Another year older...

Sharon and I have finally returned after a long, somewhat unintended, break. When I say “break” I don’t mean a damn holiday. I do not force visions of beachside resorts or exotic jungle treks but rather the snapping of a twig. Wait… not a twig but instead the branch of an old oak distended far from its trunk and hovering over a tumultuous river. A body of angry water high with foaming white crests. And there I was dangling. In a storm. The old oak is unsympathetic and gives me up to the rage beneath it. A small sacrifice for such nobility. I was stunned by the cold; by the darkness; by the insignificance of my effort. There need not be crocodiles as a part of this plot… I cannot swim and that is punishment enough.

I recall, in this moment, all those swimming lessons where I could not advance with my childhood friends, the distance always too great, the bobs one too many, my legs tangled within the jellyfish bloom, I am sinking like a stone. And my father is there, urging me on, offering support, illustrating the ease of the method and perhaps hoping for me that I will prevail.

I am tenacious… I am optimistic even now… I am grateful… I am determined and I am gasping for one more breath as my bare feet detect the muddy bottom. I can feel it and I am crawling for the bank! I am winning!

And now on this day, after such a break, we approach the gate and we choose to see it as half-open! Because we have the key! The key from our friends who are happy to see us after such a long time!

Oh, Happy 2008!

Harvey

Steve G.'s semi-pet ringtail!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News Release

Angeles National Forest Announces Emergency Closure
ARCADIA, CA — October 22, 2007

ARCADIA, Calif. — As a result of extreme fire activity, and to protect public health and safety, Angeles National Forest officials are implementing a forest closure, effective October 23, 2007. The closure will last until the extreme conditions subside.

Let There Be Light!

It was February 2001. Just before Valentines Day. My good friend, Lib and I were trekking to the top of the highest mountain on the African continent. On this seventh day we would trek some eight arduous hours through a treacherous hail storm with zero visibility. We would step thoughtfully over the ice field. We would shiver in subzero temperatures. We would watch our comrades fall, hungry and thirsty, but being deceived in better judgment by altitude. At this late stage, here on the Western Breach, there would be no turning back. Even for those of our group who would not join us at the peak, those sobbing, vomiting and struggling with small fractures, at least this day would need to be completed before a safe exit could be achieved. This day, though, seemed impossible. I found my way through the fog to our guide and I hollered to his left side, “Simon! Will we die?” Simon answered me with the honesty for which I remember him best “No, no, Carol. You will not die. But you will suffer.”

Well… this is kinda how I feel about chemisty.

The Great Bear Rescue

These photos courtesy of Bob and Laura Sandiford. This bear found himself trapped underneath a bridge and was fortunate enough to have the Forest Service locate him, net him and send him on his way! Here we see him headed home at last!

Here we can see the lucky bear rescue in progress!

Rainbow Bridge (Old Hwy 40 at Donner Summit, Truckee). Notice the bear dangling from the ledge!

Who Can Get Enough of the Goats?

Paris in the Pines

So, whilst I suffered to recall just how many millimeters do make a mile, my good friends were breaking for breakfast before a crispy fire sipping fresh brew and snacking on baked apples, so I’m told. Ted took Sharon, Chris and Joan dancing through his memories of a recent trip to Paris, with his lovely wife Catherine. I’m certain they were thinking of me as they poured the second cup and decided not to go for the Zion Loop but instead descend by the waterfall. And I am assured that a fragrant sprig of sage was gently lifted toward the sky in a ceremony to send the math Gods my way.

A journey far away sometimes brings us closer to the truth.

Get Out

"Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time."

Fortitudine Vincimus

"By Endurance We Conquer"

Man's Best Friend

How. Many. Times. Doihavetotellyou. If you want to park in the lot we are going to have to get there way before 10:00am.

Are we?

This week Sharon and I discussed some of the more difficult trails we’ve tackled. We recapped the hot afternoons on the Manzanita Ridge Trail and considered whether or not the 2.8 mile Wilson Trail was more or less difficult than the Kenyan-Devore Trail. We recalled our separate expeditions on San Gorgonio and while I remembered a particularly long day on Baldy, Sharon reminded me of her morning on the Wilson Toll Road which stretched into an early evening of dehydrated fun.

With this in mind, I was a little surprised to hear my good friend suggest with confidence: “we are capable of so much more.” Hmmmmmm. What could she mean? Should we begin jogging? Should we compete? Track our time? Should we extend our mileage? Maybe we should try packing weight? I was afraid to request any clarification.

