Dan's Outside

2003 September

9/1 –  Started the new
month with a semi-urban bike ride to Los Gatos and Saratoga and back
via the route I take from De Anza. 25 miles. 1:45.

9/5 – Day 1 of a short pack
trip out of Tuolumne Meadows. Hiked from the permit station via
Rafferty Creek trail to Fletcher Lake. 7.? miles and about 3:30 of
hiking.

9/6 – Day 2. Hiked 7.5-8 miles
cross-country. From Fletcher Lake, ascended ridge above Townsley Lake,
crossed plateau to cross ridge at 11,000 to Ireland Lake. From Ireland
Lake ascended valley at base of Mt. Amelia Earhart to reach ridge below
(east) of Parsons Peak.

9/7 – Day 3. Hiked back down Rafferty Creek trail to Tuolumne.

9/12 – Quick day hike up Mines Trail and down English Camp Trail at Almaden Quicksilver.

9/13 – Brandon and I hiked up to Fletcher Lake to camp overnight.

9/14 – Today we hiked
cross-country over the 11,000′ ridge to near Ireland Lake, then
descended on trails to Lyell Canyon, exiting at Tuolumne Meadows after
a hike of about 11.5 miles.

9/28 – After not doing anything
outdoors since returning from Yosemite 2 weeks ago (school started) I
finally got out for a day hike today at Almaden Quicksilver park. It
was cool, hazy, and breezy – definitely not summer anymore – as I hiked
up Mine Hill and then down the alternate to the English Camp trail. 6+
miles.

September Summary – Not a bad
hiking month, with two short but fun trips to the Fletcher Lake area.
The first one included a very cool full-day cross-country hike to a
remote ridge behind Ireland Lake; the second was a chance to backpack
with my oldest son. Unfortunately things got a bit too busy near the
end of the month with the start of school and my new role as senate
president – not enough sleep and not enough hiking!
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May 11, 2003 - Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary