The PCT Volume 33: Toughing It Out

[mungeclimber]

PCT will be there. Its all smokey from what I saw in today's posts anyways.

Pics look great. The canyon walls look huge.

[clink]

This PCT season has been a little disappointing (too few trips). And it doesn't seem likely to get better.

As planned, we spent the last two weeks of July on a wonderful Grand Canyon trip (14 days!). Two weeks with all four of us (big, big bonus that Katie came too). Also along were all four of my brother's family, and our nephew (nine family) and other guests. As another big bonus, we rode in dories. These are smaller, wooden boats that have a great history on the Colorado River. They're really fun, a more intimate way to float the river.

The trip was "once in a lifetime" quality. Everything from the people to the guides to the food; plus the river and the canyon. It was a great trip. That's good

But it used up two weeks which could otherwise have been spent hiking on the PCT. That's bad.

And now, Tricia has made the sophomore girls volleyball team. Last year, she and all of the girls from her elementary "feeder" school were cut from the high school freshman team in a petty political move that really pissed us off. We let it go un-challenged though; Tricia asked us to leave it alone, and besides, sometimes kids need to learn harsh lessons about bureaucratic organizations.

So this year Tricia worked really hard. She made the team (she's a very skilled setter). She's really, really happy. And Vicki and I are as proud of her as can be. So that's very good news.

But it's also bad news; the girls have practice every day now and that means no more PCT for us. I'm going through heavy withdrawals.

Here are some of our best Grand Canyon photos to distract me for what might be a long eleven months:

 The great news is that you didn't miss one day of your Pinnacles season.

[mynameismud]

Cool

[Brad Young]

...the canyon walls look huge.

In a way they're kinda like Crater Lake: The canyon walls are so huge that, when you see them in person, it's like the photos you saw beforehand were lies.

A geologist could go nuts in there 

[Brad Young]

I might mention too that Katie wrote two blog entries for the Grand Canyon trip. I really like her writing style, although she's not very subtle sometimes

These are fairly long entries (each takes maybe ten minutes to read?), but, I think, very well done and entertaining (and no, as yet there's no "Katie's view" on our PCT shenanigans). I got her permission to post links here in case any of this post's readers want to read her perspective:

https://lifeofk2.wordpress.com/grand-canyon-2/grand-canyon-week-1/

https://lifeofk2.wordpress.com/grand-canyon-2/grand-canyon-week-2/

[JC w KC redux]

That was fun - thanks.
2 billion+ years of Earth history.
Talk about feeling puny and insignificant.

[mungeclimber]

Thx for Katie's blog posts. Reminded me of trips I took in college that were formative.

and who in the heck is "Rad Dad Brad"

[Brad Young]

...and who in the heck is "Rad Dad Brad"

You know, it sounds kind of odd to me too. But apparently it's what she and her Excursion Club friends call me now. Considering that five years ago she was embarrassed by the very fact that I existed... I'll take it   

[Brad Young]

One of the couples on the Grand Canyon trip was celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Mike and Nancy were two really cool people. Nancy just posted her Grand Canyon photos on the group site. A few were pretty darn good.

Having posted some photos from that trip already, I'll add the best few of Nancy's.

Evening light, day four:




Havasu Creek junction:




Riffles heading into a rapid:




Hand-stand contest, Big Dune Camp:




Extended Young family in a waterfall in Travertine Creek:




Fearless Tricia Young jumps into the pool at Elves' Chasm:




What a great trip it was. But man am I missing the PCT (which is a first world problem, I know, I know).

[JC w KC redux]

 Did T jump from the top of that dry rock to her left?

[Brad Young]

 Did T jump from the top of that dry rock to her left?

No. It's hard to read still-action shots sometimes, but she's in the process of jumping; she's launching off her left foot.

It's funny too that the water below her looks shallow in the photo. It wasn't though (I did the jump too). It must be the way the light reflects toward the camera.

[JC w KC redux]

No. It's hard to read still-action shots sometimes, but she's in the process of jumping; she's launching off her left foot.

That is actually obvious after taking another look.
That body position isn't one you'd keep for long - while in flight.

That shower picture is great too.
It looks like you are getting quite the skull pounding.

[clink]

 Those are great pics.

[CruxLuv]

Aw - makes me so happy! 
Nice little diversion on a Friday afternoon... 

[Brad Young]

Aw - makes me so happy!  
Nice little diversion on a Friday afternoon...  

Funny you should say that Crux. Some days at my office get stressful. And I'll often take 10, pull up an old PCT trip report, and just calm down by looking it over once more. Works every time.

[waldo]

No. It's hard to read still-action shots sometimes, but she's in the process of jumping; she's launching off her left foot.

Only a Pinnacles climber would launch from moss that thick.

[CruxLuv]

Works every time.

 

[Brad Young]

I’m about as happy as a pig in shit right now. My family loves me.

We’re on our way to Oregon. Yes it’s insane to go up for another 30 or 35 miles of PCT. But they’ve taken pity on me. We’re gonna get in two more days so that I can survive until next summer.

[Brad Young]

Both daughters are with. All four of us again. Almost to Oregon now.

[clink]

 Making it happen. PCT forever! (possibly could take)