Oh, uhhhhh, Sharon… I can’t go this weekend… or next… actually, I’ll call you.

Happy Birthday, Sharon!

Yesterday we managed to surprise Sharon with a fresh melon and vegan cupcake birthday celebration at Sturtevant Camp! If you see Sharon on the trail – be sure to wish her a happy birthday!

I'm ready for my close-up!

It was the hottest day of the year so far in what is quite officially the driest year on record. So, whose idea was it to hike some nine miles, at least half of it straight up, on the completely exposed San Oleane Trail in an attempt to discover the loop to Hogees? Well that would have been my idea thankyouverymuch. Yesterday’s hike gave me the opportunity to don my headscarf as an extra precaution against the sun. Sharon said it gave me an Old Hollywood look and I must say that the outcome was marvelous. I fully intend to employ said scarf as we move into the hottest months of summer. Besides, its never inappropriate to be fashionable. Is it?

The Savior

Mr. Kenyan, please meet Mr. Devore. Forge a pathway, if you will, up the mountain that is Wilson. Converse with us in silence. Let none other pass this way save the backend of the Great Bruin. Or was it the Gentle Doe? Naught! Leave this mystery to our imagining! Soothe our bruised bodies ‘neath the breath of the oak and if an acorn should pop us on our heads, let this instill us with knowledge! Hear us! We may weep with gratitude! We may bow our heads and kneel! (Or we may not due to the stress on the knees.) We may languish beneath your limbs and ask forgiveness! Infuse us with your message and let us fear not the struggle of tomorrow!

Sharon's Solo Safari

This report from Sharon who had a great hike on Sunday while I enjoyed Universal Studios with my cute-as-a-button nephew!

I just planned to do a short hike this Sunday since Carolyn's in-laws were in town and she would not be hiking. I headed into the canyon after a short visit with Tina. It was a spectacular day with a nice breeze and no bugs. I was surprised to see four deer by the stone amphitheater. They were unconcerned about my presence. Some people near by said they had seen them in the same spot the day before. It was three females and a young buck who was just sprouting his antlers. On the way out of the canyon I saw Deb out doing fire clearance at her cabin. She said the pack station was serving cold soups during the summer. It's great to sit at the pack station enjoying a bowl of soup after a hike. After saying goodbye to Tina I started my drive down the mountain. As I approached the first stop sign I couldn't believe my eyes. There was a bear peering over the wall on the side of the road. It looked like it might be pretty young. I pointed it out to a couple who were standing near by. We ran over to the wall to see if we could catch sight of him going into the canyon but he had already disappeared into the brush. It's always beautiful hiking at Chantry but the deer, the bear and the thought of cold soup at the pack station made it spectacular.

Always Look On the Bright Side of Life...

A close friend sent me this thought by email today. Think of it what you will.

"...as robert frost said, "nothing gold can stay" he was talking about the colors of fall but that's not all he was talking about. the clock keeps ticking, the oven gets hotter, and things change. the gravitational forces in atoms keep them together or split them apart, like magnets we are attracted or repulsed by those around us. all you can do is try to not let the bastards get to you, but in one way or another they usually do. a decent meal and a bed is all most people want, freedom is a dream from another reality. but the sun will shine until the supernova, then we'll all go home."

The Family of Bears

This report from our friend, Steve Burns, on his encounter with the bear family:

Last weekend, (May 19th, after the Progressive at First Water, which was great), I headed up the Lower Winter Creek Trail around 5:00 p, a trail that I have hiked many times. The sun was low and the light was spectacular as I walked up the trail. It is a 2 ½ mile hike to my cabin which takes an hour or so. I don’t often hike this late in the day, and I thought, “This is a good time to see wildlife”. Well, I was right...

Just below Cabins #126 & #127, about half way in, I heard a sound in front of me on the trail and, through the shrubs, I saw the rumps of two Black Bears. They were no more than 40 feet away and I stopped in my tracks. I could not see their entire bodies through the brush, but I knew that they were on the trail and I decided to try to get an image. I carry my small digital camera on my pack within easy reach, and when I unzipped the case, they both stopped eating and turned towards me. They stood motionless staring my way and I decided I should take a couple of steps back. As soon as I moved, the two bolted down into the stream bed and up the opposite slope. It was only then that I saw their size. One was a typical small 2-3 year cub, no larger than a big dog, but the other one was huge! I have seen several bears in the canyon over the years, but this one was full sized. If a smaller one is 150-200 lbs. the “mother” was at least twice the size! I was impressed to say the least.

