The Backpacking Journal is extremely excited to announce that we have received a permit from the lottery system to climb the infamous cables at Half Dome during our upcoming trip to Yosemite!
A huge focus of this trip is Half Dome and we have been impatiently waiting for the last 44 days to see if we were going to make it to the summit or not. To increase the odds of success we each individually entered the lottery with an application requesting 6 permits and it paid off.
Last night Chuck Norris received an email “Dear Customer, Congratulations! You were successful in securing a permit to hike to the summit of Half Dome from the Cables on Half Dome Lottery.” While the rest of us got “Dear Customer, We are sorry to inform you that you were not successful in securing a permit to hike to the summit of Half Dome from the Cables on Half Dome Lottery.”
I’m only two trips into backpacking and have had the great fortune (insert sarcastic tone) of using a different pack for each trip. I guess in a sense that has given me a bit more “wisdom” in regards to how much the right pack can make a world of difference…and I know now, it is like night and day!!
Slimms’ research led me to two options…the “best bang for my buck” choices. The Gregory Deva and the Osprey Ariel 65. It was love at first sight with the Ariel. Beautiful pack…and IN RED!! My mind was set…like a first love, no one was gonna make me change my mind whether or not the pack was “right” for me!! That being said, I did go to REI and try on both packs. The Deva felt clunky to me…bulky is a word that fits better. It is packed full of features, lots of pockets for storage…don’t get me wrong…a great pack I’m sure. Just felt awkward to me. I wanted something a bit more streamlined.
Now the Osprey Ariel..the girl in me took over and I didn’t care…I like how it fit but I will say, the padding was lacking and I should have known then that I might have an issue. I never thought it would be the way it turned out to be. The pack is rather minimalistic compared to the Deva, but I didn’t mind. It had a huge front entrance that I loved. The sleeping bag compartment was quite ample compared to what I have seen with a Gregory. Lots of straps for compression. I did like the trekking pole storage location. They are stowed under the left arm for easy access. The side pockets left a lot to be desired. Hard to get my nalgene bottle in and out of. My biggest complaint (it was listed as a con on several REI reviews) was the skimpy padding of the hip belt and shoulder straps. Compared to other packs, it could be said to be non-existent. For me, they didn’t work and cause a tremendous amount of pain during the first overnight.
So with a sad heart, I went to REI to see what could possibly be the issue. First off, wrong size pack. WTH?!?!?! I purchased a medium on the recommendation of one of the guys there. When I went back, another guy measured me and I should have been in a small. I’m not even 17 inches in my torso. I’m 5’9″ though…all legs apparently. Ok..small pack it is. So I try on a small Ariel. Blah! Lack of padding still regardless of fit was forcing me to return my beloved pack and surrender my dream of the color red. The new Osprey Aura had just come out…I was excited to try it on…but no luck…still didn’t fit right. I tried on every other darn pack with the same capacity size. The closest I got to fitting right and feeling comfortable was a Deuter. I wore it around awhile and decided to no go that option as well. Apparently I am a freak of nature and all the packs do not sit properly on me or against my back. Huge gaping issue. 😦
The guy was a trooper and stayed late for me but had to finally leave me…alone…no pack…no idea what to do. I retried on the packs I had done before. I was beyond disheartened. There I was in REI…a scrawny freak with no hope. Finally I guess my sad face lead another guy who had been helping another customer to come and give me a recommendation (he had been around while the other guy was helping). He suggested I try on a youth pack.
A youth pack??? I’m a full grown, taller than average size woman!!! Hmmmm…this just made me feel even more annoyed. The word “freak” kept running through my mind. I know I said it to the guy a few times…perturbed at the whole situation. But I took his advice…I had nothing else left to try. They had one pack…the REI Passage 65. All the other youth packs are smaller in capacity and I did not want to sacrifice that. So..I put it on. HELLO WORLD! You have got to be kidding me.
It fit amazingly well against me. It has extra padding in the back compared to the adult packs…and with 30 pounds in it, did not hurt my contact spots. Since it’s made for 11-17 year old children (le sigh), it is almost fully adjustable…and easily done so. It’s minimalistic, not bulky..pluses for sure. It does not have a front loading option but the side panel entrance is large enough to allow easy access to the pack. Large sleeping bag compartment.The padding on the hip belt is just right and caused me ZERO issues. It also comes with little storage pouches on the belt that the Ariel lacked. Unfortunately there is no real suspension system like the adult packs have. I noticed the difference with that feature, but not enough right now to make me rethink this choice. It is green…blah…but I decided to sacrifice fashion for comfort. I honestly could not be any happier with the pack. Plus, I saved $120 bucks 🙂 Win, win all around.
