feel) I will continue the hike up in Washington for a day or two, and then turn back to Cascade Locks for the Pacific Crest Trail Day gathering. I am bringing my video camera and regular camera, and I plan on snapping a lot of video and pics. I can't wait to share them.

Timberline Trail Closure!

2008-08-18T13:35:00.000-07:00

No!! I just got off the phone with the Ranger in the Zigzag district of the Mt. Hood National Forest, and he told me that the Timberline Trail is closed on the northeast side of the mountain. Apparently, there was some kind of mudslide, which decimated a chunk of the trail. Now I have to figure out another stretch of trail to hike. Hmmmm... I'll call Neighbor J and get some ideas. Maybe start at White Pass and head south to Cascade Locks? Yikes! That would be a lot of miles to cover in 5 1/2 days.

Maroon Bells Loop Hike Day 4

2008-08-12T22:10:00.000-07:00

Our last day on the trail. Lauren and I decided the night before that we would get up a little earlier (6:30) so we could get back to the parking lot between 12:00 and 1:00 to meet Blaine. It was actually 7:00 by the time we got out of or sleeping bags, but we managed to eat breakfast, break camp, and get on the trail by 7:45. The day was bright and beautiful, and the temperature, although cool, was perfect for hiking.

Once again, and fortunately the last time for us, we had a sharp incline up to the top of the pass. Our pass for the day was Buckskin Pass (12,462), but fortunately for us we were starting out at an elevation of about 11,000-feet, so the climb was not as brutal as the previous day. Nonetheless, it was work.

For much of the morning we hiked in the shadow of the mountain, and as we approached tree line we saw the mountains behind us emblazed by the morning sun. Ahead of us we also began to make out the location of our pass (location was confirmed by another backpacker we met on the trail). Our hike eventually transformed into a wide-open meadow with 360-degree sweeping views of the mountains around us.

The hike to the pass gave way to more gradual climbs and long zig-zagging switchbacks through low shrubs and grass, which almost reminded me of the terrain leading up to Frigid Air Pass. Lauren and I made it to a ridge with a steep snow bank below, but it was not the pass. The trail followed the ridge up a little higher to a small rock cornice where it finally crossed the shoulder of the ridge. Out of breath, Lauren and I happily congratulated each other and took a well-deserved break, where we had splendid views of the deep Minnehaha Creek Valley below and the Maroon Bells, which flanked us to the south. Life was good.

After about 20-minutes we donned the packs for the final descent down the mountain. The first couple hundred feet were steep and tricky, since the trail hit a dead end in that same snow bank mentioned earlier. We had to cut down the steep descent over loose dirt, knobby rocks, and grass, which made footing precarious. We reconnected with the trail, and as we made our way down, we passed by countless day hikers, who had come to visit the pass for the day. Eventually, we reached the waters of the Minnehaha Creek, which we would cross and follow for the remainder of our descent.

On the way down, the Maroon Bells once again loomed ominously above, and the gentle, playful Minnehaha creek now followed a deep, rocky, foreboding chasm. Our trail was once again swallowed by deep forests, which gave limited views to the pass we had previously visited. Over some lengthy stretches, the trail opened up to clearings created by past avalanches - many trees were uprooted and scattered like Pick-Up Sticks on the floor. Lauren was experiencing some soreness in her knee and ankle on the way down, and the downhill was doing nothing to make her hike any easier. However, she was a trooper and dealt with the pain.

From above, we could see Crater Lake again, and after another 10-minutes of hiking, we arrived at a large trail sign, which signified our completion of the loop hike. We congratulated each other briefly, but I think Lauren's focus was more on her discomfort and finishing the trail, so we continued down the approach trail to the parking lot. Again, we ran into tons of day hikers along the way.

It was not until we reached Maroon Lake that we both felt the sense of accomplishment of having completed the hike. We were now talking about what kind of soda we were going to drink to celebrate, and we even took time to have few pictures taken along Maroon Lake. We also wondered if Blaine was in the parking lot waiting for us. We didn't have to wonder long, because as we approached the parking area, we saw Blaine coming toward us. Blaine and Lauren hugged each other, and on the way to the car we all talked about our adventures: Blaine about his trip to the hospital and Glenwood Springs, and ours about the Maroon Bells Loop.

Maroon Bells Loop Hike Day 3

2008-08-04T23:07:00.000-07:00

July 28th, 2008

I think I slept 10-hours, which was exactly what I needed. The air of this new day was fresh, and thankfully, I was feeling like a million bucks - no headache! I finally licked the whole altitude sickness. Lauren and I made our usual breakfast (granola cereal), packed up our gear, and we began our trek.

The trail skirted the North Fork Creek, revealing even more dramatic falls - however the trail also began its own steep, downward trek. After a quarter mile of knee jarring hiking, we came down into a lush meadow, and to our right was a stunning cascade of falls that Pete Coors would be proud to use in one of his ads. Lauren and I paused to take pictures and marvel at the beauty.

We were at 10,400-feet, our lowest ele

vation since our beginning at Maroon and Crater Lakes. The vegetation continued to be lush, and the flowers were ever more plentiful. Again, more columbines, daisies, paintbrush, bluebells, and countless flowers I could not identify lined both sides of the trail. Lauren and I were shocked at the numbers of flowers in this valley, and of course I snapped more pictures.

Following this showcase of flowers began a grueling 2,000-foot climb to the top of Trail Rider Pass, which would provide some of the most adventure and drama on this trip. For one thing, this climb was steep, and any misstep would literally lead to a terrible fall. Second, the weather was getting ugly early.

Clouds were brewing dark over our pass, and low rumbles of thunder could be heard in the distance. Lauren and I filled up on water and took a lunch break (tuna and pita) at a small stream. Rain was beginning to spit on us, and I told Lauren that if it were to get worse that we would hunker down among a stand of trees. Lo and behold, the rain started to gain strength, so we retreated to the trees and pulled out our umbrellas. The rain, however, was short lived. While we waited, we saw another hiker (the only other person we saw all day!) walk by and make his way up towards the pass. So, we resumed our climb.

We climbed up further until we finally had a slight descent into a high meadow with a tarn and several rock and tree outcroppings. Finally, we could see where the trail led up to the pass. Unfortunately, there was more rumbling and I even saw a flash of lightning out of the corner of my eye. Although we could see the other hiker ahead of us climbing toward the top, I felt that it would be best to pitch the tent in a low area and wait out the impending storm. Once again it began to rain, and immediately Lauren and I pitched the tent and hunkered down.

For two hours we waited in the tent for the storm to pass. At times, the storm looked like it was going to break, but then the rain would pick up again. Around 3:00 blue skies emerged, and the sun shined, so we packed up the tent and resumed our climb.

