SMR

Last night I got a phone call from one of the members of Sequoia Mountain Rescue. I had contacted them some time back and have been awaiting some information that was needed on the application. Last night I was told to just send it in and they'd get me on the list.
I decided to pursue the Search and Rescue area a while back, and was put in touch with them by the Sherrif's dept. I figure with as much time as I spend up in the mountains I may as well spend some of it helping. I'm a little aprehensive about my skill level as I feel I may be a little short on the skill side compared to the rest of the people, but am looking forward to learning. I'm going to do my best to be up at their next training trip in August.

My first blog

Blogging. something I never thought I would do. I love listening to all those political bloggers on NewsTalk 580 (kmj580.com), but never thought it would be something I would take to. However, a public virtual diary; a place to leave thoughts, views, and frustrations; a place to vent, that IS me. So I present to you...my blog.

Chapter 1 (lol)

People are constantly berading me with their viewpoints on my outdoor lifestyle. When people hear of my tales of outdoorsdome (I just made up that word) their responses vary from "Cool! I'd never be able to do that" to "You're an idiot, and are going to end up dead at the bottom of some ravine getting gnawed on by a mt. lion". My response, "I really don't care" Now, some of you may think that I'm foolish, or arrogant. I'm not. I care deeply for my family. I am not wreckless, foolish, stupid, or careless. I don't put myself into stupid situations. A situation that is life threatening to one person is everyday life to another. And really, what is life worth living if you cannot fulfill God's pulling on your heart. So yes, I hike alone. I take very little gear. I hike at night. I do high miles on very little sleep. I climb mountains. I climb rocks. My body is a machine on the trail. My mind is a computer that is set free to work when it's outside of this prison known as walls. What I call adventure and relaxation, you may call danger. That is all right, I am that much more prepared.

So I present, my most recent adventure.

July 03, 9:00p.m. Peter and I decided to go for a hike. We threw a little gear in backpacks (I had little to throw as my brother borrowed most of my gear from his first ever backpacking trip last week. I used my backup gear) and took off toward Sequoia National Park. We got to the visitors center at 11:38 (stopped for Taco Bell and a headlamp at Walmart first) to find that the self issue trail permits had been swiped. Why anyone would swipe a stack of self-issue permits is beyond me. We quickly jotted down contact info, vehicle info, and plan, dropped it in the box, and took off toward Buckeye Flats. We left the car somewhere around 12:30.

I enjoy hiking at night. It is quiet. The "light" is different. You see insects and animals that you wouldn't during the day. The stars are so much closer. You are alone with the minimal trail that your headlamps illuminates, or, if it's a full moon, the moon lights your path.

We kept the Middle Fork trail for around 5 miles where we stopped at Mehrten Creek, built a small fire, and retired to our sleeping bags by 2a.m.

Sleeping in the mountains. There is something different about sleeping under the stars. I sleep deeper, fuller. Even if my sleep is interrupted, it always seems to be enough, to fulfill my bodies needs, but more often than not, I sleep really well.

We woke at around 8:30, did a quick camp clean up. Ate a quick breakfast, then headed home for our Independence Day festivities.