I continue to learn with each trip, which makes each trip that much more exciting. I am now a happy “backpacker” as far as my pack is concerned. The difference was incredible and my trip, after the first few sickly hours of puking (do not drink and backpack 8 hours later), was better for the change 🙂
Even if you have not lived in Arizona chances are you have heard of Sedona and the breathtaking red sandstone rocks. The area is completely unique due to hematite (iron-oxide, aka rust) staining the normally white sandstone. It is difficult to explain, and I have never seen a photograph that can truly capture the way the morning and evening sun causes the hematite stained rocks to glow in brilliant colors of red and orange. There are many places around Sedona to experience the red rock up close and personal, however it is heavily populated by tourists. If you would like to get away from the over populated trails and groomed “parks”, Secret Canyon is the place to go. The road to reach the trail head is about 4 miles long and even in dry conditions it is almost necessary to have four wheel drive. This added “challenge” keeps the minivan driving disposable camera toting visitors away. Although the trip could be done in a day, spending the evening in the canyon to witness the sunset and sunrise is the only way to go.
Day 1
We got a pretty slow start this morning as Fall Gal learned a valuable lesson; drinking the night before your 430am wake up call is probably not the smartest of ideas! We had a 2.5 hour drive ahead of us as we somewhat crawled our way to the truck. Wicked Witch is joining us for her very first overnight so although early, her energy was high and she was ready to roll. The drive up was pretty smooth sailing, as we came into the Village of Oak Creek we made a stop at the Red Rock Information Center in order to pick up our Red Rock Pass (this is a pass required for any vehicle that will be left untended near trail heads, the current fees & regulations can be found here). The staff was very knowledgeable of the area and the current water conditions of the trail we were headed to. They also have maps and other normal items you expect to find in a visitor center. From here it was a short trip into Sedona and to the turn off for for Forest Road 152. Because of the amount of unprepared tourists that visit this area the rangers have made it very known that the road ahead is hazardous and a high clearance vehicle is necessary. Lucky for us, my 4×4 Tacoma can take on anything this road has to give. Generally speaking these signs are over stated and usually exaggerated, this one is NOT. If you plan on making it all the way to the trail head make sure you have a vehicle that can handle it. The side of the road along the way was littered with cars and minivans that could not continue. At the trail head there is a small parking area enough for 5 or 6 vehicles but it appeared to be sufficient. Melman was ready to roll, our gear was packed and we began our 5 mile hike. The trail immediately crosses a creek bed that, if flowing, could prove to start your trip with wet feet. The first 1.8 miles of the trail sit in a high desert area with little to zero protection from exposure and even in early April proves to be hot, there were several spots along the way with pools of standing water, but nothing was flowing. Once you pass the David Miller Trail Junction, you descend to the canyon floor where the high desert is quickly morphed into a Ponderosa pine forest. The canopy blocks the sun and invites a much cooler temperature. There is almost a definitive line where your feet will step from red sandy desert floor to leaf covered damp canyon dirt. There are several creek crossing locations, but they are narrow and rocky. Unfortunately the water had stopped flowing about 2 weeks before we got there, but you could see several spots along the way that would make for some stunning waterfalls. We found an amazing little spot to stop and take a snack break where the sand stone cliffs created an overhang along side a creek. This could be a great spot to camp if you are looking for a shorter hike. From the point the trail begins to climb slightly and there are a few parts with short 30-100 foot sections that rise steeply, reminding your legs that you are in fact carrying a heavy load. There are a couple areas past the 4 mile mark where some fallen trees block the path, but with a little scrambling we quickly found our way around. We found a perfect spot for camp with a 1500 foot sheer wall overlooking us. After camp was set, we explored the area around us. Wicked Witch and Fall Gal took a break on a giant fallen tree and I discovered a small patch of snow tucked in a small shaded area. After a snowball or two was tossed around, the snow became a place to get our flask of whiskey and wine nice and chilled! The rest of the day was just relaxing and lounging around camp with the exception of the out of control bumble bees. I have never seen a bumble bee act so aggressive, but these things were making their presence known. Kamikaze dive bombs and flybys; one of them actually stung Fall Gal. A small camp fire, some great food, and cold whiskey made for a fun night at camp.
