Last week was spent almost entirely in some of the loveliest places on the planet in the company of some of the loveliest human beings on the (mostly the same) planet. Some of my regular backpacking companions along with some newer to the group drove all the way up from San Diego to do some trekking in the Grouse Lakes Wilderness area (no vehicles!), the trailheads for which are only just a little over an hour away from our house. Clay Phillips, trail boss, planned the adventure, as usual, and he was familiar with the area having lived in (near?) Sacramento in the 80's. He, John Houston, Aaron Lawson, Noel Becchetti and Dave Kaiser all cruised up here in Dave's cool Big Red Truck, arriving in time for dinner--about 600 miles, an all-day journey! Next morning, Monday, Tom, who held down the fort here at home during the week, helped transport us all to the trailhead at Lindsay Lake, where we had a picnic lunch and set out. Between Lindsay Lake trailhead and Carr Lake trailhead, our final destination on Friday, we found amazing
campsites (for 6 tents!) at two gorgeous lakes (two nights at Penner Lake and two nights at Glacier Lake). On the days we didn't spend hauling all our gear from point to point, we took long day hikes, exploring the lakes and higher elevations, mostly off trail by topo map and compass, even finding the site of an old mining camp, the only trace of which was a collapsing stone fireplace. The whole region is crammed with lakes--we lost count of the ones we encountered--and prettier ones you won't find! But our fisher folk, John and Dave, declared them to be almost completely fish-free! After much time, patience and power bait, they were able to coax only one fish each out of one lake--Glacier! The fish deficit notwithstanding, Clay kept us well-fed, if a little heavy on the M&M's and Caribou Coffee Bars toward the end. How many other camps were feasting on Pad Thai and miso soup after a long day's trekking?! It works! We swam, played high-stakes Frisbee golf, watched stars and satellites and chatted each night around the (illegal--shh) campfire John ("The Outlaw") Houston kept stoked. What's better than that? Aaron
entertained us with amazing rock art! On Friday,Tom picked us up, filthy and ravenous for the chips, fresh fruit and cold drinks he brought with him and we made a bee line for Jack-in-the-Box (though, we have since located a Carl's Jr. in Grass Valley, which was the group's first choice). After cleaning up (complicated by some drainage issues), we enjoyed Bourne Ultimatum on it's first night followed by Round Table Pizza! Alas, everybody piled back into BRT next morning for the ride south. I learn a lot each year from the guys. Each is amazingly gifted! Noel carries more interesting information around in his head than anyone else I know. Clay is the best-humored, most well-balanced, organizationally and geographically savvy person in the world. John is the strongest, most incredibly can-do and resourceful. The best straight man, for sure. Aaron is curious, inventive, creative, adventurous. Dave is calm, wise, quiet, so observant, easy-going. He never wasted a motion. Throws a killer frisbee. If there is one lesson I seem to need to learn over and over, it's "simplify". Of course, I carried too much weight--again! My pack weighted 50#, or thereabouts. I'm losing 15 to 20 by next time--really! I mean it, this time!I'm greatly enriched by these excursions. Getting out into the wild places with wonderful people is a refreshing and perspective-producing experience. I need it. And I cherish the time spent with friends I don't see so often any more. Thank you, thank you and thank you. Sandy
