On the Drive

One would not expect to wake up with your manager's voice in your head genuinely asking what did you learn while on vacation.  I did and I know it wasn't him rather my mind playing out on me.  What did I learn?
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First, some times last season's tools are need for a while into the next.  My example here would be, knowing I was in a hip season between spring and summer, I should carry my traction aids, microspikes. Even around life, the tools I learn to use effectively last season, are need now.
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Next, don't get off the plan.  I set out with a detailed plan that was working for people going the opposite way when we talked about places and water sources.  I got off track listening to them talk about snow levels and didn't steer myself back.
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Third, don't let others get into your head and let their opinions about the hardships  get you off track.  Rather, ask them a few more questions directed back to the track wanting to take. Remember the plan. Who knows you may steer them back on track too.
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Finally, this is the hard one to swallow, self talk is empowering or disempowering.  I might have doomed myself from the beginning by looking towards the suck when I need to focus on the views, on the elation that comes from topping out on a hard climb, and the lessons of resource management in terms of water locations.  All of those I just threw into a lump of suck.
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All who know me and know me in passing, hiking is a passion.  How many know that after 10 years of avidly pursuing, it's become a slight burden.  The views no longer carry the awe, or the effort, the rewards.  This is besides the point.  It's good for me to share the photos so that I can hear from fresh eyes what I see.  That helps recharge me.  It helps me recharge knowing some are asking for what hikes I recommend in my home area.
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Hiking is also an allegory for life, work, etc.  If you reread the first 4 points one may see how my experience may tie into what is experienced by the reader.  One thing I love about adventure literature is the over coming of obstacles. One may not draw business connections between the early Antarctic or Mt Everest expeditions yet, can see that those who over come have a leader, even self-leadership, that focuses on a positive out come and will work within the limits of what they have to over come that which was not prepared for.
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Did I fail in the thru-hike? No, because I plan on coming back to it.  I need an attitude adjustment.  Am I learning the on going lessons of life? Yeah.  They who stop learning are those that proceed to fail. I keep looking for that which I missed the first time around.
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I hope this helps someone.
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I continued to drive home without incident.  That is, until I hit Salt Lake.  Folks, please give each other room to stop!  I witnessed a 5 car pile up one lane over and 3 car lengths ahead of me. I had to go through the debre field.  Give space so that one distraction does not cause a cluster of other issues.
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Well enough, at home, I'm cleaning, inspecting, and putting a way gear.  Yes, it takes time even to put 15 lbs of stuff a way.  This is the closing of my TRT journey, for now.  I'll let folks know when I head out again.  Thanks for the comments on social media and via this site.
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Have a great holiday weekend and drive wisely.
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Hike On!

