Well, at least he has reached the top of the lower 48 states.
Wow! Miss a day and you miss it all. Between my school job and my AYUSA job I was away from my computer all day yesterday. So, I did not check on the Mooster and missed the opportunity to tell you that he would summit today! And now the big news, he has done it once again!
It appears that Moose continued on his trek yesterday morning starting at 7:45. He stopped for the evening at 9:45 near Guitar Lake. The crazed Moose awoke in the wee hours and started the approach to Whitney at 1:00 in the morning. He summited at 5:17 or it could be at 5:40 a.m.
Ken is now on his way down and approaching his last stop Whitney Portal. He appears to be taking a break at Consultation Lake. He has traveled 212.6 miles and only has six miles to go.
Hopefully Moose's ride is ready to pick him up and take him to the nearest burger and beer joint for a personal celebration.
Walk for SOCK rocks!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Nighty Night Dear Moose
I am ready to go to bed, but Moose has not sent the all is well signal to indicate he is stopping for the evening. So I am giving up before he is...OR...he forgot to push the little button. I suspect the latter because he has not moved in over an hour.
It would appear that today was a BIG hiking day. Moose (again!) got up around 6:30 a.m. and started hiking. It is now almost 11:00 and no signal has come through to show that he is done.
His latest SPOT indicates that he is now back on track with his plans and maybe even a mile or two ahead. Moose walked from mile 152 to mile 176 today. That is 24 miles of backpacking with a big pass to cross too. Pinchot pass peaks at 12,130 feet then shortly after that Moose descended to a "low" spot of 8,492 feet at Woods Creek Junction. In backpacking, what goes down will often go up again. He is back up around 10,000 feet.
Poor Moose is missing out on all the fun at home. Bills keep rolling in, even when the Moose-man is gone. Kids still need rides all over the Klamath Basin. The mess has not magically disappeared, nor has a single chicken laid an egg. Those kids of ours keep eating too! I never thought 2 full refrigerators could not hold all the food they ask for. Just eat a PB&J, guys!
Charlie kindly came by with Jacob yesterday and collected the games we borrowed for Camp SOCK. Jacob and his friend enjoyed touring our zoo while Charlie loaded up his car. We all missed "Uncle Charlie" this year at camp, but I must say I can't fault him for choosing Europe over Camp SOCK. Next year, Charlie, there are no excuses!
Goodnight, my fellow Moose followers. I hope you have sweet dreams of climbing mountains and watching meteor showers.
It would appear that today was a BIG hiking day. Moose (again!) got up around 6:30 a.m. and started hiking. It is now almost 11:00 and no signal has come through to show that he is done.
His latest SPOT indicates that he is now back on track with his plans and maybe even a mile or two ahead. Moose walked from mile 152 to mile 176 today. That is 24 miles of backpacking with a big pass to cross too. Pinchot pass peaks at 12,130 feet then shortly after that Moose descended to a "low" spot of 8,492 feet at Woods Creek Junction. In backpacking, what goes down will often go up again. He is back up around 10,000 feet.
Poor Moose is missing out on all the fun at home. Bills keep rolling in, even when the Moose-man is gone. Kids still need rides all over the Klamath Basin. The mess has not magically disappeared, nor has a single chicken laid an egg. Those kids of ours keep eating too! I never thought 2 full refrigerators could not hold all the food they ask for. Just eat a PB&J, guys!
Charlie kindly came by with Jacob yesterday and collected the games we borrowed for Camp SOCK. Jacob and his friend enjoyed touring our zoo while Charlie loaded up his car. We all missed "Uncle Charlie" this year at camp, but I must say I can't fault him for choosing Europe over Camp SOCK. Next year, Charlie, there are no excuses!
Goodnight, my fellow Moose followers. I hope you have sweet dreams of climbing mountains and watching meteor showers.
Moose is moving along
Quick Moose update...Ken stopped for the night around 9:50 p.m. after a long day on the trail.
His tracker shows he was moving this morning by 6:29 a.m. which is a shocker for me; the Moose I know is not usually a morning glory.
Today he hiked through Mather Pass which, at 12,100 feet, is the highest elevation he has been to yet. Don't worry he will soon go much higher! His distance for the day is about 20 miles.
He is stopped for the evening at approximately mile 152. He will approach Bench Lake and Lake Marjorie in the morning and continue on through yet another pass. I'm not telling which pass that will be, though. I don't want to get ahead of myself, or rather, ahead of the Moose!
Just in case you want to check on his tracker, here is the link:
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0933O8mCvhXC6kaJgrSOb4IloX2ZqE1Dg
Go see Spot. See Moose walk. Go, Moose, Go!
Oh! One more thing. The Perseid meteor shower is at it's height the next two nights. We can step outside and take a look and see it fairly well here in Klamath. Imagine, though, how it must look from Moose's perspective. High on a mountain, with no light pollution! I must admit, I am envious of his view of God's personal light show! Lucky Moose.
His tracker shows he was moving this morning by 6:29 a.m. which is a shocker for me; the Moose I know is not usually a morning glory.
Today he hiked through Mather Pass which, at 12,100 feet, is the highest elevation he has been to yet. Don't worry he will soon go much higher! His distance for the day is about 20 miles.
He is stopped for the evening at approximately mile 152. He will approach Bench Lake and Lake Marjorie in the morning and continue on through yet another pass. I'm not telling which pass that will be, though. I don't want to get ahead of myself, or rather, ahead of the Moose!
Just in case you want to check on his tracker, here is the link:
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0933O8mCvhXC6kaJgrSOb4IloX2ZqE1Dg
Go see Spot. See Moose walk. Go, Moose, Go!
Oh! One more thing. The Perseid meteor shower is at it's height the next two nights. We can step outside and take a look and see it fairly well here in Klamath. Imagine, though, how it must look from Moose's perspective. High on a mountain, with no light pollution! I must admit, I am envious of his view of God's personal light show! Lucky Moose.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Moose plods higher and higher
It appears our hero, Moose, is continuing to climb to higher places. He started the day at Evolution Creek near McClure Meadow Ranger Station. His moose tracks have stopped for the evening near Starr Camp. In order to get there he had to go through Muir Pass, which is at 11,980 feet!
Total mileage to date is 131. 5 miles...much farther than I would ever want to walk on flat ground in 5 days. His sightseeing along the way must have included two larger lakes, Lake Wanda and Lake Helen. He seems to be stopped for the evening. He has 76.7 miles to go to get to the top of Whitney.
Go Moosey-boy GO!
Total mileage to date is 131. 5 miles...much farther than I would ever want to walk on flat ground in 5 days. His sightseeing along the way must have included two larger lakes, Lake Wanda and Lake Helen. He seems to be stopped for the evening. He has 76.7 miles to go to get to the top of Whitney.
Go Moosey-boy GO!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Moose is Up
We've been watching Moose-man as he travels on and on. He has now hiked approximately 115 miles on his two little feet. It looks like Moose spent last night just below Silver Pass, which is 10,750 feet in elevation. The lowest point he hiked yesterday was 7,900 feet. Klamath Falls is approximately 4,100 feet, as a comparison. Crater Lake is at 7,100 feet. The top of Mt Scott, which Ken ran up for training is at 8,100 feet and Mt. McLoughlin, which he also trained on, is at 9,495 feet.
Today Moose went through Selden Pass, which is 10,890 feet up and continued on past a few lakes and other water. He got to wade across Evolution Creek, where is seems he has stopped for the night. He may have made it to McClure Meadow Ranger station, as planned, but it is hard for me to tell. Maps and I are barely on speaking terms most of the time!
As you can see above, Ken is going between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Moose has written in mileage on the map, so it appears he is near the 115.6 point. No direct communication is available now, so I figure no news is always good news. As long as "SPOT" keeps checking in with the okay signal and keeps moving those little boot prints along, all is well enough.
Tonight as Keith, Cera, Sarah and myself were gorging on Mia and Pia's outstanding burgers, fries, pizza, and Jonah salads we thought of Dad enduring trail food for dinner. I'd feel sorry for him, but he wanted to do this and he knows the bitterness of burger deprivation and the sweetness of satisfying the burger urge at the end of the trail. So, in his honor, we completely devoured our delicious meal!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Moosey goes goosey
What?! Moosey goes goosey? Yes he did.
I was surprised yesterday afternoon to get a phone call from the Moose-man. He was near Red's Meadow so he went on ahead to the store and called home. What a good boy! Once I got over my knee-jerk fear reaction to an unexpected phone call, I was relieved to hear he was doing okay. He had loaded up with some extra vittles from the food box and sounded pretty positive.
Moose did say he was dealing with some "frustrations" on the trail which, when he was pressed, he finally explained. It seems that when one hikes at night, at altitude, etc., it is not uncommon to hallucinate. He was more than a little surprised to see Lilly, our chihuahua, trotting along on the trail! Thank goodness he had sense enough to know this was not real, so he did not call to her or anything weird like that! He also "saw" car lights driving on the trail and later a man wearing a hat sitting off to the side.
Keith commented that usually the hallucinations have something to do with something you would like to have. I can understand the cars because that would be an easier way to get there. I can understand the man because he is alone and may be missing companionship. Lilly, hmmm, now THAT has me baffled! How on earth could a chihuahua benefit you on the John Muir Trail? I know I have married a good man since he did not see a hot babe in a bikini. At least he did not mention this if he did. It could be that I married a smart man who would like to be able to come back to his own home.
Boy is Ken going to regret letting me get on his blog!!!
Moose said we will probably not hear from him for at least 5 days, so I guess I get to worry in silence. Well, not really in silence...all the kids are home. When are kids ever NOT hungry?
