Miya
Because I am able.
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2017
- Messages
- 1,404
Another short story inspired by the backpacking mishaps of Miya and Bobbi. (I really go back through and cut out as many words as I can, but it is still long...)
https://evermoremoments.smugmug.com/What-Could-Have-Been
I have a total of 8 days scheduled off and have been planning the LCT trip since last summer. However, I recently realized that Bobbi just wouldn't be able to handle the LCT, nor enjoy it. I knew this wouldn't take my full 8 days, but decided on the Stuart Fork Trail, Weaverville, CA. It is 25 miles, but I planned a 38 mile loop just in case Bobbi was willing to do the miles. She was NOT. So we planned a leisurely backpacking trip, Saturday the 19th - Tuesday the 22nd.
This was only my 3rd backpacking attempt, and even though I tried to be really casual with my planning, I still wouldn't consider this trip a 'success'. After this trip, Bobbi has officially given up backpacking and will no longer go with me. So hopefully I can make backpacking friends manifest with sheer mental power!
I know I will complete a backpacking trip one day! And I have every intention of going back to Stuart Fork! There isn't a lot that ever stops me.
Heads up, I really am not happy with any of the photos and didn't take many, because I thought we had all the time in the world! While I brought my Lego, she did not have her photo taken, again, because of the unexpected end to our trip. Lastly, Lego is going to retire and I am going to be taking a different figurine/s.
I left work early on Friday. Picked up Bobbi and drove the 4 and a half hours to the TH. We got there about midnight and slept in the back of my new car!
Bobbi remembered to bring Matty, a stuffed bear her late husband gave her.
Both wearing new shoes for the hike. We both knew it wasn't the best idea, but didn't have time to break them in beforehand.
I could have spent all day trying to take photos here. It was in a weird spot. I think Bobbi got some good photos of me laying precariously on the ground trying not to fall into the creek. Haha I love moss!
Lots of downed trees and creeks to cross = lots of fun!
'Perty'...
I fell down trying to get this photo haha. This tree is tall...
These flowers grew on top of the trees, it was the weirdest thing. I stood on tiptoes, on rocks, or logs, trying to get a shot of these lovelies. Luckily, I came across one at neck level. Its center looks like little orchids.
I thought camp was only 6 miles, turned out to be 9.
At mile 7.5, I realized I left my water bottle a mile back... I jogged back to get it. Bobbi went on without me because she had dropped her pack in a creek earlier and wanted to get camp set up and make sure she had time to dry her gear. Luckily, we both passed the trail to camp and I ended up catching up to her. We were giving up on the designated campground when a savior appeared! He took me back to water and showed me where him and his friends had their base camp set up. I forced Bobbi to get up and head back to the designated Morris Meadows Campground.
This meadow represents the idea of why a lot of people hike, I believe. It is this encapsulated representation of Earth's beauty. Prettier in person, obviously.
Our campsite was nice, but we were already planning on taking the men's campsite. They were going to leave the next day and had a crystal clear stream flowing through their site! This area had brave deer. They continued to walk through our site and we could get within 5-10 feet of them!
Bobbi made a fire and I drank a cocktail from a bowl, then I went to bed.
The next morning, as soon as the men left, we moved our gear. Wish I had taken a picture of the site, but I will make sure to go back and stay there again. We planned on doing a day hike to Emerald Lake (4 miles) and then get back to camp early enough to take photos and play cards and just relax.
As soon as we started walking, I realized that my right foot hurt/stung. Oh well...my vacation, and it was going to be a short 8 miles with no pack. I pushed through.
Made it to Emerald Lake, took off my shoe to rub my foot and looked back to a very black sky...
I had told Bobbi it was going to rain, so I was excited to rain hike!! However, didn't want us slipping down the steepest part of the hike over all the rocks. I let Bobbi know we should head back right away.
"Ummm, yeah, I left my tent open!" Bobbi exclaims.
Holy heck...so with my pained foot, I set off to try and beat the rain and close her tent.
The first wave of rain hit, and it wasn't too bad!
I jogged whenever I felt it was safe, but I still managed to roll my hurting foot and I fell pretty hard several times.
The 2nd wave came, short, but heavier, and delivered rounds of thunder.
"The meadow!" I gasped.
Camp was less than a mile away...I ran!
But, the third wave hit...and it was a downpour. My foot hurt terribly, and I was soaking wet. Yet, it was all amazing! Nothing makes me feel so free and revitalized as rain.
I dashed to Bobbi's tent, and what do I see...? Puddles forming in her sleeping bag. I closed up her tent and went to round up all the gear we had left out. I threw everything under one of my vestibules. Luckily, even though I had left one part of the vestibule open, my tent was bone dry.
I got out of my wet clothes and hoped to air dry, while I waited for Bobbi. I thought of all of our options. I had my dry sleep clothes and if Bobbi's PJs were dry, we could just share my tent.
I loved sitting there, cold, and exhausted and listening to the rain. I must be a form of masochist.
Bobbi showed up an hour later and let me know that her PJs were soaked too. So..."We have to leave", I told her.
We walked the 9 miles back to the car and I got home at 2:30 AM.
I still don't know what I did to my foot on that first day, but it sure ballooned up nicely. LOL
Not so new now.