Vacation Day

Another long distance hiker camped next to me at Mt Rose, I asked him what could I have missed. He loaded up on water for the dry stretch ahead.  His reply didn't come in the form of stuff but, in the mental game. Find the motivation with in, the next view, or a favorite jam on the tunes.
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I drove around to Echo Lake where I sit now.  Thinking, I could be done with this beautiful area.  I found a trail marker with both the PCT and TRT symbols.  The mental game.  How did it hit me?  Icy, fatiguing snow on day 2 coupled with three days of dry stretches, and the chaffing. The up hills wore me down too.  I loaded my phone with music but, one item I forgot, ear buds.  I think I'll throw a set into my food bag (I have plenty at home and none with me) so I won't forget them again.  I knew about the suck.  I even talked about the suck.  I didn't realize how the suck would actually come.  How can one be fully mentally prepared?
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I think back on my AT experience.  I can see how or why people drop out.  Their mental game wasn't there.  How then does one prepare for the mental game?  How was I ready for it then? I'll look for an answer another day.
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I'm chillin Lake side for now.  No day hike gear with me.  At this point, if I had it, I may go too big for the day.  I see snow only way up there, the passes I fretted about now may be clear, than again maybe not.
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I pass on.  I play the tourist thing for a while.  Stopping at Emerald Bay View.  The road from there north is packed with cars in No Parking zones for an easy mile. I look at the beauty from the road at 35 mph.
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Just inside the next town area, I see a backpacker, poles strapped to the rucksack with his thumb out.  Viewing the gear from a distance I can tell the difference between homeless and hiker.  I pull over. Through idle chit chat he tells me two days ago he got lost going over Dick's Pass.  He stated he knew the area and kept going when he should have turned around.  The snow still covered the upper reaches of the region. I dropped him off at the transit center in Tahoe City.
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My doubts of bailing still play on me.  The route I would have taken would put me on a treeless path up and over then sideways down a mountain.  I can read a map and the terrain. I can put them together. I'm not sure how well over a long distance of what's required for Dick's  Pass. With the trail being under the snow still, though it's been done by couples and with folks with GPS units, solo and without technology, I'm still glad I didn't carry on.
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I turned up Brockway Summit and found some random narrow paved road.  At the top is an old fire lookout on Martis Peak. Inside some drew the ridges coresponding to the matching view.  Truckee airport to my south west, Twin Peaks to the south, Mt Rose not visible. Freel Peak to the east, snow covered.  1/2 mile below is where the TRT tags this road and then turns.
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This hike is 4, 3 day weekend hikes strung together. Looking at my drive I can see points of better resupply and another layer or two of research into long distance hiking the need to find bus routes or Uber fares, the quality of grocery stores, etc. What surprises me is how different one area is from the next there is little uniformity. Would carrying 5 days supply be better than 3 and 2 respectively? Hum, how do each of the communities help hikers or other visitors? How did they set themselves up originally and how did they change when the times required them to? That's not a question for me to explore yet, gives inside to how different these communities are.
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This campground is one of the few not overflowing.  It's a gem 20 minutes away from the lake. The view for the walk in sites are worth while. As I write, now closer to dark, my area is filling up.  I'll have the hum of traffic to lul me to sleep. It will be strange to put on cotton in the morning for the drive home.  Clean clothes after a week of wearing the same.  Did I tell you about my socks wanting to hike out on their own?
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I haven't spent much time on the Internet.  I see a thick layer of haze over Elko.  Are there fires burning in California?  When I get home I'll catch up on the news, for now I'll enjoy another cloudless sky with a bit of breeze.
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Hike On!
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Day 6, a debate

The family I thought were staying, didn't. It occurred to me about half an hour later that since Mom & Dad had hike the PCT and they ate dinner around 4 pm, they were busting out a few more miles for the day.  This got me thinking, what am I not doing? I've counted my gear weight, weighed my food, and planned.  I'm in good but not great shape yet by the end of my day, I'm spent. I've culled my gear list again. A few things crept into the pack at the last moment.  Am I missing something fitness or nutritional?  Is it not anything of the above but something in my head?  Hum, points to ponder as I set out today.
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What one may call lovely weather in the 70's and 80's, I call a bit warm on the mountain.  I've got to remember this the Tahoe Rim Trail.  Rim being the key word.  I've got to hike up to the ridges and down into the passes.
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Drink mix, that's what I want to add to my food bag.  Plain water isn't so tasty now after coming from a creek, through a variety of plastics, and into a dry mouth.
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I've stopped momentarily at Twin Lakes.  Dry, bone dry. It's a field of grass with some granite boulders in the middle.  Glad I topped off at Marlette's pump last night.  I put a couple of tea bags in one for variety later today.
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The debate still rages in my head about finishing now but, my heart isn't in it any more.  The snow on my second day, on going dry spots, and one or two the things are weighing in on the finish another time.  Would I say I failed? By any means, No.  I've made some adjustments along the way.  I've realized there's  a few more skills to learn, and somethings to work on at home that will make the next hike, even a weekender, better.
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I've noticed when I blog first my journal is dry.  When I journal first my blog is dry.  When I mix blogging into my day both are well accented.
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I'm at Mt Rose Campground.  I just cracked open my second jug of gatoraid, lemon-lime.  Yesterday, I'd bought a small one for $5 iced or steaming hot and enjoyed it just the same.  I've got most my gear spread out, inspecting it, and letting it air out. I keep thing what would I drop away? Sorry, the Emberlit does not meet my need.  My tiny handheld radio is gone too.  An extra spork, how'd that get in here?  My red down puffy is on th balance.  Yes, it's more than required for this week but, last week it was the right choice.  I brought a bit of light reading if, you can Francis Schaeffer light.  Clothing wise, one cannot beat DarnTough foot wear, err socks.  Worn 6 hiking days strain and this morning they wanted to hike on their own.  Not a blister on foot or crusty spot on them.  I'm not sponsored by them, I Wil buy them over another brand for how they treat my feet. My Olympus camera didn't like my Goal Zero battery.  I barely got here on one charge.  Not bad but not as many photos either.
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Gear, err, food.  I'm eating bonelss chicken wings for dinner.  Looking I to the future, less candy bar like food and more homemade stuff packed with more nutrition.  Also make some that just needs water added, hot only if one wants a hot meal.
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Couple of cool things happened enroute today.  I meet up with the couple from Painted Rocks.  They'd come through the Mt Rose Wilderness following in the foot steps of someone who knew the trail. Mt Rose Wilderness still had significant snow.  Also caught up with the two ladies I meet south of Watson Lake. They skipped Mt Rose.
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The debate is do I stay one more night and enjoy the area with a drive around the lake though 4th of July business is crowding the population areas or do I bail out tomorrow.  Finally, do I call in for work next week or just take the full time?
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I have some time to pick up one of the sections I've missed however, I'm raw from chaffing and really don't want to hike up another hill.  Who wants to hike Mt Timp?  I'm in shape for it and I'll do it with a day sack not the Cadillac.
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This gatoraid taste good, second only to Marlette Campground well water.
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Hike On!

