My knees are sore, but...

... I had a blast. I enjoyed myself today -- and all week, really. I would probably rate yesterday's hike as the best -- cross country trek (with army men) capped by majestic desert view on Garnet. But all of the days had their own unique highlights; even Sonic was a new experience for me. Over the week I learned a few things. I learned, for instance, that Sloan writes really interesting and substantive blog entries; I learned that Ben H. is part man, part mountain goat; I learned that Malea hikes ten times faster when Saige is not around; I learned that Saige's laugh can be heard from miles away; I learned that Rod the bus driver has really good instincts (yeah, yeah, YEAH!); I learned that Katie is willful enough to fight through nasty blisters and keep walking; I learned that Ben P. is a true nature man at heart; I learned that Warren can climb any rock, anywhere, any time; I learned that Zack has the heart of a lion, especially when he takes his shirt off; I learned that Kendall can pull out an Into the Wild quotation that will apply to whatever is happening; I learned that Grant has good legs and a good sense of humor; I learned that Colin can bust it up a mountain if need be; I learned that Meg appreciates beauty as much as anyone; I learned how Alex H is in a whole lot better shape than I am; I learned how Kate appreciates the aesthetic beauty of nature and solitude; I learned that Alex B isn't afraid to make fun of me (I knew this already actually); I learned that Tim Barry can make it up a mountain; I learned that Jessie walks about the same speed I do (she always seemed to be in front of me or behind me); I learned that Rachel isn't afraid of a little back or calf pain; I learned that Mr. Aiston is hardcore when it comes to climbing boulders. I learned that there isn't always a horse at the top of the peak, there isn't always snow on the ground, and there isn't always a van when there is supposed to be. I also learned that it's a whole lot of fun to hike with you guys. Hope we can do it again sometime.

Just ahead of the rain

Last Day: Oakzanita Peak

no snow, lots of guys playing army

Hi y'all. Today's hike was pretty epic for me. I'll have more to say about it a little later, but I thought I'd better post this because otherwise Tim Barry won't have anything to respond to.

More later, plus photos.

mrh

Short hike, no rain. What are you reading? A book.

Photos of where we are going tomorrow

Exploding spiders

I've seen Into the Wild a number of times, so when I watch it now I tend to watch the edges, look at the out of focus things that add something to the story. Like the books Chris is reading, the passages he is quoting. For instance, just as he is making his decision to leave the bus, to go back into society (SOCIETY! SOCIETY!!), he quotes from a Tolstoy book called Family Happiness. Here is the passage: “I have lived through much, and now I think I have found what is needed for happiness. A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one’s neighbor-such is my idea of happiness. And then, on top of all that, you for a mate, and children, perhaps-what more can the heart of man desire?” That's a pretty nice, well-earned definition of happiness.

When I first saw Into the Wild, though, I was just taken with Chris's wonderful honest energy, his crazy madman spirit. Assuming that you are not planning on leaving society (SOCIETY!) anytime soon, he big challenge becomes bringing that spark, that romantic readiness (Gatsby phrase), back into the "real world." I guess there is a natural tendency to divide our lives up -- the cool part when we really live and enjoy ourselves, and the drudgery that we just try to survive so we can make more time for the other. If you've read the short story "Paul's Case" you know about this. The challenge always is bringing the "crazy dash happiness" into every part of your life, bringing the pure spirit and loveliness of a hike in the woods into your math class.

Here's one of my favorite quotations from Jack Kerouac: "The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, those ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow Roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars."

Here's to exploding like spiders across the stars.

I'll be curious to hear what you think about Chris McCandless, as he's portrayed in the film. There are some who find him to be a very unsympathetic character (Krakauer writes about this in the book), implying that he essentially got what he deserved. Others find his idealism inspiring. I find it interesting, as I mentioned in class, that even though he was an avowed loner, he touched the lives of a number of people along the way. And of course he comes to the fairly dramatic conclusion that "Happiness is only real when shared," the exact opposite of what he tells Ron Franz while hiking in Anza Borrego (so close to us!). Oh, if you're interested, check it out ... http://www.slabcity.org/

Super Sonic ending

Bonding!!

photos from n.fortuna hike

Day 2: Initial Mixup Ends in Awesome Hike

Hi guys. I'll post something later when I get home & add some photos from today, but just to get the ball rolling I'll go ahead and post something here. Two biggest highlights of the day for me: 1. golden eagle; 2. golden fries at Sonic. Ha ha. I like that Fortuna Peak hike... it's just enough of a push to make you feel a sense of real accomplishment. Don't forget about the your three things for tomorrow (blog, rain gear, breakfast food).

Day One: The Cave

Hi everyone. Before getting to the business of blogging about today's experience, a couple of housekeeping items. The original plan for tomorrow was to watch "Into the Wild" in the morning then take a short hike in the afternoon. Because there is rain in the forecast later in the week, we thought we better get a longer hike in tomorrow.

So, the plan is to do a shuttle hike up in the Laguna Mountains. We'll meet in my room at 8, drive to the Lagunas (less than an hour), then hike from one van to the other across some beautiful terrain. We may go up Garnet Peak at the end, time permitting.

What to bring: lots of snacks, water, good shoes. The plan is to snack along the way then to stop and have lunch somewhere on the way back. So bring some $$$, too (maybe 10??). Also, it is supposed to be 57 degrees and windy in the Lagunas tomorrow, so plan accordingly.

Hi everyone

Get pumped -- it's time.