Thursday, May 5, 2011

Olsen Creek 2011

Crossing the Olsen Creek bridge
I guess we must have used up all our sunshine credits last week. We left for our hike in rain then (same thing today) and drove to our destination only to see it clear up and be really beautiful. Not today. We drove to the trailhead in a light misty rain, which stayed with us for most of the day. Sometimes it was more than just a little rain, and sometimes we thought any minute the sun might break through the fog and mist.
Ten Trailblazers met at the Senior Center this morning and carpooled to the parking lot. As you can see from this picture, taken fairly early in the hike, it was wet and cloudy, with no view at all. We left this logging road after a while to starting hiking uphill. This trek, or a variation of it, is one we do a couple of times during the winter months, and it's always got mud issues. Today's experience was, however, one I have only experienced a few times before. One I called "Adventures in Mud" when we ventured out on this hike last April. We also slogged up it again as our last hike of 2010, and I wrote about that trip here. I've been hiking with these guys long enough now to be able to compare the treks and notice differences. They vary mostly because of the weather and time of year. There must have been a lot of rain lately for us to have this much mud:
Those are Peggy's boots in front of me, and I stopped momentarily to pull out my camera and try to show what we were dealing with today. The trekking poles were essential to keep from slipping in the mud. We did wonder if the mud has healing properties and if we should just give up and wallow in it. I managed to get spots of mud even on my glasses!

We had a nice spot in the mist for our lunch break. The small group today didn't linger during lunch, and it was again not very warm. Being wet from exertion and rain and then stopping usually makes me pretty cold, so I carry an extra fleece and even an extra raincoat if necessary. The hardest part of the hike is trying to warm up again after taking a break. We were all getting pretty hungry when we stopped here for lunch:
I think we are all looking forward to the days in the summertime when we have sun and a great view, but we go out anyway, rain or shine, to get our "fix" of some extended exercise on Thursday. We covered almost ten miles and went up and down our usual elevation gain and loss of 2,500 feet. All in all, as I sit here on Cinco de Mayo after having slogged through the bog and laughed and groaned with my buddies, I can say it was a good day. I'm glad it's over, though.
:-)

26 comments:

  1. whew that is hard work in all that mud...love the mist picture though...

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  2. I give you a lot of credit for making the effort to stick with these hikes in that kind of mud... not sure I would have endured. You're pretty amazing. The mist in the photos looks like smoke...very cool.

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  3. I feel your pain at trying to get warm after a lunch break. I perspire and really need clothing that breaths. Nothing like being just about as wet inside as outside.

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  4. The first picture reminds me of my trip in the woods 2 weeks ago, I can almost hear the rush of the water from that stream. I took at dip, I sat on one the rocks and let the water flow on my back, and yes it's just like a hydromassage! Nice to see you again DJ!

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  5. Love that first shot of the hiker in the fog!

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  6. You've got to love it to keep on doing it. Wishing you, and all of us, a sunny day next week.

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  7. You are a hardy group to take on hiking on the misty, muddy trails. I'll bet everyone was glad to have this trek over with.

    Love your foggy photos however.

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  8. Boy, it really was dark wasn't it.

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  9. What kind of camera do you have that you can take it with you in all kinds of weather on hikes and take the stunning photos to add to your blog?

    Your Cinco de Mayo was nothing like mine. Again, I have to say how much I admire you.

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  10. Yikes! I don't know if I could deal with that much mud! At least not right now with the condition my knee is in... :s
    You guys go on the craziest adventures, I think it's wonderful! :o)

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  11. Intrepid is what I'd call your group. Oh how I wish we had a similar one here in our little corner.....

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  12. I love the mist in the woods. Very moody, nostalgic or something. But I think I'd rather look at YOUR photos and let you do the hard work!

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  13. so how did you clean the mud off your boots? Not sure I'd want mud on my glasses.

    I keep telling my daughter not to hike alone, but she doesn't pay attention to me. I hope she has a cell phone in case she is injured!

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  14. Some of those pictures would do a horror film proud! I mean that in a complimentary way. They are so spooky looking. Must be hard walking in that mud. You need extra fodder when you're using your leg muscles to their full capacity.
    Full marks for endurance D-Jan.

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  15. I'm so impressed with your dedication and determination. Perhaps the best thing about hikes like this is the warm shower afterwards and the hot meal.

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  16. The elements certainly seemed that caused some menacing conditions. Sloshing in the mud could be very dangerous without those walking sticks. I think the fog would have caused me to hope I had a very good guide ahead of me.

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  17. That first shot looks like there's been quite a bit of rain! I have to give you credit, yet again, for your dedication. This sounds like it was quite the muddy, strenuous day!

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  18. There is no better place to enjoy the mist than in a mature forest. Nature seems to cast her arms around you. Thanks for the vicarious hike!

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  19. Love the mist and the hike sounds wonderful except for the mud. :D

    Some day it will rain here.

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  20. Here comes the Sun...pretty please.

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  21. It was lookin' like you were gonna need some hip~waders for all that mud. I adore the foggy picture of the pines. Wonderful!

    God bless ya sweetie and have a marvelous Mother's Day weekend! :o)

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  22. We've had lots of rain and mud here as well...husband said--remind you of Arcata?? lol

    Beautiful shots of the fog and mist..

    Happy Mothers Day, my friend !!

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  23. I admire your willingness to hike when the weather isn't wonderful.

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  24. I really admire how you do this. That looks exhausting. I wish you sunny, happy weather this coming week also. Great photos!

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  25. DJan...
    Just wanted to let you know that I was thinking of you today...
    hugs and love, karen

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  26. I think sometimes spring coldness can just go right to your bones and settle in. I hope you get sunshine soon! :)

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