We picked up where we left off with a continued steep climb. Although Lauren and I had two hours of rest in the tent, our legs had cooled down, so we were trying to gain our stride again on this uphill. The climb was slow.

The view from Trail Rider Pass was breathtaking, but short lived. Instead of taking a snack break, Lauren wanted to keep moving down the other side of the pass. I couldn't blame her, since we were cooped up in the tent for two hours. Nonetheless, I had to get some pictures. Perhaps one of the more dramatic sights on the trip was at Trail Rider pass, as we gazed down upon Snowmass Lake, a placid, turquoise mass of water nestled at the bottom of steep, surrounding mountains. What a sight!

The descent down Trail Rider pass was technical. First, we had clouds brewing again, so we had to make a quick descent if we wanted to avoid the possibility of lightning. Second, we had to cross a few snowfields, which ran along very steep slopes - one bad step and either Lauren or I were going sliding down the mountain. So we took our time going down the mountain.

The trail came within a stones throw of Snowmass Lake before heading off toward Snowmass Creek. We were at the base of a mountain, and deep in the woods, which made for both good and bad. Good in that it started to rain again, and we had the trees to provide cover, and bad since we were in vicious mosquito territory. The afternoon had also grown to early evening, and were were looking for a place to camp and rest our weary bodies.

As we made our way through the woods, we saw more tents than we had seen through the whole trip - my fear was that we might be hunting for campsites late in the day. We eventually came to Snowmass Creek, and crossed it on a double log traverse. After crossing, we really kept our eyes peeled for sites. We followed the creek for about a quarter of a mile before we came to a fork in the trail. The left fork would take us up further on the trail, and the right would lead us down toward the creek and a possible campsite, so we took the right fork.

About 100-yards down, we climbed the hillside up to a relatively flat area. The area did not appear to get much usage, but we did see an old fire pit with old, wet coals that were scattered about. Lauren spotted a suitable site to pitch the tent, so we called the site home for our last night on the trail. We cooked up my ramen-rice-dehydrated veggie dish, played two games of Scrabble, and then called it a night. Again, the rush of the creek (Snowmass) lulled me to sleep.

Maroon Bells Loop Hike Day 2

2008-08-02T23:09:00.000-07:00

Sunday July 27th

I hardly slept last night. My head pounded throughout the night due to altitude sickness. I was even awaken by Blaine, who asked me, "Chris, what kind of animal is that?" When I looked up, there in the dim light was a porcupine. "Psssssssst!," I responded, "a scared one," and the porcupine waddled off. I laid my head back down to try and get more sleep.

A few hours later all of us were awake. When Blaine crawled out of his tent, he noted the condition of his shoes. Apparently, that porcupine, who visited early in the morning, decided to make a meal out of Blaine's Avia shoes. All the leather was shredded on his left shoe, but amazingly, it's structure was still in tact. We all had a good laugh about it.

After eating our breakfast, we packed up the tents, and we continued our journey to the top of West Maroon Pass. Blaine told me that he didn't sleep a wink through the entire night. On top of that, he came on this trip with a cough that he had been fighting since Tuesday, and had only gotten worse. He told me that he was not feeling well, but he was going to give the hike a shot. However, after about a mile and a half of hiking, Blaine told Lauren and me that he just could not go on. His cough had grown worse, and the exertion and altitude was of no help. So we decided together that Blaine would head back to the car to get medical attention, and Lauren and I would continue on the loop. After an emotional moment, we said our goodbyes, and like that, Blaine was heading back down the trail, and we were continuing.

Lauren and I continued up the trail to West Maroon Pass. Both of us lamented that Blaine could not be with us, but we felt that we had made the right decision in continuing the trip. As we climbed we left the shrubs and trees behind us, and now we were among red rocks, patches of snow, and occasional wildflowers. The sun had grown high, and the temperatures were warming. I was sucking wind, and my head continued to pound from the lack of oxygen.

Before long, Lauren and I reached the top of West Maroon Pass, and the view from up there was phenomenal! The new view to the west revealed a lush, green mountain landscape with scattered patches of snow and two small lakes, and immediately below was a steep descent over a red, rocky mountainside. Lauren and I took a healthy rest break on the pass, where a number of other day hikers had also congregated.

The descent from West Maroon Pass was indeed a steep, knee-jarring experience, but thankfully it was short lived. The elevation drop was about 600-feet, and then the trail leveled out for the journey toward Frigid Air Pass. Scattered along the sides of the trail were more wildflowers, but unfortunately it was hard to appreciate them since there were more mosquitos on this side of the pass. During our hike the day grew warmer, but a slight breeze created very ideal hiking conditions.

As we approached Frigid Air Pass, we were initially confused about the location of the pass. Ahead of us, and to the left of a peak was snow-covered shoulder, which we thought to be our pass, but it was not. A weathered sign on the trail pointed us to the right of the peak, and straight up a hill, so we began our second climb of the day.

On the Pacific Crest Trail, I always remembered that climbing two passes in one day was quite the chore, even for an experienced hiker. Out here I had only been on the trail for less than 24-hours, and here I was climbing my second 12,400-foot pass in one day. Over the course of the climb, my head was pounding, my breath was short, and my energy was spent. Thankfully, Lauren had a more relaxed pace, which allowed me to take it more easy on the climb and not burn out so quickly. On top of the pass we absorbed to incredible views down into the North Fork valley. Again, it was another beautiful sea of green with splotches of snowfields littering the landscape. We took another break on the pass, where I just about fell asleep.

Gathering clouds in the sky forced Lauren and I to start making tracks for our campsite somewhere in the North Fork valley, so we left the pass. As we made our steep descent, I kept looking back at the pass, and I noticed that the clouds continued to consolidate and get darker - rain was on the way. Still we never felt rushed to get to our campsite. There was something about the day that was reassuring and relaxed.

Confirming that notion were two hikers who caught up to us and asked, "Are you Freefall and Tenderfoot (Lauren's trailname)?"

Surprised, I responded, "How did you know?"

"On the way up," he replied, "we ran into Blaine, who told us to be looking for you."

"Where did you see him?" asked Lauren.

"Second creek crossing," he replied.

It was good to hear about Blaine, and that he had made it down that far. However, I thought back to that second crossing, and all I could see in my mind was Blaine crossing that creek and shuttering from the ice cold water (see video from Day 1!). According to those two hikers, Blaine was heading to Aspen to find a place for the night.

Around 5:30, Lauren and I found a nice campsite close to the creek, and the timing could not have been more perfect. Just after I set up the tent, it began to rain. I pulled out my sleeping bag and mat and I laid down and let the pattering rain lull me to sleep. I was out.

