Jumbo Grade Rd

The weather is still cooperating so I decided to go for another hike.

Originally, the plan was to hike along Ophir Grade Rd from Virginia City, turn and head uphill to grab two caches, then return and head down Jumbo Grade Rd to Washoe Valley where I'd either ask dad to pick me up or (if with someone) have their vehicle waiting.

Yeah, mapping that out exceeded 12 miles. NOT!

Instead, drove up Jumbo Grade, parked at where the two roads intersect, and hiked up to Wakefield peak where I encountered a herd of horses who were between me and the cache. After navigating around them, I returned to the road, crossed a snow filled valley, and hoofed it uphill to the next cache. About this time is when I realized I was going slower than I had imagined and so I really pushed that last .3 of a mile - until I plowed through knee deep snow. 300 ft took me 10 minutes. Found the cache and then went as fast as possible through the snow, mud, dirt back down to the truck.

All in all, 4.3 miles in 3:30 hours.

Not bad for lugging the full pack around!

El Dorado Canyon

Been seeing this one cache out in this canyon I hadn't heard much about except from the serious off-road group. As it was right on the county line, I was constantly looking at it to see if it was in Carson City (and needed to clear the area) or if it was in Lyon and safe to ignore for awhile.

Oh stop it and just go get the darn thing!

So, I emailed a friend who'd driven down there and was told it was a Long flat road. So, no worries.

After my appointment this morning, I drove out there and went down into the canyon. I stopped when my GPS read 2 miles to go, figuring the canyon wound around enough to add some distance to that. Parked, packed up, squared my shoulders, and headed out!

WOW this canyon is beautiful and I'm stunned it took me this long to get into it!

Truly enjoyed the walk, and despite being a long flat road, the view was remarkable and the numerous stream crossings made it fun and peaceful. Got to the site, found the cache, and enjoyed my lunch just sitting there in awe of the place around me.

I know someplace to go back to, with more time to hike the whole thing.

Hot Springs Mountain

First day of Spring Break, let's go!!

Started my hike off Vicki Ln. I tried shuffling around the sleeping bag, tent, and bear canister, but in the end left the overnight gear in the truck. Pack is heavy enough without it!

Started up the sandy road and just kept plugging along, knowing I wasn't trying to keep up with anyone nor on a time limit, so I just moved at my own pace and took my time to not overdo it. This is my first day with a full pack on.

Met some nice folks with two little dogs. The lady asked if I was camping or training for the Rim Trail. Both! So talked with them a bit about the guided hikes the TRT is doing this year. Bade them farewell and continued on.

My view of Hot Springs has always just been this jut of rock out in the valley. Kinda like Prison Hill. But once I crested the ridge, I was surprised to find an off-road playground, lots of hills, gullys roads, twists, and various peaks. I've so got to get back up here in the truck!

Watched a black pickup struggle a bit on the sandy entrance, before they finally came up and passed me to head into a gully to set up some targets - more on them in a bit.

I hiked up the ridgeline, following the road towards the cache I was after. I'd thought it was on an outcrop of rock, but no, turned out to be right on the top ridge with an awesome view of the valley. So I decided to eat my lunch while sitting there enjoying the morning.

weeee-zzzzzzz

huh? What was that?

BULLETS!!!! I dove behind a rock, sat huddled (and Twittering my situation) as several bullets came whizzing over the ridge above and around me. I'm convinced they were ricochet, simply because I could hear them and they were slow. But still! During a break, grabbed my gear and ran for it.

The detour around those guys took me past a herd of deer with one unhappy about my presence. I was shooed away by his head motion and continued huffing everytime I paused.

Stopped by the next cache, then followed the trail from the old mine tailings to the rock house ruin before heading down the ravine and picking up the next cache. By that time my feet were killing me, so I called for a ride and was taken back to the truck.

Yippee!!! I hiked UP and OVER Hot Springs Mountain!

Week of walks

Now that the sun is up longer after work, I'm going to start walking more.

Three days a week, flat level walks, two days steep climbs.

So, Monday Dad and I went out to Moffit Open Space, parked and walked along the bike trail towards a stage of my multi-cache to check on it, then circled back around the sewer and cut behind that through the open field.

Tuesday, I tackled the face of Lakeview Hill. Managed to get to the shoulder where the two trails on the top intersect and had a fantastic view of town just as the sun set.

Wednesday, Dad and I met to walk the bike trail along the freeway starting at Del Taco. We walked to Northgate (I think) before turning around and heading back to dinner.

Thursday I went up Prison Hill in search of a cool place to hide a cache and play around in the rocks some more. Different location than Fat Boy Slim, but still a scramble. Found an awesome cave, alas, it's too close to another cache to hide on at.