As they were on the other side of the canyon, my concern was diminished, and then I heard a sound to my right. Not 20 feet away, through the brush I saw what I assumed to be another cub. Small, but big enough, and being between a mother and a cub is not a good place to be! I headed up along the trail and stopped about a hundred feet up and turned to look back. The light was not strong enough to get a shot with my camera, but the two, and the one, were all up on there haunches looking my way. An amazing sight and straight out of a nature feature! I was witnessing a scene that not many have seen. To see one bear is unusual, two rare, but a mother and two cubs: it was my first time. I felt blessed.

Your friend and trail guide,
Steve

Steve and the Three Bears

We have been notified, through what we consider to be a very reputable source, that Steve Burns has spotted three bears in the Upper Winter Creek. More to follow.

Let the Games Begin!

Are you sitting? 'Cause this will stun. Please sit... Ted had never been on the Kenyon-Devore Trail. Its true. We actually introduced Ted to one of the most magnificent trails in the Angeles. It went like this:

Us: C'mon, Ted we can start in at Red Box and if we do an easily coordinated car-shuttle we can catch the Kenyan-Devore up to the top of Mt. Wilson.

The King: I don't know that trail. How long is it? How steep? If its so good how come I've never been there?

Us: C'mon, Ted! It's not that steep and its shady all the way! You'll love this one. Trust us!

The King: I just don't know, it's hot today. Are you sure its shady? How can it be shady all the way? I've never heard of this trail.

Us: ooooo look at that Bobcat! Its a sign... let's go, Ted.

And so it went that we convinced Ted to give it a go. And what d'ya know? He LOVED it. I think. Anyway it was shady.

Kenyan-Devore is one of our faves. We must note that the blackflies are coming out and headnets will soon be in order. Also, the gain is about 2500. Well... did I mention it was shady?

Meet Steve Gaiser!

HI STEVE!

The not-so-annual Walk of the Flowers

This weekend we ran into Canyon Dave and Daniel while hiking on what was a perfectly beautiful Southern California morning. We haven't seen our good friend Dave in a very long time and it was fun to catch up. Dave has seen lots of mountain lions and can't believe we haven't seen one yet. But Dave, we've been up on Manzanita Ridge and San Oleane and no we have not seen any lions! We'll have to get Dave to come with us sometime and show us where they are.

We haven't seen Daniel since the last celebration of botany at Chris' camp and personally I can't remember exactly how long ago that was but I do remember Sharon and I washed dishes and there was lots of spaghetti. It was good to spend some time talking with Daniel and hopefully we'll see him again soon.

This years celebration will be this coming Saturday and we're looking forward to seeing some old friends. Sharon and I will be washing dishes again and I'm told that there won't be any pasta but instead the menu will include soup and sandwiches.

See you there!

This Just In...

Our good friend, Steve Burns, reports that there has been a confirmed Mountain Lion sighting just above Hogees! According to Steve, "It may have been one of the Lion cubs spotted several months ago in the same area."

I'll be investigating at the soonest opportunity.

The Wonder of Hal

Hal out training for the Angeles 100 Mile Run. How does he do it?

The King

Snow and Snows now

On the Trail to West Fork

Along the Gabrielino Trail to West Fork

What a difference a day makes...

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

After a few of life’s complications which have kept us somewhat distracted, we’re back on the trail and we even convinced the King of Energy Efficiency to join us for a loop. Ted’s magnetic personality caused our small group to grow to five before we were finished. We were happy to have Bruce and Mike join us for the final four miles.

While we’ve been away, Kevin enjoyed a long sweet look at a mountain lion just up from a nap and headed out for dinner. Also, Daniel faced a cabin fire in which he heroically contained its spread, alerted the fire control and supervised its extinguishment! Finally, the pack station has added homemade vegetable soup and chili to its menu of hot dogs and hot-links. Ted, Sharon and I enjoyed a cup of the vegetable to finish up our day and we are happy to say it was delicious! I’m looking forward to testing the chili at the very next opportunity and will report promptly following.

Era grande da vederli ancora, Jane & Ed!

Jane and Ed joined us for a great hike this winter! They now live in Trieste, Italy and although I find this difficult to believe, they report that they don't have access to a hiking trail as enjoyable as Chantry Flat!