Monday, June 23, 2014

The Solstice Day 6/21

The newly named Firecracker! Just slightly puffy but none the worse for the wear & tear. 

The longest day of the year was a long hike for us. For some reason, was it the afternoon cup of tea, the eating of more snacks instead of a big lunch, hormones, less steepness to the climbs? Who knows but we hiked 22 miles and weren't dead on our feet. Firecracker thinks it was the tea but TC is reluctant to commit to any one idea. We walked from 6:40am until 6.30pm. 
     If you remember way back in the desert I highly recommended a place to hike in the spring time. It was the San Felipe Hills near the town of Julian at Scissors Crossing. The blooming cactus were unsurpassable in their brilliance and contrasting softness to the spiky dull brown desert. Well the place we have been hiking in the last 2 days definitely deserves a visit. The land between Sonora Pass and Carson Pass is varied and unusual. It's a mix of prehistoric looking volcanic rock, rolling green hills and granite boulders tucked away in pine forests dotted with mountain lakes and streams. The volcano rock is so sharp, spiky and wholly it looks like sea corral. It's even covered with fluorescent lichens much like the colors under the sea. Firecracker imagines this the land of Indians 200 years ago where vision quests and rites of passage would take place. It looks old and sacred. You can get here by car but we recommend backpacking. It is impressive. Come see!
     The smells walking across this land were a mixture of flowery and herbal. They were earthy and healthy like walking into an apothecary's shop. It was not like walking into a pharmacy which has a sterile, antiseptic odor. Firecracker could understand the idea that everything you need tobe healthy is grown in the area where you live. 
       TC and FC found a secluded, not yet camped at spot above the trail. FC worried about the plants they might be crushing. She's constantly avoiding insects, flowers, branches. Her newly alive revelation that all things have a right to live is keeping her on her toes (literally). If she does step on something accidentally there is remorse but she doesn't beat herself up all day. She is really getting into ant culture and making friends with them. She just expects them to be crawling all over her and her stuff. Her reaction is no longer indignant and violent. Her reaction to humans is still a bit iffy. For example: at this lovely campsite just before sunset TC and FC are just about to fall asleep when they hear gunshots. SUNSET !! People are target practicing at sunset. They continued after the sun set. FC wanted to yell something but reconsidered. People with guns are already in the unpredictable category. 
    From this campspot they walked around Elephant's Back, saw Frog Lake, Caples Lake and finally got sight of Lake Tahoe. Blue and big. They naked dip in Showers Lake inspite of the people they saw around the lake. After their afternoon tea break they walked out to HWay 50'and hitched a ride from a guy in a black convertible sports Celica. It was a bit beat up and dirty but so were we so it was a perfect match. Jimmy was a sweet guy who had recently been beat up on the job (security guard). He was dealing with Workman's Comp. which was frustrating. He didn't know how to fight and that was a great disadvantage. He tried to block a punch and got his shoulder dislocated amongst other things. FC advised him to learn some martial arts but he's probably through with that job. 
   To be continued...



1 comment:

  1. You two are so inspirational! Makes me want to do this trip so bad. Someday...

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