Day 2
The temperature had dropped to somewhere around 35 degrees if I had to guess (I need to get a small thermometer for my pack). I layered up and slipped out of the tent at 4:30, got the fire going, made myself some tea, and sat back to watch the sunrise. This was one of the most beautiful ones I have ever seen. Eventually Melman made Wicked Witch get up and Fall Gal quickly followed. After tea and some breakfast we packed up camp and were ready to roll by 7:30 or so. Even though this was an out and back hike our surroundings were considerably different under the rising sun. The colors were more vibrant and the smell of the warming spring time forest gives you that feeling of being surrounded by fresh air. As we crossed into the high desert we were slammed with sun and higher temperatures. We took a break in a nice camping area right at the David Miller Trail Junction and then hit the final 1.8 miles at a quick pace, beating the afternoon heat that was sure to come. The trail changes frequently from sections of red dirt to sand and then to smoothed small stones. We passed the sign in log, celebrated our completion and began our trek back to reality. Our drive came to a quick pause when the highway was shut down due to a vehicle fire. After about 20 minutes, we were debating unpacking our gear and taking a nap; traffic slowly started to move. It turns out it was a semi truck full of potatoes that had caught fire. Baked potatoes anyone?! The entire drive home was filled with thoughts of turning around and going back, as none of us wanted to face the following Monday and getting back to the grind of day to day life.
Watch our slideshow with more pictures here, and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel!
A time lapse of setting up camp
You can check out some 360 degree panoramic views of Secret Canyon by clicking the links below:
We are heading back to reality sitting on the 17 south, literally! Looks like there is a fire up ahead and they have traffic stopped. I figured this would be a good time to post up a little teaser photo of our trip. Look for the full report in a few days!
Hey, at least if we are stuck here forever we have all our gear with!
The 10 essentials of backpacking has been around since the 1930’s. The list was developed in order to answer two very important questions every adventurer should ask them selves. Can I safely spend the night (or more) where I am going? And, can I respond to an emergency situation? If you are brand new to the outdoor world, or you have been doing this for 30 years these are two critical questions you should think about while you are planning every trip you make. It is very easy to get caught up in all of the technological sales jargon of new and better items, and before you know it you will have the very coolest, lightest, most expensive bar of soap and not a single bandage.
If you have never seen or heard about the list here is the original
Map
Compass
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Extra clothing
Headlamp/flashlight
First-aid supplies
Firestarter
Matches
Knife
Extra food
Since the list’s creation there have been many varieties published and individuals will often tweak the list in order to fit their needs of the specific trip. However, the changes made should always revert back to the two questions.
Here is my list along with some explanations of why I have modified it:
1. Navigation – A map and compass go hand in hand, with today’s technology I would say the majority of novice hikers/backpackers rely on GPS devices to find their way. This is a mistake! I am not saying to not use a GPS, I have one and I love it but GPS can fail. There are many ways they can fail; a few would be, dead batteries, heavy cloud cover, electrical interference, mechanical malfunction, you could simply drop it and break it. A map and compass however are pretty much fool proof. If you do not own one, buy one. If you have not used it in a real world application, practice. Never rely on following a well marked trail; unexpected weather could turn your trail in to a flood zone, or a blanket of snow 2 feet deep.
2. Exposure Protection – Heat, Cold, Wind, Sun, Rain, there could be more and depends on where you will be going. Be sure that you have something to protect you from all of the elements. Shorts may not be the best solution just because its hot, and having 15 layers of summer clothes may not be the best choice during a blizzard. This also includes your shelter, but building a shelter is usually a simple task if ever needed.
3. First-aid – Bandages and aspirin are probably not going to cut it for this. First-aid is one of those checks and balances that you really should analyze. You will want to carry things that would be useful if needed, but it can be difficult to justify carrying the weight for something you ultimately want to never use. Whatever you decide to bring along be sure you or someone in your group knows how to use it. Some items I would recommend would be super glue, duct tape, needle & thread, tourniquet, and pain killer.
4. Fire – Fire can be extremely important depending on the surroundings and can be the difference between survival and death. Always bring 2 ignition sources, generally this would mean a lighter and matches as a backup. I would use waterproof, strike anywhere type matches if you have them available. I personally have never attempted to start fire without traditional ignition sources, but it is something I am planning on learning in the future, and would not be a bad idea if you did the same.
