Miya
Because I am able.
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2017
- Messages
- 1,404
Bobbi and I went on another adventure yesterday. We are really trying to be in shape for our hike in May, which will partially take place along the coastline. We have been hitting the gym with 40lb weighted vests, but decided we needed to do a beach day hike to get the full effect.
Tomales Bay Point Trail, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA. 9.4 miles (there and back).
![Reflective Eyes-20.jpg Reflective Eyes-20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62677-1cdee5997e90ed104f2b394ece93aef7.jpg)
We got started at the trail at 0600. It was pitch black, so we attached our vests (only 28lbs for this hike), backpacks, and headlamps and started our journey. This was our first hike in the dark. We got to see a little fox nearby, watching us intently. If I had been alone, all the glowing eyes would have terrified me. Since this is an elk reserve, it is just smothered in Elk. Hundreds and hundreds of eyes watching us from the ridgelines. It wasn't till around 0700 till there was enough sunlight for us to really see them.
![Reflective Eyes-31.jpg Reflective Eyes-31.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62678-6367f98ba58ac1214dd72dd4962bb201.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-32.jpg Reflective Eyes-32.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62679-dd89356378fbae7eb39e59f90d330bb9.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-19.jpg Reflective Eyes-19.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62680-9451953a0c5815483252c30b89217f61.jpg)
I was hoping they would let us get a little closer since it is a pretty popular trail, but they kept their distance.
![Reflective Eyes-33.jpg Reflective Eyes-33.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62696-6d8e60fc93526793b9c81e0e6bebe4bf.jpg)
This is where hiking in VERY soft sand started, while going uphill. I felt like we weren't moving, but we made it through.
![Reflective Eyes-14.jpg Reflective Eyes-14.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62687-a23f885c7027f956816d4e8ef7bde1ec.jpg)
I have never done any hiking with flowers all around, and it was definitely special to see so many different wild flowers along the way.
![Reflective Eyes-2.jpg Reflective Eyes-2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62681-23ff6cf116585382a8e7a0b83e463c73.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-7.jpg Reflective Eyes-7.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62682-e5046759351a1f74d02c4fc8b277dcba.jpg)
We made it to the end and stopped for snacks at 0837. We enjoyed the scenery, got cold and headed back at 0920, with the goal of reaching our cars at 1145. We figured we would be faster going back, since we had already stopped and taken pictures of the elk. However, we actually ended up running pretty low on steam and the way back had a lot more uphill walking.
![Reflective Eyes-10.jpg Reflective Eyes-10.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62683-77ad3ff4714967c17d1664d3d1cc9da9.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-12.jpg Reflective Eyes-12.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62685-31add4b40fd27b224245d920f176ccfb.jpg)
I love little itsy bitsy flowers.
![Reflective Eyes-11.jpg Reflective Eyes-11.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62684-c943e7025f1bf867f20f3c99a63f5bd1.jpg)
Our trip back provided beautiful clouds and a wonderful rain, which I had really hoped for. Work has been a strain lately, and nothing makes me feel better than hiking in the rain. Looked like this raven (or crow, I am not sure) enjoyed the rain as much as me.
![Reflective Eyes-18.jpg Reflective Eyes-18.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62690-71c5a7b9a057cab0ca2c66514b388880.jpg)
Nothing as beautiful to me as clouds. I was mesmerized by this one, it kept me motivated to keep up a fast pace.
![Reflective Eyes-17.jpg Reflective Eyes-17.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62689-38edbf44c7d62f8dd8dcdb7b643b75c2.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-13.jpg Reflective Eyes-13.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62686-4ff4cdaddf2e8601f0433a4521471b3d.jpg)
Big ol' slug.
![Reflective Eyes-16.jpg Reflective Eyes-16.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62688-cb608ac009d42c527772d76fe2ad76c3.jpg)
We made it back to our cars just at 11:45. I was desperate to get the weighted vest off of my shoulders. I wandered around for a couple minutes to check out the Pierce Point Ranch (dairy ranch from 1858). I took a couple shots, but my knee wanted to sit and go home. Overall, a really perfect day. Bobbi and I were very proud of our day and are happy to see ourselves getting stronger and more comfortable carrying weight.
![Reflective Eyes-21.jpg Reflective Eyes-21.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62691-314bafb26ce86a22ff2053a0036c5fca.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-22.jpg Reflective Eyes-22.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62692-72278f88956c65abb64cf28fe11e08e6.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-23.jpg Reflective Eyes-23.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62693-7ab46e8582eae1ec57f2ae5698d97a60.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-24.jpg Reflective Eyes-24.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62694-a09e799ac4608d6587d3104e8e42fc7e.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-25.jpg Reflective Eyes-25.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62695-9f23c67d81d982e0815e1747f66660b2.jpg)
Tomales Bay Point Trail, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA. 9.4 miles (there and back).
