Here are just a few fun shots from our Point Reyes Weekend.

It was definitely Green and Muddy!

We had a great time!~~~Dianne and Jon

What? More Rain?

The Group

Okay, we needed rain and snow but this has got to stop! Enough is Enough. The forecast is for more snow in the Sierras. I just check the weather in Yosemite and sure enough, snow. It is almost June, for crying out loud! Well, I have snowshoes and I am not afraid to use them. I guess we will have plenty of water on the Trek this summer.

Speaking of trekking, we had another incredible practice hike in Pt Reyes! The weather was nice and cool for the hike and we did get some wonderful views of the ocean just a short trek from our campsite. Peter was our Pt Reyes guide. He spends quite a bit of time at Pt Reyes and was able to lend some great insight to the variety of ways to get to Glen Camp, where we were permitted. Glen Camp is a bit higher than the other more coveted ocean side camp site. I actually enjoyed the flora of Glen Camp and the bird life was magnificent- I think I saw three different types of warblers in one tree! It was also a Birthday weekend and we were able to celebrate Lisa's and Nina's Birthdays with some cement-like chocolate cheesecake that had to be rehydrated.

We hiked about 11 or 12 miles total and that is getting closer to what we will be doing on the JMT- about 8-9 miles a day. Though there is a HUGE difference between hiking at sea level and hiking at altitude but it was great to get a few more miles in a day. I am getting more and more excited about spending consecutive days out on the trail. I think the longest backpacking trip I have been on has been 6 days. I continue to try to imagine what it would have been like 110 years ago, when John Muir was in those mountain and it really was desolate of people. No rangers checking permits or hungry bears trying to break into food caches.

And now for the fundraising portion of the blog... I spent last Thursday at a Symposium for MPD patients put on by the MPD Foundation. I met the top Docs doing clinical and research stuff for MPDs and it was so exciting and positive to hear about what they are doing in research and drug trials. The Foundation funded some very specific research (over 1 million dollars to one Dr!!) which really gave me more juice to try to raise more money! We are coming into the home stretch, so this will be the last push to have family and friends to sponsor your hike. Don't forget about The Festival!!! If you need more tickets just ask Ronit or drop me a line, too.
Can't wait to see everybody on the 5th of June!

Keep it Green and Muddy!
Annette

Good day....sunshine!

Ok- so maybe not a whole lot of sunshine but it is coming. We will have perfectly amazing weather for our practice hike this weekend in Pt Reyes National Seashore. We have approximately 10 hikers for the weekend. It will be a bit different than our Napa trip- while the views and company will be as wonderful, we won't be hanging out at the neighbor's drinking wine out of crystal on Saturday night, but then again I cannot be sure.
Let's plan to meet at 5 Brooks parking lot around 10 am and that way those of us coming from the Valley and the south South Bay can have a reasonable Saturday morning departure. We will not need bear canisters- although, I am sure there is a bear around those hills. I have seen bears in most surprising places (well, I was surprised). I recommend printing the map I sent to you on the email last week- if you did not get the map attachment, let me know and I will send it again. It is always a must to have your map while backpacking and since this is a shake out hike... Also, if anyone would like to try a different piece of gear or is missing something just post a request or desire and we'll make it so.

Now, for the fundraising portion of the blog!
We are having a Festival on June 5th! We are asking all of the hikers to sell 10 tickets each- so think of your friends, family and neighbors and remind them that you will have your tickets to sell them on Monday!
We can talk about more fundraising opportunities this weekend, too.

Keep it Green and Muddy!