Friday I help a classmate, so no walking for me.

Huff-Puff into Standard Time!

Well, this morning was bizarre. Time changes and electronic devices are always a pleasure.

Today we headed up to Prison Hill with a group consisting of "seasoned" cachers and newbies. Though, when I rushed over to McDonald's, I found a Big Truck in my way and the grinning wave from Greg greeting me. So the trip up to the trailhead was fun as I led, Greg was in the middle, and Tarry brought up the rear.

On site, it was time to head out to the warm up cache of Water Pressure. Apparently my hiking sticks decided they didn't want to play today, so those went back into the truck after the cache was found and it was time to hit the trail.

OH BOY! Wheeze! To say I was bringing up the rear is an understatement and I don't even want to know what pitiful trudge I was making up that hill (BTW the gpx file is from one of the newbies who was using my GPS). Finally lugged myself up onto the saddle and once I caught my breath actually made pretty decent time around the north loop picking up the caches as we went.

ALmost didn't make it the last little climb to the Prison Break cache, but got up there and even took pictures. Then it was a straight blaze downhill to Fat Boy Slim, probably the best cache around here for the sheer adventure.

Once on the rocks, I found myself in a wonderland of crevices, bolders, twists, turns, and cubby holes to squeeze into. While the rest went for the cache, Greg and I explored a ledge he was considering a placement on, and since I'm "the biggest rock monkey" he knows, I was asked to try getting out on it. Hurm, footholds, no handholds. Fail! BUT! Jill (the new cacher from last week) was down a crevice and while we were shouting back and forth, she spooked out an OWL! Who flew right over her head and right beneath my feet. WHOA!! AWESOME!

So Greg and I went to where you can look down into Fat Boy Slim and I got pictures of them replacing the cache and generally trying to squeeze back into the hole. My attention was drawn to the rather rough, jutting rocks that were between me at the top opening and the floor of the crevice. Hurm, I can climb that....

We swung around, everyone else chowing down on lunch and I squeezed my way into the gap, asking Greg to spot for me. The space was narrow enough I could brace my back on the back wall while I adjusted my feet and hands. Trouble came when the opening was smaller that it looked on the end with the available holds. With guidance and strength (where'd that come from!?) I pulled with one hand, pushed with the other, and lifted with one leg to squeeze through the opening that was small enough my belt clip was catching. Shove through that, slide over to a better foothold, pull up one final time and a WHOO HOOO!! I was once again standing on the top of the rock.

I may not be able to go caving that often, but GAWD I LOVE IT!

I was totally pumped and cheering myself for the toughest climb I've done (usually they're small rock faces, or boulders) and bounded down the trail to enjoy my lunch of sunflower seed nut butter and jelly tortilla rolls.

Back down to the road and the final cache, before piling into the trucks for the return home.

I know where I'll be going up to play from now on. AND I want to find a class on freeclimbing to know how to do it correctly so this Rock Monkey can really have fun.

One foot in front of the other.

Well, the weather is *trying* to warm up, though yesterday was BEAUTIFUL and today is downright freezing. ARGH, come on, make up your mind!

So on Wednesday the 3rd, I finally started working out again. Friday I got half way through the workout before Tarry called, which gave me a welcome excuse to stop as I was whipped! Tonight I pick up the weights again.

On February 27th, I was invited out to a guided tour of Hidden Cave and Grimes Point. I've been to the petroglyph site numerous times (though never tire of it) and have never managed to go on the tour for Hidden Cave. A short walk through the old shoreline of Lahontan Lake to the cave showed us more petroglyphs and a few shelters used in the old days. Then we crawled through the doorway of the cave and saw the preserved condition of an excavation half done so that future archaeologists can work the site with new techniques and technology. It was a fun day all around.

Then yesterday, I finally got to put boot on dirt and hiked the Lakeview/V&T Hill above the hospital. It's a 3 mile loop and for the life of me I can never do this in less than 3 hours. Add a new geocacher to the trip, who scored all 6 caches on that hill, and we took a leisurely 4.5 hours! Eek. But at least it was a great day, just cool enough to keep us moving and not overheat, and a bright blue sky and clear sunshine.

Next Sunday is a hike up Prison Hill, then the following weekend, I'm on vacation!! Come on snow, MELT! Help me do a warm weather dance, some on Spring!!

BTW:

I changed the MapSource *.gdb to a universal *.gpx file. Hopefully that'll allow it to be opened on a variety of mapping software.

Winter stinks

Well, it's been cold, wet, snowy, rainy, and generally miserable.

I've done one walk down the southern line of the V&T, but that's it.

However, I now have 20 days before my Spring Break vacation.

MUST.... START.... EXERCISING.... NOW!!!