reticent behavior

White Mountain Peak

2014-09-03T13:54:00.002-04:00

We planned a weekend in the White Mountains with an ascent of White Mountain Peak. After a drive up on Friday we slept at the busy campground at 8,500' to better acclimatize. White Mountain Peak sits at 14,252' and we needed to ensure that we would not hurt ourselves by ascending too rapidly. All the pictures are clickable for a larger version.

After sleeping in we spent the day in the Ancient Bristlecone Forest slowly progressing higher.

Our second camp was on a very exposed pass where the trailhead usually is. When we arrived we were greeted by the full effect of the winds we had been experiencing all day. Everyone there struggled to put their tents up in the wind.

I chose this weekend in particular due to the fact that twice a year they open the gate and allow people to drive all the way up to the research station at 12,500' and cut four miles from the round trip.

The University Of California operates a high-altitude research station here.

Because of the open gate, we saw people who, otherwise, probably wouldn't have attempted to summit the peak. There were several who were less prepared than this guy. At least he's wearing synthetics and not jeans and sweatshirt. (We saw those people too.)

Looking across Owen's Valley at the Sierras

Deep blue skies at 14,000'

Daisy was a hit and though she was tired, she was a trooper.

Looking back across the route up.

Looking out over Nevada and Death Valley

Barcroft Station and the road in

White Mountain as seen from Bishop, Ca

We descended from the peak into Bishop for a late lunch and then headed over to the Palisades for a relaxing night in the trees.

This is what happens when you combine Hipsters with backpacking. I swear that this picture was taken recently and not the '70s.

Ancient Bristlecones

2014-09-03T12:54:00.001-04:00

It is this xeric alpine environment that the world's oldest living tree lives. The exact location of the tree is kept hidden to protect it from vandalism. However, you can walk in the Methuselah grove which contains the 5064 year old tree and look on on wonder at the twisted gnarled burls that are bristlecones. The trees are beautiful. As always, the pictures are clickable for a larger version.

I visited here twice this summer. Once with Emma and another with Anna and Daisy on our way up White Mountain.

There is a beautiful visitors center that contributes to the stewardship of the trees and serves as a launch point to the 10,000 foot and the 11,100 foot groves. There is a pleasant 4 mile trail through the trees.

Across from the Palisades, this dry mountain range looks and feels nothing of its westerly cousin. The White Mountains primarily made up of sedimentary rock whereas the Sierras are granitic in nature. It is a harsh environment which these trees thrive in.

The Palisades - Home of the southern-most glaciers in North America.

Safari in South Africa

2014-02-09T18:46:00.001-05:00

Continuing our journey from Cape Town, we hopped onto a plane for a short trip back to Johannesburg and then another plane onto Kruger National Park where we boarded a bus to our final destination.

It was a neat experience looking at the country side filled with tree farms and banana plantations while listening to our bus guide explain things about the local area to us.

We met our guides at the soon to be opened air strip within the park and headed off to the lodge. We would travel in these Land Rovers for the next few days.

Our room was actually a well appointed bungalow that overlooked the Sand River. We had a front door view of the wildlife.

Our first game drive was slated for 4:00 pm, and we were to meet our Rangers and Trackers in the lodge. Upon returning, we were greeted by a herd of elephants grazing on the riverbank right next to the lodge. For the lodge workers, this was just another Friday. For us it was amazing!

We soon loaded up in the Range Rovers and headed off.

African Fish Eagle

Kudu

Water Buck

Crocodile in the rapids.

Beehives are used to measure the health of the park's plant life.

We stopped every day right around sunset to enjoy tea, cocktails, wine, and snacks.

Here's a Giraffe for my dad!

Impala

This is what we did for 4 hours on the drive: Driving

The next day we were awake at 4:45 where we had a quick tea and coffee before heading out for our first drive of the day. I took the opportunity to grab pictures of the lodge.

Tree with Orchids.

Leopard


Impala.

Hippopotamus

Here, we are disembarked from the Land Rover looking at a White Rhino.

We had the chance to walk a bit closer to get a better view as he was cooling off in a mud wallow.

Daily temps ran into the 100s. When we checked in the day before, it was 116. By the time we stopped in the morning, it was already in the mid-90s.

This is where an Elephant took a dirt bath.

White Rhino

Zebra

Outside the bungalo

Nyala

Orb Weaver nest

Southern Yellow Billed Horbill. (Zazu from The Lion King)

Tortoise

Lion Tracks

Scrub Hare

Occasionally Jason, our ranger, and Emmanuel, our tracker, would leave the vehicle in search of animals.

Great Ibis

Lion cubs

Male Lion

We drove around the corner and came upon the Sabi River Pride

Baboon

For one night Anna and I stayed on a platform well away from the lodge. We were 40 feet up in the air with no roof over our head. Situated on the bank of the Sabi River, we were joined by a few animals that night. We had view of hippopotamuses, and heard the baboons and monkeys playing through the night.

Sunrise on the platform

We took off back to the eastern side of of the concession the next day hoping to rejoin the pride of lions we found the evening before.

A freshly killed Impala drug up a tree by a rather shy Leopard.

These two males were sparring. Clearly the larger one had the advantage, Jason said that it was likely a training session for the younger, smaller one.

Here's a video that Anna took of Giraffes Sparring

Off in the distance we heard a low rumble. A Buffalo was calling out; Jason and Emmanuel perked up as we knew the lion pride was still in the area. A coordinate effort between several rangers was had and after a few moments we were on our way, racing down the road. When we arrived we had just missed the takedown, but the buffalo was still alive. The lions were in the midst of a kill.

Link to video of the lion kill

African Fish Eagle

White Belly Bee Eater

Zebras

Impala

Guinea Fowl

That night we had dinner with our Rangers. The next morning the sunrise was beautiful.

Egyptian Swan

Spotted Hyena

Our last encounter with elephants was spectacular. We were driving down the road in search of a Leopard in the area when a herd of elephants happened upon us. With the vehicle stopped, they continued along their intended path and passed the truck on both sides. Had I been prepared for it I would have had my wide angle lens on, but since we didn't want to startle the animals all I could do was keep my long lens on.

Cape Town, South Africa

2014-01-30T23:39:00.000-05:00

Why would we travel 30+ hours half-way around the world? Why not!

The view from our room in The Table Bay Hotel.

