My Step Forward

I have broken yet another camera. But this wrecked camera is not accompanied by some dramatic event. I did not fall off of a cliff and toss it in the process. The wind did not blow it off a post. The zoom just refuses to open. And alas, I will not be purchasing another anytime soon -- expenses are astronomical right now, and I wouldn’t feel good about purchasing myself a camera (as low priced as they are). With a son just graduating high school, it’s like we’ve been throwing money by the handfuls out of the house: prom tickets, tux, Senior Disneyland day, Grad Nite, senior pictures, announcements, cap and gown, tassel, replacement for ruined Calculus book, college enrollment deposit, dorm housing deposit, oh my gosh -- it’s mind boggling (plus we have music lessons for all the boys, dental appointments, dermatologist appointments, not to mention the house is in desperate need of a paint job.) So! There will be no new camera for me. Not to worry, because I hear these things that are glued to our palms (otherwise known as phones) have pretty good cameras inside them.

Needless to say, I did not get off to as strong of a start that I had hoped with my classes ending. I’m now on break from two of my schools, returning to one of them shortly. You would think I have more time. I suppose I do, but then again, there’s more to get done (did I mention the house needs painting?) And the more and more I neglect working on my physical strength, the more depressed I grow. I have only lost about three pounds, and in my morose mood, I grow even more so in reflection. It dawned on me this week that I have the exact same issues with myself that I had when I was sixteen years old. I can’t tell you how disappointing and sad I was in realizing this. Blah! Just breathe and go forward, I told myself. Don’t reflect, just stay in the moment and BE. That’s all I can do. I don’t know what else to do, but keep on trying -- forget about the failures, forget about my multitude of shortcomings. Just take a step forward.

So, Tuesday, the 30th of May, when the boys were still in school (they are out for the summer now), I got in a short run down at the harbor. That’s something I want to do now, that is, get back to road running to try and gain some speed. It was tough as hell though, even with the weather cool and overcast. Three miles, I told myself, that’s all you gotta do. It was not fun. I should have worn a hat, as sweat from my head ran into my eyes. The first few minutes pounding the sidewalk were torturous. Really, I felt like my legs were lead, and my breathing wasn’t under control. “Don’t worry,” I assured myself, “it will get better in just a little bit.” As bad as it is to begin any run, it always improves with time. And yes, I did feel a little better after a half mile or so -- but I never felt good. It was tough the whole way, which I account for staying at a much quicker pace than I ever run, the entire route. (3.27 miles)

The next day, May 31, I took to Aliso/Wood Wilderness for a stress-free hike (with very little running) through Wood Canyon. The weather was overcast again (June Gloom). And I really had a fine time, mainly because my route was lonely, and I took some side routes. Beginning in Wood Canyon, I took Coyote Run Trail to Mathis, and from there I caught Dripping Cave Trail. I haven’t seen Dripping Cave for quite a long time. Nothing much has changed at what is sometimes called Robber’s Cave. It was cool, overgrown and quiet. I enjoyed the short visit in the cave, and marched off back into Wood Canyon for another side route called Cave Rock. After climbing to the top of the big rock, I hiked down to the other side of it (the side that does not face Wood Canyon) and spent a short while in the small caves hidden there. Back to Wood Canyon, I made it to the end (where it hits Aliso Canyon) and headed back to my truck, taking Wood Canyon its entire length. Total trip: 8.02 miles

This brings me to yesterday, Thursday, June 9. I set out late in the day, around noon, and it was actually cold enough to wear a long sleeved shirt over my t-shirt. I had just been so disappointed in myself of late, that I opted for the BIG loop in Aliso Woods. I didn’t really care if I grew utterly fatigued. In fact, that’s exactly what I wanted. I just wanted to march in the wilderness and let my mind be free from baggage. The Big Loop is 12 miles long, with the following route:

From the ranger station, Aliso Canyon to Wood Canyon; Wood Canyon to the end, then up Cholla Trail to the ridge; West Ridge to Top of the World to exit the park; re-enter near Meadows Trail; take Meadows back down to Wood Canyon, and Wood Canyon to Aliso Canyon back to the truck.

