Finally...

“The road to my first trailhead of the season is open!
It officially opened yesterday.
I have been waiting for the opening of the roads to my favorite trailheads. (if they catch you beyond the barricades they can fine you up to $1,000.00 ,
even if there is no snow on the road you can't go past their "Road Closed" signs)

Soooo.....
Next weekend my son and I are off to the Kern Canyon... Friday night we plan on a 15 mile shakedown hike to Little Kern Lake on Saturday, spend the night and hump it back out in time for Mother's day dinner ;) My wife is very gracious that way
she doesn't even mind if we go out and play on Mother's Day!

Been playing with the gear all day! I'm getting excited!!!!”

“The road to my first trailhead of the season is open!
It officially opened yesterday.
I have been waiting for the opening of the roads to my favorite trailheads. (if they catch you beyond the barricades they can fine you up to $1,000.00 ,
even if there is no snow on the road you can't go past their "Road Closed" signs)

Soooo.....
Next weekend my son and I are off to the Kern Canyon... Friday night. We plan on a 15 mile shakedown hike to Little Kern Lake on Saturday, spend the night and hump it back out in time for Mother's day dinner ;) My wife is very gracious that way
she doesn't even mind if we go out and play on Mother's Day!

Been playing with the gear all day! I'm getting excited!!!!”

“Oops, sorry trigger happy I guess.”

“Only 15 miles for a shakedown? What do you rack up when you're all shook down?! I was feeling good about getting in another 4-mile tune up today, but then I was a sloth all winter (all last year, really).

Anyway, anticipation is such a wonderful part of heading out to visit favorite places in the wild. Have a great season in the mountains. Do you get to watch any of the whitewater paddling on the Kern?”

“Pekka, The terrain is pretty gentle where we are going no passes to climb and not very many steeps. The trail just rolls along gently rising and falling. We will leave the truck just below 6,000 feet and the highest point along this section of trail is only 6,800 feet.

We plan on doing about 12 miles per day on the JMT this summer...
but that is much tougher terrain. My son is just finishing up Track season at school ...he has been running everyday so he's in great shape.
It's me that needs the work ;)

We will be north of the Forks of the Kern...I think most of the rafting,paddling, etc. is south of there.”

“Wind Walker:

I hope the son is easy on the ol' man. How lucky you are to have your son as a hiking partner. And to have an understanding wife, too!

Over 6,000 feet? The highest point in Wisconsin is only 1,951.5 ft. asl (Timm's Hill, they at least have the decency not to call it a mountain, LOL). I'm surprised I don't have to acclimatize to cross a suspension bridge. Hopefully summer of 2002 I can head out to the Rockies. I haven't been backpacking in real mountains since Philmont. Always enough oxygen when hiking in the Great Lakes region.”

“pekka, the highest point in the show me state is only 1,772 at Taum Sauk Mtn. so you beat me. No matter how much I work out here, the Rockies always hit me with that altitude. My family was foolish on one trip when we tried to hike to the delisted Wheeler Nat'l Monument to see it's treasures. We arrived and immediately camped too high.. Next day after hiking a few miles we had to turn back due to altitude sickness. Hopefully, we've learned our lesson.

I agree that anticipation is a big part of any trip. Let's you stretch out the good times before they arrive...savoring afterward is also one of my favorite activities. I like to research the places we've visited or read local books about the area. Tides me over until the next trip.

Wind Walker, sounds like you've got it made in the shade! Enjoy it - those of us who can't get out yet envy you!”