Backpacking Trout Lake
Well it has been a long time since I have posted anything to my blog. That doesn’t mean that I haven’t been doing anything, I just haven’t been writing about it.
Back in June of 2008 we went backpacking with some friends (Eric, Jackson, Brock, Kim, and me) up in the Selkirk mountain range just north of Bonners Ferry (just a few miles from Canada). We could not have asked for better weather. It was warm without being too hot and the sky was clear. Getting there was easy, the road was in good condition, in fact there were a few cars at the trailhead.
We arrived at the trailhead in the late morning and wasted no time getting on the trail. The beginning of the trail was a little steep; I think that everyone was nervous that the entire trail would be that steep. The boys didn’t have a lot of experience with backpacking; we didn’t make it more than a half a mile before both boys needed to refill their water bottles. Luckily there was a stream nearby and we were able to filter some water for their bottles. I must admit that I was a bit worried that this was a sign of things to come, but I was wrong, this was the only refill stop that we had to make. We stopped to catch our breath a few times but other than that it was a quick hike.
Near the end of our hike we came around a corner and could see the lake below. The scenery from hear was fantastic, you could see all through the valleys below. For the next bit, the hike was steep downhill to the lake. Once at the lake we looked around for a site that would hold our two tents. There were a few other hikers camping at the lake as well, we finally decided on a spot (the first one we had looked at). It was big enough for us but it was a complete dust bowl. After getting camp setup it was time to swim.
The water was very cold, but after that hot hike I was ready to jump in. The water felt great but it didn’t take long at all for me to be ready to get out. After swimming we proceeded with the typical camping stuff; fire, dinner, cleanup, bed.
The next morning we got up, made breakfast and then got ready for our planned day hike. The plan was too hike up to Big Fisher Lake for the day. Eric and I packed some daypacks with food and water then we headed out. I think that the kids enjoyed not have packs on, they liked being able to run up the trail and then wait for us to catch up. Once again the trail had spectacular views of the valleys on both sides of the ridge. It was wilderness as far as the eye could see. It had been a very long time since I was able to see that far, and in so many directions. When we arrived at the summit of the tail, overlooking Big Fisher Lake, we realized that we didn’t want to hike all the way down to the water (800 ft. below us) just to come back up again. We decided that we would eat lunch and then continue up the ridge until we reach the summit.
There isn’t a whole lot more to say about this trip, the scenery was fantastic, the hikes were a perfect length, and we all had a lot of fun. In the beginning I was a bit nervous, I hadn’t taken either of the boys on any hikes and I didn’t know for sure how it would go. I quickly got over my fears as I saw how much fun all the kids were having. This was a great trip and I look forward to doing it again next summer.
Trail Details
Length: 2.7 miles to Trout Lake, 4.4 miles to Bigh Fisher Lake from Trailhead
Elevation Change: ~1000 ft to Trout Lake, ~2200 ft to Big Fisher.
Maps
Google Earth
Photos
Click here to see the photo gallery
Getting There
Getting there isn’t too difficult. First you need to get to Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Then follow this map.
Hiking Dog Mountain
- View From The Top
I am way behind in my trip logs, I think that it is time that I get caught up a bit. On May 4th Kim and I decided to finally attack Dog Mountain. Dog Mountain is one of those hikes that everyone knows about, half have tried it, and fewer have succeeded. I might be exaggerating a bit, but from people I have talked to and reports that I have read, it seems that Dog Mountain is often underestimated as to how difficult it can be. May 4th 2008 was a perfect day, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, it was hot, and most important it wasn’t raining. In typical style we didn’t arrive any too early (about 10:00am) it was already hot outside and the parking lot was half full. We didn’t waste any time in getting started. There is no easing into this hike, it starts out uphill and doesn’t stop till you reach the top. A couple hundred yards up the trail is the only toilet (vault toilet). The first part of the trail is a series of back to back switchbacks, the trail is steep and frankly I didn’t get a lot of enjoyment out of this section. Before too long you come to a junction that allows you to choose between the short hard way or the long easy way. The short way is about 4/10 mile shorter than the other. We opted for the shorter route figuring that on the way back we would take the long way. From here the scenery is better and the trail is not quite as steep (in the beginning at least). After we started on the shorter trail we didn’t see another hiker till the trails rejoined. Once that happened we go a better appreciation for how popular this trail is. The trail was crowded with people and their dogs. We joined the herd and headed up the massive hill. Eventually we broke out of the trees and got into an open area where we could see for miles and miles. This was a nice change that seemed to give an energy boost. Soon after we were at the final leg of the trail, just another 4/10 of a mile to go, I told Kim that she didn’t have to wait for me so off she went leaving me in her dust. I slowly made my way up the last bit of steep trail. I was about 10 minutes from the top when I got a text message from Kim, “I’m waiting. How long till you get here?” was all she had to say. I had to laugh at her cockiness.
Success, I finally made it to the top. I was hot, very hot. So I looked around for that large patch of snow that I had seen from below. We came around the corner and there it was, like a gift from the hiking Gods there was a large patch of snow, ice cold freezing snow. I wasted no time, I climbed up the hill and laid my tired ass on the snow and began to cool off. This was a good spot, we sat and ate our lunch and enjoyed the view. We played at the top for a while before take the journey back down the mountain. On the way down we took the long route, this route was without a doubt more scenic. There are many views of the Columbia River and of the Gorge.
The Columbia River and The Gorge
So here is a small rant; People, don’t let your dogs crap on the trail, and when they do, move the crap off the trail. Just because it is named Dog Mountain doesn’t mean that your dog should be allowed to crap where ever it wants. I can’t tell you how many piles of crap there were on the trail, it is very frustrating. If you can’t clean up after your dog, then leave the mutt at home or better yet why don’t you both stay home.
Trail Details
Length: 3.1 miles on the way up, and 3.5 miles on the way down.
Elevation Change: ~2800 ft.
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Elevation Profile For the Trip Up
Maps
Google Earth
Photos
Click here to see the photo gallery
Other Sources
http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/trails/locations/mta-0147-dog-mountain.shtml
http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes-of-the-week/dog-mountain
http://www.nwhiker.com/CGNSAHike48.html
Getting There
Getting there couldnt be easier. From Vancouver just drive east on HWY 14 for about 48 miles and that is it or if you prefer here is a map that will get you all the way there.
Backpacking Tillamook Head
On April 12th 2008, Kim and I went backing from Seaside to Tillamook Head and then on to the hikers camp near Cannon Beach in Ecola State Park. The weather this weekend was great, in fact it was the best weather that we have had in some time. This was evident in the amount of traffic heading from Portland to the coast. Traffic aside; it is still a nice drive. After an hour and a half driving we finally arrived in Seaside, we drove up the road leading to the trailhead and when we arrived I was very surprised to see a sign that said “No overnight parking”. In all my preparation and reading for this trip I never read anything saying that we couldn’t park at the Seaside trailhead. So what to do, we decided to drive back down the road and see if there was another place we could park. I wasn’t about to get back on the 101 and drive to Cannon Beach. Luckily about ¼ miles down the road we found a spot to park. Wasting no time we pulled in, grabbed our stuff and started hiking up the road to the trailhead. The trailhead was nice enough; the trail is wide and had been cleared out from the winter storms. It wasn’t long after getting on the trail head that we started to gain elevation. Switchback after switchback we climbed the hill. After a while we got up to the top, looking back at where we had come from it was immediately obvious that the work was worth it. The scenery up here is great. If you don’t have a great view of the Pacific Ocean then you are looking at a lush green coastal forest full of life. Although the weather was great and the trail had been cleared, there was still a lot of mud which made progress a bit slow at times. No worries though, just trudge through it. About half way to the hiker’s camp we stopped for lunch. We sat with our legs hanging over a missive cliff overlooking the ocean. It was a great place for lunch. We finished eating and headed for the camp. Shortly thereafter we arrived at the camp and saw 8 tents setup. My first reaction was that the shelters were full and people were pitching their tents, a problem for us since we didn’t bother to bring our tent. However, when we looked around the shelters were empty. I guessed that the tents must have belonged to the large group of Boy Scouts that we saw at the trailhead. No matter, we unpacked, I rested and Kim wrote in the visitor’s book. About an hour later the Boy Scouts arrived. A bit annoying, sure, but they weren’t that bad. We all shared the picnic table and shelter while making our meals.