An hour or so later I woke up. Unbelievably, I was feeling like 100%. The headache was gone, and I felt full of energy. Lauren, who had also taken a cat nap, was awake and talking about eating the dehydrated lasagna that had been reconstituting in our packs for the day. After the rain died, I fired up the aluminum can stove and cooked up the lasagna. I was overjoyed, since it turned out perfectly!

The skies began to clear again, and I took the opportunity to explore our campsite. Near our site was a small, but cool waterfall, so I took some pictures. As is became dark, Lauren and I huddled in the tent and played another ruthless game of Scrabble. One game tired us out enough and we turned in for the evening. Despite my earlier nap, I went to sleep very quickly.

Maroon Bells Loop Hike Day 1

2008-07-31T00:16:00.000-07:00

Saturday July 26th

After a wonderfully prepared breakfast by my sister-in-law, Robin, I hopped in the car with my brother Blaine and my niece Lauren to head up to the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. We traveled for 3 1/2 hours from the Denver area on Interstate-70. Since we were backpacking the loop, we could take the car up to the parking area instead of having to take the shuttle bus, which actually arrives every 15-minutes at the trailhead.

When we got to the ranger station, it was spitting rain on us, and the ranger told us that the weather pattern was consistent - clouds build up around 3 p.m. and there's a 40% chance of rain. The ranger also asked me if I knew about the snow conditions on the passes, and I told her that I was aware (I really didn't). She went on to tell us that they had a heavy snow year, and that the snow is still melting off up high, and that we might need ice axes and crampons to traverse the passes. My party of hikers certainly did not plan for that, but I also thought that she was over-hyping the situation. Seriously, this was late-July, and there couldn't be that much snow up there. Right?

After parking the car, Blaine, Lauren and I took a moment to use the facilities and get our gear in order one more time. The skies looked like they might clear, so we put on our sunscreen, "cameled" up on water - that is, we drank as much water as we could to stay ahead of getting dehydrated - and we began our hike. The time was around 4:00 pm.

The first mile and a half is an approach trail to the actual loop hike. It is a well used path skirting the shore of Maroon Lake, and it provides perhaps one of the most photographed features in all of Colorado: the Maroon Bells. The bells consist of two peaks, which rise over 14,000 feet, and it is a popular destination for climbers looking to bag a Colorado 14'er. Striations run evenly and gently through the face of the bells - a seeming uniformity to an otherwise chaotic mass of rock and scree. It is a beautiful sight for the eyes, and it is no wonder that thousands of tourists visit here throughout the year to catch a view of the Bells over the still, reflecting water of Maroon Lake. The approach trail alone was worth the visit, but as an experienced hiker, I knew that there was a lot more the Maroon Bells than this one sweeping view.

On we hiked on this approach trail, passing numerous day hikers and climbers. The tread was characteristic of the Rocky Mountains - yes, it was rocky! However, it climbed gently through a lush, green aspen forest. We arrived at the wilderness permit station, and we made things official for our four day adventure. Again, we climbed over rock and rubble, and then we came to the junction of our loop. Taking a right at the fork led to a steep climb up Buckskin Pass, while a left led to Crater Lake and a "gentler" climb to West Maroon Pass - naturally, we took a left at the fork.

The woods opened up to another stunning and up-close view of the Maroon Bells. This time, Crater Lake provided a foreground view. As we walked down to the lake, a marmot (our first wildlife sighting) stood up among a thick pile of sticks and looked at us curiously. Again, this trail appeared to be well-trodden, yet perhaps the furthest limit of the casual day hiker. Once again, the trail moved into a thicket of bushes, and then it came to our first stream crossing: Minehaha Creek. The creek was wide and shallow, but void of rocks to walk on, so I took my shoes and socks off and crossed.

Beyond the creek, the trail previewed what we would encounter for the rest of the trip: lots and lots of mud. However, along with that mud, came rich, moist, fertile soil filled with wildflowers. Bluebells, columbines, paintbrush, yarrow, and daisies were in full bloom, and in tandem with the already colorful landscape gave deep meaning to the phrase to "Colorful Colorado."

After a short rest break of Clif Bars and Jerky, Blaine, Lauren and I came to Maroon Creek, our first formidable stream crossing. The current was swift, and the creek appeared to be over two feet deep in some places. Initially, I was going to cross without shoes, but looking at the obscured rocks underneath the current made me think twice about that option. So I kept my shoes on, and I crossed the creek. The water was freezing cold, and by the time I reached the other side, I felt like my feet were popsicles. Lauren was next to cross, and had the same reaction to the cold that I had. Blaine also mulled crossing without his shoes, but reconsidered after trying to take a step in the water. All of us had wet, cold feet, yet I made reassurances that since we were wearing sneakers that they would dry out.

Further we climbed up the trail. Again, the mud and water on the trail made the hiking slow and tricky. At one point Lauren stepped in mud so deep that it almost sucked the shoe off her foot. Fortunately for her, we had one more crossing of Maroon Creek, which cleaned all the mud off her shoes.

Since the hour was getting late, and it was beginning to spit rain, we looked for a place to rest for the night. Across the creek and over a wet, spongy mountain side, we found a forest glade next to Maroon Creek, which had what appeared to be an old, seldom used campsite nestled in the trees. This was home for the night. We set up our tents, made a macaroni and cheese supper and got settled for bed. Blaine, Lauren and I gathered in the two-man tent and played a game of Scrabble.

As I lay in my sleeping bag, my head was pounding with an altitude-induced headache. I had come from sea-level in San Francisco the day before, and here I was in thin air at 11,000-feet. My head was pounding badly, so much that I could not fall asleep. Despite my condition, I was happy to be out in the wilderness, with a roaring creek to relax me and fresh, cool air to breathe. I had come home.

Blog Catch Up! Trails! Trails! Trails!

2008-07-21T16:16:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy on the Hapkido / Bicycle front that I have neglected to post about hiking. I have three trips to post over the next two weeks: Yosemite over Memorial Day Weekend, A hike in Point Reyes, and an upcoming hike to the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness with my niece. I am also in the works of planning a section hike from White Pass to Cascade Locks on the PCT in Late August - Early September. Stay tuned! More to Come!

Freefall

Fires Contained in San Jacintos

2008-05-05T22:02:00.000-07:00

This article caught my attention the other day, and I was reminded of how precarious things can be out on the trail. It seems that every year, there has been a fire somewhere along the trail that has forced hikers to be cautious or get shuttled up the trail and beyond the fire danger. In 2003, I remember that the trail was closed at Rainy Pass in Washington, which had many hikers taking different routes to Canada.