Keith has promised to help me interpret all the charts, maps, and the spotter thingy to keep up with where Moose is. I haven't a clue on how to use all that Outdoorsy-guy-gadget stuff! Good thing Ken has The LEDGE to help him keep up with the latest technology. Good thing Moose is friends with the Yeti! Mike keeps Ken happily hiking away.
I was surprised yesterday afternoon to get a phone call from the Moose-man. He was near Red's Meadow so he went on ahead to the store and called home. What a good boy! Once I got over my knee-jerk fear reaction to an unexpected phone call, I was relieved to hear he was doing okay. He had loaded up with some extra vittles from the food box and sounded pretty positive.
Moose did say he was dealing with some "frustrations" on the trail which, when he was pressed, he finally explained. It seems that when one hikes at night, at altitude, etc., it is not uncommon to hallucinate. He was more than a little surprised to see Lilly, our chihuahua, trotting along on the trail! Thank goodness he had sense enough to know this was not real, so he did not call to her or anything weird like that! He also "saw" car lights driving on the trail and later a man wearing a hat sitting off to the side.
Keith commented that usually the hallucinations have something to do with something you would like to have. I can understand the cars because that would be an easier way to get there. I can understand the man because he is alone and may be missing companionship. Lilly, hmmm, now THAT has me baffled! How on earth could a chihuahua benefit you on the John Muir Trail? I know I have married a good man since he did not see a hot babe in a bikini. At least he did not mention this if he did. It could be that I married a smart man who would like to be able to come back to his own home.
Boy is Ken going to regret letting me get on his blog!!!
Moose said we will probably not hear from him for at least 5 days, so I guess I get to worry in silence. Well, not really in silence...all the kids are home. When are kids ever NOT hungry?
Keith has promised to help me interpret all the charts, maps, and the spotter thingy to keep up with where Moose is. I haven't a clue on how to use all that Outdoorsy-guy-gadget stuff! Good thing Ken has The LEDGE to help him keep up with the latest technology. Good thing Moose is friends with the Yeti! Mike keeps Ken happily hiking away.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Tracking the Moose
Well, I did not get on the blog last night to tell you all that Ken took off at about 9:00 last night. He called at 8:45 and was obviously chomping at the bit to get going. So, with our blessings and good luck wishes, we sent him on his way.
Moose started his walk at Yosemite after an uneventful train trip. He made all his connections between trains and buses but complained that they kept the bright white lights on inside the train all night. He didn't sleep well all night. I have a feeling that won't be a problem once he hits the trail. He will have millions of stars to light his way instead. God has been kind enough to dim the moon so he won't be kept awake.
If you look at the tracker you see a series of footprints that show his movements. Currently he is just "over the hill" from Mono Lake.
I think I will put up the website to track his movements again so you will not have to keep hunting for it. Well, maybe I am doing this for me, because I have to keep hunting for it myself!
Here it is:
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/gogl.jsp?glId=0933O8mCvhXC6kaJgrSOb4IloX2ZqE1Dg
Moose started his walk at Yosemite after an uneventful train trip. He made all his connections between trains and buses but complained that they kept the bright white lights on inside the train all night. He didn't sleep well all night. I have a feeling that won't be a problem once he hits the trail. He will have millions of stars to light his way instead. God has been kind enough to dim the moon so he won't be kept awake.
If you look at the tracker you see a series of footprints that show his movements. Currently he is just "over the hill" from Mono Lake.
I think I will put up the website to track his movements again so you will not have to keep hunting for it. Well, maybe I am doing this for me, because I have to keep hunting for it myself!
Here it is:
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/gogl.jsp?glId=0933O8mCvhXC6kaJgrSOb4IloX2ZqE1Dg
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Training the Moose
From now on it is me, Tracy, blogging in place of Moose-man! Haha! He should be worried; I have complete control of his blog! Remeber Ken, when we married it was for better or worse.
Keith and I dropped off Ken at the Amtrack station in Klamath Falls tonight. Amtrack stayed with the usual schedule and was late, but only by one hour. Hopefully Ken will make all of his connections and get to Yosemite as planned. He can only get his permit on Wednesday.
After hanging out with Ken and Keith at the train station, I personally think he is on the most perilous part of his journey right now. The tattoo girl (I think it was a girl) with the rottweiler, the man who was upset that he had to check his case of beer, the 4 police escorting a passenger off the train when it arrrived, made me hope this train ride is uneventful.
So....Ken is off and on his way to his latest adventure. Some how he always seems to get his way and escape into the wilds for a week or two in the summer. How could I say no, though? What a great cause! Camp SOCK is a taste of heaven here on earth. Don't know who benefits more, the campers, the peer counselors, or the staff! If you have a few bucks and can spare them for Camp SOCK it is appreciated, but if you don't, it's okay. Follow along as we track the Moose!
Keith and I dropped off Ken at the Amtrack station in Klamath Falls tonight. Amtrack stayed with the usual schedule and was late, but only by one hour. Hopefully Ken will make all of his connections and get to Yosemite as planned. He can only get his permit on Wednesday.
