To Big Sur or Bust!

Sarah, Laura, and I went to Monterey in the beginning of August. One of my best friend's from college has a brother working at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. He gave us a grand tour, behind the scenes and all. We saw the room where they raise seahorses, went behind the jellyfish display. Saw the kelp forest from the top. Saw a sea otter in rehabilitation that won't go into the wild (otherwise we would've had to wear strange clothing).

I still had quite the limp from my bike accident, but we walked to some of the beaches near Big Sur State Park. Don't ever let the campground attendants pick a site for you. What they give you is a site next to lights, not in the actually redwoods, and that is infested with squirrels which may or may not carry the plague. One ballsy squirrel so much as had the gumption to pull my tent stuff sack away from next to where I was setting up my tent. I didn't see it happen, but saw the orange back hanging half out from under a log at our tent site. So I stole it back.

Backpacking the High Trail

Here are some photos from my backpacking trip in July with Matt and Kyle. They are two SCA's (the lady who started the Student Conservation Association is from Shaftsbury, VT - or resides there) who are Interpretation interns. I love them.

We did the High Trail with aspirations of going over 5 passes in 2 nights and 3 days. Kyle ended up twisting his knee and we exited the Rush Creek trail out of June Lake instead. BUT it was still SO much fun.

And we hiked in farther than we thought the first night and were rewarded with amazing views when we rose. There were definitely people camping closer than 100' off the trail too. I give people the wilderness permits at work and do they listen? No. Who listens to LNT rules? Bigfoot does. That's who.

backpacking trip to Waterwheel Falls

Earlier this summer I went backpacking with my friend Jesse to Waterwheel Falls in Yosemite. It was my first backpack trip in the Sierras. I got some photos, but my laptop has been less than stellar, so most of the summer I haven't documented (aside from whomever tagged me on fb).

Our campspot was above Waterwheel Falls, and it was amazing. Jesse's friends were setting up a route on one of the rocks. They couldn't find when the last documented climb was. .. if it ever was. Rock climbing is something I'll try to do more of, but I really don't have money to pick up a new sport.

Either way, it was an amazing time, and I thank Jesse for the use of the sweet Bearicade bear canister and of his water filter. My steripen was down (it's hard to find camera batteries in Mammoth). Jesse is out of Yosemite and he and Emily road-tripped it to New Mexico and got to see Melissa on the way. I'll miss them. Met them in VT. Most people you meet in VT become pretty great friends.

Bear Sighting/Skiing with Jane/Hiking McGee

well I still don't have the patience to format this. So the photos are in reverse order.
McGee Creek Hike.
Skiing in Yosemite.
Then the photo with the skis in it is Rock Creek and the trailhead we tried to ski, but ended up turning back, and after the photos is a narrative.

Observations Thus Far

Silvia’s Observations from California (7800’):

- Extra Sharp Cheddar is apparently appealing in yellow (I thought that was only in the South) and they mark the label saying it doesn’t have the bad dyes in it. Idea: don’t dye it! And it does not taste extra sharp at all!
-Mammoth Lakes has its very own Ben and Jerry’s. So if I want to feel at home I just have walk by it and it’ll have that same yummy aroma
-People out here really like white trucks
-Out here it is also called “snowmobiling” not “snow-machining”. Thus concluding that Central VT is perhaps the only area that calls it “’chining”: SHEEN-IN : (pronunciation guide)
-Buy things you really need in Bishop. Bike tubes in Mammoth Lakes are $7.99, and they aren’t even the thorn-proof kind. I also forgot to get GU, CO2 cartridges and a pump, amongst other things. So when I go 30 miles South to Bishop, gas, oil changes, and bike shops are more reasonable. Unfortunately, they don’t sell neon green Onion River Sports Frisbees (which I also forgot).
-It is possible to go less than 30 mph when descending more than 1000’ by road bike
-Bear-proof dumpsters are VTer-proof as well. There is a caribiner and then a latch you have to reach under to unhook in a separate spot, thus, needing two hands
-Although the tufas are a nifty feature of a salty lake, and have a boardwalk leading out toward them, I like the Orono Bog Boardwalk better (more living things)
-I thought people in California were environmentally conscious... but I can’t even find Simple Green in the store. What is the deal? They do pay you to recycle aluminum and plastic, but it's by weight.
-Apparently you can go for a wine tasting and a hummer tour all in one. What a business plan! Who would have thought? Sign me up…
-Goodbye to composting. We shall meet again! But we do have a food grinder thingy in the sink. That’s always fun.

Cold Toes and Lakes

June 8th
So I've been online for over an hour and finally got to put up a post. I am going to start using the library computer and throw mine in at the earthquake fault.

I went hiking to Sherwin Lakes with Barrett and his friend from Alaska today. It's the only trail in town really open. The snow is melting fast though. We biked to the trailhead, hiked, then biked back. Luckily I checked my mail today and my Dad (love you and thanks Dad!) sent me some Vermont cheese. So after the hike the sharp cheddar was sharper than any here. So delicious.



June 7, 2010
I went biking today and it was mostly uphill. The snow was melting and the river coming down from the Lakes Basin was roaring. I had to slowly bike through some big areas where water was crossing the road. As I got off my bike to get onto the bike path on the side of the road, two cars went by, without really slowing down and got my back pretty soaked. I then realized, that I used to work at a bike shop, and why didn’t I get such fancy things as toe covers (my feet got soaked). I also realized going down Tioga and the Lake Mary Road the importance of my next road bike needing to maybe be a women’s bike. I’ve always had trouble reaching the brake levers from the drop position. I also have a really mediocre brake set. The front brakes are so hard to adjust properly. The left pad is dangerously close to my tire, and I have to check and recheck it every ride. Frank confirmed it for me before I left. “You have a cheap brake set”. That’s that.
Last year I got a flat because I wore a hole in my tire. So now I pay attention. But this road bike will be many many years from now. If I ever have money for another bike again, it is going to be a cross bike or a hardtail. We all have our dreams. However, I think right now my priorities involve traveling, a bike or two, and then maybe my own place. Somewhat in that order too. I think. Oh and maybe getting married… that may be in there too. But that’s a bit more complicated than the aforementioned.

First Hike of the Year (in CA)

Tufas/Mono Lake in these 3 pics.

There's way to much snow in the backcountry, so I decided to explore the June Lake Loop trails, which still have snow cover, but not all. This involved me wanting to hike Walker Lake, but to hike

Walker Lake one needs to drive 2.5 miles up (and it turns to an up) a VT Class 3 road. So it was lots of big rocks/gravel, and I was so close but got annoyed and turned around. I miss my Subie.

So I forfeited and hiked Parker Lake, which is a much easier road. And this is what I saw.

Then I went to the South Tufas. They are interesting to see once I feel. Then it just makes you want a real ocean somewhere (Maine perhaps?). I do need to get to the coast here sometime. Maybe after busy season.