Cape Town is the second largest city in South Africa, behind Johannesburg. Established in 1652 by the Dutch East India Company as a supply station, though remnants of civilization have been found dating back 12,000-15,000 years. European traders started to frequent Table Bay to as a stop along trade routes in the late 16^th century. Though steeped in rich history, it is primarily known for the abolition of apartheid in 1994 under the leadership of Nelson Mandela. We had three days in Cape Town – not nearly long enough to explore and really get to know this multi-cultural city.

Tourist paths, a restaurant, and crowds await you at the top!

Our time started with a visit to Table Mountain, possibly the most iconic sight in Cape Town, since no matter where you are, you can’t not see it! After an exciting drive we boarded the cable car and took the seven minute ride to the top. Panoramic vistas meet you and you can see clearly up 16 mile beach to Yzerfontein and down to Cape Point. We walked to the high point where the vistas stretch to the Cape Fold Belt ranges and the vast lands between. The plateau is about 2 miles long and maybe ¼ mile wide surrounded by cliffs on all sides. The rock that comprises the mountain is a type of quartzitic sandstone and is host to a diverse collection of flora which combined creates stunning views. On cloudy days the ‘table cloth’ orographic clouds form when the warm winds are forced up the slopes of the mountain into the cooler air. We were witness to this on our second day and it provided a beautiful backdrop to the city.

Panorama from the top of Table Mountain. From left to right are visible Lion's Head, Signal Hill, Robben Island, the Cape Town city centre, Table Bay, and the edge of Devil's Peak.

Vertigo Much?

We decided upon the 2 (ish) mile hike along the edge to the Beacon, where the highest point of the mountain is.

Alternatively you can hike from several trailheads to the Table Mountain plateau. This is the Skeleton Gorge trail and takes anywhere from 1-3 hours. It was too hot for us to hike this, though there was quite a few people trudging up the trail in the heat who were wrecked when they reached the mesa.

The marker at the junction of Skeleton Gorge and the trail that traverses the mountain.

Table Mountain has an unusually rich biodiversity. The mountain's vegetation types form part of the Cape Floral Region protected areas. These protected areas are a World Heritage Site, and an estimated 2,200 species of plants are confined to Table Mountain.


The Table Bay Hotel and The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

The upper part of the mountain mesa consists of Ordovician quartzitic sandstone, commonly referred to as Table Mountain Sandstone , which is highly resistant to erosion and forms characteristic steep grey crags.

It is surprisingly wet and boggy on the mesa and bridged paths are present in several places.

King Protea blossom. A species endemic to Table Mountain.

Maclear's Beacon. The highpoint of Table Mountain.

King Protea blossom. A species endemic to Table Mountain.

Looking South towards Cape Point with Constantia, Bergvlit, Denndal, and Vyrgrond in the foreground.

The anchor for the cable cars.

Rock Climbing is a very popular past time at the top of Table Mountain. No bolts are allowed and there are are several dozen established routes.

From the top Table Mountain we headed down and over to the eastern slopes to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Founded in 1913 to protect the unique flora of South Africa it was the first botanical garden in the world to have this ethos. It exhibits a large diversity of plants from South Africa’s regions in around 90 acres of cultivated land on a 1304 acre estate.

A flock of Guinea Fowl

Guinea Fowl

We finished off the afternoon with a drive by of Groot Constantia Estate for some wine. Groot Contantia is the oldest wine estate in South Africa, having been founded in 1685.

Our evening was spent at the Gold Restaurant where we experienced a 14 course meal and the flavors of Africa while being entertained by traditional dance and drumming.

Day 2

We awoke bright and early on our second day and had breakfast while watching the harbor come to life. Today we were to drive to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Bypassing the normal tourist traffic and buses we followed the Western coastal route through Hout Bay and through Chapman's Peak road.

West Fort at Hout Bay.

Hout Bay

Our drive down the coast included a short right turn exploration of one of the side roads in Hout Bay. The valley and area of this town is very beautiful.

Anna looking over Haut Bay from East Fort

East Fort, the site of these ruins, is the site of the oldest operating gun battery in the world. Established in the late 1700s to protect the bay and the gun emplacements below the fort ruins are still in operation, though only for tourist enjoyment now.

The Sentinal with part of Hout Bay village. Behind this rock outcropping is Dungeons, a famous big-wave surfing spot.

South of Hout Bay is one of the most beautiful drives in the world, Chapman's Peak Drive. It is a 9 km winding drive along the coast cut into the cliffs. Billed as South Africa's most innovated road engineering projects, there is no doubt that this road is anything short of amazing.

Our trusty Fiat rental.

Looking North towards Hout Bay

With the Atlantic ocean on one side and the walls of Chapman's Peak on the other, this spectacular drive was cut through the rocky precipice in 1915 and has been part of the scenery since then. Interspersed along the 114 curves of this road is picnic areas and pullouts for which you can enjoy the views. I would liken this to both the type of driving and scenery that you would encounter on the stretch of US Route 1 in Big Sur.

1) Dangerous curves ahead; & 2) Beware of Baboons!

Soon we had made our way to The Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain National Park

Our visit started with a pleasant drive through the park to the visitor's center. I was drawn to this pleasant looking grasshopper.

The view from your window.

The Cape of Good hope is known where two oceans meet, The Atlantic and Indian Oceans. It is a beautiful point and full of diverse plant life and full of wildlife.

Looking North from Buffels Bay

Baboons in the road.

A Bontebok.

The Cape of Good Hope is not, as some are mislead to believe, the southern-most point in Africa. That distinction belongs to Cape Agulhas 93 miles to the East. Rather, the Cape of Good Hope is where ships make their turn around the southern part of Africa and where the two oceans meet. We Spent some time on the cape walking around and enjoying the sights.

The actual point on The Cape of Good Hope

The adjacent rocky outcropping.

Anna and me with Cape Point and the lighthouses in the background.

Ostrich

Just around the corner you will find Cape Point which is home to the two lighthouses on the capes. One can get to them by walking up the hill or by riding the Funicular to the top. Anna had never been on a Funicular before so we opted for that option, also it was hot and we didn't like the idea of a hill climb in the heat.

The upper light house has bee in place since 1859, though it was superseded in 1911 with the building of the new lighthouse lower on the point. This, due to the inability to readily see the old lighthouse through the fog and, due to it's height on the rocks, giving a false impression of distance to the dangerous waters that lie around the cape.

The old lighthouse with WWII gun bunkers in the foreground.

The new lighthouse lower on the point. It has a 10 million candlepower lamp that is visible for 60 kilometers.

The Cape of Good hope with the old lighthouse in the foreground.

Anna on the Funicular

Drive Left!

We took another side excursion on the Shipwreck Trail. This trail followed a narrow path through some sand dunes and eventually ended up on a beautiful stretch of white sand beach.

The trail received its name from the shipwrecks that dot the coast line in the area. We only made it to one of the shipwrecks, where we explored the degrading metal structure and marveled in its decomposing beauty.

Whale Bone

Whale bone

On our way back, just before the ranger's quarters we encountered two Bonteboks.

Souvenir stands outside the park

We made our way back north to Boulders Bay, home to one of South Africa's penguin colonies.

The penguins seemed to like Anna and really didn't care for my presence.

Boulders Beach is separated into two areas. One for tourists, with handrail adorned boardwalks a few feet off the sand; and one for swimming, where there are no boundaries between visitor and penguin.

With the day slowly drawing to an end we took off once again back to the heart of Cape Town.

Castle of Good Hope

Gateway to The Castle of Good Hope

Nelson Mandela Museum

Bo Kaap street

Bo Kaap Street

Day 3

And on the third day, there was wine! See, even Nelson Mandela celebrated!

Actually, and to not be insensitive, this is the statue outside the main gate of Victor Verster Prision where Nelson Mandela spent the last two years of his imprisonment and where he was released from. I remember being witness to the changes in South Africa through the news as I was growing up and to be here was quite impressive. Our tour operator pulled off the road and haphazardly stated some facts about the statue we were witness to. Seizing the opportunity I ran out into the traffic lanes and snapped a few pictures. The raised fist is the symbol of solidarity and support.

Cork Tree adjacent to the Mandela statue.

Our first stop (real stop) of the day was to La Motte wine estate. Situated in the Franchhoek valley, this winery is a large scale production winery. The grounds are beautiful and the buildings are quaint with old world charm. We enjoyed the winery but the wines were nothing standout.

Our second stop was to a private tasting at a homely venue in a backyard tasting. The villa was quaint and the grass opened up to an orchard next to us. While the experience was pretty the wine wasn't too memorable, and as crappy as it sounds I can't remember the name.

We had some time afterwards to explore the village of Franchhoek, where Anna acquired her giraffe and we saw some old world buildings. The area was inhabited by the french at the turn of the 16th century and the architecture and buildings are reminiscent of that time.

Lunch at The Famous Franschhoek Pancake House.

The Giraffe

Church Bell

The Church

That evening after returning to Cape Town we took off to explore the waterfront.

The base of the seal statue outside of the hotel was encircled with the names of famous people who stayed at the hotel.


The Harbor Seal statue and The Table Bay Hotel behind it.

Table Mountain was recently added as the seventh natural wonder of the world. This is the National Geographic frame that people use to line up photos from.

Not in Kansas any more...

Clock Tower

Statues of South Africa's Nobel Peace Prize recipients

Street Performers

The lobby of The Table Bay Hotel

The Table Bay Hotel

The last three photos were taken at 4:00 in the morning as we were departing for the airport en route to Kruger National Park and our game drives.

Stay tuned for that post in a few days!

A Sespe Christmas with Bighorn Sheep

2013-12-30T01:55:00.002-05:00

It's been almost two years, Anna and I decided to head back to Sespe.

We decided this time to forgo the all-at-once slog and break up the 15-16 mile trip to the hot spring into two days. With the best alpine start ever, we secured our luggage for the rest of the trip in a storage unity in Ojai and were at the trail head at 2:00 where we started our adventure with a fast 8 mile hike. Our first night we stayed at Oak Flat where I made a poor campsite decision and put us in a spot that, now that it's winter, doesn't get sun at all during the day. This led the night to be cold, further promulgated by the ground never getting a chance to properly warm. It was a cold 25 degrees that night. We took an unusually long time to get ready the next morning.

Having regained the trail at 10:00 we started at a more leisurly pace knowing that we had all day to complete the rest of the distance to Sespe. We took a lunch break at Willet Hot Springs and took the opportunity to hike up to the tub. This spring is much more visited and though it was Christmas weekend there were two parties that showed up; too much for that small tub. It is a neat spring that is tucked up a hillside surrounded by willows and a few fresh water springs. Soon, though, we were on our way again along the Sespe river to our camp.

Willet Hot Spring

Sespe Hot Springs is the hottest hot spring in California, with a source temperature of 194 degrees (F). It isn't just a single source, but several springs in the valley that feed into a quaint yet hot creek. We set up camp in what I affectionaltely called the palm palace as it is the lone palm tree stand in an otherwise devoid of life valley. We came to find out on our second day that this particular palm stand with it's coarse sand floor is special. The tarp that usually protects the floor of the tent from rocks and sticks was transformed into a steam trap from the hot waters several feet under the surface. This caused our tent floor to be about 80 degrees and the inside of the tent to stay about 70 degrees. Quite an interesting cold weather camping experience!

We spent an entire day at the springs. Our first night, while taking some night sky photos I noticed a herd of sheep on the mountain side. I coudn't distinguish what they were at the time as all I saw was several eyes reflecting back at me. A few hundred feet beneath them I spotted another set of eyes moving in the talus. At first I thought it was a lone sheep that couln't find its way up the cliff. But as Daisy and I walked closer the shape became more apparant to me as a Mountain Lion. Daisy didn't see it, thankfully, but I kept my distance while observing it try to find a path up to the sheep. (Note: I have a 214 lumen flashlight that reaches at least 150 meters.) It was interesting to see, but Daisy and I retreated back to camp shortly thereafter.

Steam rising through the ground beneath the tent and trapped by the ground cloth kept the tent floor at 80 degrees. The tent stayed around 70 degrees, and the dirt was never cold underfoot.

The Palm Palace

The next day we were delighted when the entire herd (31 of them!) joined us in the valley. Anna an I left Daisy at camp and meandered up to them, sat on a rock, and watched for a few hours as they grazed, played, and sparred around us. At times a few of them were about 30 feet away from us. It was pretty awesome being surrounded by them. Anna and I were getting tired of the rock and being beat by the sun and took off back to camp. The sheep followed us down the canyon and Daisy was able to get in her first Bighorn Sheep sighting too!

Anna and Daisy watch the Bighorn Sheep from camp.

