Backpacking Stoney Ridge Trail in Trinity Alps Wilderness

We spent the weekend hiking the Stoney Ridge Trail in the Red Trinities. As expected, there was still plenty of snow. Sure it’s a drought year, but May 3rd is pretty damn early to be in the mountains. It made the trip more of an adventure.

After the first major climb, we planned on a series of passes on our way to and around the famed four lakes loop. On the third pass, with multiple more planned that day, we decided to skip out on the opportunity for more steep snow and drink whiskey by a fire instead.

Unsettled weather was forecasted on Sunday and it played out pretty much how expected it would. Low clouds made navigating the steep snow fields back over the passes interesting, but thankfully the fresh precipitation was barely a flurry. The limited visibility, and trail over snow in trail runners, made navigation one of the most fun parts of the hike.

It was a great weekend and nice to get out on a hard hike so early in the “summer” backpacking season. It reminded me of visiting Boundary Lake in Yosemite early last summer.

We cooked steak, potatoes, onions, garlic, shallots, green beans, mushrooms and parsley on the fire.

We cooked steak, potatoes, onions, garlic, shallots, green beans, mushrooms and parsley on the fire.

Climbing the north side of Stonewall Pass.

Climbing the north side of Stonewall Pass.

ADZPCTKO 2014

I had the opportunity to fly down to Kick Off this year and I took advantage of it. It freed me up to spend the night at Scout and Frodo’s, day-hike the southern 20 miles of the PCT and add on Sunday night in the campground after the event.

Of course, it was a wonderful time.

Briefly:
– My favorite thing about KO is the opportunity for us play community. I really like getting to chat the regulars year after year. Meeting the new hikers, if only briefly, is nice too. I met a whole lot of great people.

– I was witness of a helicopter doing a body recovery 😦

– KO is always really hectic and busy for me. This year was a little less so because the weather was bad, and I’d made a concerted effort to downsize the expectations on my time at the event.

The crowd of fun hikers that the San Diego network hosted just before KO.

The crowd of fun hikers that the San Diego network hosted just before KO.

I’m a Wilderness First Responder again

I just re-certified my WFR for my fifth time. It was one of the better courses I’d taken and it was easily the most beautiful location out of all of my courses. Even more so than Jackson Hole surprisingly. Where was it? Point Bonita in Marin.

I was incident commander for our large scenario. This woman lost a few fingers after a fall down a cliff. There were six or seven other patients around the scene.

I was incident commander for our large scenario. This woman lost a few fingers after a fall down a cliff. There were six or seven other patients around the scene.

Unexpectedly, my friend Jack Laws (on the right) was in the class.

Unexpectedly, my friend Jack Laws (on the right) was in the class.

Backpacking Cache Creek – Judge Davis Trail to Wilson Valley

I solo’ed to Wilson Valley recently. After a light drizzle, hundreds of salamanders came out. There were so many that it was hard to walk without stepping on them. I spent a little time going up Jack Canyon and learned about various unmapped roads, routes and trails that I’d like to try in the area.

This guy froze and did pushups for my camera.

This guy froze and did pushups for my camera.