Later in the evening, after dinner, Kim and I headed out towards the lookout point to watch the sunset. We were only an hour early but this gave us time to talk and horse around. As time went on more and more of the Boy Scouts showed up to watch the sunset, I must admit that even though it was Kim’s idea to watch the sunset, I really enjoyed it as well. Having Terrible Tilly (an old lighthouse) in the background truly added to the whole experience. After sunset, we headed back to camp, sat around the fire and listened to stupid Boy Scout stories. Before too long we decided to go to bed.
The next morning when we woke up the Boy Scouts were gone and we essentially had the place to ourselves. We took our time in getting fed and packed up. The weather was not as nice today, but not all that bad for the Oregon coast. We headed out and back up the hill, when we reached the top we were in the middle of a very low and very thick marine layer. As the clouds drifted through the trees, the water could condense on the branches and large drops of rain would fall on us. This wasn’t all that unwelcome as I was hot hiking with all that gear on my back. I started to notice that the mud holes that we had walked through just the day before were now mostly covered with down branches. At first it wasn’t all that bad, but then it became excessive. On their way back up those Boy Scouts had covered all the mud holes with branches. While this might sound like a good idea, it isn’t, and any Boy Scout should know it. The branches are organic material, and therefore will break down and make the problem worse. Not to mention that having all these branches strewn across the trail poses it own set of hazards. At one point I was following Kim through one of these patches, when she stepped down a branch stuck up and stabbed me in the shin. When I finished cursing, I began to curse the Boy Scouts and there leaders for making such a damn mess of the trail. Hey, Boy Scouts, you are out hiking, if you don’t like a little mud stay home.
Boy Scouts aside, this was a great trip. The trail is nice, the scenery is fantastic and the wood shelters are fun to sleep in. You should note though that this is a very popular trail system. Even in the middle of April there were a lot of people coming through camp. If planning a visit in the summer bring a tent just in case.
Trail Details
Length: 4.8 miles each way.
Elevation Change: ~1100 ft.
Maps
Google Earth
Photos
Click here to see the photo gallery
Other Sources
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_188.php
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/images/pdf/ecola-clatsop-map.pdf
http://www.oregon.com/hiking/tillamook_head.cfm
Getting There
Getting there is a snap. From Portland drive West on highway 26 all the way to Seaside. Here is a map that will get you all the way there.
Hiking Hamilton Mountain
On April 3rd 2008 Wen-Li and I hiked up Hamilton Mountain in Beacon Rock State park in the Columbia River Gorge. You often hear people talking about hiking up Beacon Rock, but it is rare that you hear about people hiking up Hamilton Mountain. Which is a shame since Hamilton is just across the highway from Beacon Rock. When we arrived at the park the gates were closed so we walked from the highway up to the trailhead. The first two miles or so the trail is wide and in good condition, at times the trail is a bit steep but has a lot of flat areas. After you get passed the waterfall the trail narrows and becomes steeper. The higher you go the smaller the trail gets. When we were within about a quart of a mile of the summit we ran into snow. We continued on to the top, the view up here is great. The cloud level was high and we could see east and west as far as the eye could see. We were not able to stay long since it was getting dark. About a mile down from the top it was dark enough that we had to put on our headlamps, luckily the trail at this point is a bit wider and safer. This is a nice trail with some great views, if your in the area you should check it out.
Trail Details
Length: 3.5 miles each way
Elevation Change: ~2100 ft.
Maps
Directions
Getting here couldn’t be easier. From Vancouver just drive east on highway 14 for about 30 miles. you can’t miss it. Click for Google Map
Snowshoeing Pocket Creek (Mt. Hood)
One of the things that I love most about living in Vancouver (Washington not BC) is that I can drive 1.5 hours west and be on the coast, or I can drive an hour east and be snowshoeing in the mountains. This is exactly what we did on March 22nd 2008 when we drove to Mt Hood and went snowshoeing on the Pocket Creek trail. The weather was great, it was warm and sunny. There was lots of snow on the ground and none in the tree tops. I said that we went snowshoeing, but this is not completely accurate. I went snowshoeing while Kim and Wen-Li went cross country skiing. This was Kim’s first time on X-Country skis, she did great, they had to keep stopping so that I could catch up with them. This was a great trail for Kim to tryout the X-Country skis, the trail is flat and had seen enough use that there was a nice track for her to follow. Not to mention the fact that the snow pack had about an inch of fluff on top of a very solid base.
About half way through the trail we stopped for lunch. I took off my snow shoes and used them to dig a nice bench seat and table for me to cook lunch. While lunch was cooking Kim played around on her skis. After lunch we got back to the trail. Towards the end of the trail we came upon an open meadow, the sun was so bright reflecting off the snow that it was difficult to see, even with dark sun glasses. By the time we reached the end of the trail my feet were killing me and I didn’t feel like making a loop. So we decided to follow the highway back to the car. This cut about a mile off the return trip and it was easier walking for me. The snow banks along the side of the road were more than 10 feet high so Kim and Wen-Li got on top of the bank and skied back to the car.
This is an awesome trail for X-Country skiing but it is a bit boring for snowshoeing (too flat). I highly recommend this trail, but I you better hurry if you want to try it out this year, the snow is melting fast.
Maps
Google Earth
Google Maps
Cape Lookout Point
Maps, Photos, Directions, and Trail information is below
On March 2nd Kim and I went for a hike along Cape Lookout Point on the Oregon Coast. The trail is part of Cape Lookout State Park. The trail is not that long, about 2.4 miles each way with minimal elevation change. The cape is narrow which allows for views of both the north side and the south side of the cape. There are many spots that have great views along the trail. This is a very popular trail, we saw many people both coming and going. If you are looking for a short coastal hike you can’t go wrong with this one, just beware that the trail gets muddy and slick with rain. There are also a lot of exposed roots crossing the trail; at times they can make footing a bit tricky. It is interesting to note that in 1943 on a foggy day a B-17 bomber crashed into the south side of the cape, there is a plaque along the trail, the plaque is mounted about 8 feet above the trail.
Trail Details
Length: 2.4 miles each way
Elevation Change: ~200 ft.
Maps
Google Earth
Google Maps
Photos
Click here to see the photo gallery
Other Sources
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_188.php
Hiking Tillamook Head
Maps, Photos, Directions, and Trail information is below
Okay, so we didn’t make it all the way to Tillamook Head, I’ll tell you why later. We actually spent most of our time on the Clatsop trail loop. This trail is great, we took the access road up to the hikers camp. The road is obviously wide. The grade is constant uphill all the way to the camp. There is a creek running alongside the trail and the scenery is great. We were very surprised when we got to the hikers camp. We were expecting a rustic area set aside for camping. Instead what we found was 3 wooden shelters, each with four wooden bunks. There was also a covered picnic table and a fire ring. The camp also has a pile of firewood in sacks, for a $5 donation you can make yourself a nice fire without having to worry about finding any wood. The hikers camp sits at a crossroads of sorts, from here you can go to a viewpoint, get on the other half of the Clatsop trail, or take a trail to Tillamook Head and then Seaside. First we went the 1/8 mile to the viewpoint. On the way there is a WWII radar bunker. The equipment is gone, but it was interesting to look at the bunker. The view at the viewpoint is great, you are standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Tillamook Lighthouse (Terrible Tilly). After taking some pictures we headed back to the hikers camp. From there we continued to Tillamook Head. The trail has not been cleared from the winter storms and there are a lot of trees down across the trail. As we hiked we talked about how fun it would be to camp in the shelters and then hike into Seaside, once we decided that this was a good idea we wanted to turn around so that when we came back the trail would still be new to us. On our way back we saw two Bald Eagles flying along the edge of the cliff. I have never seen a bald eagle in the wild; I must say it was great. When we got back to hikers camp we got on the trail portion of the Clatsop Trail headed back to Ecola State Park. This trail was beautiful; the forest was green with ferns and other plant life. The trail affords many views of the ocean and at times Cannon Beach.
The trail was great and so was the weather, I can’t wait to return and stay at the hikers camp overnight.
Trail Details
Length: 4.3 miles (This is the distance we hiked, the Clatsop trail is actually shorter than this)
Elevation Change: 1000 ft.
Maps
Google Earth
Google Maps
Photos
Click here to see the photo gallery
Other Sources
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_188.php
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/images/pdf/ecola-clatsop-map.pdf
http://www.oregon.com/hiking/tillamook_head.cfm
Getting There
The Clatsop trail is accessed from within Ecola State Park, in Cannon Beach Oregon. Park at the Indian Point Parking, go to the information post and you will see the trail heading north.
Snowshoeing Mt. Spokane
Maps, Photos, Directions, and Trail information is below
On January 20th 2008 a group of us went up to Mt. Spokane to go snowshoeing. We started on the Mt. Kit Carson trail (road) and then quickly switched to trail #100. At first I was a bit concerned, the trail was a bit steep and we had three children with us, the youngest being eight years old. Although we ended up taking quite a few breaks it turned out great. The trail was not crowded (unlike Kit Carson) yet the trail was well established. Most of the time we were in the trees with the occasional view of the sky however, there were a few places that had great views of the valley below. It was so nice to get away from the winter grey of Vancouver and see some clear blue skies. Just being out in the clear weather made it worth the cold temperatures (14° F), what a great way to spend the day; great friends, great weather, and a great trail, couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend a winter Sunday.
After about a mile the children were getting tired and wanted to go back. We convinced them go along a bit further so we could reach a 1000 ft elevation gain. At 1.2 miles my Garmin GPS said that we had climbed 1034 ft, so we turned around and went back. I was dissapointed when I downloaded the GPS data and saw that we had only climbed 744 ft, but what can you do. It would be nice to go back and do the trail again.
Trail Details
Length: ~1.2miles (each way) This is not the entire trail, just where we turned around.
Elevation Change: 744 ft.
Maps
Google Earth File
Google Maps
Photos
Click here to see the photo gallery
Other Sources
http://www.mountspokane.org/
http://www.mountspokane.org/Maps/SnowshoeTrailMap.pdf
Getting There
From Spokane head North on Highway 2, turn right on Highway 206 and follow 206 to the snow parks, and here is the map.
Snowshoeing Old Man Pass
Maps, Photos, Directions, and Trail information is below.
Actually we started at McClellan Snow Park, but since Old Man Pass is more popular and they share the same trail system I decided to write as if we started at Old Man Pass. So on January 6th 2008 we started at McClellan Snow Park (inside the Gifford Pinchot National Forest) to go snowshoeing. The conditions were great, it was about 30°F and there was more than 44 inches of snow on the ground and snowing. The only problem was that for the vast majority of the trail we were the first ones there. At 230 lbs (including large pack) I sank rite in. Even with 30″ shoes I sank more than 24″ into the powdery snow. Quickly I decided to let Kim and Wen-Li lead the way and pack it down for me. Even following Istill sank 12 to 18 inches with each step. I think that it should go without saying that the deep powder forced us to shorten our planned hike; it was like walking 3 miles of stair all with 12″ risers.The parking lot was plowed and had plenty of parking, well it would have if people were to actually think and pay attention when parking. There was also a shoveled walk to the bathroom which was almost completely buried in snow. The trails had not been groomed. Before we left I tried to find grooming info, but all I could find was that the area was supposed to be groomed on Thursdays. Obviously they hadn’t. None the less the trail was beautiful. I think that if we had started at the Old Man Pass side of the trail system we would have been better off as far as trail condition goes. There were a lot more people using that side of the system.When we were done and back to the car, we drove over to Old Man Pass so that Kim could go sledding. I was surprised to see that the parking lot for the sledding hill was full. There was a large group of people sledding and having a good time. While Kim played I cooked some late lunch. After lunch we headed home.
Trail Details
Length: ~1.3miles (each way)
Elevation Change: ~120 ft.
Maps
Google Earth File
Google Maps
Photos
Click here to see the photo gallery
Getting There
From Vancouver Washington take SR 14 eastbound to Carson WA (~40 miles). Go North on Wind River Road. After 14 miles you will turn right on Forest Road 30. Go another 11 miles and you will be at Old Man Pass. McClellan Snow Park is just another 1.5 miles down the road. Here is a map from Vancouver to Old Man Pass
Camping in the Redwood Forest
The following is a summary of our camping trip, if you are looking for information on the trail that we hiked see links at the bottom of this post.As part of our 2007 Christmas vacation we (Kim, Julie, and I) went camping in the Redwoods National park in Prairie Creek State Park, a mouthful I know. We camped at Elk Prairie campground, where I was a bit surprised at the number of people that were willing to brave the rain just to stay there. While we were there longer than anyone else, there were about 8 to 10 other groups each night. Most of which were in RV’s but some were tent camping as we were. As expected it rained every day, nearly all day long.We arrived around 6:30pm on the 26th found a campsite and preceded to setup camp. First thing up was our new 10′x10′ aluminum rapid shelter. This thing worked great, with all the rain it never leaked and provided a place for us to hide from the rain while we ate. After camp was set up we made a fire, cooked dinner, ate smores, and went to bed. It was a long day of driving (for me at least, everyone else slept the entire way) and we had a big hike to do in the morning. When we went into our tent we quickly realized that our air mattress had gone flat, must be a hole. I blew it up again and quickly found a ¼” long gash in the side wall. So I put some duct tape on it, blew it up again and went to bed. I was hoping that the mattress would stay aloft long enough for us to fall asleep. Mission accomplished, an hour after I fell asleep I woke up and realized that the mattress had gone flat, screw it, went back to sleep.The next morning Kim and I woke up bright and early (10:00am). We got up made coffee and breakfast and then woke Julie up. Once breakfast had been eaten and dishes cleaned we packed for our hike along the James Irvine trail, once packed we walked from the campsite to the park entrance. After some initial confusion we finally found the correct trail head. Turns out that the beginning of the trail was closed for maintenance and we needed to take a different trail and then switch along the way. In fact the California State Department of Corrections was onsite with a crew of “volunteers” working on the trails. For more details on the hike click here to read the story. It didn’t take long for us to realize that we were not going to make it to the end of the trail and back before dark. So we decided to hike half of the trail now and the other half the next day (both side of the trail are accessible by car). By the time we made it back to camp we were all tired and wet, except for Kim who had a nice new raincoat. Soit seemed like a good idea to drive into town and get a hot meal. This is what we did. When we got back to camp I once again blew up the air mattress and we went to