After hanging out with Ken and Keith at the train station, I personally think he is on the most perilous part of his journey right now. The tattoo girl (I think it was a girl) with the rottweiler, the man who was upset that he had to check his case of beer, the 4 police escorting a passenger off the train when it arrrived, made me hope this train ride is uneventful.
So....Ken is off and on his way to his latest adventure. Some how he always seems to get his way and escape into the wilds for a week or two in the summer. How could I say no, though? What a great cause! Camp SOCK is a taste of heaven here on earth. Don't know who benefits more, the campers, the peer counselors, or the staff! If you have a few bucks and can spare them for Camp SOCK it is appreciated, but if you don't, it's okay. Follow along as we track the Moose!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Back from Camp... Ready to Hike
Follow the Walk 4 SOCK starting Thursday, August 5th, at:
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/gogl.jsp?glId=0933O8mCvhXC6kaJgrSOb4IloX2ZqE1Dg
Camp SOCK was awesome this year... over 20 campers and loads of counselors to help out... It was the biggest year yet by far! I had lots of fun with Tracy, the kids, and Katie's boyfriend, Alec. Worked with my friend Jacquie from nursing school and got to know Jill and Jonathon, two med students that helped us out along with the guidance of Nurse Susan and Dr. Jon. Good people.
Nominated, selected, now on the Camp SOCK Board of Directors... attached to 3 committees. Fast and furious.
2010 camp pictures should post soon at www.campsock.org. Keep an eye out for them.
Walk 4 SOCK is almost here. Spent yesterday morning hiking up Mt. McLoughlin for some altitude acclimatization.
Started at 5:13am - 2 hours, 58 minutes to the top... 2 hours, 9 minutes coming down, finishing at 10:20am.
As usual, I got off on the wrong route going up. Worked along the ridge, had to do a few class 3 hands-and-feet scrambling moves, one crawl under a fallen rock, and a class 4 hang to get around one ledge area. More work than necessary, but an adventure anyways.
A chilling breeze on top. Most of the wall foundation from the old lookout tower is gone now. A few photos, then turnaround. Coming down, I use the scree to aid the descent. Scree is loose, sandy rock that makes for a controlled slide each step going downhill. Uphill, it is murder... two steps forward and one step back all the way.
I was able to do some trail running once I got out of the rocks and back into the woods. GPS said 8.99 miles. Guess it does not account for slant distance going up and down the hill. 5.5 miles x 2 according to the signage. Round trip time: 5 hours, 7 minutes.
Walk 4 SOCK schedule - Leaving tomorrow night at 10pm on the southbound train. Sounds like the beginnings of a country-western tune... at least it is not the 3:10 to Yuma. Amtrak will drop me in Sacramento at around 6am, bus me to Stockton and train me to Merced to catch the Yosemite bus at around 11am on Wednesday for a 1:20pm arrival at Yosemite Visitors' Center. Pick up the permit and then wait until Thursday to start. I hope to blast off from the Happy Isles trailhead at just after midnight, night-hike until dawn and then hike through the day.
It is around 211 miles to Mt Whitney down the John Muir Trail. I want to hike around 30 miles per day which will put me at 7 days and a few hours. The 50/50 betting pool with the Klamath Falls Kiwanis is for the time to reach the summit. From the top of Mt Whitney, it is still 11 miles and 6000 vertical feet down to civilization, so 222 total. The rounded-off math to the summit of Mt Whitney works out to:
21 miles per day = 10 days
24 miles per day = 9 days
27 miles per day = 8 days
30 miles per day = 7 days - this is my basic goal
35 miles per day = 6 days
43 miles per day = 5 days
53 miles per day = 4 days
The record for a South to North trip is...
3 days, 9 hours, 58 minutes from the top of Mt Whitney to Happy Isles. Unbelievable. Anyway, Brett's adventure is documented on YouTube here - click this link. Trailhead to trailhead... 3 days, 14 hours, 13 minutes from Whitney Portal to Happy Isles.
For North to South...the only recorded time is...
She kicked butt back in 2005. Everyone else takes the easy way out going northbound.
All way beyond my capability, most likely. I'll just shoot for 7 days.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/gogl.jsp?glId=0933O8mCvhXC6kaJgrSOb4IloX2ZqE1Dg
Camp SOCK was awesome this year... over 20 campers and loads of counselors to help out... It was the biggest year yet by far! I had lots of fun with Tracy, the kids, and Katie's boyfriend, Alec. Worked with my friend Jacquie from nursing school and got to know Jill and Jonathon, two med students that helped us out along with the guidance of Nurse Susan and Dr. Jon. Good people.
Nominated, selected, now on the Camp SOCK Board of Directors... attached to 3 committees. Fast and furious.
2010 camp pictures should post soon at www.campsock.org. Keep an eye out for them.
Walk 4 SOCK is almost here. Spent yesterday morning hiking up Mt. McLoughlin for some altitude acclimatization.
Started at 5:13am - 2 hours, 58 minutes to the top... 2 hours, 9 minutes coming down, finishing at 10:20am.
As usual, I got off on the wrong route going up. Worked along the ridge, had to do a few class 3 hands-and-feet scrambling moves, one crawl under a fallen rock, and a class 4 hang to get around one ledge area. More work than necessary, but an adventure anyways.A chilling breeze on top. Most of the wall foundation from the old lookout tower is gone now. A few photos, then turnaround. Coming down, I use the scree to aid the descent. Scree is loose, sandy rock that makes for a controlled slide each step going downhill. Uphill, it is murder... two steps forward and one step back all the way.
I was able to do some trail running once I got out of the rocks and back into the woods. GPS said 8.99 miles. Guess it does not account for slant distance going up and down the hill. 5.5 miles x 2 according to the signage. Round trip time: 5 hours, 7 minutes.
Walk 4 SOCK schedule - Leaving tomorrow night at 10pm on the southbound train. Sounds like the beginnings of a country-western tune... at least it is not the 3:10 to Yuma. Amtrak will drop me in Sacramento at around 6am, bus me to Stockton and train me to Merced to catch the Yosemite bus at around 11am on Wednesday for a 1:20pm arrival at Yosemite Visitors' Center. Pick up the permit and then wait until Thursday to start. I hope to blast off from the Happy Isles trailhead at just after midnight, night-hike until dawn and then hike through the day.
It is around 211 miles to Mt Whitney down the John Muir Trail. I want to hike around 30 miles per day which will put me at 7 days and a few hours. The 50/50 betting pool with the Klamath Falls Kiwanis is for the time to reach the summit. From the top of Mt Whitney, it is still 11 miles and 6000 vertical feet down to civilization, so 222 total. The rounded-off math to the summit of Mt Whitney works out to:
21 miles per day = 10 days
24 miles per day = 9 days
27 miles per day = 8 days
30 miles per day = 7 days - this is my basic goal
35 miles per day = 6 days
43 miles per day = 5 days
53 miles per day = 4 days
The record for a South to North trip is...
| Brett Maune | Sep. 3-6, 2009 | unsupported | 3d14h13m (3d9h58m) |
For North to South...the only recorded time is...
| Jacqueline Florine | Aug. 27 - Sep. 2, 2005 | unsupported | 6d12h27m (6d6h53m) |
All way beyond my capability, most likely. I'll just shoot for 7 days.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Off to Camp SOCK... last posting until July 31st...
What do you have to eat for today?We are off to Camp SOCK tomorrow... oops, I mean today (it is 12:42 am). Should be a good week at camp. No phones / no internet though, so no more blog stuff until the end of the week.
Follow the Walk 4 SOCK ----> HERE
or type in the web address of:
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/gogl.jsp?glId=0933O8mCvhXC6kaJgrSOb4IloX2ZqE1Dg
Prep for the Walk 4 SOCK hike starting August 5th:
The backpack is at 30 pounds with the food for 7 days, no water. I would like to shave it to 25, but don't know if I can get to that goal or not. Right now, the weight for stuff stands at:
------ 11.1 oz. -- Backpack (thin sil-nylon GVP 4)
6 lb., 2.4 oz. -- Sleep gear / Shelter total
---------------------- Tyvek ground sheet (6.7 oz.)
---------------------- REI tarp tent shelter (1 lb., 15.5 oz.)
---------------------- Big Agnes Horse Thief down bag (35 deg F) (1 lb., 15.6 oz.)
---------------------- Thermarest pad (15.4 oz.)
---------------------- Foam/Air pillow (13.2 oz.)
3 lb., 9.4 oz. -- Extra Clothing / Rain Gear
------ 11.6 oz. -- Eating / Hydration Equipment
------ 12.9 oz. -- Lights, Batteries, etc.
------ 14.7 oz. -- Survival Gear / First Aid
------ 9.2 oz. -- Meds and Footcare
------ 12.8 oz. -- Toiletries and misc.
------- 4.9 oz. -- SPOT tracking device
15lb., 12.6 oz. -- Food + Bear Vault
I did not skimp on sleep gear and protection this time... after the hypothermia in 2008, I don't plan to repeat that historical mistake.Concession in weight that I have made...
--The pillow is comfort, but allows proper sleep, for me anyways, so I take it.
--The hiking boots, Montrail Sabino Trail Mid GTX's, weigh only 9 ounces total more than my pair of trail running shoes, a small price in weight to pay for keeping the soles of my feet from feeling every sharp rock underfoot and becoming tenderized to the point of agony (JMT 2006 trip)
--Hiking poles are aluminum, not carbon fiber. Don't have $150 to spend trying to save 10 oz.
--Camelback - easier to fill than a Platypus... that is the only reason.
--5-hour energy - the B-complex vitamins in this concentrated drink work well for sustaining energy, so I use it.
