Hiking

I’m still around.

Things I am doing - hiking, backpacking, hiking, organizing hikes, joining a writing club, submitting resumes, trying not to do too much paperwork at home after work. Oh, and then there’s the hiking. And the losing weight thing. (Twenty pounds, one pant size.)

Things I am not doing - blogging, commenting, or really much of anything online.

Sorry, internets. I still adore you, I’m just a little distracted with work angst and trying to be active enough that I can put it out of my head.

Went backpacking with people I’ve never met before over the weekend.

You know, if an old (60ish) guy has the heaviest pack in the group, he will probably also have back problems and something chronic like diabetes. He will not want to eat actual food. He will take all day to hike the six miles to the lake, and probably almost certainly fall over on the way out, resulting in everyone else hoofing it to the trailhead, dumping their stuff, and coming back to carry his 50 lbs of stuff back to the cars.

The trip was really relaxing and awesome, when we weren’t hiking in or out. I met some great people. I also met someone who really needs a llama. SERIOUSLY - if you are just going to throw random sh*t into a HUGE backpack including a sleeping bag that looks like it belongs on an arctic expedition, get a frikkin’ llama, or a mule, or a sherpa. Not the handful of strangers you just met who think you’re crazy for not paying more attention to your own needs.

Lots and lots of job stress. If people would only be consistent I wouldn’t have to keep closing cases and the billing wouldn’t be dropping too low.

At least the hiking group outings are going well. I’ve met all kinds of people. Neat people, who sound like they are relatively sane and fun to hike with.

On the other side, I have too many bills and added my second ever traffic ticket. Be careful out there, the patrolmen are looking to fund that next civic project, or just make up for the shortfalls in the budget, and you can’t let a tire drift over the double yellow line even if you’re about to make a left turn.

Going backpacking for two nights. Have a great Fourth of July weekend. Stay safe.

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Last Saturday I hiked 9 miles in 90F weather, on exposed ridges at ~7000 feet elevation.

Sunday I slept most of the day. I think that the four liters of water I drank on the hike did not offset the heat exhaustion. Not Good.

Still somewhat tired this week. Not wanting to get up for work in the mornings. Thinking I’m too old p’raps for pushing myself into the out of doors.

But! Tioga Pass opens tomorrow. I may yet go backpacking in Yosemite.

I am planning a two night backpacking trip to the coast over Memorial Day Weekend. Since I am a member of a hiking group on meetup I posted an all points bulletin looking for a hiking buddy. One person from the east coast, someone I don’t know, responded.

Seema, want to come? We could all meet for the first time!

Meetup is an odd webspace. You go online and then spend most of your time in the flesh with the group. This is a Good Thing. Unlike Myspace or certain other online dens of … whatever people do in them.