Hiking through recently fire devastated areas can be depressing. The canopy from the trees is, in most cases, gone. The soil is loose and dry, and dust flies up from each step of the hiker in front of you. Little vegetation grows from below.

However, hiking through burnt areas that have been recovering for several years shows promise and hope. There is something to be said about the natural effect that fires have on a landscape. They return nutrients to the soil, sometimes release seeds from pine cones, and they strengthen forests by eliminating dense underbrush. Some of my fondest memories from 2003 was when I was hiking through burned forests filled with young saplings and beautiful wildflowers. It was like I was experiencing a piece of the resurrection in my own hike.

That said, I hope fires are not being set intentionally for the sake of aforementioned benefits. Of course, the forest service does controlled burns to "help" forests, but I'm talking about the PCT here. Hopefully, the hikers out there can enjoy the rest of the trail without having to be diverted or denied access.

Scrambler's Hike of the PCT

2008-04-28T19:09:00.000-07:00

In 2005, I attended the Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kick-Off (ADZPCTKO), and I met Scrambler, who had recently finished a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2004. Scrambler was no ordinary hiker, because she was just 10-years-old when she hiked the trail. Of course she didn't do this journey on her own, since her parents Gary and Barbara accompanied her on her journey.

Yogi e-mailed me a link of a podcast with Scrambler and her parents talking about her hike. One of the things I discovered to be so cool is that she was the one who had nudged her parents to do this hike! I thought it might be the other way around. It only goes to show that sometimes it is our children who are the pioneers and trailblazers in our families, be it in hiking, praying or spending time together. Way to go Scrambler!

Last summer I took my niece out for a 5-day backpacking trip on the Rae Lakes Loop in King's Canyon National Park. Over those 5-days, I reacquainted myself with my then 16-year-old niece, and I cannot imagine a better way I could have spent time with her. We hiked together every day, met interesting characters, ate all our meals together and played Scrabble every night. What a wholesome trip!

When I hear Scrambler's and her parent's story, I think of the beautiful and stark contrast to the culture in which we live. Many parents shuffle their kids off to an extra-curricular activity (nothing wrong with that) to another (now getting overwhelming) only to come home and watch TV at the end of the day. Some parents send them off to numerous camps over the summer because of the difficulties of having the kids around the house all the time.

How many parents can take 6-months out of their lives to be with their son or daughter for an entire journey along a National Scenic Trail? Very few. I can only imagine the incredible bonding that happened between Scrambler and her parents in 2004, and how a journey like that will be so educational and provide rich experiences that will be with them for the rest of their lives. If only every family could do something like this at least once.

10th Annual ADZPCTKO

2008-04-27T21:51:00.000-07:00

I just got back from the Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kick Off (ADZPCTKO), which went very smoothly.

Attending this year's event was Eric Ryback, who is recognized as the first to backpack the Pacific Crest Trail in 1970. Eric did for the PCT what Earl Schaffer did for the Appalachian Trail: inspired countless hikers to attempt a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. His book, The High Adventure of Eric Ryback, is an easy and detailed account of his southbound hike on the PCT, and it drew a lot of interest in the trail.

I had the chance to meet Eric and have him autograph my copy of his book. I even got a picture with him, but I will have to wait for my friend Teatree to send me a copy of the picture. At any rate, Eric was a very pleasant and humble man, and he was so excited to be at the Kick-Off to share his account of his thru-hike.

A Hike in the Marin Headlands

2008-02-18T19:42:00.000-08:00

The Marin Headlands are a hiking treasure, and they are only located just across the Golden Gate Bridge. I cannot say how many times I have gone north to explore the familiar trails, but I never tire of them.

This past President's Day weekend, I thought I'd head over there again, and stay the night at Hawk Camp. Instead of driving over there (I don't own a car) or taking the bus (no Muni pass this month), I decided to simply walk over there. After all, there's a lot of San Francisco that I have not seen on foot, and I figure that I can enjoy an adventure just getting to my campsite.

At 12:30, I began my hike as I left St. Mark's Lutheran Church, and walked north on Gough Street. I

Callahan's Re-Opening for 2008?

2008-01-05T23:56:00.001-08:00

I just saw this article recently about the possible re-opening of Callahan's for 2008. It looks like they are really going green with this project as they are installing the largest solar power water heating system in Southern Oregon. Cool! They also mention in the article that they will continue to provide hikers a hot shower and allow hikers to camp out on the front lawn. Let's hope that they can finish up construction by next July when the first hikers start arriving.

Third Day in Death Valley

2007-12-20T19:54:00.000-08:00

Our third and final day in Death Valley was short since we had a long trip back to San Francisco ahead of us. All of us pitched in to prepare and cook a nice breakfast, and then we packed the Green Tortoise for our departure. We made our way back towards the Stovepipe Wells Sand Dunes, and at Stovepipe Wells, we took a route south towards the Panamint Mountains into Mosaic Canyon. One of our guides had told us that this canyon was extraordinary, and that it was his favorite part of the entire Death Valley trip. Our bus arrived at the unpaved parking area, and we were turned loose for an hour and forty-five minutes to explore the canyon.

I began walking up the canyon with Bettina and Tineka. What the three of us noticed right away was the smooth, polished marble that lined the canyon walls, obviously the result of years of violent rushing water through the canyon. It was pleasing to run my hands along the walls as I climbed through the canyon. On either side of me the walls of the canyon climbed a steep, yet climbable grade to lofty perches above. I would have enjoyed climbing the walls, but fear of having to scale my way back down them prevented me from doing so, and besides there was a lot of canyon to explore.

Occasionally the narrow wash offered smaller offshoots to explore, but I was feeling more inclined to walk the main wash along with the others in my party. The canyon eventually broadened out to provide an open, sweeping view of the mountains, whose many gullies fed this wash. In a driving rainstorm, I can imagine this wash being a wide, shallow, yet violent confluence of silty brown water getting ready to scour the narrow channel that I had just climbed. Again, there were more choices for exploration, but I stayed on the "main path."

The canyon narrowed again, and the walls and chutes were again lined with the polished marble rock. Climbing up area required steadiness, patience and a good handhold, since the rock (although dry) was quite slippery. Large boulders obstructed the path at times, yet narrow passages circumvented these obstacles.

Finally, my time to climb had come. The path hit a dead end (a huge rock), and about 25-feet above the canyon continued. The rock had plenty of handholds and a scaleable pitch. I began to make the climb up the rock as Tineka and a guy named Jim watched. My foot slipped once, but I had three other points clinging to the rock. However, it was enough to make Jim and Tineka to backtrack to safer, alternate path up to the top. At the top, I sat down on a rock and pulled out my lunch and waited for other members of the party to join me.