Day 5, I'm thirsty

I awoke to something crashing around.  I let it be for a while.  I finally gave in, looking outside I see a big ol buck between me and my food bag.  Since I was up I got up.
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Packed some and the got out to the rocks for billion dollar sunrise.  Fire from the horizon lit my sky and climbed.
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Knowing I had miles, I got on the way.  Down was nice.  At Spooner Summit I must have missed a water pump some where for down to the lake I went. Gross! I've seen some nasty water but this I'll leave it at this goose poop refill.  I spiked my water with AquaMira and got on the way.  I do use the original  Sawyer filter as my inline filtration.  Dip and go, filter with each sip.  Now, I want to add a carbon flavor filter, read on.
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Tung sticking to my mouth dehydrated, I avoided drinking this water load I scooped.  Eventually, during on of my breaks I broke out the Gator aid power chews and chewed while sucking on the water.  At that same location is a patch of snow. I made snow angles and laid back til my back got numb.
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I got on with it again.  More of the same but this time down hill for 4 miles.
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Got to Merlette Campground.  Found a spot, and went looking for the pump.  It was hard to move.  I went looking for another water source.  By the time I returned a couple of ladies had used limp balm to grease it.  Water never tasted so good, cold, or refreshing. An official sign stated good to drink from the pump.
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After they left, I cleaned up a little. And drank more.
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I fired up the Emberlit stove for tea.  Feeding the fire takes too long to boil water.  If you want my honest opinion, message me.  What I see for my needs may not be your's.  If I express my opinion here it will not take into account of what your needs are.  Also if you get a Chinese knock off of the SnoPeak pocket rocket, get 3.  Try them and throw the 2 bad ones away.  Guess why I didn't do when I got mine?
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So I've been sitting around kicking back for a time.  Chasing the sun with the solar panel and a jug of tea for tomorrow's hike out.  I'm still debating if I go all out or fall short a mile or two and finish.
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Even though today I've been thirsty, I've also wrestled with chaffing.  Looking at the ridgelines around I can see my second day area is nearly clear and the same goes for the rest.  I am good on time however just cause I can see clearing ridgelines does not mean they are. Chaffing over clearing snow is more for the factor.  If you've never wrestled with this, you are lucky.
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Looks like to night will be good around here.  A small family is on the far side, a brother and sister are out before he goes to am Africa with the Peace Corps, and the rodents want our food. Speaking of food Knorr Sides of Stoganoff is on the menu.
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Hike On!

