Breaking in the Brooks

Took another hike to Blue Ridge this last weekend with the Fiance and the pups.

Been having some shin pain and foot pain - figured it was time to get new shoes. The Patagonia trail runners I had were wearing down and not even super feet could save them. It's life - I really only get 6 months out of a shoe. I had stretched these too far.

Went to REI to get a new pair of trail runners. I love REI. It is Mecca for me. I fell in love with the first pair of shoes I tried on. Um, this doesn't happen in the real world, not with my flat, skinny feet. But it did. I ended up with Brooks Cascades - with the recommendation from an AVID trail runner at REI. I did go up a size simply because they run "short" and I like to allow for swelling.

So Sunday we decided to break in the Brooks. Fiance ALSO bought a pair of Brooks Cascades. I am still pondering how a pair of shoes fits my feet and his - we have opposite feet. He has a high arch and instep, runs wide. Maybe these are God shoes.

Last time he attempted Blue Ridge, he threw up multiple times on the trail. Typical Spring condition this time - thank God it wasn't too hot. But the mud, OH THE MUD. It goes like this: Dirt, soft dirt, mud, snow, mud, soft dirt, dirt. All the way up. Not even a quarter mile in and my purdy new shoes were covered in over two inches of mud. Let's not talk about the way down. Where I slipped in the mud, dropped the dog in the mud. I had to ride back home sitting on a sheet. But before all that...

The trek up was easy for me. Okay, I breathed a little heavy on the steep parts. I was on a roll! I blame the aerobics. I had to wait for the Mr. - he was having severe shin pain. I think he "shuffled" the last half mile. The jury is not out yet on the Cascades for him, but we have a theory. He normally wears mountaineering boots to work. He wears Asolos to walk to town. He wears them to Disneyland. How? I have no idea. I'd be dying in mine. I do die in mine. Maybe, just maybe, he had to walk/hike differently and used different muscles. I suppose if you go from heavy sturdy boots to light flexible below the ankle shoes, you just might have some shin pain. We'll see how the next hike goes.

As for me, I felt good. The whole time I kept thinking - how can I make this more challenging? I want to backpack! At the campground (at the top) I started scheming a backpacking trip that involved this trail, but not to stop there. I want to go to Guffy via that route. It's doable and fairly mild for an overnight trip.

Penelope

Teyla

The campground - horrible lighting

The One and Only

Being a realist, I believe this will be my one and only nordic ski this year.

It was fantastic - once I got there. I couldn't find my skis this morning, simple because I am ski blind. Couldn't find my car keys AND we had ants this morning. The sprayer wouldn't work - I suspect it's frozen somewhat. It took me 20 minutes to change the baskets on my trekking poles with the help of my son. It was chaos and bad omens.

Still, I managed to get up there. And I was first - yay! Once the people start walking on the snow, especially with such a small amount, I don't have a chance in hell to ski it. Teyla and I broke snow today and it was awesome. Yeah I hit a few spots of dirt - but hopefully nothing too damaging. The worst part is the jerk it gives you. The skis are gliding so well and there's this rhythm you develop with the poles, skis, and movement of your body. When the ski hits dirt, the dance is interrupted. Everything continues in its beautiful inertia except the ski and your foot. Hence, the jerk, sometimes followed by the fall.

The trail I took today is a utility road used by the ski area. It spurs off the blue ridge truck trail and proceeds to the middle of Mountain High West. I stopped short of the ski area. Oh the lucky souls frolicking in fresh powder! I debated on taking Teyla. She hasn't been minding off leash, but I gave in. She wore herself out in the first mile and a quarter and dutifully followed my ski tracks the entire way back. Personally I think she was too tired to break snow anymore.

And once again, there is some conflict between my camera app and runkeeper app, so we get just a one way view of the trail -click here. (I suggest viewing it in topo or hybrid mode - looks cooler).

View of Mountain High West - near the end of the line

My ski tracks

Blue Ridge Truck trail - Mt. San Antonio in the background

Inspiration Point - trailhead

Mt. Baden Powell (as seen from the point)

"Down the hill" - locals will get the reference.

All Nighter

It's a harsh reality - getting older.

There's these cool things like watching your kids go out on their own and doing positive things. I am not fond of watching my parents get older, or my grandparents becoming frail. My body likes to boss me around too, which I find annoying. It's not in control, yet, and I don't plan let it get the best of me. Still, I find I have to work within some limits, only rebelling occasionally.

Wednesday night I am rebelling.

We are taking Thursday off so we (my fiance and I) can go to Disneyland Wednesday afternoon. All Night baby. I guess it's a Disney freebie for the leap year. Check the calendar here!

The fiance put it in my Google calendar as "all nighter". Can I do it? Even in Vegas I am usually sleeping by 3 am - maybe 4 am at the latest. Can I make it to 6 am?? And then drive home? Or better yet, leave for four hours and come back at 10 am on Thursday!!