After eating my sandwich, I continued further up into the canyon. I had only another 20-minutes of time remaining before I was going to have turn around again to make the journey back to the bus. I climbed, twisted and turned up trough the canyon until I came to a serious dead end. Here, there was a wall of rock at least 30-feet in height, which appeared to be a spillway for the mad rush of water that comes down this wash when it rains.

Second Day in Death Valley

2007-12-01T10:26:00.000-08:00

As with my first day in the park, day two involved exploring two more unique geographical features: Ubehebe Crater and the Stovepipe Wells Sand Dunes.

Ubehebe Crater is located in the northern part of the park at 3,000-feet above sea level. The crater is actually called a maar (good Scrabble word!) which is produced when ground water comes in contact with magma or lava. The enormous pressure causes such an explosive force that it heaves lava, rock, dirt and sand skyward, scattering its debris wherever wind and gravity take it. Amazingly, there are another dozen or so smaller maars, including Little Ubehebe Crater, which surround the larger crater. The guide told us that when this area was formed, it was like popcorn kernels popping underground.

The bus pulled up to the rim of the half-mile wide crater, and our options for exploring the crater was walking down into the crater, walking the rim of the crater or both. I was game for both options.

The 770-foot descent into the crater was fast and easy, but mushy. Pumice and scree on the main path collapsed with each step, filling my shoes with a lot of loose gravel and dirt. At the bottom of the crater, I emptied my shoes of dirt and marveled at the reddish-orange wall of rock, whose deep gullies have been carved by rills over the years. Behind me, the smooth slopes were layered with dark pumice. The bottom of the crater was flat and home to several hardy plants.

After 15-minutes of photographs and rest, I began the arduous climb out of the crater. The tread was soft and each step leading out of the crater sank in six inches or so - I found that it was easier to step in depressions left by others ahead of me. At times, the surrounding landscape looked other-worldly, like I was on another planet. The smooth, dark slopes were dotted with smaller rocks and supported very little plant life.

About 30-minutes later, I along with several others from the tour bus had reached the crater's rim, where we began a clock-wise journey around the crater. The day was perfect for this walk: sunny, a slight breeze, 70-degrees and not a cloud in the sky.

The rim hike kept a safe distance from the edge of the crater, but there were a few areas where slight mis-step would spell certain death. Looking across the crater, the tour bus was but a small, green box in the distance, and hikers climbing out of the bottom of the crater looked like ants crawling on a hill. The size of this crater is amazing.

Rounding the rim, I came upon Little Ubehebe Crater. I could see hikers were exploring the crater, but as for me I was out of time - I was running late getting back to the bus. Perhaps another day, I will see Little Ubehebe up close, however, I was certainly not disappointed with my journey around the bigger crater.

The bus next took us to the Stovepipe Wells Sand Dunes. These dunes are nowhere near the size of the Saharan dunes seen on National Geographic Explorer shows, but at 14-square miles, one can escape into rolling sea of sand.

The bus parked on the side of the road, and told us that we had 2-hours to go exploring. There was no main path into the dunes, just a short scramble over gravel and small rocks and into the soft sands. It took me about 15-minutes to realize that I could (no, should) walk barefoot into the dunes. I sat on the shaded side of a dune to take my shoes off and I felt the how cool and delicious that sand felt under foot. Walking was an even better experience as I felt the sand massaging my feet with each step.

I explored the dunes by myself. I felt like I needed an opportunity to get away from the rest of the group and go out on my own. I took many photographs, especially of those dunes without footprints. I wanted a "pristine" shot, but I found it difficult since so many others had walked on the dunes earlier in the day.

I climbed to the tops of high dunes, and I watched children and parents tumbling and rolling down the dunes. A nude woman and three of her companions walked by carrying a long red banner. I don't know what they were up to, but my guess was that it was some kind of art project. There was so much to see with the dunes casting shadows on themselves and the grey, red and lack mountains standing tall in the background. No wonder I've seen so many photographs from this place - it is a brilliant subject for camera's eye.

I walked east of the rest of the group and over to some smaller dunes. Very few people wandered over in this area, which made it great for pictures. The sun was getting lower on the horizon and the shadows grew longer and deeper - more photos.

Two hours were up and I headed back to the bus. I wish I could have stayed until sunset to see how the light would have played on these dunes. I also wish I could have walked more on the dunes, perhaps farther to the southeast towards the Devil's Cornfield. If only I had more time! Maybe another day.

Friday Arrival in Death Valley

2007-11-27T21:41:00.000-08:00

On a Green Tortoise bus with 35 other people, I arrived in Death Valley National Park - this was my first experience here. For years and years, Death Valley was a national monument, but in 1994, President Bill Clinton signed the California Desert Protection Act, which brought Death Valley up to National Park status and allowed for more funding and protection.

Death Valley is bordered by two mountain ranges with the Panamints to the west and the Amargosas to the east. Apparently at one time, the valley floor was under 2,000 feet of water, and geologists have been able to locate areas where water used to lap up against the surrounding mountain ranges. Now the floor is one large beautiful basin of fans, sand dunes and salt flats.

The bus pulled up to the popular tourist destination, Zabriskie Point, around 9:00 am. We took our time to make breakfast and pack our lunches, and then it was off to the overlook at Zabriskie Point. What a great view! Looking to the West, in the foreground was the Furnace

Creek wash, which is filled hills and rocks carved by rills created by rains and smoothed by the wind. Noticeably among the hills was Manley

Beacon and the cliffs of Red Cathedral. In the background, lay the white flats of the valley floor and the Panamint Range.After taking a few pictures, I hit the trail with Bettina from Germany and Tineka from the Netherlands. The trail (Golden Canyon Interpretive Trail) followed a few washes and at one time took a switchback up a hill. Again, the trail crossed and followed various washes and climbed along the shoulder of Manley Beacon.

The trail then descended to an intersection with a quarter-mile side route to the Red Cathedral. We took the side route up to Red Cathedral, which followed a wash up to a narrow dead end. Had we more time, it would have been nice to explore the area under the cliffs, but we had to get back to the bus.

We went back down to the main trail, and walked 3/4-mile down to the trailhead and bus. It was interesting to see that at the end of the trail someone had the bright idea to try and pave a part of the wash (perhaps for vehicle access?), which could not have lasted long. It seems that the powerful waters of the wash eroded it a long time ago - thank God!

Following our hike, we boarded the bus and traveled down to Badwater Basin, which is the lowest point in North America at 282-feet below sea-level. On the eastern cliffs of the Amargosa Range, the park had placed a sign indicating where sea-level is, which brought some perspective to our depth in altitude.

