I was pretty bummed that Katie couldn't join us at all on the PCT this summer. She did he own fantastic trip to Malaysia and Thailand (and is still blogging about it). But it didn't leave any time for trips with us.
We partially made up for it though with a father/daughter backpack into the Emigrant Wilderness these last few days (U.C.S.B. doesn't start until late this month). It actually felt a little odd to be hiking without Tricia at first, but then we settled in to a great routine and I remembered how well I like this wonderful daughter too:
There was a new dusting of snow as we got started (it is, after all, almost Pinnacles season already):
Three miles into the back country, proving that one has to mind one's manners no matter where they are, we ran into this character (most of you will not know who it is, but Rob certainly will - he's a climbing friend who lives one mile from us):
In Whiteside Meadow:
East Flange Rock from Upper Relief Valley:
Salt Lick Meadow:
First night's campsite in Spring Meadow:
The next morning:
At Deer Lake:
We call this "simul-fetching:"
In mid shake:
Last morning:
I realized on this trip what tough life I really have. It seems that every time I "do stuff" (backpacking in this case), I want to do more of it. We got back and all I could think about was how to get back into the Emigrant before the snow flies. And then I went climbing today (and I can't wait to get up there to redpoint this one route).
Tough life.