Hike for Harvey

10.5 miles. 3,000 feet of gain. Lunch on top of Castle Crags at Castle Dome. Strenuous, light scrambling, all uphill to those amazing rock formations and views. I love that part where you cross into Castle Crags Wilderness…with Mt. Shasta waving hello! Worth it? Every step.

Tired. Feeling proud. Ready to hike The Camino.

Morning hike on the Wintu loop, Swasey Recreation Area west of Redding. No, it is not named after Patrick Swasey.

Keeping my muscles warmed up with 4 miles, 410 feet gain, 1 hour 40 minutes. At one point, the trail became a creek…a brief bonus challenge.

Then I went directly to Dr. Chang’s office and cussed and groaned my way through a cortisone shot to the left hip. Whatever it takes for The Camino.

One more training hike tomorrow! Keep moving, keep going for your personal gold, keep your brain firing and your body persevering and you will have more than one “once in a lifetime” adventure!

Slow and steady hike to the top of Stein Butte in Southern Oregon. Kristine accomplished a 2,700-foot gain on this 10 mile out and back. She says, “Slow but made it!”

That’s what counts, right? Hike your own hike and reap the rewards like a stunning view at the top.

The ups and downs of hiking.

Into the great wide open. Under them skies of blue. Until they turned to gray and the wind whipped up, storm’s a comin’, putting a little more pep in my step on this Camino prep hike. 5.85 miles with 5 ascents and descents following rocky old logging roads and the access road to the industrial giants, powerlines click clacking and buzzing overhead. My estimate is 1,000 to 1,500 feet of gain, some parts steeper and longer than others. I hiked up to climb, turned around and went down, hiked back up. Then I did a side loop and returned up a long ascent to go down the steep part and under the powerlines again. Plus some road walking to the trail and home to replicate a day on the Camino. Best I could do on this out the front gate hike from home.

First day of the Camino Frances has me quivering. It is a 4,500’ ascent over 9-10 miles in the Pyrenees from Saint Jean Pied de Port to reach the top. Then the hike is a huge descent over the border into Spain and 6 miles down and into the village of Roncevalles. No, I don’t feel ready. But I’m going to do it!

Today’s hike worked me out a bit and confirmed my plan to “just keep moving” is helping my body and mind handle harder things. I’m sure the phenomenal views in the Pyrenees might also help get me up that trail.

Buen Camino!

Jersey girls hiking! 5 miles on the Batona Trail for Kristine and Joan. Always good for a lake view.

Fact is I was having a sh*tty day. Trying out some contact lenses that aren’t quite right. Plowing through physical therapy with a headache. Then I drove to Turtle Bay Exploration Park and took a walk on the paved trails. I need to get used to the hard surface as well as the dirt as The Camino consists of both road walking and trail.

2 miles in and I was still blue, but better. Then I turned a corner and who was biking toward me but my friend Rachel and a quick visit boosted me right up!

Follow your path. You never know how it is going to provide.

Pants or leggings? Darn Tough, Creepers or Smartwool or ? Boots or trail runners? Let it all gather dust on the trail, not in the closet! Time to take some steps and make some miles. And comment to let us know what you like to hike in!

4 miles on the Batona Trail to Batsto Lake for Kristine and Joan. East coast trail dirt in New Jersey! Somehow, they managed to turn it into a “wike,” savoring a glass of wine at the end. Well done, ladies!

Bees are buzzing on the Churn Creek Trail, a great little nature walk smack dab in the middle of Redding.

Two little woodpeckers sitting on a tree. That’s how today’s hike started! 15.1 mile out and back with 1,244’ gain on Sacramento Ditch trail from Shasta Dam to Chamise Peak.