I had an hour and a half to explore the Basin, so I left with Bettina and Tineka again to walk out on the salt flats. To say that they are flats is deceiving, since hexagonal salt plates seem to have collided into other plates, making the floor uneven. However, as we walked out further onto the flats, it smoothed out more with only a lip of salt creating the hexagonal patterns. The sun made the floor bright to the eyes, yet it certainly contributed to its stark beauty. Had I more time, I would have liked to walk the entire flats up to Stovepipe Wells Village (future hiking idea???).

We got back on the bus and traveled to the Furnace Creek Campground for dinner and a night's rest. The day was surreal, since the scenery was so different from what I am used to seeing in San Francisco. Nonetheless, it was refreshing. More about Death Valley tomorrow.

Back from Death Valley

2007-11-26T23:39:00.000-08:00

I just got back from Death Valley today, and I had a great time. Over the next couple days, I will be making posts of each of the spots that I visited.

Unfortunately, this most recent trip I took did not involve much long distance hiking, but I think all distance backpackers can appreciate the beauty of the outdoors. Besides, since there is such little water, I am not sure how much distance backpacking can be done in Death Valley.

Going to Death Valley

2007-11-22T14:46:00.000-08:00

In a few hours, I board a bus to go to Death Valley. There will be all kinds of activities including taking a dip in Hot Springs, sand skiing and of course, hiking. The unique opportunity in this trip is the hiking, since many parts of Death Valley are inaccessible to hiking during the hot months of the year. I hope to see some bloomage, scorpions and whatever wildlife presents itself. I imagine that I will meet some pretty cool people on this trip. I will post more on Monday.

Point Reyes Recap II

2007-11-21T21:55:00.000-08:00

Sunday

Matt was the first to wake and wander around the campsite. I crawled out of my sleeping bag and into the cool air to join him for a peek at the beach. Eventually, Allana came out, and we made breakfast: Oatmeal and tangerine slices. Everything

with was covered with a thick layer of dew, and we waited for my tarp and the tent's rainfly to dry out a bit.

We left Wildcat camp and hiked up towards Old Out Road, and along the way, we paused to enjoy a scenic view of Wildcat Lake. The trail was a long steady climb, and it was easy to see why it is called the Old Out Road, since there were exposed remnants of broken asphalt along much of the trail.

We continued our upward ascent to the Alamea Trail, lined with bayonet fern and meandering beautifully through dark, verdant forests. The sights of banana slugs, orange-bellied newts and mushrooms drew our attention and caution with each step. After hiking steadily for over an hour and climbing over 1000-feet, we stopped on a high, flat, open stretch of trail for a well-deserved rest. Despite being warm and sweaty, the weather was cool and delicious and perfect for the rest stop.

The last quarter mile of the Alamea Trail descended down to an intersection with the Ridge Trail, which lay at the base of a Fir Top, a 1,324-foot peak. We headed southeast on the Ridge Trail, climbing and descending along the high ridge separating the Olema Valley (and the San Andreas Fault) from the the Pacific Ocean.

The Ridge Trail intersected with the Bolema and the Lake Ranch

Trails, and we continued our trek south along the Lake Ranch Trail. One highlight was Mud Lake, which lay nestled to our right. Mud Lake was more of a swamp with green blooms covering the water and tan reeds rising up along the lake's edge.

The Lake Ranch Trail then began a long, yet anticipated steady descent towards the coast, offering sunny views of a foggy California coast. As we descended, the lush ridgetop forests gave way to drier, lower coastal scrub brush and brambles. Soon we encountered the same stretch of Coast Trail that we had hiked a day earlier and the first hikers we had seen since Wildcat Camp earlier in the morning.

We were back on familiar trail, and we were anticipating the vistas overlooking the Pacific. The fog had burned off more, and we enjoyed clearer views of the coast and the sea. We took a lower fork of the Coast Trail, which was an even more dramatic and precarious walk than the higher fork we took the day before. One surprise along the way was a garter snake taking advantage of the open skies to sun himself. The sight of the garter was certainly not a pleasant surprise to Allana, who had been in front of Matt and I and setting the pace the entire day. After the snake sighting, Matt and I took the lead for much of the trek back toward the parking lot.

What a great 24-hours in Point Reyes. My only regret was that we did not spill of Alamere Falls. The good news is that Point Reyes is so close to San Francisco, and I know that I will have the opportunity to see the falls up and close one day. Perhaps I should head back in February or March when the river will be swelling with water.

I was happy to spend time with my friends Matt and Allana, whom I got to know better. I've heard it said that "spending one day on the trail with your spouse or partner is like spending five days with them in the real world." It was fun to hear Matt and Allana find out things about each other that they didn't know (the trail does that), and through this whole hike, I enjoyed getting to know them. Hike on!

Point Reyes Recap

2007-11-19T22:34:00.000-08:00

For the first time ever, I hiked the southern portion of Point Reyes National Seashore, and I really appreciated its remoteness. In the past, I have mostly hiked around the central portion of the park near Bear Valley and Mt. Wittenberg, and usually there are a fair amount of day hikers going to destinations like Arch Rock or the summit of Mt. Wittenberg. Down in the southern portion, I encountered other hikers, but most were only hiking to Alamere Falls.

My hike began at the Palomarin trailhead with my friends Matt and Allana, and here's the trail route we took:

Saturday: Palomarin (via Coast Trail) to Wildcat Camp (5.5-miles)

Sunday: Wildcat Camp to Old Out Road (.6-miles)

Old Out Road to Alamea Trail (1.1-miles)

Alamea Trail to Ridge Trail (1.5-miles)

Ridge Trail to Lake Ranch Trail (1.3-miles)

Lake Ranch Trail to Coast Trail (3.0-miles)

Coast Trail to Palomarin (2.1-miles)

Total Miles: 15.1-miles

A trail map is located above.

Saturday

The trail from Palomarin to Wildca

t was filled with climbs and undulations, remaining fairly close to the coastline for the first mile or so. Broad sweeping views of foggy, steep coastline meeting the Pacific were dramatic, breathtaking and of course worthy of photographs. The trail turned inland towards the east, gradually climbing the coastal headlands. The trail leveled out n

ear the intersection of the Lost Ranch Trail, and then enjoyed a steady tread, passing Bass Lake and then Pelican Lake. The views of Bass Lake looked like something out of a fantasy medieval scene. The lake was nestled among thick, dark stands of trees, whose tops were swept by low lying clouds and mist.

The trail intersected with a .4-mile side route to Alamere Falls. Unfortunately, with sunset happening at 4:55 pm and a thick coat of fog blanketing the trail, we decided to move on instead of investigating the falls. I did not want to risk getting into camp too late, and I figured that I will have many opportunities to see the falls in the future.

