Day 1: Lake Morena

That rattlesnake song!

Start: 11.36 bush camp

End: 25.96 Boulder Oaks Campground

Fitbit:  40,571 steps as of this writing.

.

The camp ended being about 12 people, I was worried people were going to talk all night, and like magic everyone got silent right when I climbed in to bed at 8.

I woke up cold…  Around midnight.  Wondering why my feet were cold, they are supposed to be the one thing that are always in the sleeping bag, and it was because it was on top of me upside down.  Slept very well, only waking when I needed to roll over.

The group woke up at 5, four of us headed out at 6:06, and made a lightning fast 4 mile downhill in 90 minutes (after stopping for 10 minutes when a man on a quad rolled up and gave us water.

The slog up the far side of Hauser creek was the first real uphill, I started joking that every spot of shade was the last shade we were going to see all day!  It was funny, then not funny, then funny again.

we got to the top and found a beautiful tree to rest under:

Sorry about obnoxious rotated images.

Starting early is AMAZING!  We made the 8.6 miles in 4.5 hours.

I ate an amazing pastrami sandwich, but quickly regretted it because I am getting behind on eating my packed food.

I was determined NOT to go another six miles with the group, but what can I say, after a shower, food, and 6 hours rest to heck with that and I tagged along.

i saw my first rattlesnake!   They’re amazing.  Will post video at some point.

That rattlesnake song!

Just the wind… And heavy breathing.