194 Degrees

Sadly, we had to leave Sespe and head back to civilization. Our intent was to hike near 10 miles then camp and then another 5; but it turned out that we were motivated to not freeze again and have a shower and a warm bed. So it was that we finished our time a day early and with a 15-16 mile hike out to the car.

A Government Shutdown. A hotspring. Solitude.

2013-10-08T01:56:00.002-04:00

During the Government Shutdown in October this year we decided to take advantage of the possible public interpretation that all of the federal lands were closed. This, however, was not the case and the National Forests and BLM lands remained open.

Knowing of Jordan Hot Springs located in the Golden Trout Wilderness within the Inyo National Forest for some time, and seeing that the weather was in our favor and the chance that the trails and camps would be empty, Anna and I set off from San Diego on a Friday after work and headed up the East Side to our home for the weekend.

We car camped on the desert floor just north of Ridgecrest. It was late and I didn't feel like navigating the mountain roads in the dark. Plus, I was a bit tired.

Off the beaten path.


Sunrise over China Lake

I called ahead, just before the shutdown and had a chat with the rangers about possibilities regarding a government shutdown and what it meant to us as users of the lands. While facilities such as ranger stations, campgrounds, and some fire stations were closed, the lands were open for use; unlike the National Parks just a bit north of us.

Not Maintained... As if pit toilets are maintained! HA!!

Our hike was backwards from a typical hike; or one that people normally associate trails with. We started at the top, near 8,900' and descended 2,500 feet over 5.25 miles to the hot springs at an elevation of 6,500.

The area has been inhabited for several hundred years but really came into light in 1860 during the gold rush in nearby Owens Valley. Trails were made and the area later was known as a haven for ranchers. The hot springs were the summer grounds for Native Americans and are still considered sacred by the descendants of the Tubatulabal tribe.

Upon the area being designated as wilderness in the mid-70s the resort that was erected in the early 1900's was partially dismantled. In 1990 the resort was officially disbanded and subsequently the lands were repaired to their original state. A few buildings and outcroppings remain but are closed to human occupation.

Remains of the sawmill.

A few hundred feet uphill from the old resort was were we camped. The ground was flat, and there was a small spring a few yards further uphill. I have read reports that most weekends there are 10-20 parties camped in and around the area. We were fortunate in only seeing two other couples - one when we arrived at the springs who left to the trail head soon after we showed up; and an older couple that arrived in the evening as we were wrapping up our soak. They camped across the valley from us and despite knowing they were there, we had the place to ourselves.

The springs aren't too hot, and the nearby creek provides cold water. The main pool is a bit over two feet deep and is about 110 deg. Though, you will find that the floor of the pool is actually a cold spring and the surface is warmed by nearby sulfurous warm water. It provided the right amount of warmth vs cooling. There are a few other pools by the big pool and 20 feet down stream is a small waterfall. A few yards downstream are some vents, but they provide such little water that they are only good for watching.

After our soak, Anna went back to the tent and I explored the buildings.

This is what appears to be a Sulfur stamp mill.

Wood-peg hinges on the doors.

The main pool in the morning light.

The hike out was a workout. We started in the peaceful island of the hot springs and worked our way uphill through a burned area and back into the trees.

And Daisy!!! This was our puppy's first backpacking trip. She handled it like a champ. She carried all her effects, food, and water... though, she had ample water to drink otherwise on the trail. Though a city dog, she has adjusted to the wilderness quite well on our day hikes and really took stride on this trip. Staying mostly between Anna and I on the trail, she was content with the trip and only stopping occasionally to investigate a scent in the duff or to pursue a squirrel, bird, or lizard.

We wore out the dog!

Additional Reading:
JORDAN HOT SPRINGS RESORT (CA TUL 500 H)
History Of Jordan Hot Springs

Desert Play, Sunsets, and a Super Moon

2013-06-24T16:04:00.000-04:00

Anza Borrego is an interesting place and one that Anna and I seem to find ourselves gravitating to a couple of times each year. It's a vast barren place with some interesting ecological and geographical zones. At 1-2 hours from home it's also a great place to just escape the city for a day.

We headed out to play in the heat (no, seriously!) and visit one of our favorite spots, the mud caves. Living right on the coast is neat and I surely don't complain about the constant 70-ish degree weather, but the desert is HOT right now and that's what we wanted. The allure of the caves and the slot canyons adjoining them is that they are cool on the inside.

Illuminated only by flash light you are welcome to explore them at your own risk. The caves, located in Arroyo Tapiado, were created by water flowing through a thick deposit of silt. The ground material in which these caves were formed is comprised of gypsiferous claystone, known commonly as mudstone. These psuedokarst caves were formed during periods of rapid drainage when water flowed through subterranean tributaries.

Park ranger have discouraged visitors from exploring the caves due to fear of collapse or the possibility of someone falling into a sinkhole, although there is ample evidence that most of the visible caves are frequently entered.

Some are tight squeezes requiring you to crawl, grovel, and contort your body through them; while others are cavernous with great roofs (one is approximately 100 feet tall) and intersecting channels. The biggest cave is over 1,300 feet long. Occasionally there are skylights, but otherwise it is silent and dark.

The terrain above the caves is somewhat surreal.

There is a cave under this valley!

Looking up Plunge Pool Cave

We then drove over to Font's Point to watch the sunset and the Super Moonrise before heading home.

Sunset over the Borrego Springs badlands

Little Five Lakes - Mineral King, SEKI

2013-05-30T23:52:00.004-04:00

Mineral King. The name alone without knowing the area brings ideas of a stately place full of grandiose and splendor. After all, the Walt Disney corporation had once secured rights to the area to develop it into a world-class resort. Opposition presented itself in unusual ways and the area was introduced to the National Park Service in 1978. Just think of what would have been had the area been developed...

It seems that our Sierra journeys are slowly working their way South. Last year we were in Kings Canyon and we have progressed slowly southward seeing the various valleys on the West Side of the Sierras. A few weeks ago we were in Redwood Meadow enjoying the early spring and talking of our pending trip to Mineral King and Little Five Lakes.

I was tipped off to the area by a co-worker of mine who ventured into the area a few summers ago. I did some research and was intrigued by what I saw. There are tons of trails in the area and loops that can accommodate trips of varying lengths and views.

Our trip was simple to follow and one with the shortest daily mileage we've had yet. We were to take the counter-clockwise loop so as to miss the steep unrelenting uphill over the Great Divide at Black rock pass.

