michael and j. in the trinity alps
12:50 a.m.
ok, here we go...
i got up to j.'s house friday afternoon...got my pack all set up..there were so many compartments, as soon as i got everything put away, i had no idea where anything was! first-timer, ya know. and i brought WAY too many clothes, but hey, it was SUPPOSED to be a learning experience, right?
took a couple hours to get up to trinity, we got to the trail head and parked there, and just slept in the back of the truck. the stars were awesome! had some pasta with pesto. i dug a hole and pooped.
got up saturday morning and headed up the trail...we had a book with directions, it was a bit confusing about halfway up, but j. knew where to go. wonderful scenery everywhere, so different from home. my boots were real comfortable, but the pack...wow, it was heavy. the straps were digging into my shoulders a bit, but i could lift the bar on the bottom a bit to ease that. my boots were super comfy. we crossed a creek a few times, but the last half mile seemed like it was straight up! it was hard, i had to stop a few times..i'd look up and it seemed like the top was still so far away. the last time i rested, i was hurting..my chest ached, i was sweating like a pig, and j. was totally fine...this was an EASY trail , remember?
finally we got to the top...there was a meadow and at the end of it was the lake, surrounded by tall rocky peaks...god, it's so beautiful!
we set up camp, and then took a look down at the lake. later we walked about half way around...we pretty much had the place to ourselves, two people walked by the camp on a day hike, and there were some folks later that camped on the other side.
sat around and talked, it was relaxing after that climb. snacked a bit and later had more pasta and lemon cake, everything was yummy. it got dark soon, so we had some fun finding a tree to hang our food from...bears, ya know...just in case.
the tent WAS cozy, but not crowded. we talked and talked and talked...i had j. giggling like crazy both nights, telling him stories about "that woman with THAT voice" from work...he remembers her from when he was a kid...says she caused permanent damage to his young psyche...some of you will know what that means...
we both are only children...both have never broken a bone or had surgery...we both knew carlos, that beautiful mexican waiter who always looked so nice in his tux down at the eureka inn...and wow, we both had some of the same high school teachers, 20 years apart!
i told j. how i thought he seemed like an old soul sometimes...it's weird, sometimes he looks his age, and other times he....well, he doesn't LOOK like an old man, but i can see him AS an old man, if that makes sense. he told me i had a "radio voice", and i said that sometimes i watched his hands...uuuhh, ok, that sounds odd, i know.
so, yeah...lots of talking, it's a great way to get to know someone, up in a place like that.
oh, and we've BOTH been mistaken for women on the phone, that's a funny club to be in. j.'s got almost a twang or a southern drawl in his voice, it's interesting.
we had the top unzipped so we could see the sky...i started to feel some mist...in a while it was raining, so j. went out and covered the packs with plastic bags, and put the cover over the tent. it was blowing pretty hard out there at times, but inside it was nice and warm. i kinda slept on and off, the rain sounded so nice on the tent, i was enjoying it.
oh, and btw, i was a total gentleman, ok?
woke up at daylight, we kinda dozed on and off for a bit...it was still raining, so we decided to pack up and head home. the hike back was a lot easier, even though it rained the whole time. it took 2 hrs going up, and coming back, i dunno, cuz my watch stopped in the rain. i got confused direction-wise twice coming back down, i think i would have been lost...
got to the truck and got down to highway 3...got to weaverville and had a late breakfast...eggs, hash browns, and biscuits and gravy. the drive home was relaxing, lots of rain, though. saw 2 minor accidents on 299.
got back to trinidad, we could see the sun was shining there from clam beach, that was a nice way to end the day. i said i would take my bag back to humboldt state monday, since j. had it off for his birthday.
i didn't have a single cig the whole time..i took one with me when i went to go poop saturday night, but i brought it back unlit...j. said he was proud of me...oh i've had some today, but i really had no desire up there, let's see what we can do with that.
got home and relaxed...steve called, talked to matt online...i'm not too sore today, hell, i did 12 miles today!
ok, now some pics...
ok, the boy's a little camera shy, but i guess it's ok to show you these...
there he is!
headin' home...
wow, 2 weeks ago, i was seeing the new york dolls, and now look where i got to go! i'm so glad we met, i never would have had such a great experience otherwise...and we're kinda talking about going to sf after the first of the year.. j. has never seen the castro, we could hit sfmoma, could be fun.
ok kids, i guess that's all for now....i've said it before,
but...
I AM HAVING A GREAT YEAR!
love ya,
- m.