From that intersection we continued on towards the Lakes Loop intersection and took the left fork, which made an unexpectedly steep climb along the coast. Once again, Matt, Allana and I were presented with another stunning, yet foggy view of the coast, complete with a small bench at the vista. We rested for short bit, and ten proceeded with a descent down to Wildcat Camp.

By the time we got to Wildcat Camp, the sun was sinking on the horizon, so we scrambled to find our site, set up our tents, get water and cook supper. At nightfall, we were eating a delicious dish of pasta and pesto with dehydrated veggies. We played a game of Scrabble and then fell asleep to the roar of the Pacific waves crashing into Wildcat beach. Unfortunately, a few unruly campers started making a lot of noise, which woke me up, so I got out of my sleeping bag and told them to be quiet. They complied with my request.

Hike Completed!

2007-11-18T23:27:00.000-08:00

Just got back from an overnight trip to Point Reyes. I had planned to post pictures on my blog today, but I don't have the cord that goes from my camera to the computer (it's at work!). I hope to have pictures posted tomorrow along with a trail description, etc. All I can say right now is that it was a great trip, and it was good to spend time with my friends Allana and Matt. Good night.

Gone Hiking!

2007-11-17T10:30:00.000-08:00

I'm heading up to Point Reyes for an overnight backpack trip with my friends Matt and Allana. Trail description, pictures and stories to follow tomorrow.

Who is really crazy?

2007-11-16T21:09:00.000-08:00

Whenever someone finds out that I have hiked the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails, the reaction is one of bewilderment and curiosity. "You did what? How did you take all that time off? Did you go alone?" are the usual questions I hear along with "Did you see any bears? What about snakes?" Occasionally, people have told me that I am crazy for having done all this hiking.

Distance hikers (or thru-hikers) do not lack reason or rationale. Instead, what they possess is a logical response to the crazy overworked masses in this country.

Some people I have met complain about being tired all the time. When I ask why they are tired, their response goes something like this: "I worked 11-hours yesterday, went out for drinks, stayed out till 1:00 am and got up at 6:00 am this morning." I'm sorry, but this kind of lifestyle is really what is crazy to me. I believe that so many people lack balance in their lives, and it affects their health, countenance and relationships.

Thru-hiking (and other activities like it) is that voice crying out in the wilderness calling for change in the way we conduct our lives. Take time out of your life. Enjoy what this world has to offer and your relationships with others. Take a walk, or if hiking is not your forte, go row, bike, climb, write or knit. Whatever!

Work is important, but it should not possess our lives to the detriment of our health and well-being. Take a hike!

Squatch and the Walk Movies

2007-11-15T23:44:00.000-08:00

Tonight, I saw Scott "Squatch" Herriot who was at the Purple Onion here in San Francisco filming his girlfriend Becky Pedigo, who is a well-known comedian. Becky has appeared on Comedy Central, and she actually has her own half-hour comedy show on that network. Pretty cool. Although the crowd was small and rather stoic, I think the lineup of comedians (and Becky) did a great job under the circumstances.

"Squatch" is well-known in the hiker community for producing, shooting and editing the Walk trilogy, which were movies about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. I actually appeared in his first two movies, but I have yet to see a royalty check. On the other hand, he did give me a free copy of all his Walk movies, so I guess we are even.

For those who have not seen the Walk movies, I recommend them. Squatch attempts to document the stories, trials and lives of hikers on the PCT meeting hikers at road crossings and even out on the trail (although he has a hard time maintaining their pace on the trail). Each film is an evolution of his knowledge and understanding of the trail with is second and third projects really doing a better job of documenting life on the trail (of course, Squatch spent more time on the trail in these films). For those who have little experience in distance backpacking, these films are a great introduction (and perhaps inspiration) for those considering a long-distance hike.

Good to see you Squatch!

Emma "Grandma" Gatewood

2007-11-13T23:39:00.001-08:00

A quote: "Most people are pantywaists. Exercise is good for you."

- Emma "Grandma" Gatewood, at age 67 first woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail (1955)

Point Reyes this Weekend!

2007-11-12T23:41:00.000-08:00

I'm off to Point Reyes National Seashore this weekend. Woo Hoo! I will be heading up there on Sunday with a married couple that I have gotten to know at church. They are neophytes to the hiking/camping experience, so I hope to help them enjoy this forthcoming experience.

For those who have been to Point Reyes... GO! Since I have lived in the Bay Area, I have traveled to Point Reyes about four times a year - I love it there. The amazing thing is that so few people from the Bay Area take advantage of Point Reyes' proximity. In my opinion, it is a top notch hiking and camping destination filled with history, unique geology and beauty.

From what I understand, Point Reyes is a sliver of land, whose geology most closely resembles the Tehachapi Mountains in Southern California, which is over 300-miles to the south! What that means is that Point Reyes has been drifting northward for millions of years along the Pacific plate. In the big 1906 earthquake, Point Reyes moved 20-feet to the north in the duration of the quake (45-seconds?). That's pretty amazing to think about.

Point Reyes as so much more: wildlife, wildflowers, miles and miles of trails. I can't wait to get out there. Pictures of this hike will be posted next Wednesday.

Green Festival in San Francisco

2007-11-11T22:05:00.000-08:00

I just got back from the Green Festival here in SF. Wow! I have never been so overwhelmed by organic energy bars, coconut oils, hemp juices and lavender lotions. I put some lotion on my hands at 4:30, and they still smell strongly at 10:00! Although the convention center was crowded, it was a worthwhile to attend the event, especially since there were a lot of beautiful, liberal, earth-goddess women there. Yowza! Yowza!

While I was there, I grabbed a catalogue from Green Tortoise Adventure Travel, which offers affordable adventures to select destinations throughout the United States. They travel by bus, and along the way, participants help with meals and provide some direction for activities. Sounds pretty cool.

In my last post, I was thinking about a hike on the PCT over Thanksgiving, but now that I picked up this Green Tortoise catalogue, I am thinking about taking their trip to Death Valley on November 22-26. What attracts me to this option is that I get to share an adventure with others who share an interest in an active outdoor experience. Also, since I do not own a car, it is a great way to get out of the city and do some traveling. My only hesitation is that the trip might not be as active as I would hope. Also, what if I am the only old dude (37-years-old) on this trip? Well, I think I am going to go for it anyway and get out of my comfort zone. The total cost for the trip is $235 for a 3-day, 4-night trip, which I can totally afford. Besides, my birthday is coming up, and I figure this would be a good birthday present to myself.

So, here I come Death Valley. My only hope is that there is still room on the bus for this trip. I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

PCT Hike in November???

2007-11-10T19:51:00.000-08:00

I just had an idea. Why not take a hike on the PCT over Thanksgiving? Yeah, yeah I know, Thanksgiving is a time to get together with family and give thanks for all the blessings we have received over the last year. That would be the sacrifice I make to go hike - no turkey supper and no time spent with friends (I have no family in the Bay Area). Hmmmmm... what to do? Well, I should take a peek at what the weather is going to do.

Fires Near Agua Dulce

2007-11-09T22:03:00.000-08:00

It seems that the fire danger in Southern California has died down for the moment. What a tragedy. I noticed that one of the major fires (Buckweed) was located near Agua Dulce, perhaps the most prominent trail towns in SoCal. I have not heard any news from Donna Saufley to know how she weathered the fires, but since nothing has popped up on the ADZPCTKO Yahoo! Groups site, I imagine that she she came through unscathed. I have to imagine that there were a lot of neighbors in Agua Dulce and Santa Clarita that were victimized by the fires.

Interestingly, the Buckweed fire was started by a 10-year-old kid, who was playing with matches. Some people are asking that this kid be tried in court as an adult, and I cannot think of anything more ridiculous. Certainly, there was a lot of damage from the Buckweed fire, but I cannot agree with punishing a 10-year-old like an adult. I consider that I was fortunate I never burned my house or the neighbor's house when I was 10. Kids play with matches, and unfortunately his exploration led to a ton of damage.

This kid will live with his actions for the rest of his life, and I think that the guilt he will live with for the rest of his life will be enough to warrant punishment. If there is a suitable way to punish this kid, I think that he should be forced to hike. Yeah, make him experience the pains and labors hikers endure to hike through that terrain. Maybe he should be forced to do trail maintenance to see what trail maintainers do to care for the PCT in that area. Probably more appropriate, would be that he do some home construction with Habitat for Humanity so that h knows what really goes into building a home. Perhaps then he can better understand the consequence of his actions and gain an appreciation for the area in which he lives.

How Much More???

2007-11-08T22:23:00.000-08:00

How much more of this can we take? I am talking about the recent oil spill in San Francisco Bay. I have taken many walks along the Bay near Crissy field and along the ocean at Land's End, and I enjoy the beauty of the coast. Now we have closed beaches, birds coated in oil and a long-term clean up in store for the entire Bay Area. What a mess.

The greatest scandal of this oil spill is the slow response time by agencies to clean up the slick. Perhaps agencies did not react quickly because initial reports said that only 140-gallons spilled in the Bay. Who knows? It's just sad to see such a lackluster effort taking place to clean up the Bay. Anyway, it seems that it's too late since tides have already swept oil out in the ocean affecting places like the Farallon Islands and Tennessee Cove in Marin County.

I ask, "How much more" because there is such an apathy and, God forbid, an acceptance of pollution and environmental degradation in our world today. True, advertisements portray our car companies as being environmentally friendly, but remember it is all advertising and brand positioning to get us thinking that cars are not going to harm the air we breathe and perpetuate global warming. There is a consciousness that we need to take better care of the world, but so few individuals are doing a darn thing about it. When are we going to realize that the only way we can cut carbon emissions is by simply taking personal steps to cut carbon emissions (i.e. quit driving your car)? It's that simple, but it seems that we are waiting for the government to do something about it.

Well, let's hope we can clean up this mess in the Bay.

ADZPCTKO Planning

2007-11-07T22:19:00.000-08:00

The Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kick Off (ADZPCTKO), which takes place on April 25-27, 2008 is starting to get rumbling again. A planning session for the 10th annual ADZPCTKO took place this last weekend down at Lake Morena County Park. Although I am the Presentation Coordinator for this event, I could not afford the time or money to make the trip down there. Nonetheless, the organizers will be doing some heavy coordinating between now and April for the event, and I know that we have some special surprises in store for this year.

The infamous class of 2003 is getting plans ready to serve two meals at the event: burritos on Friday and French toast on Saturday. Unfortunately, this year ADZPCTKO will be without Bob Reiss, who is taking a respite from the cooking duties. For those who know Bob and what he has brought to ADZPCTKO, the organizers have some big shoes to fill. The good news is that someone will be filling in Bob's shoes in 2008, and that will be Warner Springs Monty, who is coming fresh off the PCT this past year. Bob provided a mentoring experience for Monty last year, so we are all confident that Monty will do a good job.

Darn them Feet!

2007-11-06T16:12:00.000-08:00

When I hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2000, I had only one problem with my feet the entire 5-months I was out there. After I hiked the 100-Mile Wilderness through Maine, I developed a horrible stiffness and pain along the top of my foot. I had no idea why it was giving me problems. I ran into someone out there on the trail who told me that I was suffering from muscle compartment syndrome.

What? Allegedly, the lining around a muscle in my foot failed to expand as my muscle swelled inside my boot each day. I am not sure if I suffered from muscle compartment syndrome, but whatever the case, the pain went away in my foot by the time I got to Andover, Maine.

In the five months I spent on the Pacific Crest Trail I remember getting a blister on the tops of my heels near the achilles tendon. I had purchased a new pair of socks in Ashland, Oregon, and for some strange reason, after I hiked in them for 15 or so miles, my New Balance 806's starter to blister and eventually scrape the skin off my heels. Ouch! I remember that really hurt. I put duct tape on both my heels and I ditched the new socks when I got to Bend, Oregon.

Back in August, I was sparring in Hapkido, and did a front leg lick, and my big toe squarely hit my opponent's elbow. I limped away from that sparring session in a lot of pain. I thought I had jammed the toe really well, but then I thought I must have broken it. I did get out and hike a stretch of the PCT over Labor Day weekend, and my toe felt fine.

However, recently pain has been flaring up at the base of my big toe. So, I went to UCSF Medical Center to have it examined, and the x-rays turned up nothing. The nurse practitioner told me that I might be experiencing some arthritis in that joint, or that I am feeling pain from an inflamed tendon. I don't think that is the problem. Something is just not right in the joint at the base of my big toe. The nurse practitioner did say that it might not be a bad idea to wear some stiff soled shoes and to give my foot rest for a month. I am thinking that is what I might do.

It is amazing how much we take our feet for granted. I have been told that feet are some of the most complex structures on our bodies. With all their complexities, it is amazing that feet are not injured more. However, if one spends enough time on his/her feet, I imagine that they must get strengthened to prevent injury (at least that has been my philosophy!). Well, let's hope that my toe can get better, and give me strength and patience to take a month off of physical exercise to let it heal. After all, I got a lot more hiking to do!