Terrible Life Choice Trip: Day 4 and Day 5

[olivermoss]

Day 4:

I am still here. Every place I wanted to hike is closed due to fire danger. Also, I think I am fighting off a cold. I flew and went to a concert, so yeah, I likely have something equivalent to Con Crud. I had to do some work anyway so I've mostly just been at the hotel.

But hey my Snowshoeing Article went up. Some of those pictures will be familiar to most of you, but hey different words? I need to find some ways to promote that article when I get back to Oregon.

Day 5:

I did some work in the morning, but then the fire situation was revised and I was able to go hiking! I was going to feel real lame if I was just in my hotel room working for most of the trip. Not much to do in Escondido and the area around my hotel is not super safe to explore.

This sign on my door isn't kidding around:


I actually had to call hotel front desk over someone trying to into my room the other night.

Anyway, hiking!

Here is a cell phone shot of where I was hiking:



Once I am home I will make another trip post with my show and hiking pictures. I didn't do as much of Elfin Forest as I'd hoped. When I got there I was told that they lock the gates at 5:30 and I'd be stranded, unable to drive out, after that time. I was told the same at another park that I'd stopped to stretch my legs at when I was driving back from the mine. I don't know if they are really that hardline and strand stragglers, but I didn't want to roll those dice. Since I got a late start I got about halfway up the ridge to a viewpoint for lunch. A little over a mile and about 900 feet elevation change. I wanted to go further up to where there is a lake and the trail system opens up more, but I was worried about making it down in time. So, I went back down. As you can see, the trail is steep. At points it's just bare rock face. Some sections I went up easily, but I was worried about how to get back down. I took the long way back and did some additional trails along the base of the ridge. Maybe 3 miles total?

I really felt bad having to turn back halfway, but I didn't even make it to the park until 1:00 or so. It was still closed in the morning. I went partway to the cool thing and had to turn around because I knew I'd need to descent slowly.

At the Interpretive Center at the bottom the lady was all "Oh, a beginning hiker. You should do this quarter mile path." I didn't correct her, but wtf? I am not a beginner, at all. How was I giving off beginner vibes? Was it a weight thing? Did my giant floppy hat make me look like a dorky tourist? (I mean, I am a dorky tourist, but still.)

I never got out to Hellhole Canyon. If I ever have to go back to San Diego maybe I can try again to make it out or properly do Elfin.

Tomorrow I am pretty much getting up and going back to San Diego. It'll be great to get home. This motel has very hard water and the sunscreen I am using on my scalp isn't washing out. My hair feels like a cheap wig.

Comments

[velithya]

Holy shit that sign on the door :O someone actually tried to get into your room?? I WOULD NEVER SLEEP GOOD GOD

[olivermoss]

Someone was trying to con me into opening my door. I have no idea what her next move would have been if I'd opened it, because I wasn't playing. I guess my hard-edged East Coast ways are useful at times.

Dorky tourist

[disgruntledgirl]

Obviously you weren't packing enough granola and you failed to have 3 separate water bottles clipped to your belt.
(^_^)

Re: Dorky tourist

[olivermoss]

Judging by the other hikers, I was actually covering up my skin instead of hiking in pretty much a bathing suit and flip flops.

Yeah, I'll stick with hiking shoes and my sun-cover.