sleep.The next morning we once again go up early (10:00am). Just like the first morning, Kim and I got up made coffee and breakfast and then woke Julie up. We ate, cleaned up, packed our bags, and headed for the Fern Canyon and the other half of the James Irvine Trail. The idea was to walk up the canyon and then connect with the trail. We piled into the truck and drove towards the trail. When we turned of highway 101 and onto Davison Rd we were greeted by a hug puddle, it spanned the road, was about 40 feet long and about 18 inches deep. Needless to say, I had to drive fast through it, water spraying everywhere. After crossing the puddle we came upon a large hear of Elk. We stopped and looked but I didn’t bring my zoom lens with me, so no good pictures. Onward we went to the canyon. We drovealong the narrow bumpy 8 mile long road until we hit the coast. There the road got wider but was just as bumpy. After a short while we came across a creek crossing. The creek was about 10 feet wide and 2 feet deep. There were a couple of Subaru Outback’s parked here. We crossed the creek and after a few hundred yards came across another. At this creek there was another car parked. Finally we came to the third and final creek crossing. After the third creek there were a couple groups of people walking (from the cars that were parked). When we finally got to the parking lot there was a Volkswagen Rabbit sitting there, something that made me laugh when I thought about those people with the Outback’s walking the last ¼ mile in the rain for no reason. We got out of the truck and walked the .2 miles to the canyon.Now when I was planning this trip, l looked at many pictures and read many reviews of Fern Canyon. I seemed to be a beautiful place with a small creek winding its way through the bottom. When we got to the mouth of the canyon I suddenly realized that the pictures I had been looking at were taken during the summer, and not during the rainy winter. That’s right, the small stream was a bit (considerably) swollen from all of the rain. Luckily there were a lot of logs that people had arranged into walkways that criss-crossed the canyon floor. So up the canyon we went. It took about 45 seconds before Julie fell into the water and got her boots all wet. Shortly thereafter I slipped on a log racked my shin and smashed my forearm. On we go! It didn’t take long before all of us had wet boots. After about 100 yards Julie decided it wasn’t worth it and she was not going any further, with that Kim decided she was going to go either. I continued on for another 25 yards before turning around. I figured that if I went to the end of the canyon (another 50 yards) and go onto the James Irvine trail it would be another 1 ½ hours before I got back. I decided not to leave Julie and Kim for that long. I won’t pretend that I was happy that they decided to quit so easily. Less than happy, we went back to the truck and headed out.
In an attempt to salvage the day, we decided to head up to the Lady Bird Johnson grove. By the time we got to the grove the rain had stopped and the fog had settled into the trees. It was a perfect time to do the loop. We walked around the loop took pictures and had a good time and for the second time that day, I slipped and fell in the mud, covering the butt of my pants with a nice creamy brown color mud. After the grove we drove around a bit, looked at the ocean and then went back to camp. For more details on the hike click here.At camp I made a very large and very hot fire. We cooked dinner and roasted marshmallows. While Kim and Julie were doing their roasting I suddenly realized that the Fern Canyon trail is actually a loop, and that the other portion of the loop is above the canyon and therefore not up a creek. I decided that I would wake up early hike the other part of the loop and finish the James Irvine trail. I asked Kim and Julie if they wanted to go with me, there was no doubt that they didn’t. So the next morning I got up in the cold and the rain and headed out for the trail. When I got to the trail I put on my soaking wet boots and started hiking. It was a beautiful morning, by this time it was lightly raining and it had warmed up a bit. While thoroughly enjoying the scenery I missed the trailhead. I came to an area that was muddy and slicker than snot on a log. Once again I slipped and fell, this time it was a full on both legs out from under me and above my head. Slam, I hit the ground like a rock, the proceeded to slide down the small hill. Now after three falls my pants were almost entirely encrusted in mud. Whatever. I pressed on. I found the trail head and proceeded to finish what I had set out to do a few days ago, hike the James Irvine Trail. For more details on my hike of the James Irvine trail click here.Once I completed the hike I drove back to camp. We packed up and left for home. Much like the drive down to California, Julie and Kim slept almost the entire way home. I am sure that there is more to say, but I am getting tired and don’t feel like typing any more.
Links
Photo Gallery
James Irvine Trail
Lady Bird Johnson Grove
Maps/Tracks/Waypoints