--Lights and batteries - SPOT tracker for fun and safety, camera for photos and videos, and headlamp and flashlight for night hiking all come at a price. 12.9 ounces in this case.
--ALL my food runs at greater than 100 calories per ounce, except for the pouches of tuna and the freeze-dried dinners. Taste counts for something, and I gotta have some taste in my diet.
--I am going without a cookstove. Foods will soak for about an hour to rehydrate (in the plastic jar with the wide-mouth green lid) while I am still hiking on down the trail. Lukewarm tasty but not piping hot. Titanium cup + stormproof matches and firestarter if I need an emergency warm-up.
I know I can shave a few ounces here and there... we'll see what I can come up with when I get back from Camp SOCK. Until Friday then...
Never stop exploring!
}
}:[: ) Moose
}
Donations may be mailed to: Camp SOCK Walk 4 SOCK 2010
PO Box 735
Keno, OR 97627-0735
Electronic Donation submissions may be made through Click and Pledge at:
https://co.clickandpledge.com/sp/d2/default.aspx?wid=22240
this is a secure site. There is a $0.40 transaction fee charged to the cardholder and
Click and Pledge keeps 8% for a usage fee. There is no flat-rate fee per month or otherwise, so this 8% covers all costs.
-----------------
Friday, July 23, 2010
Friday Follies...
Up and running now... in more ways than one. Charter finally got the stick out of their southern most orifice and sent a repair man out to have a look. Multiple issues OUTSIDE of the house, so Ozzy, the most-excellent repairman dude, fixed it all up. No more internet interruptions, hopefully.
Before the Run
After the internet fix, the family was off to Crater Lake - myself, Tracy and the gang, as well as Keith's girlfriend, Cera. I needed to get some altitude acclimatization in the worst way before dropping down to near-sea level at Camp SOCK. By 1:45 pm, we arrived at the Mt Scott trailhead. I told Tracy to meet me back there in two hours and took off up the trail. 
7400 feet to 8900 feet, 2.5 miles each way. I hammered up to the top in 40 minutes... it was only 2.25 miles by my Garmin Forerunner GPS. Back downhill for 20 minutes; I did not make it back to the trailhead. 2.25 up and 1.75 back for 4 miles in 1 hour. Slow, but hey, it was at twice the altitude I normally train at. And that increase was the objective for running this mountain.
After the Run
Not bad for having been awake for 30 hours. I had to work night shift last night and did not sleep when I got home. I am bad about burning the candle at both ends.
Don't know if I will get any more in tomorrow. We'll see how I feel in the morning. See ya.
}
}:[: ) Ken "Moose" Muller
}
Before the Run
7400 feet to 8900 feet, 2.5 miles each way. I hammered up to the top in 40 minutes... it was only 2.25 miles by my Garmin Forerunner GPS. Back downhill for 20 minutes; I did not make it back to the trailhead. 2.25 up and 1.75 back for 4 miles in 1 hour. Slow, but hey, it was at twice the altitude I normally train at. And that increase was the objective for running this mountain.Turn around and do it all over again. Second lap, I was slower going up, 1.75 miles in the same 40 minutes, then down all the way for a finish in 2 hours and 9 minutes for the total of 8 miles. Tracy and the kids had walked up the trail to greet me since I was a little late. Felt good. My right knee was talking, but not screaming. I did not warm down well enough and cramped up on the ride back to the Rim Village. Once out of the car, I loosened up nicely walking around the tourist-infested area.
After the Run Don't know if I will get any more in tomorrow. We'll see how I feel in the morning. See ya.
}
}:[: ) Ken "Moose" Muller
}
2 weeks to go...
Camp SOCK kicks off this Sunday with counselors arriving in the evening for a day and a half of fun, training, and fellowship before the campers arrive Tuesday morning on July 27th.
Sheila, the craft lady who gets everyone into tie-dye, is hoping the Coasties show up again in their Hawaiian garb... So are most of the other female counselors.
Walk 4 SOCK is still scheduled to kick off on August 5th... Tuesday, August 3rd, I will depart Klamath Falls, Oregon, on Amtrak's Coast Starlight train at 10pm and head southbound to Merced, California and catch a bus up to Yosemite Valley, arriving at 1pm or so on August 4th to the blessed 100 degree heat on the floor of nature's most famous "Ditch". The $95 train/bus fare amounts to the cost of gas in my pickup for the same trip, without the hassle of driving and the wear and tear on the vehicle. Plus I get to sleep all the way there.
Once in Yosemite, I'll grab my wilderness permit from the Visitor's Center. I reserved the permit way, way, WAY back on February 18th, 24 weeks prior to the departure date. Fewer and fewer hikers are allowed into the backcountry these days. I missed getting a permit for two of the days prior due to the request load. Even Half Dome requires a permit now to limit the dayhikers.
