Thursday, May 26, 2011
July 6, 2011
momoffcourse
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Lions and tigers and Grizzly Bears! Oh my!
More magic on the trail…cookies and orange pop!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Mission Creek crossing
More on experiences on the trail…
An oasis in the desert…
Ending the day…cowboy camping on the trail…
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
And down the back side of Fuller Ridge…
Following cougar tracks on the trail…
Cowboy camping…
Monday, May 9, 2011
Start: Lost Valley Spring
End: Tule Spring
Miles: 16.5 miles
Well today was a long, hard day. Not much sleep last night as the winds picked up and rain started to fall. My quilt and shoes got wet and it was a pretty cold night. Temps got down to around 3 degrees Celsius. Got up around 06:00, slipped into my wet socks and shoes and made coffee and oatmeal. Still overcast and cold, we got moving quickly. Being a crest trail, you are either: climbing, contouring or descending. We did all three today. Up to 6500 ft and then back down to 3200 over 16 miles. My feet were a mess from blisters and every step in my wet shoes was agony. I have come to the conclusion that 16 miles is my limit for walking right now. My legs and feet are done about then. Over time I will get stronger and faster.
Made camp tonight with a group of about 10 people in our “pack.” We travel separately and at different speeds but are always in the same area at night. We all sat in a circle here and had a pot luck dinner. Each person giving a brief biography and why they are on the trail. Lots of laughter and funny stories. Youngest is 18, oldest is 61. I really like my new hiker trash family. 
Tomorrow we are going to do 16 miles and camp. 1 mile further is the famous Paradise Café. We intend to swarm in like locusts and have breakfast and never ending cups of coffee. I’m tired and sore. Couldn’t be happier. 2100 lights out!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Start: Warner Springs
End: Lost Valley Spring
Miles: 10
Had a good zero day at Warner. Rested, relaxed, soaked in the hot springs. Body needed to rest for sure. Had some good feeds as well. Met a lot of old and new hikers and chatted with them.
We headed out of Warner Springs pretty early as we had a 17 mile climb. We made it to mile 10 in late afternoon. The forecast was for rain and by early afternoon, the winds picked up. We quickly found a place to set up camp and get some hot food in us. We are at 4200 ft and it might be a bit chilly in my quilt. Still all in all, a pretty good first day back out. Happy to be back on the trail.
