Training Hike

Today Marion and I took a training hike for our upcoming 6 day backpacking trip to Yosemite's high sierra camps. We persuaded our good friends, Lysa and Mark to come along, and bring along their daughter Natasha. If Brodie and Nik didn't have a friend hiking with them, they would drag every step of the way and make sure we were miserable right beside them. With Natasha along, it was a whole different experience for them.

We met at the trailhead for the La Jolla Canyon trails in Point Mugu at 10am. Marion and I were carrying our full packs, loaded to about 20lbs, maybe more with the extra water we carried. On our vacation we expect to carry about 25lbs, but we didn't want to over-do it the first time out.

It was very dry on the hike. The seasonal stream seems to be beyond its season. The little waterfall one mile in on the trail was absolutely dry, as was the duck pond further back on the trail. The meadow in La Jolla Canyon that we hiked through was 5 feet high with tinder-dry grass that had fat seed pods blowing at the top of their stalks.

We covered about 8 or 9 miles in a little less than 4 1/2 hours. Not too bad considering the size of our group and the ages of its members. Marion and I both finished the hike feeling pretty good and were pleased that carrying the packs caused no problems for us. The weight was properly carried on our hips and no weight or strain transferred to our necks and shoulders. Our feet are a little tired, but whose wouldn't be after a day of hiking? A good day, over all.