Today's the day!

After days and days of planning, we're off for the trail! We'll be camping at Caple's Creek about a half hour from Echo Lake for 2 days with Glenn's mom, then Glenn and I will begin our month-long trek hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail!!
Woohoo!
Our bags are packed, our gear is sewn, our food is planned, and our money is spent.!
We'll be leaving in about an hour- looking forward to a month of sleeping on an inch of air mat, taking cold "showers" by lakes, (might sneak one one or two hot ones when we re-supply), fishin' for trout every night, and breathing the cool mountain air of the Pacific Crest Trail! I'm excited:) Just have to finish up our website and shave my head!

We'll be sending my sister trail journals that she will be posting on this blog periodically, so check back for updates from our trek! Happy Trails, Happy Summer Everyone!!

Planning our camping sites- check out our John Muir Trail Map Pack:)
Planning our dinners: "hungry! me, food."

"our bundles and bundles of food."
We're sending ourselves three boxes of food to towns near the trail where we will be resupplying about every week. Check out our website under "Our Route" to see our day by day itinerary.

"I'm a fish, don't eat me!"- Glenn playing with our fishing lures:)
Vacuum sealed food :P

rationing our food- cream of wheat for breakfast- ligthweight and creamy! yum

Glenn doing some last minute sewing- he sewed his own water-proof camera bag:)
Two things I will miss most on the trail: 1) fresh fruits and veggies 2) icecream!


There are a few more photos under "Our Gear" on the website, check it out! You can also donate to an art/environmental organization I volunteer for :Creative Community Catalysts.
So definitely give it a looksey, I've spent some time on it: planethikers.googlepages.com/pct07

See ya around the next bend.....

Mt Diablo

"The Devil's Moutain" is the tallest thing close to where we are, rising 4,445 ft above sea level. Our adventure for today. It's about an hour drive here from Oakland East over the hills past Walnut Creek. Perhaps a training hike of sorts for our upcoming hike a 350 mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail. ...Okay, so we only hiked a few miles total, but it was a hike nonetheless, as Caroline can attest.

There's a road that goes all the way up to the top, so that takes a little of the glory out of the satisifaction of hiking to the top of a mountain peak. However I am proud to say that Glenn and I dragged his mother Caroline to the top from a few miles below and had a lovely picnic at the top. There's even a visitor center up there so you can learn all about the geology and flora and fauna. The trail up to the top is called "the trail through time" because you are going from younger to older sediments of rock, with the oldest dark volcanic rock that burst up from underneath millions of years ago to form the summit.

Do you like my hat? This is looking East from the summit- you can barely make out the Sierra Nevadas in the haze, but we saught 'em out- soon to be our temporary wanderland in three weeks!

"Uh, whatta we do now?" "Huh?, what's that there city over yonder?"
"I think I cun see some sorta bridge up over there..." "This here's a purty old mountain eh?"
"Yup, they used it as a point-a - refrence fur mappin out the whole state North ta South."
"It's pretty nice out here in Cali-forn-i-a. I think I might just stay a while."

Pretty cool spot. I guess it's pretty neat that such a majestic mountain with one of the most extensive views in California is so accessible to people and their families. There are a lot of people that bike up there too- it made me get a dry throat just looking at them pedal their way up the windy paved roads to the summit. I bet it's all worth it on the way down.

This mountain was held sacred and worshipped as part of the creation story of the Miwok people native to this area. I can see why, it's the tallest thing around surrounded by flat river valleys and deltas that run to the bay, then to the ocean.
Pretty spectacular.
Here's a view from the top. The little tower is a radio tower? at the summit, that's where there is another tower with the visitor center and the lookout deck.


There are even species of plants and animals that only live on this mountain!
One of them is the Fairy lantern. Only grows on Mt. Diablo, no where else in the world!

pretty little thing.

Another is Mt Diablo Tarantula!

They come out in flocks, swarms, herds? What do you call groups of hairy spiders tromping around on a mountain? Pack?
Cool lookin, but to be honest, I would be freaked out if I happened upon one while on a happy little hike up the trail. I guess Fall is when they come out to play for everyone to see, so summer time you're pretty safe.

One last thought. Living in Oakland for the past four months has been great. There are a lot of things I like about the city- sunshine, environmental responsibility, beautiful hills, rich cultural diversity, cool community events and inspiring non-profit organizations working for justice and peace. But lately I've been so inspired by the trees. Oak trees grow everywhere, including all over Mt. Diablo. Their curling branches twisting toward the sunlight, their hardy stout leaves and intricate branches making a maze of intricate patterns against a sunlit backdrop...More than their mysterious beauty, old wisdom, and simple grace, I hear that Oak trees are amazingly home to over two hundred species of life! I am grateful for your presence might Oaks! May you live long and healthy lives and continue to bless us with your bounty!

Kinetic Sculpture Race!
Photos! As promised Dad.
So I've made my first pilgramage to the Mecca of Arcata since I moved away in December. I forgot how nice it is up there- crazy races, quaint farmer's market, gorgeous river 45 minutes up the road...lovely.
If you don't know about this race, read up- it's pretty whacky awesome.
I lived in Arcata for four years and never saw this crazy race. I come back over Memorial Day as a visitor with Glenn and we find ourselves among a pack of sculpture followers out at the dunes watching the these crazy kinetic contraptions go down "dead man's gulch." Such a great event, it'd be so fun to be in it wouldn't it?...

"Armored Carp" This was one of my favorite ones, made out of kitchen utentsils..

Blue Beetle- check out this guy's outfit! pretty hot huh?

"Bounce for Glory"- he just jumps up and down to move forward

"June's Bloom"- they have the best costumes

"Heads of School"

"The Patriot Act"- the big wheels are best for sand surfing

"Easy Does It"
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Trinity River !!

My Stud Muffin

Peter, Noelle, me and Glenny

Kayakers!

All for now, more later...