Got to dry my gear.
Can't wait to do it all again! (minus the foot thing) :twothumbs:
https://evermoremoments.smugmug.com/What-Could-Have-Been
I have a total of 8 days scheduled off and have been planning the LCT trip since last summer. However, I recently realized that Bobbi just wouldn't be able to handle the LCT, nor enjoy it. I knew this wouldn't take my full 8 days, but decided on the Stuart Fork Trail, Weaverville, CA. It is 25 miles, but I planned a 38 mile loop just in case Bobbi was willing to do the miles. She was NOT. So we planned a leisurely backpacking trip, Saturday the 19th - Tuesday the 22nd.
This was only my 3rd backpacking attempt, and even though I tried to be really casual with my planning, I still wouldn't consider this trip a 'success'. After this trip, Bobbi has officially given up backpacking and will no longer go with me. So hopefully I can make backpacking friends manifest with sheer mental power!
I know I will complete a backpacking trip one day! And I have every intention of going back to Stuart Fork! There isn't a lot that ever stops me.
Heads up, I really am not happy with any of the photos and didn't take many, because I thought we had all the time in the world! While I brought my Lego, she did not have her photo taken, again, because of the unexpected end to our trip. Lastly, Lego is going to retire and I am going to be taking a different figurine/s.
I left work early on Friday. Picked up Bobbi and drove the 4 and a half hours to the TH. We got there about midnight and slept in the back of my new car!
Bobbi remembered to bring Matty, a stuffed bear her late husband gave her.
Both wearing new shoes for the hike. We both knew it wasn't the best idea, but didn't have time to break them in beforehand.
I could have spent all day trying to take photos here. It was in a weird spot. I think Bobbi got some good photos of me laying precariously on the ground trying not to fall into the creek. Haha I love moss!
Lots of downed trees and creeks to cross = lots of fun!
'Perty'...
I fell down trying to get this photo haha. This tree is tall...
These flowers grew on top of the trees, it was the weirdest thing. I stood on tiptoes, on rocks, or logs, trying to get a shot of these lovelies. Luckily, I came across one at neck level. Its center looks like little orchids.
I thought camp was only 6 miles, turned out to be 9.
At mile 7.5, I realized I left my water bottle a mile back... I jogged back to get it. Bobbi went on without me because she had dropped her pack in a creek earlier and wanted to get camp set up and make sure she had time to dry her gear. Luckily, we both passed the trail to camp and I ended up catching up to her. We were giving up on the designated campground when a savior appeared! He took me back to water and showed me where him and his friends had their base camp set up. I forced Bobbi to get up and head back to the designated Morris Meadows Campground.
This meadow represents the idea of why a lot of people hike, I believe. It is this encapsulated representation of Earth's beauty. Prettier in person, obviously.
Our campsite was nice, but we were already planning on taking the men's campsite. They were going to leave the next day and had a crystal clear stream flowing through their site! This area had brave deer. They continued to walk through our site and we could get within 5-10 feet of them!
Bobbi made a fire and I drank a cocktail from a bowl, then I went to bed.
The next morning, as soon as the men left, we moved our gear. Wish I had taken a picture of the site, but I will make sure to go back and stay there again. We planned on doing a day hike to Emerald Lake (4 miles) and then get back to camp early enough to take photos and play cards and just relax.
As soon as we started walking, I realized that my right foot hurt/stung. Oh well...my vacation, and it was going to be a short 8 miles with no pack. I pushed through.
Made it to Emerald Lake, took off my shoe to rub my foot and looked back to a very black sky...
I had told Bobbi it was going to rain, so I was excited to rain hike!! However, didn't want us slipping down the steepest part of the hike over all the rocks. I let Bobbi know we should head back right away.
"Ummm, yeah, I left my tent open!" Bobbi exclaims.
Holy heck...so with my pained foot, I set off to try and beat the rain and close her tent.
The first wave of rain hit, and it wasn't too bad!
I jogged whenever I felt it was safe, but I still managed to roll my hurting foot and I fell pretty hard several times.
The 2nd wave came, short, but heavier, and delivered rounds of thunder.
"The meadow!" I gasped.
Camp was less than a mile away...I ran!
But, the third wave hit...and it was a downpour. My foot hurt terribly, and I was soaking wet. Yet, it was all amazing! Nothing makes me feel so free and revitalized as rain.
I dashed to Bobbi's tent, and what do I see...? Puddles forming in her sleeping bag. I closed up her tent and went to round up all the gear we had left out. I threw everything under one of my vestibules. Luckily, even though I had left one part of the vestibule open, my tent was bone dry.
I got out of my wet clothes and hoped to air dry, while I waited for Bobbi. I thought of all of our options. I had my dry sleep clothes and if Bobbi's PJs were dry, we could just share my tent.
I loved sitting there, cold, and exhausted and listening to the rain. I must be a form of masochist.
Bobbi showed up an hour later and let me know that her PJs were soaked too. So..."We have to leave", I told her.
We walked the 9 miles back to the car and I got home at 2:30 AM.
I still don't know what I did to my foot on that first day, but it sure ballooned up nicely. LOL
Not so new now.
Got to dry my gear.
Can't wait to do it all again! (minus the foot thing) :twothumbs: