Tree-Hugging Hiker

13/02/2024

A photo from this past Sunday wherein I am rightfully implicated as being the tree-hugging hiker, or in this case, snowshoer, that I am.

06/02/2024

The Atmospheric River dumped rain most of the day, so I made it a gym workout day. Rainy days and Mondays don’t always get me down, but I’m feeling a bit of the rut-funk at this point. I’m looking forward to long, dry, warm, sunny, mountain trail days. Not far now…

25/01/2024

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!

25/01/2024

I started today by doing a two-mile walk jog combination with the sunrise. I then hiked six miles on the Hammond Trail with my pack and gear before meeting a friend to cover three more miles with my pack in the forest. Suffice it to say that I feel great and am very happy and satisfied!

15/01/2024

"Come to the woods, for here is rest. There is no repose like that of the deep green woods. Sleep in forgetfulness of all ill."--John Muir. This photo was taken on the James Irvine Trail, in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Much more soon.

11/01/2024

That face I make when the trail ascends over 1,000' in the first mile, I am carrying my backpack with all my gear, and I have been slacking on my cardio training. Ah well, embrace the (wind) suck, and get back on that treadmill more often!

09/01/2024

First first of 2024. First milk maids, seen on the Craig’s Creek Trail.

08/01/2024

Rainbow seen on the Lyons Ranch Trail in Redwood National Park today. More soon!

03/01/2024

I know it is only the first week of January. Still, the second PCT permit release is a week from tomorrow. I want to study and plan now so I have some idea of the permit parameters I will use to apply. I will need to guesstimate a start date, end date, and the total number of days I anticipate being on the trail. I want to think about resupply points, the distance between those points, build-in zero days, and be able to estimate how long it will take me to get from one stop to the next. It's not as hard as it might sound. For me, especially this time of year, it is very therapeutic!

24/12/2023

Well, there you have it. My backpack is fully loaded with almost everything I'd need to go backpacking. If I look excited, it's because I am! I've worked to get my base weight (gear minus food and water) under thirty pounds. I've accomplished that and then some. The weight differential on the scale with and without the pack is 22.5 pounds. The actual pack contents are a hybrid. I am carrying two and a half liters of water, which adds about five pounds. I also stuffed a couple of Mountain House meals into the bear canister to keep the stove and fuel from bouncing, banging, and clattering, and driving me nuts. Without the weight of the water, the setup weighs in at a cozy 17.5 pounds. There are still adjustments to be made and adjustments to the adjustments, but I am thrilled. Let's go!

21/12/2023

Happy Winter Solstice, friends! May peace, happiness, stillness, kindness, gratitude, and wonder fill your hearts and minds during this season. The sun always rises again, and the light will always return. I took this photo last Wednesday, December 13, at sunrise on the bridge over Manzanita Creek on the trail around Manzanita Lake from Loomis Plaza, in Lassen Volcanic National Park.

17/12/2023

This has been a long time coming. Funny how a dark, dreary, rainy, day near the Winter Solstice can thwart perpetual procrastination.

“The best-laid plans of mice and men oft’ go awry,”–Robert Burns Early in 2023 I was gearing up with every intention to attempt a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Permi…