Day 4, A New Adventure

I awoke to predawn colors of the Tahoe Basin.  City traffic reached my ears.  I got up, packed, and headed down in search of breakfast.  At the nearest grocery store I stopped to wash my face, grab a snack, and asked for the best breakfast joint.  I was pointed towards the center of town.  In retro spect I could have grabbed something there.
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I found a coffee shop.  Asked the batista what's good for breakfast.  He gave a lame, 'I don't know' response. I got a big cup of drip and a breakfast burrito.   The burrito Filling and the coffee, meh.
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I grabbed the next bus towards Incline Village only to chat with the driver I was going the wrong way.  He put me on a counter clockwise bus.  Next thing I knew I was waiting at the end of the line for an hour for the Trolley.  And connecting to another transit center to get up to Kingsbury where I plan to resume my journey.
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This entry is choppy as I'm doing it in pieces.
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After 4 buses, I got to sbury Grade and my resupply is not here.  Thank you US Post Office for saying 'y3s, it's delivered' and the fellas at the Market said, 'who?'
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I grabbed a couple of tacos, local style, from the Smoke House.  Drop my belly off here.  If I was to stay, the brisket would be plated.
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Time to hike again, 2:30...
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I'm rounding out today's adventure dry camping on the north side of South Camp Peak.  Before I left one of the transit centers I topped off on water in a 1 liter gator aid bottle and the other two containers.  Essentially I've got 3 1/2 ltrs with me between Kingsbury Grade and Sponer Summit trailhead.
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The spot I have, how can I brag?  I have a top floor hotel room with a billion dollar view.  How I'm posting vis email will not let me post photos.
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On my way here, I met 2 folks of the AT class of 15.  And another couple.  Both separated by a few miles.  I relayed what I learned yesterday.  They shrugged it off.  From my view here, I can see Freeland Pass and it is anything but impassable without microspikes.
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Even with this awesome view, I chose to eat a cliff bar and a single of spam.  I know, I should be an ace in the back country culinary arts by now.  I am enjoying a breeze which is Colin off the peppermint tea.  My tent is out of the wind zone tonight.
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In the mornin' I am so looking forward to this sunrise but I'm facing the wrong way.  You put the heel of the shelter into the wind when possible. I've got a stunning still.
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I'll head towards Merlette Lake 12 ish miles away and debate if I finish there or try to hike another 6 to get out of the State Park and camp.  This particular place makes one stay at designated camp grounds.
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What a day.
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Hike On!

Day 3

Day three is when the suck sets in.  Everything is sore from the soles of my feet to my attitude.  Granted at the first of the morning I was a mere 27 miles or so into it.
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I came up to Watson Lake by 10:30.  I thought about calling it a nero.  After looking at the campsites, I chose not to and decided to head for a creek down a fire road near Painted Rock. That would give me, oh, 12 miles for the day.
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Just south of the awesome view photo I posted on social media, I met some clockwise thru-hikers.  They gave me the data on the next two sections of trail.  Dicks Pass which is between Tahoe City and the PCT is impassable without microspikes.  I'll need to pick up that section.  At Painted Rock another set of clockwise thru-hikers said Freeland Pass was impassable.  These two had met some PCT class hikers, meaning they had hiked the PCT previously.  Okay, more detours to plan.
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I did say Day 3 sucks.  Well to add to the trail conditions, I missed the road with the water.  I met 3 weekend hikers who said they'd just come up Twin Craigs.  So short on water I asked the next set if there was water ahead.  One described a spring next two two fire roads.  I thought surely the weekenders had misplaced themselves.
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I took photos along the way, found the water, and looked at the map.  I'm a mere 1/2 mile from town.  The plan now is constantly evolving.  At first it was to head to Kingsbury Grade, pick up my Vox and hike North.  I still have two days of food in my pack.  I haven't eaten much in the last three days.  Literally, the bag I had at my desk on Wednesday and a couple of Mountain House dinners.
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Now I sit to dine on a Mountain House breakfast and sip tea.
Later, I'll look at the days I plotted for KG to Mt Rose.  Can I SoBo on what I have or do I suppliment and return for my box before I leave.  I'll need to pick up the southern half at a later time.
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Yeah Day three sucks but I'd rather have it suck than everything to be ideal.
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Hike On!

