Life of Wry

I’m pooped. So here’re the facts:

Started at 12:25, finished at about 4:55 –> 4.5 hours; 8 miles.

Pauses along the way to look at views, figure out our route (which we lost at one point and had to back track about 1/2 a mile), and such, and about a 20 minute stop in a patch of shade under an oak tree that was mighty refreshing.

I think we figured something under 1000′ in elevation gain. If that.

It was in the low 80s but felt hotter due to shadeless exposure most of the day. In fact, I experienced early signs of heat exhaustion (chills).

And.. body report: legs overall good (though by end weary… not sure why I had issues.. maybe the heat thing), no knee issues, but terrible achilles issues. My tendinopathy is flaring (nodules/bumps along right tendon), super painful. Also, these boots (the high ones) are giving me issues.. such that I may lose 1-2 nails after today. Plus I got two blisters. Feel shitty about all of that and worried for August.

If return, do it in flower bloom season. Could be boggy in parts. Also, watch out for poison oak in the ravines.

We saw Beatman and Phantom falls, as well as Ravine Falls and sorta a fourth in the upper part of Ravine ravine.

My camera somehow got stuck on the vibrant filter setting. Over exposed all my photos. I tried to fix them… but they’re still mostly weird. Here are the best ones from today.

That, above, is Beatman Falls.

Above: That was a lake we came upon about halfway through the hike, just after Beatman Falls and before a descent into Ravine ravine.

Below: so much of the hike looked like this. Until you got to the ravines.. then steeper hilly, rocky, bushy, some oaks, poison oak, water… etc.

Above: nice rest stop. Shortly after this, we’ll hike another half mile or so to Phantom Falls, then the 2 miles back to the car.

Above: that wee trickle is what remains of Phantom Falls for the season. Look to the right.

That’s most of it. A good, if tiring, day (for me… Jim was fine).