2007 Summer Summit Champions -- PCT N

After a day of relaxing in Lincoln, Karlena and I headed to Crater Lake. We arrived Friday mid afternoon and picked a campsite out of over 200. Come to find out later that we picked the busiest weekend ever in the park's history.
Once we got situated with the campsite, I biked around a majority of the crater rim (about 20 + miles). Some of it was pretty tough. It was a beautiful day to be hiking.
That night we attended a presentation on the bird's at Crater Lake. It was pretty interesting.
On Saturday we headed up 97 through Bend on our way up to Trout Lake. Outside of Bend, we we stopped at a Lava Bed Monument with views of Mt. Bachelor, the Three Sister peaks.
Back in Trout Lake for the week. After two days of a nature hike, meetings, and catching up with other teams, it was team challenge day where all teams get nasty and we compete for the "timekeeper." The day started out pouring rain but that didn't stop us from playing our games. Each team had a category and then had to come up with a game for the teams to play and then that team would judge each team. The team with the most points at the end of the day won.
Teams also received points for having the most creative costumes/wearing them all day and team spirit.
The last competition of the day was dancing with the stars where two people from each team danced to different types of music that changed every couple of minutes. One by one they would be weeded out by the judges which happened to be the staff. At the end two guys from team were left standing. The dance off was the funniest thing that I had ever seen (someone recorded it so I might post it if I can). Once the points were added up, the winning team was announced. Drumroll please....PCT N....my team. We won the "timekeeper" and a cowboy hard hat which is pictured above. The hard hat is way cool. I feel like I need to go and buy some cowboy boots. It might of helped that we went into the competition with some points for winning a competition in training back in May. The funny thing about my team winning is that my team is so under the radar and not really all that competitive.
Friday was the actual summer summit day where we there was workshops. I made my very first dream catcher which I am very proud of.
Tomorrow we head back down south to southern Oregon. Monday we start our first backcountry in the Marble Mountains in California. 7 miles hiking in. We have 2 volunteers joining us which will be our first volunteers of the year.

Song Quote: "I've had my share of sand, kicked in my face, but I've come through" Queen - Song We Are The Champions

Welcome To The Fog....I Mean, The Coast

I look so tiny standing next to this massive redwood tree.
Looking up to the sky through the Redwoods
Camping on the beach in the Redwoods

The amazingly beautiful coast on a scenic drive in the Redwoods

Time for 8 days of vacation.

No better way to start planning a mini road trip then the night before at 9 pm. Karlena got a call from a good friend that invited her to go on a day river trip on the Trinity River in Northern California. They had one extra space and I got invited. Since we would be down that way, we decided to drive to the coast and stay in Arcata for a day and then head north up the coast through the Redwoods.

The river trip on Sunday was lots of fun. We paddled through some crazy rapids, swam in the river and did a little cliff jumping. It was hot so being able to cool off in the river was a treat. We stayed in Arcata with Karlena’s friend, Hannah.

Monday we spent a nice relaxing day in the cute town of Arcata and went for a little hike on the coast.

Tuesday we headed north and got a campsite on the beach. We started a 18 mile hike at about 1. The trail was called the Redwood Creek Trial and we ended up at the Tall Trees. We had the option of driving 2 hours to the trailhead but we had been in the car way too much and a hike was just what we needed.

Wednesday we spent the day doing some short hikes, a scenic drive along the most beautiful coastline, stopping at a lighthouse in Crescent City before heading back up to Lincoln.

Next stop....Crater Lake, Bend on our way to Trout Lake, Washington.

Song Quote: "And Ive got one more silver dollar, But Im not gonna let them catch me, no, Not gonna let em catch the midnight rider." The Allman Brothers - Song Midnight Rider

Hitch #3 Minor Setback

The team floating down the river on July 4th. It was one hot day.
Sunset from our camp.

At the lava bed caves, I took a step down on a trail and twisted my right knee. I thought I would be able to walk it off. No such luck. It still felt tight the next morning (I could still walk on it) so I decided to head to the ER instead of joining the team on our next hitch. The dr. at the ER told me that I had sprained my knee and to stay off of it for a few days by icing, resting and taking drugs. He wrote out a couple of prescriptions for me and sent me on my way. For the next three days (I didn't go outside for two of those days), I watched movies, slept, ate and watched tv. All my favorite things to do:)

Sunday I drove to meet the crew. We were working in California right over the Oregon border. We brushed and redefined 5 miles of trail. July 4 was Bryan’s birthday so we worked half a day and then went down to and hung out by the river until after dinner.

On Saturday, we went and worked with volunteers for half a day. The great thing about working on the Pacific Crest Trail is that we have the opportunity to host volunteers. It is a great way to meet/get to know other people. If anyone is interested in volunteering with my team (PCT North), let me know and I can give you more information.

Song Quotes:

"she's so big hearted,
but not so remarkable
just an ordinary humble girl
expecting nothing as we're made to think
its a pretty person's world

but you are beautiful and you better go show it
go look again, you gotta be true to your own
if you really wanna go to the top
do you really wanna win?
don't believe in living normal, just to satisfy demand

well if you wanna get free
and if you wanna do the passionate thing
and if you wanna get smart for the sake of your heart
you should own your name and stand up tall
and get real and see the beauty in ugly

well you are fresh, you're face is fabulous
don't forget you're one of a kind
when nobody is checking the deeds you've done
and nobody is hearing your cries
you make all of the fashion statements
just by dressing up your mind

well if you wanna get free
and if you wanna do the passionate thing
and if you wanna get smart for the sake of your heart
you should own your name and stand up tall
and get real and see the beauty in ugly
and see the beauty in ugly

well if you wanna get free
and if you wanna do the passionate thing
and if you wanna get smart for the sake of your heart and oh
you should own your name and stand up tall
and get real and see the beauty in ugly
see the beauty in a ugly"

Jason Mraz - Song The Beauty In Ugly

"she lifts her skirt up to her knees,
walks through the garden rows with her bare feet, laughing.
i never learned to count my blessings,
i choose instead to dwell in my disasters.
i walk on down a hill,
through grass, grown tall and brown
and still its hard somehow to let go of my pain.
on past the busted back of that old and rusted cadillac
that sinks into this field, collecting rain.
will i always feel this way?
so empty, so estranged

and of these cut- throat busted sunsets,
these cold and damp white mornings
i have grown weary.
if though my cracked and dusted dime-store lips
i spoke these words out loud would no one hear me?
lay your blouse across the chair,
let fall the flowers from from your hair
and kiss me with that country mouth, so plain.
outside, the rain is tapping on the leaves,
to me it sounds like they're applauding us the the quiet love we made.
will i always feel this way?
so empty, so estranged

well i looked my demons in the eyes,
laid bare my chest, said do your best, destroy me.
you see, i've been to hell and back so many times,
i must admit you kind of bore me.
there's a lot of things that can kill a man,
there's a lot of ways to die,
listen, some already did that walked beside me.
there's alot of things i don't understand,
why so many people lie.
its the hurt i hide inside that fuels the fire inside me.
will i always feel this way?"
so empty, so estranged 

Ray LaMontagne - Song Empty

A Day At The Mall

Karlena and I on top of Mt. McLoughlin
Lava Cave Beds National Monument
Lava Cave Beds National Monument

4 days off….

Guys entertain themselves once again by eating meat, drinking, fishing, and sleeping.

The girls of course, make the most of their time off. Here is how our fun filled days went

Saturday night: spend a few hours in Ashland checking emails, etc., and walking around the town,

Sunday: day of relaxtion in Ashland

Monday: hike Mt. Mcloughlin (9,495 ft.)

Tuesday: Oregon Caves National Monument – located in Cave Junction

A couple little blurb about the caves: :"Everything seemed to be leading me to the cave," Elijah Davidson, 1922 (written about his experience in 1874).

1880s: "In 1884, Walter C. Burch first heard of the cave from Elijah Davidson. Burch and his brother-in-laws, Homer and Ernest Harkness, staked a squatter's claim at the lower cave entrance. They charged one dollar per person for a guided cave trip, camping, good pasture and "medicinal" cave waters, as advertised in the Grants Pass Courier newspapaper. They tried to acquire title to the land but the land was unsurveyed so after a few years they abandoned the idea of development."

Tuesday night: Party at Jackie Onassis brother, Jamie's house in Ashland

Wednesday: Lava Beds National Monument
A little fact about the lava beds:
"During the Modoc War of 1872-1873, the Modoc Indians used the park's lava flows to their tactical advantage. Under the leadership of Captain Jack, the Modocs took refuge in "Captain Jack's Stronghold," a natural lava fortress. From here a group of 53 fighting men and their families held off US Army forces numbering up to ten times their strength for five months."

No song lyric for this post but I will provide a couple of music quotes:
"Peace Through Music"
"When Words Fail, Music Speaks"