I first want to appoligize that I have not been able to post any entries. There was a huge lack of internet and access on most of my trip. So, I will be doing a couple of enteries about the trip in separate sections.
Secondly, I am home and safe after a 10 hour car ride from Portland to Stockton. Now, the first destination, Lassen...
Per my other entries I had mentioned that we had a total of four travelers + dog heading up North. They are as follows: Brad (Lodi), Julio (Sac) and Samuel (Tuscon, AZ) and Shiya (The Big White Dog). With the last minute changes and Samuel joining us 4 hours before take off I had to scurry around to make sure everything was in place. And big white dog had to forfeit her seat. Honestly it would of been a huge ordeal to have Shiya while we re backpacking. But I promise to take her to Alaska with me next time.
After driving to BART to pick up Samuel, and the other boys we were on our way to Lassen. This was my first time applying and getting a backpacking permit. Very exciting! I was so excited to get it I got it 2 months early.
As we entered Lassen the were so many amazing things to see that were so diverse. Crazy amount of wild flowers, glaciel lakes with ice caps still floating in them and snow capped mountains for days. It was alll Ooooo's and Aaaaaawww's all the way to the Ranger Station.
Announcement: I thought I forgot my camera so I did not take any pictures of Lassen. I will have to wait on the pictures from Julio to post. I found the camera stuffed into my car door on out way out of Lassen(dar dar).
NOw...
Once, we got to Lassen Samuel suggested that we backpack now! Get our feet on the trail. I was a little hesitant because the backpacking permit wasn't for the next day and I had just driven 4 hrs on 3 hrs of sleep. AND this show off wants to pack in NOW?! Raising to the occasion like I sometimes do I "played it off" like "oh yeah, cool. whatever"...NOT like this is my first backpacking trip and I have not mentally prepared for this...guh! So we hiked three miles into one of the most beautiful hikes I have have ever seen. We decided to do Lower Twin Lakes Loop, a total of 9 miles. So, we finally found our camping spot about 500 yards from a beautiful lake.
We set up camp and then pulled out the bear canister and then started making our dehydrated food (which I have never prepared or eaten before). Yummy! No not really. If any of you have ever had dehydrated food you know you eat it mostly out of despiration.
If you have nothing to do you find that you go to bed early. We slept from 6pm to 10an the next day. ahhhh what a relief.
We packed up and we headed out for our 6 miles trekk out. What I didn't know was that this 6 miles trekk was going to be brutal almost as challenging as Half Dome only two years ago. I don't know how heavy my pack was but it was flip'n heavy. I wouldn't be surprised if it was 40lbs. I packed everything because I didn't know what I would need. So, I bought everything.
The beginning of the trail was beautiful and fairly flat then 3 hrs in I was completly beat. The weight of the pack was really limiting my beathing. I had to lift it off my shoulders so I can grab a full breath. It took a total for 4hours for me to get off that stupid mountain. And of course the boys didn't wait up for me so I was hiking solo. It's lonely being by yourself for 4 hours and a little scary. I was alwasy wondering if I was going the right way. Fortunatly, Brad was wearing converse and they had a very unique sole and I could see his tracks in the sand and dirt. So, for the most part I knew I was going the right way.
I came to the end of the trail and I was three boys laying in thr grass next to Summit Lake passed out. I wistle, "Hey get the hell up, I'm hungry!" I stormed to the car for some nourishment since I didn't eat anything... mmm cornuts and potato chips.
Pictures to come...
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