....................

We took off Thursday right after work. The plan was to get up there, crash in the Esuvee aka the R.V. aka the car and get to the trailhead on Friday.

The road into Mineral King is a beautiful drive up a windy, sometimes paved, and narrow mountain road. We got to the ranger station, got our permit and headed over to the trailhead where I fortified the car for our trip...

Fortified? Why, you ask? Well, Mineral King is known for its Marmots at the trailheads eating your cars. Specifically, they seek out and destroy the hoses that connect to your coolant. Somehow they are immune to the concoction of chemicals that keep your engine cool; however, they have a thirst for the fluid. So, it is advised that you anticipate this and protect your vehicle from it. (We didn't know, either, until I stumbled across the stories while researching the trails, trailheads, and trip reports.) Anyway... having seen several designs and not wanting to be stuck with the hefty towing and repair bill I concocted the idea behind my Marmot-Defence 9500, a hybrid of the tarping and fencing. Hopefully this will keep the little critters out!

Marmot-Defence 9500

After the car was secured, we said our farewells to the trailhead marmots and started off up the trail to Sawtooth Pass.

Silver was discovered here in the 1870s and a rush to the area occurred. In 1873 the road was built and gradually improved over the ages. People came and went, the mineral rush never came as it was prohibitively expensive to mine the ore and the subsequent timber rush never came due to the costs in getting the lumber out of the valley.

Our hike worked its way up a well maintained trial through trees and the occasional snow patch. We were excited to see that we had 1 mile to Willow lake, but our excitement quickly diminished as we came upon the snowfield.

For the next mile I would chop and kick a path in the snow with my ice axe as we traversed the remaining part of the trail to Willow Lake. It completely wore me out; as I had ran out of water and was low on energy. Lunch was supposed to happen at the lake and what should have been a 10 minute walk turned into a 1h15m crawl as we progressed.

Willow Lake was a welcome relief. We were greeted by a playful and curious Marmot who wanted our food badly. As it was still early in the season they are out for food any way they can get it.

We had lunch and decided to push on.

The entire snowy traverse.

The books describe Sawtooth Pass as strenuous. We would definitely agree. It's a sand slog up a steep and unrelenting climbers trail. The legs were burning and we were both a little winded. The altitude was starting to play with us as well, as we had camped down by three rivers the night before and were now on our way up to 11,700 feet.

Sawtooth Pass Trail with the snowy traverse to Willow Lake in the background

Upon reaching the pass we were greeted with another 2 miles of slogging down snowy and icy slopes. Not feeling up to it, then, and knowing that camp would be on the saddle below us on the other side of the lake, we called it a night.

See the tent?

Perched on a flat spot at 11,700 feet our camp had a commanding view of the Mineral King Valley and the Kern Valley. We could see Mt. Russel and Mt. Whitney with it's adjoining peaks. Sadly neither Anna or I were in the spirits to trudge down the two miles of snow. Having spent the night not feeling well, and with us both out of water we decided to gracefully retreat back to the car.

Lunch with the Marmots again

We went down the old trail, so as to avoid the snowy sections. It was pretty.

We stayed at the campground across from the ranger station. A deer was present and wandering around the camp and the sunset through the trees was pretty.

The next day we took a hike up the trail towards Farewell Gap.

We then headed home tired, sore, and hungry. We will be back to this area for sure.

Sequoias, Deer, and Bears

2013-04-17T23:35:00.000-04:00

Oh, my!

It was time to return to Sequoia. See, there's a valley with a trail that I've been wanting to explore since I first set eyes on it 14 years ago. It never left my mind, but I just didn't have the time or motivation to do it.

I mentioned it to Anna while we were on a snowshoeing trip up there and next thing you know we're planning a weekend to Redwood Meadow, which does not contain Redwoods, but Sequoias! Redwood Meadow is one of the most isolated and least visited Sequoia groves in the park.

Getting there, however isn't as easy as driving and parking. The options are 15 miles on the High Sierra Trail, 10 miles from Mineral King up and over some passes, or 13 miles up the Kaweah River.

The first few miles are on a gentle trail up through Chaparral and scrub oaks. Thickets of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak abut the trail, and there was signed warnings of snakes and ticks!

After mile three the trail enters Oaked flats and transitions into more of a forest. The trail is well maintained and to my surprise there were real bridges crossing the creeks!

Well, all but one, but we were able to wade it with no problem. It was cold, does that count as a problem?

Our camp was situated a couple hundred yards from the yet-occupied ranger station and nestled in the middle of the Sequoia grove. We were surrounded by giant trees, deer, and - despite not seeing them - bears. There was signs that they were all over and recently near us.

The meadow was pretty and we planned in a day to just explore the area around us and take in the trees.

Did I mention it was my birthday??

See Anna's smile? It's a product from seeing her first bears in the wild. We came across a Sow and two cubs. I don't know who was more startled, Anna, the Sow, or Me. Anna let out a small yelp when I stepped aside and she saw them. Momma bear saw us, turned tail and ran away before I could get a photo. Still, it was a neat end to the trip.

A Return to Ladybug

2013-02-20T23:20:00.000-05:00

Feeling antsy and wanting to take off for a weekend Anna and I decided to revisit Ladybug Camp in the Sespe Wilderness. It is a great weekend hike and knowing that we did it a year ago and were dieing by the time we reached the pass it was also a good measurement as to how we've progressed physically since last year. The logistics were fairly straightforward, and since there is no permit needed for the area we were able to take off as we wanted. We followed the same trail as last year and saw the same things. The difference was that we were in better condition and the weather was a bit cooler, despite there being no snow on the ground.

Lunch was spent overlooking Ojai and Ventura. It was a bit foggy on the coast and the Channel Islands were poking out of the marine layer adding the illusion that we were high above the ocean.

We ran into this cute little fellow on the trail. At this point lizards were a dime a dozen and nothing too special, but I noticed this Horned Lizard hanging out on the trail and we were off to investigate this horny friend.

Anna had never seen one and was shocked when I picked it up and held it. He didn't run and seemed to enjoy the heat of my hand. I had to coax her to hold it, but when she realized that it was somewhat docile she was happy to have made another friend.

Camp hadn't changed much. There was evidence that horse packers were there and they left the place littered a bit. I spent about an hour picking things up and getting the fire pit back in order. It wasn't too bad but I like to leave things better when we leave than when we found it.

We schemed that night about the next day and decided that we would blaze down the trail and do the 14 miles to the trailhead as fast as we could; and then go get wine!

A Winter Road Trip

2013-01-03T19:19:00.000-05:00

Skiing in Utah

Ice Climbing in Ouray, Colorado.

Mesa Verde National Park

Four Corners, USA

Grand Canyon National Park
(whoever said it was hot there is a liar; it was -10F on New Years Eve!)

Zion - Fall Colors

2012-10-24T11:30:00.000-04:00

Zion.

There is something about the place the compels you to come back. Anna and I having a botched trip a bit over a month ago decided before we left that we were going to do the Narrows. Having secured profiles on the NPS reservation site we applied for whatever lottery spots we could. And to ensure we had a spot, regardless, we also put in for a permit for the last weekend the buses were running, just in case.

Turns out that we were smart to get the permit. And after confirmation and arranging travel to the trailhead we were off, again, for the 11 hour drive. Only this time we did it early in the day to accommodate for the need to get cold water protection. In the past 6 weeks the water temps lowered and the water levels have risen in the canyons.

The Narrows presents itself as a unique trail due to the fact that the river is the trail for the majority of the hike. There are use trails here and there in the banks but the majority of the hike is in the water.

Around every corner we were introduced to a new natural beauty. I could have stood and gawked at the sculpted walls for hours. But we had a campsite to get to before nightfall.

Hiking in half a wetsuit was something different too. Anna had not-so-dry dry-pants, but was warm none-the-less. There was s big difference between September and now. There was a huge lack of tourists below Wall Street.

2012-09-04T17:32:00.000-04:00

Zion. A serene, peaceful, and incredibly beautiful park. Well.... once you get away from the rest of the tourists. It's a place where you can get lost in time and feel no urge to do anything.

Unlike the Grand Canyon where you view everything from the top, in Zion everything is viewed from the bottom up. It causes the majority of the visitors to this wonderful park to be confined in the Virgin River gorge.

Anna and I took off on this trip with permit in hand and expectation to hike the Narrows. One of the classic hikes in America. It's a relatively straightforward hike and at 16 miles would be a simple one. Our only real objective hazard was the weather.

The weather.... When we pulled into the parking lot at 3AM to bivy outside the wilderness office all reports were that it may rain a tiny bit somewhere, and that the amounts were going to be insignificant enough to warrant cancelling the trip. This was one of those trips where I watched the weather like a hawk. We were prepared to bail on this one before we left San Diego.

At the Backcountry Ranger's desk in the morning the weather report called for potentiall dangerous conditions and the rangers, while not required to decline permits at that moment were strongly advising people from getting permits as the conditions were present to warrant enough risk to not go.

Reluctantly, and hesitantly, we decided to go the safer option and cancelled our trip through the Narrows. 11 hours of driving and all that anticipation was gone.

Now what?

Well, were were in Zion. It was beautiful, and the weather was superb. Off for some exploration!

We took the rest of the day to hike into the Narrows from the bottom. Getting into Wall Street was a highlight, if not because the amount of tourists dropped by a measurable scale every few hundred yards upstream we traveled, but also for the beauty.

I keenly eyed my barometer and looked continually for signs of a flash flood. We were spooked, but it turned out to be nothing as the weather held!

Angels Landing is a beautiful trail - rugged, and paved half-way up. I mean... you could get your motorized wheelchair up the thing if you were so inclined. Crowded as it was, the number of people quickly diminished as the sections became more exposed.

We spent time driving up to the highlands and seeing the rest of the road-access parts of the park. A highlight was driving through the 1.1 mile tunnel and seeing the abrupt shift in the geology in the higher region.

Zion... we'll be back!

Through The Sierras - Kings Canyon to Independance, CA -

2012-08-22T00:09:00.000-04:00

After months of planning and some hap-hazard training the trip I have thought about for several years came together. This spring Anna and I set in motion plans to traverse across the sierras from the West to the East. A trip that most hikers in this region associate with the High Sierra Trail.

After some pre-trip planning and coordination with my father, cousin, and a few friends who would embark on a separate trip from the East Side. We agreed to meet in the middle of the week at Lake South America. Anna, Bear, and I took off for a flight to her parent's in the Bay Area before a shuttle by them to the park for our drop off.

Getting the permit was a breeze as I called ahead for a late pickup. The afternoon we arrived we took off for a few miles until we were far enough in to camp for the night. Anna's parents joined us for the first two miles... until the hill started. It was a good thing as the trail abruptly left the valley and coursed its way up switchbacks until we were in the Bubb's Creek drainage.

Rain is a common theme in the summer afternoons in the Sierras. You can somewhat set your watch by them as it usually rains for a bit between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Sometimes a bit early and a bit later, but almost every day it rains. We passed a few hikers complaining about how it rained on them every day and it ruined their vacation. Having lived in New England for a few years I hardly think that an hour or so of rain is much, but others think differently. Regardless, Anna and I were prepared and expecting the rain.

Night one was spent about 6 miles up the trail away from the major confluence of people where trails merged. We had a beautiful spot right in the middle of the valley. That night upon inspection that I noted that we were right in the middle of a very active bear spot. I stashed the bear cans in a good spot and asleep we went.

The next day our destination was East Lake and we took off up the Bubbs Creek valley. It was beautiful!

Steep in sections, and flat-ish in others, but always up.

East Lake was a great spot. Nice and quiet. The fish were jumping; the deer were checking everything out. We had a beautiful sunset, and a quiet camp.

The next two days were off-trail and uphill all the way. What I had hoped to do in one day ended up being two due to terrain and weather. I underestimated the terrain, but we made it.

Camp night three was forced upon us as the rain came down. I was quick to put the tent up as Anna was frozen and wet. We were in a pretty spot at the base of Mt Ericsson, Ericsson Crags and the bottom of Harrison Pass.

Once the rain broke it ended up being a beautiful night. We had an abrupt awakening as somewhere in the cirque in the middle of the night a big rockfall happened. It sounded like a freight train of rock.

Day four and we tackled Harrison Pass. One of the more difficult passes in the Sierras. I swear (SWEAR) the map showed a trail up to and through the pass, but the past two days were entirely off-trail. Anna was a trooper, though, and made it. The boulders and scree were big and the sandy slope up the pass was steep.

