Point Reyes..we visit again

As I have shared in the past, the backpacking trips are my favorite. On April 19th we visited Point Reyes National Seashore again...our goal is once a year to backpack to each of the 4 campgrounds................

This year coast camp was our destination, after much research on the internet our goal was to hike in on the "handicap" access road and out thou the lumbar trail( we would be lighter going out..lol)..so off we went! Nick is our only backpacking loving grandson, so after a talk with Mom it was to be Nick and a like minded friend.

For 2 weeks I shopped (freeze dried food, enegery bars ..and a handicap trail..bar-b-que for the first night)!

Well Nick did not have a friend who could go? (2 month notice? ah but remember Grandma this is the McDonald's generation..24 hour notice for teens) so the supplies were divided between 3!! Grandpa had a pack of 48 pounds! I had a pack and 2 side totes equaling 33 pounds and nick was to carry 30 on his own...are we nuts!!

After checking into Big Bear Valley visitor center we acquired our permits and parking pass and also directions to our trail head..we unloaded our gear at the trail head and Grandpa took the car up the half mile to the parking lot and then came back to join us on foot. We loaded up and headed off the "handicap" trail..we have our stuff..an ice chest..and no hiking shoes..no trekking poles.. and way too much weight..lol

Now to be fair..in the world of the handicap in the Central Valley of Cali, handicap is a very very heavy person in a power scooter..level paved ground with no elevation change.....WRONG!!!!

This was a fire road paved with very sharp rocks..no view just miles of plug..along..do not take this trail!!

We finally reached the campground..a very large tree marks the spot!! Wow, again we headed up hill one foot in front of another. If you use this camp ground stay in site 1 or 2 do not book further..the bathrooms and water are too far to go if your body is giving out..( at 62 it could happen) Also in this campground there are no forest grump trees...no trees at all!

We set camp..bar-b qued our treasures along with smores..and at night fall were in our tents!  Thank God I am fat and now capable of holding a staked tent down against the winds..what wind we had..but to hear the crashing sea against the shore was a reward on it's own...

The next morning Grandpa and I decided we needed to walk off the nights rocks working the way tru our very sub-standard sleeping pads and found the trail to the beach...it was just after high tide and the migrating wales were breaching..what a sight, if youy have not seen something like this you are missing one of the great wonders of life..but on to camp we went to wake Nick for the day's hike,

I loved the hike down the beach and then up the coast trail...the views, the wildlife, the wildflowers, there is so much, why would anyone want not to be here?

Sunday morning was time to hike out. The weather is warm, with a pack on my back I  am thinking 7 am is good...but wait I am hiking with a teen..well 12:30 works ..off we went with the plan of walking out the shorter route then what we came in..now I can see this trail cutting up the mountain with it's switch backs...but again I have come in on the trail with the super sharp rocks..how bad can it be?? It is now, the views, it was awesome..do not believe the park service about "easy"...the pay-off is in the other!!!

I came back with a sun-burn to the crisp..sore muscles...and can not wait to go back..you all should too!!

Into the future we go ....................Grandma D.