“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.” John Muir
I love hiking. I may have mentioned this before but it’s my blog so I’m allowed to repeat myself. 🙂 I have some very fine and savvy hiking friends who have even taught mountaineering courses with the Sierra Club and they have outlined strict guidelines for me, not the least of which is to not hike alone and not push your hike into the borders of nightfall. Oopsie! I have a confession…I broke both of those caveats today. I couldn’t help it! You see, I have been a frustrated hiker as my most loyal and avid hiking partner, Gretchen, has been afflicted with breathing issues – breathing being a necessary component of hiking – and has been unable to join me on our regular excursions. And my regular excursions have become somewhat necessary recently as I have begun training for an expedition to Mera Peak in the Himalayas to hike for Charity:Water. The dynamic team is comprised of people from Twitter, and I am beyond thrilled to be a part of this exciting and important fund-raising event, and to have the privilege of meeting and climbing with some stellar (and, at times, hilarious!) people.
Self-Portrait: Does this shadow make my butt look big? lol
Insert Foreboding Here
So, you see, I had to, I mean I just HAD to hit the trails today…and by the time I pulled myself away from Twitter – ahem – and got packed and started some laundry and fetched my permit from the ranger station, well…I was starting out at 4:20pm! No worries…this is southern California and it’s daylight savings and I had a fully loaded iPod, a 2-day backpack stuffed with supplies(for conditioning) and was Motivated, with a capital “M” 🙂 I also figured I would just get as far as was reasonable (are you catching the foreboding there? Gina, the time-challenged one…being reasonable?) So, I start along the trail and I encounter loads of people coming down. Lots of them are what we call PCT-ers; hikers who are trekking the Pacific Crest Trail and usually come down off the high peaks in my ‘hood for refueling and refootwearing, if need be.
The trail. Yes, I'm gloating now!
Zipping Along
So, I’m hiking, getting more and more magnificent and dramatic vistas, the lighting changing as well as the weather. Clouds and mist were rolling and swirling in, and what do I do? The rational thing and head down? Nooooo…I know this trail and it’s only 2.5 miles up (straight up! 2000 foot elevation gain as a matter of fact!) but I have a good pace and I’m just a wee bit determined as I round each switchback, pull out my camera to snap pictures and even video the shimmering streams, and think to myself, “But I’ll be zipping along on the way down!” Well zipping along is right, for I hit the junction at the top at precisely 6pm – I’m sorrryyyy…I had to stop and take pictures!! Sheesh! So, even though my moving pace was impressive and propelled by lively tunes, I found myself to be long past the last person down, alone, weather moving in, and the little sun left was getting hindered by clouds. Heehee. This is not atypical for me. When left to my own judgment, I tend to push my limits and now, NOW, add to it the thought that mountain lions, though scarce, DO prefer to do their hunting at dusk. La la la.
Heading down, hurriedly. View of Suicide Rock
Can you imagine my downward pace? It was, shall we say, energetic! haha. My trekking poles were swinging enthusiastically (read: threateningly) and I was giggling to myself imagining anyone spying me as I checked the trail behind me and the boulders above. I felt like the weak and stoopid prey animal of the herd, lingering at the rear; as if the local cougar would feel it his duty to pounce on me and chomp on my neck if only to illuminate my folly. Sigh. I can’t help it. Nature makes me a fool. I get nature drunk. But with a mixture of boulders in jagged groupings called gendarmes, various pines and oaks, streams cutting across my path every 1/4 mile or so, scurrying squirrels and chipmunks, patches of stubborn late spring snow and magnificent manzanita – replete with its gnarled twisting branches the color of chianti – of course I get intoxicated! Thank you for joining me on my merry walks. *hic*
Hiking Stats: Distance: 5 miles, Elevation Gain: 2000 feet, Moving Time: 2 hours, Load: 12 pounds
All Photos by G. Stark
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Another great post which shows your great personality and ability to personify moments in words. Proud to have you as my friend and thank you for sharing this with me. 🙂
Thanks so much for your kind comments, Max 🙂 I, too, am proud and pleased to have you as a friend! G
I love how you just "move mountains" honey. Nothing stops you to get at your goal, which was to get your hike in COMPLETELY, on your terms, darn it. Luv it, luv you.
You are a lesson in motivation. I would have probably taken a run around the block–or to the local Starbucks. hehe. :))
Dearest awesome Rachel…how is it that I have come to be blessed and surrounded by so many truly dynamic, talented and beautiful Rachels?! I am not complaining! I am so honored by your compliments, especially as I have a very high regard for you and your blogess finesse! I am SO gonna have to meet you one day for coffee…not sure about where (I like little local dives) but we are so close and you so kindred I think Ima hafta meet you! lol Hope that doesn't sound stalkerish 😛 Thanks for your generous comments 🙂 Bliss you! G
Thank you for this great post… AGAIN!!! I can only go along with RachelintheOC who said "You are a lesson in motivation". And here is me, sitting in my chair, spending far too much time behind a computer screen reading and tweeting, and far too little outdoors… That-has-to-and-will-change! lol :))
It's such a pleasure to read your posts. They are filled with sense of humour, one can feel your enthousiasm through your words, can even visualise in pictures what you describe in writing, is fully absorbed by the post and transported for a short moment in time to a different place on this planet, like a time travel. And then I feel sad when I get to the end of your post, wishing it was longer.
Ever thought of publishing a book? I would buy it right away even without knowing what the content is about, as I know already it will be interesting and a great read.
All best wishes for your very exciting expedition. Just try to avoid becoming the mountain lions' breakfast or dinner while training, please!!! ;))) Big hugs xxxx
Oh my goodness golly and graciousness, Caroline! *CLONK* <<< that's me, fainting from being-overwhelmed-by-lavish-praise-and-niceness-in-general! I was reticent about going live with my blog, only a few months ago; I hemmed and hawed (what IS hemming and hawing anyways?!?! lol) and finally decided that it is an act of ego preservation to think so little of what you have to offer and worry overly about criticism. We need to just "get over it" and so I took the leap and figured, oh well, at least maybe someone can giggle at my antics. But, you, and a few other kind souls, have made me feel so welcome and at ease sharing my thoughts and antics and I thank you fervently for your consistent support, generous comments and a true friendship. 🙂 Big hugs to you. 🙂 G
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