The upper-most point of the Kern River valley. Close to camp for the night! (Well, about 2.5 miles, but it was mostly downhill from here!

Anna and Mt Ericsson

Spot the Mule Deer and her Fawn?

We made it to lake South America, where we would camp for the next two nights. It was nice seeing family and friends, and being able to share this spot with them. It was everyone's first trip to this lake except for my dad and me.

See Brad Fish? He's in the same spot that I caught one of my fish 20 or so years ago.

Mt Stanford in the background

Making water (well, purifying, really). One of the several necessary chores.

Day five Anna and I took off for a hike around the upper basin. Also, to find a lake for a bath. It had been a few days since being clean and we needed it.

The whole area is scattered with lakes and ponds ripe for exploring.

Day six everyone packed up and headed off for the three-day journey to the trailhead. While my Dad, cousin, and friends were off to another fishing lake, Anna and I took a detour down the Kern River valley for a bit.

It was here that Anna made a friend. This fat Marmot was as curious about us as we were it. Anna spent several minutes saying hi to this furry friend.

Mt Williamson in the distance.

Camp night six was in the high meadows on the West side of Shepherd's Pass. It was a good place and time to stop for the evening. Away from the crowds and in a beautiful place.

The view from our doorstep.

Day seven we made our way to Shepherd's Pass where we rejoined my Dad, Brad, Travis, and Bob. The past several days were spent at or around 12,000 feet and this would be the start of our decent. It was awesome to stand on the divide and look back across the Sierras and all the mountains we passed to get here and to look the other way and see civilization, even if it was 8,000 feet below us. The silver of Highway 395 far away was a welcome sight.

Camp night seven was at Anvil Camp. It was a short day, but one with needed rest. We were going to take off down the rest of the trail.

I have always gone both up and down the Shepherd's pass trail in the past and this was the first time that this was a one-way trip. I appreciate the trail more, now, having only gone down it. It is notorious as one of the (if not THE) hardest trails in the Sierras. It's steep and unrelenting. Going up you encounter a demoralizing set of ~64 switchbacks and then you immediately descend 500 feet before going back up again. The trail is steep all the way and at the pass is nothing more than a well used path through sand and scree.

Day eight we awoke to a beautiful sunrise and took off.

This is one of my most memorable trips anywhere. Anna did awesome and for her first big backpacking trip she did an impressive one. Next time we're going to limit off-trail days and the terrain that we go on for them.

After a good morning of down hill we made it to the trail head and Brad's truck and civilization.

Into The Ladybugs ~ April 2012

2012-04-10T16:33:00.000-04:00

Sespe.

We are back!

One of the folks we hiked with for a bit on our last adventure in the Sespe Wilderness was on his last leg of an impressive day trip from the trail head to Ladybug camp and back. This inspired some research followed by some planning and another weekend off in search of a neat destination. Ladybug Camp in the Sespe Wilderness.

We took off after work and bivied in the free campsite/trailhead and took off. Instead of an out and back we were going to do a loop. It turned out to be a beautiful place.

As it was April, the wildflowers were in bloom for us down low and hints of snow stuck in the upper recesses of the mountains. We would be on the border of the Condor Preserve and we hoped to see one of these majestic birds.

Day one was a big one for us. 11 miles of constant steep-ish uphill that we weren't too prepared for. The last 2.5 miles were downhill, but were just as bad as the up! The reward? Ladybugs everywhere! I guess I we figured out why it is called Ladybug Camp!

One of the highlights of the trip was coming across this tunnel on the trail. Apparently it is natural and was found in the late 1800s.

Cooling Off in Hot Water ~ Februrary 2012

2012-02-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

Go big or go home. We've all heard it here and there, now and again. The idea of hiking 15 miles in a day may seem ludicrous to some; to the hardcore backpacker or hiker it's a pretty good day; and to the elite 15 miles is just a warmup. Regardless, in my internet searching for a secluded hot spring to visit in Southern California I came across a promising destination. It's 15 mile one-way approach seemed like the perfect deterrent for those non-committed types. Add in another hot spring at the 10 mile mark to further tempt others to stop and Sespe Hot Springs was the perfect destination.

It started with an idea to start training for a trip into the Sierras this summer with Anna, my father, his best friend, a cousin, and his friend. It's never too early to start training; it's never too early to see what our bodies are capable of. I have been looking for a good moderate distance trail in San Diego County for a few months. There are many, many miles of trail systems out here and virtually endless possibilities in the Laguna Mountains, Anza Borrego Desert, and foothills in the area, but none of them seemed like a good kick-off-the-season hike. Then I stumbled across Willet Hot Spring. It was in the Sespe Wilderness which was a solid 4 hour drive from San Diego, being just a stone's throw north of Ojai which is a bit north of Ventura. Willet is 10 miles from the trail head on a relatively flat trail. Perfect, I thought.

Then I discovered another, more remote, undeveloped, pristine hot spring only 5 miles further. I instantly became obsessed. Reports were that Willet became crowded on weekends. The plan was to do this on a three day weekend. Yeah, Willet would be crowded, a premonition that became reality once we headed in. So it was set. Hike a draining 15 miles in on the first day, Saturday; enjoy the solitude of Sespe Hot Spring; hike over half-way back on Sunday; and pick up the rest on Monday and get home in time for dinner.

We got an early start from San Diego on Saturday morning and were at the trail head at 7:45. Hiking by 8.

The following is the journey of 15.5 miles and three days to one of the neatest hot springs I have ever been to; and Anna's first real backpacking trip.

Vents everywhere!

Camp was perched on the bank of the creek. Our own pool was adjacent to us.

Warm and inviting!

The source, seen here, is 190 degrees. I brought 6 eggs and boiled them in the scorching waters. I had one, Anna had the rest. They were soo good.

It was a fun first weekend of backpacking for me in a while, and Anna's first real trip ever! The 15.5 miles in a day was a bit ambitious for both of us, but we got there and back. Day three we were back early enough to get home at a decent enough hour to actually be human before work the next day.

My mountain life confession.

2010-11-09T16:07:00.001-05:00

I’ve been climbing for longer than I can remember; yet perhaps my reasons for doing so have varied over time. Early on, the simple practicality of it was to get out and enjoy the mountain lifestyle with my parents, but now there is plenty of evidence that I do it for the moments of exultation and sheer joy. To say that there aren’t moments of fear and timidity would be a detraction to the real dangers involved. Whether seeking out the easiest passage through mountain barriers or figuring out a perplexing puzzle on a sport route, there are indeed few in this world who may be tempted to clamber higher for no more reason than the thrill of the morning, or for elevation and prospect and the satisfaction of doing what few have done before. The few who understand this are climbers like me.