Snow Up High and Miles Below

I'd did say I hate wind, yesterday, right?  Well the wind and I slept together.  The for cast said it was to die down. It didn't until morning.  The stakes held.
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I called it early.  I woke to a sky full of stars.  The next time I rolled over the moon was out.  I flopped to sleep on my otherside.
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Morning came.  I packed what I could what I could before having to actually get vertical. Once outside I made quick work if getting ready.  What I didn't do was hydrate nor eat much.  This would bite me later.
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The slope I fretted about the night before went to nought as the trail cut a different set is switchbacks.  Still took a while to get up the slope.
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Most of the morning I spent relocating the trail from under the snow.  I'd look for other foot prints, clipped trees, corridors of any kind.  I was either on a Ridge or just below it, all above 9,500.
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Needing water, since the next 20 miles are dry, I dropped into Grey Lake.  Grey Lake is around 10,000.  It's not even camp able yet for the snow.  I got what I needed.  I did say Lake of hydration and nutrition bit me, here it did.  I took deep breaths, drank a little but not enough.  Light headed, I knew I needed to descend.  I got out of the bowl.  Aimed myself towards trail looking territory and got below 9,000.
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This section is dry.  I got 2 1/2 litters.  Initially for the day I was going to call it short of the highway but I chose to press on.
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There's a utility project going on up and over Brockway Road.  Pausing at the escort through this section I asked a mountain biker if he had water at his vehicle.  I figured since he passed me going up, coming down was a sure bet he parked at the highway.  By this time I was down to 1 and a bit litters.  After the highway I've got another 7 miles before the next water source.  Mountain biker dude, thank you.
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I think I've pulled a 20 miler today.  I'm beat.  The snow crossings sucked from where's the trail to, I'm glad this snow has foot holds already.  Then this dry section.  Tip, drink before you get thirty.
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Since I planned extra time on this leg for snow crossings and I'm done with them for now.  I may take a Nero (low miles)at Watson Lake.  I'll drink up before I leave there and camp outside of town before my first resupply day.
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I'm gona enjoy a Mouthing House and a cup of tea now with my private view of Lake Tahoe.
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Hike On!

Day 1

Where do I begin besides leaving home before the traffic began to build for rush hour?
I got to Incline Village by 2pm so I hit the trail early.  This is good as the camp ground I wanted to stay at still isn't open.  I put an extra days rations I to my pack and left the car behind.
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Some ladies coming down said they had to us GPS to find the trail in places.  I have a map & compass.

I pushed through Galena Falls.  And met my first trail junction.  I stopped.  Snow, not just a patch of snow but a trail full of it.  I did my best to look for the trail in between the snow patches.
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I decided to call it a day with plenty of day light left.  I gathered some water for filtering.  I gathered sticks  for the Emberlit stove.  I set camp in a rocky, poor holding tent stakes soil.  I just found a few big rocks for the tent stakes.  Did I say it's windy where I'm at?  Yeah windy.  I hate wind.
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I started a fire quickly, adding sticks until my pot of water came to a boil.  This took a long time.  Just as I was ready to use it.  I tipped it over... bawha!  I ate a big spoon of peanut butter and a couple of tortillas instead.
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Looking at the trail from where I'm at.  Zoom in on the tracker and you may see a power line near by going to a communication tower.  Tomorrow Begins finding some trail of switch back nature under patchy snow.  Hence why I stopped here.
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Maybe I should have stayed at the falls.  It wasn't windy there.
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Hike on!

