I last wrote back in May, back when Zoom fatigue wasn’t a household term yet, when a small part of me still thought I’d get on a plane in August to fly to a friend’s wedding, and when some serious investigative work was needed to figure out where to camp or backpack legally in California. I was so proud of myself for finding a stretch of the PCT north of Lake Tahoe that appeared to be open and snow-free for a Memorial Day weekend trip. My bubble was burst pretty quickly when a couple pulled up alongside us at the trailhead and casually mentioned we’d probably get a hefty parking ticket. I decided whatever fine we got would be worth it, and we set off.
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| The fierce wolf stare |
My prediction for a snow free trail was correct and we had a pretty low-key trip, doing short enough daily mileage to allow for naps and creek soaks. There was just one hiccup, and that happened the first night. Owen, Denali, and I were heading back to our tent after an evening walk when Denali dove off the trail into the woods, barking hysterically, and practically tore the leash out of Owen’s hand. There was an animal at our tent and my mind felt like it was moving in slow motion as I tried to identify it: light brown color, deer? No, too small. It must be... bear! But I've got to confess that it probably wasn't a coincidence: we hadn't yet stored Denali's food in our bear canister, and it was probably attracted to the scent. Luckily, we shooed it off before it had a chance to score a free meal, but this served as a sobering reminder for us. When we finally got back to the car a couple days later, I braced myself for an expensive piece of paper on the dashboard, but it turns out we got lucky a second time: no ticket!
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| North Bound on the PCT |
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| Cooling off after a day's hike |
After that, we had a couple camp-free weekends, one of which included an epic four hour long wedding shower Zoom call. I also continued my new experiment of screenless Sundays (inspiration here). It's pretty self explanatory: you don’t use any devices with screens for a day. It’s challenging, but it’s a surefire way to guarantee that I don’t spend hours googling things like “do dogs need to wear sunscreen?” or aimlessly sifting through Airbnb listings that I can’t afford. So if I don’t text you back on a Sunday, now you know why. I’m probably busy dusting my plants or trying to train Denali not to chase squirrels (like trying to train a fish not to swim).
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| Sunset hike in the Santa Cruz Mountains nearby |
In late June, I got invited to go camping with Owen’s friends from work. Normally, these are guys-only trips, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Steaks for every meal? Beer with breakfast? We left after work on a Friday and pulled into the parking lot late, around 10pm. As soon as I stepped foot out of the car, I knew this wasn’t going to be a normal camping trip. There was music blasting and trucks rumbling in the distance. This was my initiation into the four-wheeling community. I continued to be surprised the next day, when Owen and I hiked alongside his friends driving their Land Rovers over obstacles. For the 99% of people reading this that don’t know what the definition of an obstacle is in the context of four-wheeling, an obstacle usually comes in the form of a pile of enormous boulders, oftentimes on an extremely steep slope, that you somehow drive a vehicle over without dying. We saw several other groups tackling the obstacles too, and there were lots of American flags, the occasional Trump sign, and of course, cheap beer. It was an unusual trip indeed, but I arrived home with dirt under my fingernails and the inner calm that only comes when camping under a sky full of stars, all signs of a successful weekend.
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| Can you find Denali? |
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| We joke that she's secretly a crocodile |
We had barely aired out our sleeping bags from that trip when it was time to leave for the next one on the long 4th of July weekend. Last year for the 4th, Owen and I tried to backpack the Four Lakes Loop in northern California, only to get turned around by several feet of snow partway through the loop. This year, we were coming back for redemption. Even with snow-free trails, the first day was rough. By dinner time, we were seriously feeling the 4,000 feet of elevation we’d gained, and we still weren’t at Summit Lake, where we aimed to camp. Instead, we found a wooded area alongside a gorgeous grassy meadow and called it a day. The next morning, we figured Summit Lake would be just minutes down the trail. As we climbed over an unexpected pass, I scanned the horizon, looking for water. Finally we came across what can only be described as a large puddle. “Is this Summit Lake?” Owen asked hesitantly. Eventually, we arrived at a legitimate lake. Success! But as we pumped water and ate snacks, I eyed the map suspiciously. Summit Lake was supposed to be huge, and this lake, while larger than a puddle, was not what I would classify as huge. I called out to a group of people camping nearby, asking if we were at Summit Lake. “This lake doesn’t have a name, but you’re almost at Echo Lake.” Echo Lake? Owen and I stared blankly at each other. That must not be on our map, I thought. I quickly searched the map, and realized with horror that Echo Lake was on our map, just in the complete opposite direction from Summit Lake.
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| Siligo Meadow |
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| I think we all wanted to curl up and lay in the grass |
We ended up hiking around 11 miles that day, first retracing our steps from our epically stupid mistake, then completing the 6-mile Four Lakes Loop. That night, I was so tired I couldn’t stand up to brush my teeth. But the loop was incredible, and when we hit Diamond Lake, with its sparkling water and grassy shore surrounded by jagged peaks, I decided that this was my favorite part of California. I’m pretty sure Denali was a fan too: there were chipmunks to chase, lakes to swim in, and even a few lingering snow patches to roll around on. And while we did finish the loop, I’m not sure you can classify it as a total redemption..We might just have to hike it again next year, to clear up any misgivings...
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| Deer Lake |
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| Diamond Lake |
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| Somehow, Owen was still standing |
Overall, it's been a strange summer, but for the first time in a long time it truly feels like summer. I'm staying up late reading books, eating more meals outside, and most importantly, frequenting our local ice cream shop. Maybe it's a byproduct of working from home or having more time, but I'm definitely not complaining.
