Monday, December 8, 2008

Fruit Leathers!!

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.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Back on Track!

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.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Lucky to Hike - I Think!

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.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Mountain Bikes on the CDT

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.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

CDT Map on Phlumf.com

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.


Thursday, October 16, 2008

Weathercarrot's Photo Tribute to Gene Espy

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. 


Sunday, October 5, 2008

Protecting the Pacific Crest Trail

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

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Discovered a Website for CDT Planning

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!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Billygoat Speaks

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!


Monday, September 15, 2008

ALDHA - West Gathering this Weekend

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.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Mountain Lion Fends Off Hikers!

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!


Sunday, September 7, 2008

First Night in Oregon

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.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Just off the Pacific Crest Trail

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!

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Kicking it Old School!

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!

Friday, August 29, 2008

Flying to Portland Tomorrow

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.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Timberline Trail Closure!

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.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Maroon Bells Loop Hike Day 4























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.


Monday, August 4, 2008

Maroon Bells Loop Hike Day 3

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.


Saturday, August 2, 2008

Maroon Bells Loop Hike Day 2

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.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Maroon Bells Loop Hike Day 1

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.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Blog Catch Up! Trails! Trails! Trails!

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

Monday, May 5, 2008

Fires Contained in San Jacintos

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.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Scrambler's Hike of the PCT

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.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

10th Annual ADZPCTKO

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.

Monday, February 18, 2008

A Hike in the Marin Headlands

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 

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Callahan's Re-Opening for 2008?

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.