Final Details

My goal was to leave right after work.  I said goal, only because I knew it wouldn't happen as the little details would need attention up to the last moments .  Final check the car, play with the electronics, clean the house, all needed to get done this week.
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One or two little huge details also needed to be resolved.  The itinerary is finally finalized.  I'm sending it to the ground crew tonight.  The final big concern, where to park, got tied up just yesterday.  Google Maps, as awesome as it is, does not cover all.  I played phone tag with one Tahoe area business which lead me to another which resulted in another call.  The final call put me in touch with a group that runs a State Park off the Mt Rose Highway.  Parking was a concern right feom the beginning.   I gave this group:s representative my plates and dates.  He also gave some final tips, thank you.
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The attached photo gives good reason not to trust Google explicitly. This image is from a dirt track off of Sheep Creek Raod, Spanish Fork Canyon.  Yes, I say this as I write a message on G-mail to post to Blog Spot, both Google products.  The key here is never stop doing research and to use a variety of resources in planning, stay flexible throughout the entire process ready to adapt even while executing the plan.
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My final, final items today will be to wrap up the ruck, pack the car, and to make sure I have not included any unplanned weight while not cutting myself short on needed items like fresh batteries in the SPOT and headlamp. Oh what else am I forgetting already?
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Hike On!

Preppin

I'm checking maps, running web searches for Sierra snow level reports, playing with gear, etc about the only thing I haven't done is put myself on a strict diet and push myself into better physical condition.  Soon, all to soon, I'll be on the road to a trail for a few weeks.  Can you guess where?

Planning and more planning.  I've cyber-hiked this trail on Google Maps 3d.  Now I finalize with lookin at snow reports feeding into the water report (several sections are dry, on these sections I'll need to carry enough water to get to the next source)and these feed into elevation changes and pack weight to compute miles per day.  I want to say I've hit 'gram weanie' level with the gear.  I've trimmed the tooth brush, my dentist want me to do this a long time ago but, I've done it to fit I'm my pack.  I've measured out how many 3/4 litter pots of water I can boil in my canister stove. I gave in, I got an Emberlit wood camp stove for burning bio-mas (sticks).  I don't have to carry fuel, but I am.  I don't want to wait for coffee to boil in the mornings.  Why the concern for weight? Heavier equals slower.  On the day hike trails I'm quick.  On the overnight trails, I'm up to 15 miles per day over semi rugged terrain for a day with a 25lb pack.  I haven't done any multi-day hikes since the last long trail.  The lack of multi night outings I hope does not become my bane.

There are several things on getting ready for this trail that are an itch I'd like to resolve for others making plans for the hike around the blue jewel of the West.  First, plan an extra day to pick up the Desolation Wilderness Permit.  The Forest Service is serious about not issuing it before their two week window.  There is an office in Incline Village at the old library for those who choose to start a way from Tahoe City.  Second, don't shoot to hike this trail at the end of June on an average snow year.  I'm two parts confident I'll hit long stretches of snow.  I'm taking this earlier then recommended more for the ability to score the length of time off from work needed.  The water report needs to be taken into account around Tahoe City.  It's projected to be wet North Bound (NoBo) going into town and dry until Watson Lake and with a full 2 1/2 day resupply, okay that's 5lbs of food with 6 or more pounds of water.  FYI, on planning, I am starting at Tahoe Meadows in the North East corner.  Next, get the National Geo map of the area.  I do have Blackwoods Press TRT Pocket Atlas, it however is not printed on water proof paper.  These two map resources are the same ratio 1:63,360. Lastly,  get in trail shape with a few over nighters to be knowledgeable of what one can realistically do.  I'm coming off a desk and will be headed back to a desk.  I won't even get my trail stride before sitting back down. On the Appalachian Trail, I admired the section hikers, they were tough knowing that they were out for a sore time, year after year to finish the 2187 (odd) mile AT. This is an easy trail to plan for, go for it.  Dream Blue...