![map_tomalespoint_170723_1500x1000.gif](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nps.gov%2Fpore%2Fplanyourvisit%2Fimages%2Fmap_tomalespoint_170723_1500x1000.gif&hash=7bb0ea3f2155754bf7ed7d3857b9c84c)
![Reflective Eyes-20.jpg Reflective Eyes-20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62677-1cdee5997e90ed104f2b394ece93aef7.jpg)
We got started at the trail at 0600. It was pitch black, so we attached our vests (only 28lbs for this hike), backpacks, and headlamps and started our journey. This was our first hike in the dark. We got to see a little fox nearby, watching us intently. If I had been alone, all the glowing eyes would have terrified me. Since this is an elk reserve, it is just smothered in Elk. Hundreds and hundreds of eyes watching us from the ridgelines. It wasn't till around 0700 till there was enough sunlight for us to really see them.
![Reflective Eyes-31.jpg Reflective Eyes-31.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62678-6367f98ba58ac1214dd72dd4962bb201.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-32.jpg Reflective Eyes-32.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62679-dd89356378fbae7eb39e59f90d330bb9.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-19.jpg Reflective Eyes-19.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62680-9451953a0c5815483252c30b89217f61.jpg)
I was hoping they would let us get a little closer since it is a pretty popular trail, but they kept their distance.
![Reflective Eyes-33.jpg Reflective Eyes-33.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62696-6d8e60fc93526793b9c81e0e6bebe4bf.jpg)
This is where hiking in VERY soft sand started, while going uphill. I felt like we weren't moving, but we made it through.
![Reflective Eyes-14.jpg Reflective Eyes-14.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62687-a23f885c7027f956816d4e8ef7bde1ec.jpg)
I have never done any hiking with flowers all around, and it was definitely special to see so many different wild flowers along the way.
![Reflective Eyes-2.jpg Reflective Eyes-2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62681-23ff6cf116585382a8e7a0b83e463c73.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-7.jpg Reflective Eyes-7.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62682-e5046759351a1f74d02c4fc8b277dcba.jpg)
We made it to the end and stopped for snacks at 0837. We enjoyed the scenery, got cold and headed back at 0920, with the goal of reaching our cars at 1145. We figured we would be faster going back, since we had already stopped and taken pictures of the elk. However, we actually ended up running pretty low on steam and the way back had a lot more uphill walking.
![Reflective Eyes-9.jpg Reflective Eyes-9.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62676-caa763191c93464651d71b6f6398b278.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-10.jpg Reflective Eyes-10.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62683-77ad3ff4714967c17d1664d3d1cc9da9.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-12.jpg Reflective Eyes-12.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62685-31add4b40fd27b224245d920f176ccfb.jpg)
I love little itsy bitsy flowers.
![Reflective Eyes-11.jpg Reflective Eyes-11.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62684-c943e7025f1bf867f20f3c99a63f5bd1.jpg)
Our trip back provided beautiful clouds and a wonderful rain, which I had really hoped for. Work has been a strain lately, and nothing makes me feel better than hiking in the rain. Looked like this raven (or crow, I am not sure) enjoyed the rain as much as me.
![Reflective Eyes-18.jpg Reflective Eyes-18.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62690-71c5a7b9a057cab0ca2c66514b388880.jpg)
Nothing as beautiful to me as clouds. I was mesmerized by this one, it kept me motivated to keep up a fast pace.
![Reflective Eyes-17.jpg Reflective Eyes-17.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62689-38edbf44c7d62f8dd8dcdb7b643b75c2.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-13.jpg Reflective Eyes-13.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62686-4ff4cdaddf2e8601f0433a4521471b3d.jpg)
Big ol' slug.
![Reflective Eyes-16.jpg Reflective Eyes-16.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62688-cb608ac009d42c527772d76fe2ad76c3.jpg)
We made it back to our cars just at 11:45. I was desperate to get the weighted vest off of my shoulders. I wandered around for a couple minutes to check out the Pierce Point Ranch (dairy ranch from 1858). I took a couple shots, but my knee wanted to sit and go home. Overall, a really perfect day. Bobbi and I were very proud of our day and are happy to see ourselves getting stronger and more comfortable carrying weight.
![Reflective Eyes-21.jpg Reflective Eyes-21.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62691-314bafb26ce86a22ff2053a0036c5fca.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-22.jpg Reflective Eyes-22.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62692-72278f88956c65abb64cf28fe11e08e6.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-23.jpg Reflective Eyes-23.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62693-7ab46e8582eae1ec57f2ae5698d97a60.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-24.jpg Reflective Eyes-24.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62694-a09e799ac4608d6587d3104e8e42fc7e.jpg)
![Reflective Eyes-25.jpg Reflective Eyes-25.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/62/62695-9f23c67d81d982e0815e1747f66660b2.jpg)
Last edited: