First Trail Attempt

Hoping to go up near Watkins, but the park is still closed. Instead I'll try to take Annie & the boys out near Sexton Hollow / Monterey Road in Painted Post / Coopers Plains. If we can get 3 miles in (1.5 out & back) that would be fantastic.

Scouts @ Kiwanis

Someone said it got down to 24℉ last night and I believe it! Brian had my 0℉ bag and I had my 20℉ Kelty Tuck. We were in the REI Half Dome. No rain. He was on a Therm-a-Rest and I had a Big Agnes inflatable. Got here at 5:30pm, bet at 9:30pm.

I heated water & gave Brian some freeze dried spaghetti while I have rice w/ lentils from home. I slept well until 11:30 but saw my watch every hour until 3:30 when Brian woke to pee. I hadn't wanted to wake him but I was holding for 2 hours myself! At that point I grabbed a fleece liner and put it around my wind pants & coat. We then slept until 7.

My pad made a lot of noise every time I moved until I put a liner around it.

We again slept on a slope and slid down all night. Brian did great and was warm enough. I'll need another 0℉ bag I think!

Oatmeal for breakfast since the rest of the scouts weren't up yet. Love the new cooking system Annie & the kids got me for my birthday and it was only $27.

It's 10:30am and the scouts are just cleaning their breakfast dishes. Pete Reif is making chili for lunch, but I may stick with my mashed potatoes. Need to leave by 3pm to get ready for Easter Vigil fire.

Scouts at Kiwanis

Boy Scouts overnight w/ Brian. Made mountain pies on the fire which were nice. Went to sleep at 10 after playing cards in the tent for a few minutes. Didn't play w/ the other boys at all. Rained much of the night and the REI Half-dome - 16 years old - finally sprung a leak right above my head. I need a better air mattress due to my hips. Didn't sleep much - ran 2 soccer matches Friday just before going to the camp.

It got down to 46℉ in the morning, probably colder in the night. We had my phone for white noise so at least Brian slept okay. When he woke, he didn't want to stay for breakfast & I really needed a bathroom so we left.

Can't believe it, but I left my sleeping bag at the house. There were extras so I got lucky. Definitely can't use that tent in winter without a better sleeping bag than the summer-weight one they loaned me.

Green gate for the camp is 1.38 miles up Kerrick Hollow Road on the R.

Green down jacket & winter hat were perfect. Even though I was in shorts it was good. Also glad to be wearing hiking boots & thick socks.

Garmin Connect - CASA 5K w/ Brian

Ran the CASA Superhero 5K with Brian.

Garmin Connect

Spencer Crest w/ the Boys & Belle

Hike at Spencer Crest w/ Belle & the boys. Much easier hike than I was hoping but there were still some hills. We all had fun - Brian and I tried our backpacks. I need a new one! Maybe Brian, too, but his isn't even 1 year old.

Then went home & slept in yard in Coleman tent w/ no rain fly. Although it's a 4-person tent, we were cramped to Belle couldn't stay with us. It rained at 1 a.m. but we all slept pretty well. I had 3 pillows which helped but my sleeping bag was still uncomfortable. New one of those, too. And a good pad.

Cooked muffins in orange peels which were pretty good, but some charring due to the flames so the boys didn't eat them much. The eggs & bacon in a paper bag was a complete bust. The sides of the bags got so hot they flames & then the whole thing fell off the stick and into the fire.

Tray to hold hot food was great. Large measuring cup (4 cups) was good to mix batter & then pour.

Hiking DOWN Devils Head w/ kids & parents

Hiking UP Devils Head in Colorado w/ kids & parents

L knee surgery

Torn meniscus in my L knee.

L knee again

After x-rays and an MRI, meeting with Dr on 2/6 about possible surgery. I got a cortisone shot today after MRI revealed some tear, but my pain up and down stairs might just be runners knee so trying to get those exercises going and strengthen my thighs.

Family Ski Event

Thanks to cub scouts, took everyone skiing at Swain on Jan 22. It was 39 degrees but there's was enough snow to get in some lessons. I couldn't ski due to my knee, but it was great seeing them all get out there and go. Alli was a natural and Annie got up the big hill a couple times too. Brian was determined after seeing Allison advance and he eventually did the big hill twice. Brennan was disappointed but had fun as well. Admission was complaining during the ride up that she wasn't going to do it, but with less than half the lesson, she was going by herself up the lift. It was a good day.

L knee

Well, I guess it was bound to happen. After years of knee discomfort, I had actual pain starting the week before Thanksgiving. It started to get better for a day or two, but for the last couple weeks I can't bend it or straighten it without pain. It constantly feels swollen. I've made an appointment with orthopedics for next Thursday. The advice I'm getting from friends is a torn meniscus. Well, one can't run forever.

Garmin Connect

Garmin Connect L knee still tight and swollen! Man, it's been nearly a month. Walked today and didn't feel much pain. Moved a lot at work, walking from meeting to meeting and otherwise have been keeping it elevated as much as possible. Feeling better in the evening for some reason.