After snagging the permit, I'll head over to Camp Curry and carbo-load at the all-you-can-eat buffet at the Curry Village Pavilion, then curl up next to a tree somewhere and catch a quick nap... I will have to store my food in a bear box near the trailhead while I take a nap. Sometime around 11 pm, I will force myself up and out onto the trail for a midnight plus one minute start on August 5th down the 211-mile John Muir Trail. Or should I say "up" the trail, as the first 13 miles or so are all uphill. Hiking by starlight and headlamp, I hope to make it to Tuolumne Meadows, 20+ miles down the trail, by 10am. This, of course, is the "ideal" scenario...
The "not-so-ideal" scenario sees me arriving late to Yosemite, having to wait until the morning of August 5th to pick up my permit, and starting in the heat of the day. Time and the flow of Amtrak along their scheduled route will be telling of which scenario pans out.
I have been nursing my bad knee back to health. I am going to give it a good testing tomorrow up on Mt. Scott in Crater Lake National Park. Keeping my fingers crossed and the ibuprofen within reach. By the way, that's some other dude in the picture below running the Mt Scott trail... not me. I can only wish to be so slim.
More to follow... 13 days to go until Walk 4 SOCK 2010 kicks off. See ya 'round...
}
}:[: ) Ken "Moose" Muller
}
...
Sheila, the craft lady who gets everyone into tie-dye, is hoping the Coasties show up again in their Hawaiian garb... So are most of the other female counselors.Walk 4 SOCK is still scheduled to kick off on August 5th... Tuesday, August 3rd, I will depart Klamath Falls, Oregon, on Amtrak's Coast Starlight train at 10pm and head southbound to Merced, California and catch a bus up to Yosemite Valley, arriving at 1pm or so on August 4th to the blessed 100 degree heat on the floor of nature's most famous "Ditch". The $95 train/bus fare amounts to the cost of gas in my pickup for the same trip, without the hassle of driving and the wear and tear on the vehicle. Plus I get to sleep all the way there.
Once in Yosemite, I'll grab my wilderness permit from the Visitor's Center. I reserved the permit way, way, WAY back on February 18th, 24 weeks prior to the departure date. Fewer and fewer hikers are allowed into the backcountry these days. I missed getting a permit for two of the days prior due to the request load. Even Half Dome requires a permit now to limit the dayhikers.
After snagging the permit, I'll head over to Camp Curry and carbo-load at the all-you-can-eat buffet at the Curry Village Pavilion, then curl up next to a tree somewhere and catch a quick nap... I will have to store my food in a bear box near the trailhead while I take a nap. Sometime around 11 pm, I will force myself up and out onto the trail for a midnight plus one minute start on August 5th down the 211-mile John Muir Trail. Or should I say "up" the trail, as the first 13 miles or so are all uphill. Hiking by starlight and headlamp, I hope to make it to Tuolumne Meadows, 20+ miles down the trail, by 10am. This, of course, is the "ideal" scenario...
The "not-so-ideal" scenario sees me arriving late to Yosemite, having to wait until the morning of August 5th to pick up my permit, and starting in the heat of the day. Time and the flow of Amtrak along their scheduled route will be telling of which scenario pans out.
I have been nursing my bad knee back to health. I am going to give it a good testing tomorrow up on Mt. Scott in Crater Lake National Park. Keeping my fingers crossed and the ibuprofen within reach. By the way, that's some other dude in the picture below running the Mt Scott trail... not me. I can only wish to be so slim.
More to follow... 13 days to go until Walk 4 SOCK 2010 kicks off. See ya 'round...
}
}:[: ) Ken "Moose" Muller
}
...
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
This year's trip... 211 miles down the John Muir Trail
Click here to Support Walk 4 SOCK
Yeah, yeah, you have heard this before, I know. This year, I am trying the trip solo without Jar Jar and Stalker... should be interesting. Go to this page to read about the results of that fiasc-- I mean drama. http://psychohikers.blogspot.com/ . We did have a good time, but fell well short of the goal. This year will be different... I hope.
The John Muir Trail runs 211 miles through the southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California from the floor of Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states. That town of Visalia on the map above, that is where I grew up. We lived just near the place on the map where Highway 198 gets squiggly as it moves into the Sierra foothills. Orange trees on the valley floor... pine trees, giant Sequoias, and alpine meadows just a short drive away.
As a boy, I hiked along the John Muir Trail a couple of times. When I was 14, our Boy Scout troop hiked from Cedar Grove / Roads End in Kings Canyon National Park to the summit of Mt Whitney and then out through Mineral King in southern Sequoia N. P. When I was 15, a friend, Paul, and I tagged the JMT on a hike down Goddard Canyon in northern Kings Canyon N. P.
Since that first summit of Mt. Whitney, I have been back to the top 5 more times. In 2006, I tagged along with my son and his Boy Scout buddies to hike the entire JMT from north to south. We did that trek in 23 days, had a great time, and forged some lasting friendships and memories.
Walk 4 SOCK 2010 will follow the JMT in that same direction. This time, though, I expect to take around 7 days to hike the 211 miles (+11 more miles hiking to get down from the summit of Mt. Whitney). 30 miles a day is a push, for sure. I may do it faster, or (more likely?) slower... we will see.
