Bagby 2016.10.29 Hiking, Latergram Three hot springs in three days while driving from Lone Pine to Portland. Amazingly I had tubs to myself at all three. Funny that Bagby ends up being one of my favorites of all my soaks this season, given it was also one of my first in the 90s and I’ve been so there many times. It’s just so damn quaint, and soooooo damn hot. As hot as you want it to be. Hiking in through clouds of other hikers’ clove cigarette smoke really brought back memories of Portland in the 90s and hiking out in the pitch dark brought back memories of wild good times past out there with folks like Monika B and Patrick P. (Especially since folks have doused some trees along the way […] Read more
4 hotsprings, 4 days 2016.09.22 Latergram Yesterday morning was this. This morning, Mono Hot Springs – Old Pedro with new friends Jesse, Toby, and Angie, talking about genetics, life, disappearing, and off-grid life. So good. My hike itinerary has changed and is now 4 hot springs in four days due to some excellent FLOW (and a chance meeting in last night’s hail/rain storm). Read more
Hot Springs #3 Hiking, Latergram Hot spring #3 of 4 this backpacking trip: Old Pedro at Mono. I had the hot pools to myself for a while, then met some radical people and shared a great time until it was time to hike out and “make the miles” up Bear Creek back to the PCT/JMT. The Bear Creek Trail (which starts as a 4×4 road on the map near Mono Resort) is now one of my very favorite Sierra trails – walk it if you ever get a chance! Read more
Secret Soak 2016.09.20 Hiking, Latergram Bad news – they really did weld the spring tub shut at Reds Meadow. It’s got this metal plate and there’s no way to get in. Damn! I hope they had a really good reason. I have decided to sit in the gnarly slimy rotting floaty stuff part of the spring because. It’s hot. This kicks off my birthday week Sierra hot spring 90-miler. I will be walking through a storm that’s coming in, so it should get interesting. I dream of being in a hot spring when it’s raining or even snowing on me. At least it’s mostly ON trail this time. 😉 While I’m waiting for van parts in the mail, this is how I do. I’m in my happy place. Read more
Sierra High Route Part 3: Piute Pass to Reds Meadow 2015.09.11 Hiking, Sierra High Route Day 1: Piute Pass Trailhead to French Canyon July 24th. This hike was kicked off with a pleasant hitch in a big truck from a fellow named Kelly. Kelly had just dropped his niece “Sierra” off at Mt. Whitney so that she could summit, and was headed back to Bishop where he was visiting family. Kelly and his niece had just finished the John Muir Trail (JMT) and had themselves hitch hiked, so he was eager to “pay it forward.” He was not only super fun to chat with, but he stopped by Great Basin bakery in Bishop (so much better than Schatz FWIW) and bought me a coffee, a muffin, and a baguette to pack out, AND he drove me all the way to the Piute […] Read more
Chena Hot Spring 2014.12.09 Latergram It was 5° out and 15-20mph gusts of wind would blow ice chunks into the pool which had cooled considerably since yesterday, but Chena Hot Springs held its charm. Last time I was here I was maybe 7 years old! Read more