Backpacking

This past weekend Randy and I "got away", just the two of us! We love hiking and camping, but haven't been back-packing since '98, partly because we've never had all the gear (not that we don't have friends we could borrow from), mostly because it's hard to get away for a long weekend when you have young kids. Well, knowing we would eventually get back into backpacking, we have scoured the summer clearance racks at REI the past few years and purchased a 2-person backpacking tent, a second lightweight sleeping bag, a super-small stove, and a new water purifier. This year we didn't go anywhere for our anniversary (Randy was in the middle of training for the SF marathon), so we spent the money on backpacks instead, knowing we would fit in a weekend trip before the summer's end. I've never had my own backpack, and Randy's was due for a replacement. We found a great deal online (why they sell "last-year's-model" for 60% off when all they changed is the color is beyond me) and we were finally set! Randy got last Friday off, so after dropping off the kids at school and Violet at Auntie Christa's, we drove up the hill to Sequoia National Forest. We entered the Jennie Lakes Wilderness at the official Big Meadows trailhead (I say official because 1.2 miles in we passed a dirt parking lot that had a small path connecting to the trail...have to figure out how to park there next time). We'd planned on hiking to Jennie Lake, having read it was only 5 miles. Well, there were papers in the Grant Grove Ranger Station that said 6.2, 6.8, the ranger thought it was closer to 9 miles? We grabbed a book that said 6.2 and jotted down it's trail notes and headed out. I guess we'll have to figure out how far the actual trail is next time since we ended up at Weaver Lake. About 1.5 miles in my heels started to hurt. I hadn't had trouble with these hiking boots before, but it had been awhile since I'd worn them. At mile 1.8 is the turnoff to Weaver, which we knew was only another 1.4 miles in...let's go! We made it to the lake and were advised by some hikers on their way out to go around the lake for a secluded site with a nice rock firepit. Wow...thanks! What a gorgeous view for a weekend! Cooking some okra over the fire as part of our dinner. Brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt...super yum! Thanks for the tip Mr. Willey! The air was a bit smoky due to some controlled burns in the Canyon, but it sure made for a gorgeous sunset! After a good night's sleep and a lazy morning of pretty much nothin', we hiked our way around the lake. Our campsite from across the lake. Trout? There was a group of 3 or 4 dads with their boys at the lake that came to fish for the weekend. The fish were jumping and biting all day and night (it made fun sounds on the water). We brought an onion along to cook with a fish if we caught one...no luck. But we enjoyed it skewered in between the okra along with some curried chickpeas the second night! Looking up the hillside from our campsite. The sunset was so different the second night...without the smoke making the sun and sky pink it was actually quite bright reflecting off the lake. See all the little ripples from the fish? Enjoying the fire. I wish I could have taken a picture of the lake by moonlight. It was breathtaking! I guess you'll have to hike there yourself. The moon was almost full and the sky so clear. I woke up around 3 in the morning and went out of the tent to gaze. It is not often that we take time, much less a whole weekend, to simply be quiet, enjoy the stillness of our natural surrounding and contemplate. As I stepped out of the tent and saw the stars reflected on the pristine glass of the lake, my mind immediately sang, "How great is our God!" I sat, enjoying the brisk mountain air, "Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art!" John Muir was right...there is no holier temple than nature itself. "To some, beauty seems the accident of creation. To Muir, it was the very smile of God." (From "John Muir As I Knew Him" by Robert Underwood Johnson January, 1916) Thank you to all of you that helped us out with the kiddos this weekend! We appreciate you more than words can express!