Okay, so that is the basics... Walk 4 SOCK 2010. Support the camp, support the kids, and follow along on my hike. I will have a full report from camp this year (July 25th - 30th). Check in for updates.
The walk is planned to begin on August 5th... that is my permit date for starting in Yosemite. I have a SPOT tracker that you will be able to see the progress each day as I cruise through the Sierra Nevada wilderness. The SPOT track will look something like the depictions below. For info on these satellite tracking devices, go to http://www.findmespot.com/en/ .
--- Click here to Support Walk 4 SOCK ... Later, Gator.
SPOT TRACKING FROM A RECENT BACKPACKING TRIP IN THE ILLINOIS RIVER CANYON...Check out the 3rd image. Track #48 is right on the trail we were hiking and the OK message on #49 is exactly where our truck was parked... the SPOT tracker was on my backpack in the bed of the truck. Track #1 is from the beginning of our trip, not quite as accurate (1st hit), but is from the day we departed. No, the satellite photos are not realtime. My military career does not hold any clout with the NSA.
Yeah, yeah, you have heard this before, I know. This year, I am trying the trip solo without Jar Jar and Stalker... should be interesting. Go to this page to read about the results of that fiasc-- I mean drama. http://psychohikers.blogspot.com/ . We did have a good time, but fell well short of the goal. This year will be different... I hope.
The John Muir Trail runs 211 miles through the southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California from the floor of Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states. That town of Visalia on the map above, that is where I grew up. We lived just near the place on the map where Highway 198 gets squiggly as it moves into the Sierra foothills. Orange trees on the valley floor... pine trees, giant Sequoias, and alpine meadows just a short drive away.
As a boy, I hiked along the John Muir Trail a couple of times. When I was 14, our Boy Scout troop hiked from Cedar Grove / Roads End in Kings Canyon National Park to the summit of Mt Whitney and then out through Mineral King in southern Sequoia N. P. When I was 15, a friend, Paul, and I tagged the JMT on a hike down Goddard Canyon in northern Kings Canyon N. P.
Since that first summit of Mt. Whitney, I have been back to the top 5 more times. In 2006, I tagged along with my son and his Boy Scout buddies to hike the entire JMT from north to south. We did that trek in 23 days, had a great time, and forged some lasting friendships and memories.
Walk 4 SOCK 2010 will follow the JMT in that same direction. This time, though, I expect to take around 7 days to hike the 211 miles (+11 more miles hiking to get down from the summit of Mt. Whitney). 30 miles a day is a push, for sure. I may do it faster, or (more likely?) slower... we will see.
Okay, so that is the basics... Walk 4 SOCK 2010. Support the camp, support the kids, and follow along on my hike. I will have a full report from camp this year (July 25th - 30th). Check in for updates.
The walk is planned to begin on August 5th... that is my permit date for starting in Yosemite. I have a SPOT tracker that you will be able to see the progress each day as I cruise through the Sierra Nevada wilderness. The SPOT track will look something like the depictions below. For info on these satellite tracking devices, go to http://www.findmespot.com/en/ .
--- Click here to Support Walk 4 SOCK ... Later, Gator.
SPOT TRACKING FROM A RECENT BACKPACKING TRIP IN THE ILLINOIS RIVER CANYON...Check out the 3rd image. Track #48 is right on the trail we were hiking and the OK message on #49 is exactly where our truck was parked... the SPOT tracker was on my backpack in the bed of the truck. Track #1 is from the beginning of our trip, not quite as accurate (1st hit), but is from the day we departed. No, the satellite photos are not realtime. My military career does not hold any clout with the NSA.
Welcome to the 2010 Walk 4 SOCK
Welcome one and all to the blogspot site for the official 4th annual Walk 4 SOCK, 2010 version. The purpose of this repetitive event is to raise awareness AND funds for the Southern Oregon Camp Kiwanis, better known as Camp SOCK.
Camp SOCK brings disabled youth together with peer counselors to experience the great outdoors. Swimming, boating, horseback riding, campfire, crafts, fun, games, and fellowship combine to give these young adults an adventure of a lifetime. Please give to this worthwhile cause. You will truly be giving the gift of LIFE to the kids of Camp SOCK.100% of donations go to the camp fund. The Walk 4 Sock event itself is fully funded by the participants. Please take a moment and send a donation to:
Camp SOCK: Walk 4 SOCK 2010
PO Box 735
Keno, OR 97627-0735
PO Box 735
Keno, OR 97627-0735
Visit the official Camp SOCK website at: http://www.campsock.org
Credit card or debit card donations
may be made through this --> secure Click and Pledge site.
All donations will have a $0.40 transaction fee that will also post to your account.
8% of your donation through the Click and Pledge site pay for site usage fees.
Please do not hesitate to use this site, however, as the service is offered with no fixed costs to Camp SOCK.
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