5. Food – I tend to include the knife (number 9 on the original list) into this category as this is when I will most likely “need” the knife. Always bring extra food; you don’t need a lot, but in an emergency situation you will be thanking yourself for having it. Make a plan on how you would ration food if needed and pay attention to the amount of calories your food offers. If you were to be stuck for several extra days you can then estimate the amount of energy you should be exerting through the day based on how many calories you can replace into your body. Study the general practices of survival hunting, fishing, trapping, etc. This would really only be needed in a severe case where you may be held for a week or longer, but it is a valuable skill.
6. Water – This is where I think the list really dropped the ball. Water is essential to life. Without water it is just a matter of time before death creeps in. It is always a good idea to plan your trip around water. Make sure you are passing drinkable water each day, if this is something you need to filter or purify be sure you have the necessary equipment to do so. If you are ever in an emergency situation water should be your number one priority. Learn techniques for digging ground water, desalination if you are near saltwater, collecting rain water, etc. An ideal situation would result in consuming 1 liter of water per hour of strenuous physical activity.
You can see I have left a few things off; the flashlight for example. I always have a flashlight with me, but I believe I can survive without it so I don’t consider it to be essential. If I was using it long enough the batteries would die and it would be useless anyway. With fire you can make torches if you need to travel by night. Even with those missing items I can still satisfy the questions mentioned earlier.
And of course, this is not some magic list that will keep you alive out in the wilderness, it is just a starting point. The most important thing you can bring to your trip, no matter where it is, would be common sense.
I would love to hear what your essentials are, how have you modified your list, do you think I am missing something you could not live without?
This post is going where only one post has gone before…Yes…the pee post! 🙂
Again, I will start with a disclaimer to my post…if you are easily squeamish or offended, please stop reading right now. That being said…let’s press forward 🙂
As I mentioned in a previous post about the GoGirl, I had yet to try it out on the trail. This first overnight was the perfect time to do such a thing. We were out away from anyone really, and essentially I had no choice but to “GoGirl” for it finally. I must say…initially…it was a bit awkward. I was scared I would make a mess of myself…then what would I do. Walk around silly for sure…which I did anyways the last day because I ripped the seat of my pants somehow but that’s a totally different embarrassment. 🙂
First things first, I am thankful my pants had lots of pockets. 🙂 The GoGirl comes in a cylindrical plastic tube with a cap. It also has a plastic storage bag with it. You need a place to put both of these items while you are using the GoGirl because you do need both of your hands. I guess I could have always put them on the ground, but that seemed gross to me…go figure. And I also recommend bringing your water bottle with to use a bit of water to rinse it out after. First time I used it, my Nalgene had drink mix in it, so upon suggestion from Slimms, I put some water from my pack in my mouth and held it there. I wanted to laugh at the whole experience before I even tried using it.
Ok…I take it out of the package and get all set up…I am laughing so hard inside and doing my best to keep from spitting my water everywhere. Just seemed so foreign to be standing while peeing next to a “tree”…it was more so a bush though. But it worked like it did at home…no messes except I think I splattered a bit on my boots. Gross I know…but I didn’t know what to expect or what I was doing for that matter. Once done, I used the water to rinse it out a bit…there really wasn’t much to rinse out. It stays fairly clean 🙂 I shook it a little bit as well to get as much of the remaining moisture off it. I put it all back in it’s package, zipped up, and was done 🙂 I walked back to the group, big smile on my face, and exclaimed “That was the greatest thing EVER” 🙂 The act of peeing is now known as “GoGirling”.
The whole process of using it may seem a bit much compared to just dropping and squatting but as I said before, I have always had an issue with that and hate it more than anything. I used the GoGirl about 5 times during the trip and it got easier to manage with each use. Obviously, practice makes almost perfect. Once we got home I cleaned it with soap and water and let it air dry. I will be replacing the plastic bag that came with it and just use a regular ziploc. I will use a new bag after each trip. It still folds up easily into the original tube. There is a trick to folding it up though.
I believe I will continue to be the only girl in the group that will be using this contraption and that is fine by me. It made my trip just a little more convenient. There are other options out there but for now, I’m gonna stick with the GoGirl.