On my web searches the photos of this trail are stunning.  My north bound leg will share tread with the Pacific Crest Trail.  I've got several friends from the AT on the PCT.  I may not see them or if I do see a NoBo they may or may not know where my friends are.  I looked seriously at a counter clockwise (CCW) hike to put me South Bound on the PCT to increase my chance of crossing paths with NoBo's.  I want to find out more about their adventure beyond reading blogs and looking at Instagram photos.  As I'm writing this blog, I may head the other way around.  Out of Tahoe Meadows is MT Rose which I want to hit but not on my first day. I may take an extra day after completing the Rim.  The counter clockwise route puts Watson in the morning, a stealth site for camp outside of town, and a resupply of 3 1/2 days with good water out of Tahoe City.  Can anyone see my dilemma?  Okay, I've still got time to hash out version 8, 9, and 10 of this hike.  CCW would get me SoBo on the PCT and easier dry stretches with harder up hills. Umph!

I'm sure my immediate workmates are ready for me to be on the way or find another hobby.  The Boots McFarland comics are definitely a good rendition of my planning and execution of this adventure.  If you want to get notified of when I post, in the upper right corner of this page is a subscription link.  I haven't figure out how to link Instagram to feed into Blogger's format.  If you aren't on Instagram, no worries, it's another social media feed which resembled an older version  of Flickr.  I plan on writing every few days and for personal security post later.  My parents will know where I am at thanks to their little friend, SPOT, a satellite beacon I carry.

My pre-hike jitters are long gone.  I'll admit, I am already looking forward to the next long distance hike.  Things I am considering are other two to three week ventures, mainly late spring or early summer, resupply options.  I want to some how career track hiking along with work along with other things of life.

I recognize I mention other things in my last post.  There is a church out of Kalispell MT that wants to bring a campus to Utah, FreshLife.  There are also other solid Christian churches in Utah as well as other remote campuses.   If one church does not fit your style, look for another.  As I hike I realize my style of hiking is not for everyone.  I enjoy sharing by writing.  I did not get here by saying, I am a long distance, light weight hiker.  I got here first by being introduced to hiking by my Dad, Happy Father's Day.  Thanks for getting me out and about.  Then I was introduced to backpacking in Cub Scouts but, I really contribute it to a friend's Dad who took us to Grand Daddy Lake in the High Uinta's as Boy Scouts.  This hiking life is a progression.  Don't let anyone or anything hold you back from exploring the mountains, career, or faith.  The Trail will provide and when it doesn't one adapts, it's the same with life.

Hike On!

Loop Time

A discussion with a work mate on Tuesday made me glad I hadn't gone to the Uinta's.  A quick look at the forecast and at the maps, I decided to head up to, rather down to Sheep Creek Road and do a 20 mile loop in preparation for my vacation.  It'll be good.

Since I went to a Singles BBQ, I hit the road and on to the southern end of Sheep Creek around 9 am, it's a little more than an hour away.  I parked at Second Water, hike down to Fifth Water Trailhead, up passed the hot springs (complete with dogs in the water) passed a few more water falls, and across Sheep Creek Road.  I stopped for lunch.  Looking at the map and the time, I decided to press on.

At the top of 5th Water, I turned south towards 2nd Water.  5th and 4th Water canyons had good spots to camp but I decided to see what it took to do a long day.  Along the south bound portion, I played leap frog with a family of Trail riders on motor cross bikes.  Eventually they passed me for good.

I took a break at all the creek crossings on this leg.  Made good time.  Ironically, I'm at the same site I was last weekend.  Tomorrow's a short day maybe 2 miles to the car.  By my estimate, 18 miles today.  I chose not to stop at the hot springs to soak, also bathing in sulfur infused water is not my thing. I like my miles.

My thoughts today are not on the chafing, side note don't use hand sanitizer to clean that stuff, nuff said.  I'm sure there is a warning about rubbing it over chapped skin somewhere .  Thoughts aren't on the vacation, which is rapidly approaching.  It's on something completely different.  A Christian Church from Kalispell MT wants to plant a church in SLC.  I am a Christian.  I served as a missionary, cooking for a particular sea going organization, for many years.  I asked on of the team members from MT, why SlC.  His response 'an area can never have to many churches'  I stayed for the rest of that interest meeting.  I've gone to a few more meetings.  Would my readers mind if I added more to my blog besides hiking and more hiking?

Sorry about not following through with the last entry of doing an out and back on the Great Western.