Wilderness Eagle
Jun. 19th, 2003 03:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ceagleWelp.. I went on the Bridge hike again yesterday, and my muscles are a bit stiff.. luckily I got to rest 'em today, since I didn't have any appointments scheduled *waggle*
This is generally the 2nd most strenuous hike I've gone on, not counting full hiking trips like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion, and Hawaii.. It's the 2nd most strenuous *local* hike I've gone on...
It takes the traveler to a bridge that was built in 1936 in the middle of the chaparral forest, still in near-pristine condition! Turns out they built this thing out there, 5 miles from the nearest city intending to put a road through a particular set of mountains.
Trouble is, much like the weakest link, they only built the most bare minimum asphalt road and didn't get a chance to improve it before a major flood took it out in '38 !
On this my third venture into it, we saw for the first time ever.. BigHorn Sheep!! On the way in, we saw 3.. acting pretty tough and pawing a hoof on a precipice as if to say, "watch it, you!"
On the way back one of them was actually on the trail, challenging our group leader! This particular hoofed and horned hustler actually had gotten caught offguard between us and some other hikers going the other way :> Luckily all the noise changed his mind and he darted up the side of the hill.
On the other end of the spectrum, we also saw a bug we have never seen before :> It looked like a beetle, but it was covered with white fluff on its head and its rear.. anybody know what that might be?
Anyway, it was a warm day, but not hot, so that's perfect for this hike, since there are about 24 river crossings over the ten (some say 12) mile round trip. The only harder hike I've done was Mt. Wilson.. (15 miles)... don't *ever* do that one unless yer in good shape, and I wasn't jogging back then..
I also considered posting about this in case anyone else was interested, but since I figured it was a weekday and a long, hot hike starting at 7am, I couldn't think of anyone I know who would consider that enjoyable, or could even make it in the middle of a work week... *peep*
But if perchance any of y'all would indeed like to try it sometime, feel free to say :> It's good to have a guide on this one.. the folks I went with got lost on two separate trips before they got there the 3rd try. It's about a 9 hour day so the latest to hit the dirt would be about 9:30. You'll need good hikin' footwear and either sunblock or longsleeves/long pants and a hat. It's a long walk, but only goes up about 700 feet so it's mostly level as hikes go. Still, it would be a good thing to be in relatively good shape for a long all-day walk in the sun. *fluffle*
That said, if you like (to watch) bungee jumping, they have that on weekends sometimes! Either way, I hope you enjoyed this entry :>
Take care!
This is generally the 2nd most strenuous hike I've gone on, not counting full hiking trips like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion, and Hawaii.. It's the 2nd most strenuous *local* hike I've gone on...
It takes the traveler to a bridge that was built in 1936 in the middle of the chaparral forest, still in near-pristine condition! Turns out they built this thing out there, 5 miles from the nearest city intending to put a road through a particular set of mountains.
Trouble is, much like the weakest link, they only built the most bare minimum asphalt road and didn't get a chance to improve it before a major flood took it out in '38 !
On this my third venture into it, we saw for the first time ever.. BigHorn Sheep!! On the way in, we saw 3.. acting pretty tough and pawing a hoof on a precipice as if to say, "watch it, you!"
On the way back one of them was actually on the trail, challenging our group leader! This particular hoofed and horned hustler actually had gotten caught offguard between us and some other hikers going the other way :> Luckily all the noise changed his mind and he darted up the side of the hill.
On the other end of the spectrum, we also saw a bug we have never seen before :> It looked like a beetle, but it was covered with white fluff on its head and its rear.. anybody know what that might be?
Anyway, it was a warm day, but not hot, so that's perfect for this hike, since there are about 24 river crossings over the ten (some say 12) mile round trip. The only harder hike I've done was Mt. Wilson.. (15 miles)... don't *ever* do that one unless yer in good shape, and I wasn't jogging back then..
I also considered posting about this in case anyone else was interested, but since I figured it was a weekday and a long, hot hike starting at 7am, I couldn't think of anyone I know who would consider that enjoyable, or could even make it in the middle of a work week... *peep*
But if perchance any of y'all would indeed like to try it sometime, feel free to say :> It's good to have a guide on this one.. the folks I went with got lost on two separate trips before they got there the 3rd try. It's about a 9 hour day so the latest to hit the dirt would be about 9:30. You'll need good hikin' footwear and either sunblock or longsleeves/long pants and a hat. It's a long walk, but only goes up about 700 feet so it's mostly level as hikes go. Still, it would be a good thing to be in relatively good shape for a long all-day walk in the sun. *fluffle*
That said, if you like (to watch) bungee jumping, they have that on weekends sometimes! Either way, I hope you enjoyed this entry :>
Take care!
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no subject
Date: 2003-06-19 05:37 am (UTC)*smiles*
-Kymba
no subject
Date: 2003-06-20 01:26 am (UTC)That thar be out in the Azusa Canyon.. Azusa: everything from A to Z in the USA ! ;>
no subject
Date: 2003-06-20 01:36 am (UTC)Yep... I'm plannin' on goin', methinx.. :>
Email onnitz way, ETA: 24-meowhrs!
no subject
Date: 2003-06-19 09:40 am (UTC)I got about halfway to that bridge once, specifically To do bungee jumping off of it. As it happens, the day I went was after a whole bunch of rain and the path to get in was flooded out, so we only got partway in, had to turn around and go back and I never got to do it. Now I work weekends, and I'm not even sure the company is still in business.
no subject
Date: 2003-06-20 01:43 am (UTC)Yep.. we actually were gonna go last month, but the authorities advised against it, due to the wet Winter-Spring weather causing very high river levels.. as it was, it was the highest I ever saw it.