I have been inspired for this obsession by my parents and owe them for it. My first foray into the wild bounds and into the mountains started at six-months old, where secured to my mothers’ back I was taken into the Sierra Nevada and it was there among those mountains that my life, obviously, was forever influenced. The lunacy took hold, however, slowly at first but gathering momentum as I grew up. I distinctly remember reading and looking at my father’s Freedom of the Hills over and over, in amazement over the cartoonish diagrams and vast information contained therein, and secretly yearned to get out and experience what those cartoons were depicting. When given the opportunity I took it upon myself to experiment with various methods and slowly learned how to keep myself safe. I was young, naïve, and invincible; impervious to anything that would have killed me or caused me harm and every foray into the mountains was always about having fun and making the most of the moment.

A time came when I could see myself living in the hills free from the constraints of urban life, able to do as I pleased and go where I wanted to. The mountains, valleys, and great precipices were becoming my home. Then reality sunk in and I was off to become a productive member of society. It was here that I was able to fully embrace the climbing culture and slowly make my way through the ranks to the mediocrity of my life now. I tackle many climbing obstacles routinely though reaching the top of a mountain generates challenge and excitement, regardless of the route taken. I recall a time when climbing the many peaks, ridges, and precipices was but a remote thought.

It is experiences that bring people together, create memories, and bonds us to those who we climb with. Without interaction we might be left wandering aimlessly amongst the hills in confusion as to what to do. I have been fortunate enough to climb in some incredible places with very memorable people. Through my travels I have gained a wealth of knowledge that would have taken centuries to acquire on my own had it not been for the insightful interactions with the many experienced people in our culture.

My draw to climbing is the commitment to the unknown and what it may bring. I have experienced climbing on three continents and numerous countries. Each place has a familiarity to it while at the same time being a completely new experience. I know that the farther I get into this mountain lifestyle there becomes more that I could learn. It’s often not about the movements, but about the journey getting there. And so far it’s been an interesting one.

The Complete Revamp

2010-10-30T22:34:00.003-04:00

It was time.

The whole thing was accidentally revamped on purpose. Mostly because I migrated some stuff to a new log in, but also it is time that this gets used. The old one format was lacking with direction, the posts erratic and unfocused. Hopefully this version makes a bit more sense.

First Ice

2010-10-24T15:20:00.006-04:00

So, winter has officially arrived. Even though technically it is fall, I was blessed with the opportunity to get into the mountains this weekend and successfully make an ascent of Pinnacle Gully.

It’s October…. a common theme that rang out in the weeks preceding when I was called by Jeff. He was enthusiastic. More so at the thought that while we were blissfully cranking on the rock in Rumney on the 10th of this month, the first recorded ice ascent had happened in Huntington Ravine. The news had filtered through the various sources and I found out on the Tuesday following. Jeff and I talked on Thursday.

The plan was a go.

Not knowing what we’d expect this early in the season was a big thing. Heck, the approach was 2.5 arduous miles; committing. Either way as time drew nearer we finalized details and soon I found myself dropping my child off with some friends and heading up to bandit camp and get an early start.

5:40 I randomly pull in behind Jeff in Gorham, NH. I have only been awake for 15 minutes having rolled out of my sneaky sleeping spot a few minutes before. With cruise control set I follow excitedly towards Pinkham Notch. We park. “It’s October,” Jeff stated as we stepped out from the vehicles and headed to the AMC pack room. It was cold. I was still coming to grasp with what the day was going to entail.

On the trail a few minutes later we both set into our respective paces. Jeff cruising up the trail like a Terrier chasing its game. Me the respective Tortoise, iPod in hand music blaring at a deafening roar. The headlamps barely lit the way through the maze of rocks and ice on the approach road. The air was crisp, cold, and inviting.

Soon our trail turned into a wintry mix which left us wondering if there really was a way for a simpleton to figure out where the temperature changed from warm to cold. The sun started to rise from the nights peaceful slumber blanketing us in warm pinks, purples, and inviting blues. Though it did nothing to warm us up, it rose our spirits and let us see that we were the first to lay tracks this day.

It’s October by the way, and Tuckerman’s Ravine looks ominous as all ways.

The signs of winter are apparent up here; the silent stillness, the creaking of the trees and roots in the frozen soil. A symphony playing in a metronomic time with the wind. My legs hurt and I’m not in winter shape, let alone ready for this approach. My spirits are high, though, as the mountain reveals itself to us at every turn.

Soon the trail turns from a reasonable path and into a boulder field. We've reached the fan. Jeff arrives to the base first. It’s cold. Real cold. Snow is blowing and there is ice on the ground.

The climb could be described as an approach gully. But up here it is a serious endeavor. Climbing at WI3+ it isn't a place to be unsure of yourself. I would totally agree on this ascent; we were heading into entirely unknown territory. We had no condition report to rely upon, and no idea if there was even anything climbable at all. Regardless, Jeff took off on the first pitch.

I was soon to follow and got my first lead in for the season. Thoughtful moves over thin ground led me up a ropelength.

After pounding in an interesting anchor, I brought Jeff up where we were truly in the inner depths of this gully. With rock hanging over us the entire way it is never in the sun, and is a funnel for everything coming from above.

And he kept on going.

It was a wonderful climb. Though we weren’t quite at the top yet.

With another 400 or so vertical feet to go, we unroped and made the final slog to the Alpine Garden. Just before the topout a quick stop was made to put on the big jacket and goggles. The wind was roaring overhead like a 747 blowing spindrift and requiring us to yell just to keep in communication.

I put my pack on and crawled over the lip. Literally, crawled. Mt. Washington is home of the world’s worst weather. Today was no exception. The ominous clouds from earlier had left, though they were replaced by a treacherous wind. I later looked and found the weather for that day. When we topped out of the ravine it was 5°F, the winds were howling at a constant 60mph with gusts up to 86mph. The wind chill was -27°. Did I mention this is October?

Soon down the trail a ways we found ourselves in the leeward spot of the summit cone and relatively out of the wind and protected. 3.5 miles to get here. It was too late already to head for the top, besides, we were both pretty much at our half-way point; starving for energy.

A productive day.