I plan to go on some rides and see some attractions I don't normally have time to indulge in. That's right, Peter Pan, you better be open. All the little kiddies *should* be gone. "You can glow, you can glow!" Ever write on your arm with highlighter then go on Peter Pan? YES YES!! I like sitting on the caboose on the Casey Jr Train. "I think I can, I think I can". So what I actually know all the words to "Yo-Ho, A Pirate's Life for Me" and "Grim Grinning Ghosts". I am going to sit on a horsey on the Carousel and complain about the seat belt. And I might even yell Pineapple from across the park on my way to a delicious Dole Whip. I am going to sit backwards on Big Thunder. I am going to sing Happy Unbirthday to myself, and I might even go torture myself with Snow White's Wishing Well. I will find my Laughing Place (but with a poncho - sorry I don't want to freeze to death). Hell I might even go on the Astro Orbiter - which used to be SOOO much cooler when it was on top of the People Mover. (Totally lame move, Imagineers - just so you know). Yeah, I am gonna kick someone's ass on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. That's only because my sons aren't there to kick my ass (although I beat them both on Midway Mania!). Autopia - here I come! Don't bump the car ahead of you. Does anyone actually NOT bump the car ahead of them? I miss the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse. I think I have only been up the tree once since Tarzan and Jane took over. Although one year they did have this luscious looking guy posing as Tarzan situated in that general area (I know my BFF remembers that one!)

All nighter here I come!

Big Sheep Mine

This one's been eluding me for a while - I would go the allotted distance and still not see a mine... went a little further to this fence and still no mine
About a week ago, I tried again on a hike that my son and I took on the Mine Gulch trail (which spurs off the wagon road). This led us to the mine cabin - it's really a double spur. We lost the trail after that (this is what happens when you leave the topo at home). Finally I looked it up online and found it was simply just past that stupid fence.

So yesterday the fiance and I hiked all the way to the mine. It was a WARM Saturday morning and there were lots of people there - too many to get too close. We had the two dogs and they had dogs, and the fools were exploring the mine. Something about condemned buildings - I was happy to view it from a distance.

Unfortunately my Runkeeper App keeps resetting when I use my camera. So, I was only able to record the way back - you get the gist of it.See it on Runkeeper, sorta

Not the mine wagon trail - this is via a spur off the Mine Gulch Trail (Trailhead also in Vincent Gap)

View of the mine

Teyla drinks from a Camelbak. Talented dog!

Looking East from the Mine

Blue Ridge, Part II

Blue Ridge just got easier.

One of my goals, simply put, "More hiking. Less stopping."

Today I did just that. My son was with me, and he's always way ahead of me during hikes. Sure, he was ahead of me, but I only stopped three times on this hike, which he said was much less than usual. Making progress on that goal. Now if I could just go uphill for two miles without a break, I'd be well on the way to Mt Borah.

Keeping up with him on the downhill is not easy, either. He has long legs. I am 5 foot tall. You figure it out.

The sky was clear and the sun shone strongly. Some parts of the trail were downright muddy. Disgustingly muddy. My boots are still outside, recovering. Other parts were snow covered and shaded. I like those parts. Some were icy, leading to a few slips, especially on the way down. I pity the person who tries this trail this weekend. Those snowy parts will be all icy parts by then. But, moving on. It was warm enough to leave the fleece in the pack, and at times I cursed the Smartwool long sleeve top I was wearing. Oh and that smell in the sun - the smell of sun-baked trees and mulching oak leaves and pine needles - so fragrant. But I really excelled in the cooler areas. As usual.

The campground was again deserted but more snow than last time. The sweat cooled and the sun was warming. Dogs had treats; humans had apples and granola bars. Both had water.

Hoping we can try the acorn trail next week. I feel ready.

See it on Runkeeper

Dogs & human enjoying the sun

Awww, look at the little one. She's weird.

<----Read this

Curious? So was I. Click here for the quick and dirty version

Friday Wanderings

I really didn't do much outdoors last week - not that the weather didn't *scream* to be outside. Simply, we had enough snow to make everything soggy or icy. By Friday I figured all but the shady northern slopes would have melted and so I took the girls for a walk.

We didn't pick any new trails or venture off on a long hike. I did the three mile hike from Inspiration point into Grassy Hollow and about a mile past there, looping back to GH on the Jackson Flat road. It gives me enough up and downs to enjoy it the scenery and still work the muscles. Penelope did okay, despite some snowy areas. Much more snow and she's just not able to tolerate it with her miniature paws.

It was clear out to Rancho, and the views of the desert on the dry side were fantastic. I love when the temp dips to the 40's and the sun still shines. It was a lovely day to be in the mountains and fresh air. I truly hope to get out more this next week.

See it on Runkeeper

I think I'll head to Canada...

(Pic taken near Grassy Hollow visitor center)

Scent of a Forest

It was an out of season day. The sun shone bright in the cloudless sky bringing temperatures in the sixties, with a cool breeze stifled by the trees. As I walked in sunlit stretches of the PCT, I caught whiffs of the San Gabriels. The warmth of the sun began to heat the unique mixture of soil and mulch, creating a specific fragrance only found in this forest. The Jeffrey and Ponderosa pines emit a vanilla aroma when warmed that enhances the perfume of the forest.

The Sierra Nevada has a different bouquet, if only slightly. Even the western slope differs from the eastern side, as the soil is full of moisture and more variety of flora. Next to the sound of wind in the trees, the scent of a forest is my favorite sensory experience as I explore different mountain ranges. Nothing, though, compares to the distinctive aroma of a giant sequoia grove. It must be the tannin found in the spongy bark that dominates the fragrance. From the California coast to the Rockies, I am still amazed at the scent of a forest...

On a different note, I enjoyed about a 3 mile hike today. (See it on Runkeeper.) The walk was relatively easy, and since I could not capture the scent for you, I noted a Jeffrey Pine nursery just outside of Grassy Hollow.