Usually you can get across by rock-walking, but most crossings were knee-level water no matter how ya sliced it...
I even fell once hitting my side on a rock when the log underneath me came loose.. so if dry rocks can't be crossed upon, it's easiest just to not even bother tryong to stay dry, and just walk the river floor.
I think the bungee place is still running, but it's always been just weekends. I think the prices range from 75-125 bucks, depending on the number of jumps you buy, which *might* have to be in advance.
Cut and pasted from a friend's email
Date: 2003-06-19 11:21 am (UTC)Calicougar to post this for me... hope you don't mind! (And
don't feel pressure to add/not-add me to your friends
list-- I just saw this as an opportunity to say hi.) Fun
hanging with you at the RenFaire: maybe you'll inspire Calicougar
and I to go in full garb someday.
As far as fuzzy bugs go, could it have been a velvet
ant? Martes and I have seen them in the river wash:
they also come in black, yellow and white fuzz. But don't
pick one up on a dare! They apparently sting like the
dickens.
The Bridge hike sounds neat (a lot of my hiking friends
have taken it), but it's not dog-friendly so I've never
gone (too much boulder-hopping to feel it's safe enough
for any pet short of a mountain goat).
Furtech
Re: Cut and pasted from a friend's email
Date: 2003-06-19 07:34 pm (UTC)http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpeciesSH.asp?curGroupID=4&shapeID=1008&curPageNum=6&recnum=IS0292
They are quite potent, and should not be messed with. The red variety are colloquially called "cow killers" because of the supposed power of their sting.
===|==============/ Level Head
no subject
Date: 2003-06-20 01:47 am (UTC)Thanks for the input... (LJ is *SO* cool!)
I think that is EXACTLY the bug!! :D
It was *much* larger than an ant.. like the size of a beetle.
wow... 8| ...glad we didn't pick it up...
no subject
Date: 2003-06-19 11:24 am (UTC)Just wish I could get my mountain lungs back. :( Stupid lowland state of Washington....
-=TK
no subject
Date: 2003-06-20 01:48 am (UTC)Just be sure ya have good-traction galoshes...
no subject
Date: 2003-06-20 01:52 am (UTC)-=TK
Yikes!!
Date: 2003-06-20 02:03 am (UTC)So I've heard.. Notta lotta people realize that in the very state of wet wet Washington, there's places that see less rainfall than L.A.!
We went to Sequim once (phenominal salmon bake!) where I guess it's less than 9" of rain a year! (compared to L.A.'s 14").
Re: Yikes!!
Date: 2003-06-20 02:07 am (UTC)Of course, I didn't believe it myself until I saw it. But it makes sense.... the volcanos stretch high enough that they trap all of the moisture very low over Seattle. Thus, the Olympics see lotsandlots of rain, and almost nothing makes it over the Cascades.
-=TK
Hiking Iggle!
Date: 2003-06-19 07:22 pm (UTC)Good evening, C Eagle! I very muchly enjoyed your entry this morning! It only goes to show that everyone should work towards bettering their physical health and physique if they should ever try the lengthy hikes you seem to enjoy very much! *gryns widely* My desk job has allowed me to put on the pounds over the years, and slowly, I'm trying to fight them off and to reduce myself to a comfortable flying weight. *beakgryns widely* I'm impressed at the activities that you do, and I'm glad to have joined you on your hiking expedition (if only in spirit). ;) I'm not sure how long I would've lasted climbing the hills and the trails and going over rivers and battling that Bighorn Sheep! :> Heheh!
I loved the story about the bridge. Do you have any pictures of it? Is it a bridge that's completely washed out, or only partially washed out? I'm curious to know! *winghugs*
Thanks for your posting, dear kind-hearted and feathery iggle friend! Skree!
Sincerely,
Lanakila
no subject
Date: 2003-06-20 01:53 am (UTC)Thanks for the nice comment! *hugs*
The bridge itself is intact, just the road washed out... *ruffle*... here's a pic that you requested...
Here's the Pic! (http://kauai.vu/bridge2n.jpg)
Good luck trimmin' down... it'sa challenge, ...and I look forward to talkin' with ya again soon, me friend :>
Enjoy!
no subject
Date: 2003-06-19 10:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-06-20 01:54 am (UTC)Check back on this thread.. I have a picture link posted now :>
Bungee Bridge Jump'n Bighorns!
Date: 2003-06-19 11:00 pm (UTC)Sounds like your velvet ant problem has been well diagnosed and the you had a BLAST despite the ornry sheep :) Did you happen to take any pics of the trail and bridge? Would be fun to see them if ya did.
CYa!
Mako
no subject
Date: 2003-06-20 01:59 am (UTC)Mentholated Makovettes!
I think it was a shorter hike... no, wait.. we weren't gona hike.. we were gonna DRIVE!
(pssst... check back on this thread.. I have a picture link here now)
:>
Be thee well!