See what happens when two office monkeys spend several months in the Wilderness.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Almost out of the desert, 1 month down 4 to go
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Animal Encounter and etc.
Had the most humorous encounter with a wildlife two nights back. A group of 8 of us decided to hike on another 10 or 11 miles at night from the Mill Creek Fire Station in the Angeles National Forest. There was a 25 mile stretch without guaranteed water ahead of us so we decided we'd try to do most of it at night and the next morning. We cooked dinner at about 4 pm at the station and decided to start hiking at 6 after the sun had cooled. We were getting close to camp and hiking with headlamps on when someone noticed something ahead and shouted a warning. After a few seconds I caught a glimpse of the attacker: a skunk. The skunk caught sight of all 8 of us and knew he had control of the situation. He charged us several times. I wish I had a photo of the 8 of us running from this skunk. It was one of the funniest things I've experienced on this hike yet. Finally the skunk left us alone with no one sprayed. It still makes me laugh.
As another bonus we got to see the lights of LA at night from Mt Gleason (sp?) and walked through the LA county Fire Station complex at dusk. The complex burned down in the 2009 Station Fire so it felt creepy. I half expected zombies to come running out.
Night hiking is awesome by the way. We'll be doing more of it to cross the Mojave desert ahead.
This has been such an amazing experience already. It's been tough but I've met some amazing people. I can't believe I've got 4 more months of this. I wish Gretchen could experience this with me, and I'm excited to see her. It'll be three more weeks, but I feel as if I'll see her tomorrow.
Hikers Heaven
At Hiker Heaven for two nights to give my feet a rest. The Saufleys have set up a sweet hostel of sorts. I can even get a ride to an REI so I can buy some new insoles for my shoes and maybe a new down jacket. Doing great except for some pain in the bottom of my right foot. Nothing that some vitamin I (ibuprofen) hasn't been able to handle so far. Mile 454, only about 250 to the High Sierra.
Monday, May 21, 2012
San Gabriel Range
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Almost Half Way to Kennedy Meadows
Skirting L.A.
Andy Called me from Big Bear on Tuesday. It's crazy to think he's hiked almost 300 miles! That's the distance I drove to drop them off at the trail head, and that was a long car ride, I can't imagine walking that distance. Of course the scenery is much better on the trail.
There are a lot of other hikers on the trail and I hear that friends are made and groups are formed. There is a couple called the neon hats (everyone gets a trail name eventually) that have become friends. It's comforting to know there are others out there on the trail with Andy, I worry.
I miss him a whole bunch, I wish I could poke him in the belly button.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
110 miles in
The boys made it to Warner Springs, where the only thing there is a post office and a resort. This is where they picked up their first mailed-to resupply. We sent the packages off from phoenix a week ago.
Along the way I will be sending the boys packages that we all prepacked, as there are areas of the trail where towns with grocery stores are few and far between. They said they had too much food in the package, but along the trail they are being fed food and beer by people who are well wishers, trail angels.