HILLS HURT, COUCHES KILL hiking log

22 miles in 7 hrs

Left from Stevens Pass, headed south on the PCT for 16 miles to Glacier lake and then hiked down to the highway where we stashed a car. The smoke had finally cleared, there was some rain the night before so everything was damp and cool, no dust on the trail


Lake Susan Jane




Lake Josephine




Mig Lake




And then climbing to the pass










Trap Lake




Looking back from Trap Pass






Glacier Lake




Some nice Peet moss




Field after field of huckleberries



Seriously, I could have walked out with 2 five gallon buckets of huckleberries..

 

Johnston Canyon, Banff, AB

 

Today was a nice easy 2 mile with the kiddo

 

Red Top Lookout






Looking south




Looking north

Mt Stuart is center left

 

3 nights, 3 days in Yosemite - about 35 miles total hike. From Tuolumne Meadows down to the Yosemite Valley Floor:

 

Perfect weather! No mosquitos and plenty of water sources.
This was literally the week before it filled with smoke

 

thanks Ramon! Great pics!

 

@ramonortiz55 This is madness. I'm very jealous because I've done this very hike (probably - I don't remember our exact path). I haven't been to Yosemite in over fifteen years. Great photos. My youngest kid is almost four. I'm hoping post-pandemic I can get the whole family out there for a much-needed reunion with Cloud's Rest.
Do you take any communication device with you? Garmin InReach, ham radio, PLB?

 

I had an inreach. Go do it! We had a blast

 

Several of my favorites have finally opened back up today after the Bighorn Fire this summer. If I can, I'll have some new photos up soon.

https://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRan...trails-in-catalinas-reopen-after-bighorn-fire

 

My last two hikes were in the dark. I have a few blurry photos from the Sabino Canyon area.

From Blackett's Ridge with some city haze below.

This was a group hike with some other mountain rescue people.

Blurry blacklight photo. This is just one of ten trillion but we had a blacklight with us by chance.

Harvest moon last night.

 

Starting Oct 1 every year (my birthday), my "busy season for work is done and we spend all fall and winter out doing at least a 6 mile hike each day.
Yesterday was a hat, light down jacket, gloves and neck gaiter 28 mile ride on the ebikes (lowest setting as usual). We like the ebikes because we can really cover some territory and miles.

 

Only a few miles today. Gordon Hirabayashi trail with my Navigators (scouting group). The hike back was without direct sun! My daughter got tired with about a mile to go and my rescue pack made a great seat.



Catching the sunset at the saddle. There were seven kids (mine are aged almost 4 and 6) and it can be like herding cats!

 

Hiked Killarney Park Saturday with my daughter ,it was a great day

 

10 miles today, rained the entire time


Hiked up the Gold Creek valley




This whole field was flooded due to the log jam right here. Had to bushwhack around it





This is a "spillway" for a very active avalanche zone on the side of Alta Mt.




About 15 yrs ago a big one came down and knocked the trees over (facing uphill) on the opposite side of the valley

 

I've been getting my ass kicked in a class, so I've been spending a lot of that wonderful hiking time with my nose in a book. I got out today on a trail that had been closed for months. This is Sabino Canyon - one of my favorite places here in Tucson. It was closed due to the fire but the area I hiked was not affected.

This is one of my favorites. The trail is called Phoneline and it parallels the tram road and (dry) river down the canyon. Minimal elevation gain, in and out is just over ten miles. It's well traveled, easy to follow, and a good barometer for testing new gear. The little bump up there is called Thimble Peak which can be seen from almost anywhere in Tucson.


There weren't as many people out there as I expected which means that the scorpions and snakes are out having a good time.


No idea what kind of dragonfly this is but I was surprised to see it with the total lack of water.


Just a cool-shaped Saguaro.

 

12 miles today, hiked to Monte Cristo again. It's flat and scenic, follows the old railroad route from the late 1800s

Snow level is down to about 3,000 ft lately. Today was cold and clear, but still not much light available for pics


Going up the valley



Crossing the river to town



The railyard used to be right here, now its just a clearing and a few cabins

 

@b_r_o What the hell is all that white stuff?