The trip was amazing yet amazingly brutal. The desert appears the same but there is always something different…guess backpacking is a contradiction in a sense. We have all the comforts and amenities we could want at home… yet we stuff as much as we can carry on our backs, escape convenience and leave our worlds behind. We walk to nowhere really, find a place to camp, and lay on the ground. We try to become as close to one with nature as we are comfortable being. I learned a lot during this experience. The scenery and landscape is exceptional. Dirt brown with drops of green sprouting from as far as the eye can see. I’m inspired by the rocks and want to climb each and every rock face…the boulders are precariously placed on each other like a kid stacks dominoes. I’m fascinated beyond…I have more pictures of rocks than anything…except for pics of myself.
Food…and more food! That’s about all I cared about. I do not eat a lot usually but I couldn’t eat enough. Lesson learned. I’m still eating like crazy 4 days later. And my pack….I sigh as I write this…was the worst part of the trip. Not quite sure what the problem was at first cuz once I think I figured it out, it was too late. I was in horrible pain…bruised. I kept having to push the pack up off my butt to sit higher in order for it not to hurt so much, but no matter how tight I make the hip belt, it would slide back down. The guy at REI says I’m scrawny, so I wonder if I will always have this issue. Although it hurt to carry, I trekked on through the pain…kept going and going. I love my pack but think the size is too long for me. My hips I guess did their job because they took the brunt of the abuse but i feel what I went through was beyond “normal”. I have read other people with similar issues, so I know there are ways to deal with my problem fairly easily. Will be reviewing my pack in another post to come.
Camp was welcoming to say the least. My sleeping pad, insanely comfortable. The shots of whiskey, warmed me. The food…what can I say…yum! Just 12 hours out and I cherished things I would complain about before. Doesn’t take long to realize what we take for granted.
The next day was tough but I loved every minute of it. Slimms took about 10 lbs of my weight to help with my hip issues. It worked. I was in some discomfort but not stabbing pain anymore. By the end though, my feet were done for. I wasn’t quite sure the extent of my issues but the toes on my right foot were a problem. My big toe on my right foot has some kind of blister underneath the nail that is still oozing. Swollen and a lot of pressure still but not a lot of pain. I love my TrekStas so I’m hoping a change of socks will alleviate this issue.
My muscles were worked but never got sore. The contact points between body and pack where my main issues but besides the mark I still have on my left hip, they do not hurt at all….can’t say they wouldn’t if I stuck a pack on right now though 😉 Feet feel ok besides the swollen stupid toe 😦 Just would have never imagined how hard an overnight trip could be on my body. I think we pushed passed our limits the first day so that could be the cause to a few of my sore spots.
The bags are packed, the checklist is hanging on the front door ready to be looked over one last time in the morning, the alarm clocks are set, and we are off to bed. The excitement of tomorrows event makes falling asleep difficult, but 5am will come fast, and sleep is going to be needed to make it through the day. When the alarm sounds, it is one of those moments that can best be described as a child ready for a big vacation to a fun destination. There was no sluggish steps like a normal day getting ready to head into the office. We were up, dressed, and ready to go before we had a chance to realize it was early, and we were tired. Waking up early on your day off always brings the thought “why are we doing this to ourselves”? As we drove into the foothills of the Superstition Mountains with the sun starting to break through the darkness creeping over the peaks and illuminating the valleys our question was answered. This is exactly why we do this!
Day 1
The dogs, Melman, Nika, & Maverick were all very excited to get going. We got their packs ready first and let them play around while we situated ourselves. When it was time to head out we asked a group of day hikers to snap a photo of the group, headed over to the sign in log and made our mark. We went over the trail one last time as a group so we all knew where we would be going. This time around it was decided we would keep to the roots as much as possible, and other than cameras there would be no gadgets. The GPS was left behind and the map & compass took the front seat. From the Peralta Trail Head we headed up the Dutchmans Trail #104. The morning sun gave a small hint to the warm day we were expecting ahead. The sky was clear, the flowers were in full bloom, and our first few hundred feet of elevation gain was behind us. We were feeling great! One of our followers Oldslownas asked us to try and find a “Ginormous” saguaro cactus, he thought was about 1.5 miles past the Bluff Springs Trail #235 junction. This became a giant Easter Egg Hunt for the whole crew. In a forest of cacti we began the search. 1 mile, 2 miles, 3….we had almost given up, but then we found it (about 3.5 miles in I would guess) so we thought. It was not quite as impressive as we were thinking so we were not completely sold on the idea that this was it, but the search for it was pretty fun anyway. By this time we had began circling around Miners Needle. The trail to this point had been pretty mellow, along the way we had passed a few other backpackers packing up camp from the night before and several day hikers out early to beat the heat. As we passed around the needle and started heading to the Whiskey Springs Trail #238 junction we got a small taste of what it feels like to climb with packs on. As we approached the junction we all posed for a group shot and shared in a small little swig of whiskey, it really does not get much better than that!
Fall Gal's favorite spot of the trip
At this point we had not really stopped for breaks. The excitement of everything was keeping us going strong, so we found this really cool boulder that had a hole through it and took 5. The Arizona sun seemed to have something to prove today and was warming things up quickly, the heavy breeze being forced through the hole in the boulder felt amazing. After a quick glance at the map we decided that Crystal Springs might be a good spot to find a place to enjoy an early lunch. Continuing on Dutchmans Trail we are pretty sure we just found the cactus that we spent the first few miles looking for. I believe it is about 5.5 miles in from the trail head and it is HUGE, I would say over 35 feet tall. The Easter Egg Hunt is complete, so now its time to move along. Just past Crystal Springs we found a beautiful riparian area covered by enormous trees, blanketed with cool moist dirt, and surrounded by luscious green plant life. There were some day hikers taking a break here and they welcomed us to join them. For lunch some of us had PB&J and some had Tuna, but the big hit was the beef jerky I had made. I believe it is now the most coveted item of our future journeys. We shared some with the group that was with us and they enjoyed it as well. As we had finished up lunch, the group of day hikers were replaced with a huge group of Boy Scouts (Troop 99). They had planned on setting up camp here, and it looked like they were going to have a great night. We hung around a while longer enjoying the shade and letting the dogs rest, then we were back to the trail. The next point we planned on taking a break would be Oak Springs.
One of the many beautiful displays of water in the desert
Along the way the desert changed frequently, areas of creeks, water, springs, greenery, the scenery could not get more perfect. We came across what Chick and myself believe was the most amazing sections of trail for this trip, between LaBarge Spring and Oak Spring. Just after passing LaBarge Spring you begin a transformation from the Arizona Desert and into a Rainforest like environment. A wall of trees and shrubbery is parted by a dark passage way that leads you into a canopy of falling leaves, vines, the sound of running water. There is really no way to explain the beauty of this place. Just as you make your way through you are then dropped right into Oak Springs, another beautiful place. Huge Oak trees drinking from the flowing spring, tall grass, flowers it was remarkable. We decided this would be a good time to fill up on water just in case the rest of the trail was not as wet. You could tell the group was starting to get tired, were were taking more quick breaks along the way. Fall Gal’s pack was causing her some issues and the dogs were now following right on our heels like a pack of trained trail horses. As we came to the junction where you can head off trail to Charlebois Spring we made the decisions that we would skip the spring in order to press on and get to camp. Because of our deadline for day 2 we had planned on camping near Needle Canyon. This was later determined to be a bit more than what we should have tried to accomplish in 1 day, but we are learning as we go. We made it to just east of White Rock Springs and set up camp just off the trail with Black Mountain towering over. After resting for a bit, camp was set, and we did a little scouting on the creek so we could find water for the morning. We enjoyed a spectacular sunset while beginning to start a fire so we could get to cooking. Chuck Norris had brought along his new camp grill and we all had steaks for dinner, the fallen mesquite trees made for a great taste! The grill worked perfectly and he will be posting a “how to” soon. The night was a bit short, we had all hit our max and were ready for some rest. We all talked about some lessons learned, the highlights of the trip and enjoyed the fire. We one by one trickled our way from the fire to our tents, and continued the silly camp banter back and forth for a while until everyone had passed out. I had stayed up a little longer, broke out my head lamp with red light and my Moleskin Journal to write a few things about the day and then it was time to sleep.
Day 2
The morning came quickly with the sounds of the desert coming to life. There was a chill in the air and being the first one up I gathered some dry grass and small sticks to start a fire. After the rest of the group slowly crawled out of their tents the morning routine began. We, for the most part, are avid campers so this part was natural to us. Water was boiling for coffee, tea, and oatmeal. Bags were being shuffled around with moans of stiff muscles and sore feet. Just before the realization of tackling another 6 miles for the day sunk in, there was a sudden quiet among the group as all of us soaked up our surroundings and really enjoyed the moment. After a pretty slow start Chuck and I went to fill up everyone’s water about 100 yards behind camp as the girls started to clean up and begin packing their bags. The amount of time it takes to get out of camp and start hiking again really was a lot more than any of us expected. I think for our next trip we will be a little more prepared and wont burn as much daylight. Water was filled, camp was down, bags were packed again, and the fire was out. The first half mile or so really was slow goin. Everyone’s muscles were stretching and unwinding from the day before, but then things started picking up again. Until we got to Terrapin Trail #234 and things took a very quick change. I don’t believe the trail was really that difficult looking back on it now, but after the miles we did the first day mixed with mistakes of being rookies the next 4 miles were brutal! It felt like there was nothing but up, every dip in the trail just meant there would be two more climbs ahead and our spirits were being tested. The views along this trail were flat out spectacular however. Weavers Needle felt like you could reach out and touch it, the valley floor was distant and traveled as far as you could see. There were 360 degree views of an endless mountain range, even the dogs from time to time would seem to stop and soak up the view. We found a nice grassy spot with some shade somewhere near Bluff Saddle and had a quick snack lunch while the dogs immediately took the opportunity to take a nap. The uphill battle continued and eventually led us down into Barks Canyon where we met up with Bluff Spring Trail #238. We saw the sign and our map said we had 2 miles to go, there was a brief celebration and perhaps a little to early! I must admit I somewhat dropped the ball here. I was expecting the entire Bluff Springs Trail to be downhill. I normally spend days looking over the maps, plotting things with my GPS software, etc. but I overlooked Bluff Springs Trail. If you have been following along with other posts you may have noticed our route changed slightly based on the recommendation of a reader. He gave us great information and we were glad we made the change, but I was lazy and took his recommendation without much of my own research. Although the last mile or so of the trail is very torturous downhill stuff, there was a good mile of going up on the back side! Physically I don’t think this was an issue, it was the mental beating we took when we started climbing higher and higher even though we all were telling ourselves once we get to the last 2 miles it will be all downhill. The group started to thin out on that last climb, a gap growing further between each person, we were locked into finishing out the day and none of us were going to stop in fear we may not start again! As we made it to the peak of the trail you could see the cliff face that overlooks Peralta Trail Head and I knew we were close. Once the Truck was in sight we waited for each person to round the corner, regrouped, and finished the hike together. There were some not so high fives (to tired to get it up there all the way), we signed out on the book, loaded the dogs in the vehicles and parted ways. The 40 minute ride home was just enough for everyone to get stiff and sore so it became a group decision that we were meeting at the Wicked Witch’s house to soak away our pains in her hot tub! We talked about our mistakes, lessons learned, favorite moments, and future trips.“There is something to be said about the beauty that is found in wilderness untouched by the common man.” ~ Slimms
We finished our first trip, although 2 members of the pack were not able to make it we still had a blast!
It was challenging, rewarding, and exciting all wrapped into one. For now it somewhat hurts just to type so I will keep it short. Be on the look out for a full trip report, lots of pics, and when I get some time to edit we will have some HD GoPro footage as well!
Until then, here is an amazing shot from our camp as the sun sets on (what I am almost positive is) Black Mountain
There is always that fear of forgetting something when leaving for a trip… I must have gone through the contents of my pack 20 times in my head… deodorant? I don’t want to scare Chuck out of the tent at night…. Food? The steaks are in the freezer, can’t forget those in the morning….. I’ve checked that the water filter is in the left side pocket of my pack about 10 times….
Seriously, out in the middle of the desert mountains it’s not like there is a Walmart located conveniently at the corner of every trail… so if I forget something… I’m screwed!
Chuck and I are excited for this trip…. It will be our second overnight but this one will be longer of a hike then the last so were eager to realize our pack weights suck after about 10 miles! haha.
Chuck made a backpacking grill (pretty awesome) so expect a review and a how-to-make post in about a week. We are also going to try out our new Exped UL Synmat Sleeping Pads! Hopefully we will get a good nights rest this time (Thermarest Ridge Rest sucks!)…
Anywhooooo…. Hope you all enjoy your weekend!
-Chick Norris
“Ghosts sit around the Campfire and tell Chick Norris stories…”
The Backpacking Journal 