As far as journeys go, the twelve miles were uneventful. And that was wonderful. The weather remained cool through Wood Canyon. The trek up Cholla was difficult and warm. The trek up the rolling hills of West Ridge had some company (several hikers and a few runners). By then the clouds had cleared and I had my long sleeve shirt tied around my waist. The trip to Top of the World was quite tiring, but I was not miserable.

The construction on the trail leading back into the park was finished. I was surprised to see they had put in so many steps, and even a hand rail. I much prefer the old rugged trail. But I had that one for a good long while, and I suppose less people will be injured on this new, clean trail.

Travelling down Meadows proved to be difficult, as much strength was needed on my part to remain upright. Some might think that traveling downhill is easy. Well, it’s easier than uphill, but not exactly easy. Much focus is needed to refrain from falling, not to mention that core strength (that I have so very little of) to remain standing after little missteps and such. I came up on a beautiful ribbon snake (black with yellow stripes on its side) but was not quick enough for a photo. I was quick enough however to catch a partial of the gopher snake I nearly stepped on toward the bottom of Meadows Trail.

Meadows Trail was terribly overgrown. During the last half mile or so, the trail was so thin (only about a foot wide), that I was practically bushwhacking. I turned the music off and focused a great deal, being on high alert for rattlesnakes. By the time I reached Aliso Canyon, I was so tired of focusing on the snake thing, that I opted to take the asphalt road back that last mile and a half. Sure I’ve seen plenty of snakes on the road. But they are so much easier to spot well in advance of danger without all the growth, and I really needed to let my guard down and relax, which I did on that final stretch back. (Total trip: 12.12 miles)

Going Big

I wandered about on the trails on Memorial Day. Not a huge wander, but enough to work up a good sweat. I hiked most of the Trip to Top of the World in Laguna Beach, and I thought some about my plan -- my plan to get back into shape. My plan is to get out and move every day, even if it’s for a short distance. I don’t have to go big. I don’t need to go big. Just getting out there is big.

6.33 miles, Wood Canyon-Cholla Trail-West Ridge-Top of the Word-and back.

Up off the Couch

I am terribly out of shape. Now, I say that cautiously because I realize that there are many people who cannot walk a mile (but on the other hand, many can walk hundreds of miles). I can walk a mile, plus some. I can also run a mile, plus some, but that is mainly because I am stupid – because so out of shape am I, that I would attempt to run say ten miles, then injure myself, or fall and break a leg or much worse.

Let me tell you first off, that the gym will never get me fit. I have been visiting the gym all the while that I have grown so terribly out of shape. The reason the gym will not get me into shape is because I tend to use the gym as a time of relaxation. I spend an hour on the elliptical relaxing – on the stationary bike relaxing – I do so reading novels, binge watching shows on Netflix.

So, all I really know now about my fitness is that I am over weight, and I am not strong. I feel weaker than I ever remember. But now that I have some time off for the summer (hours cut in half!), I have time to get moving, time to gain back some of that strength. This is something that I desire tremendously.

Alas, accomplishing such a goal is not as easy as saying it. This means that I need to get outside and move. And when in the past, a hundred wild horses couldn’t stop me from doing that, now, well, I’d much rather sleep.

And, so now begins my summer journey of getting back into shape. And it almost didn’t happen this particular holiday weekend, because I nearly opted for a nap instead. It was Sunday afternoon that I finally decided to step outside and move. The only way I could get myself to do it, was to promise myself not to try and run. This would be a nice, leisurely hike, umm, I mean walk (well, actually more like powerwalk) in and about my lovely seaside town which I often so quickly flee from for mountainous terrain.

I opted for a loop, one that dumped me out on Monarch Beach, our most northern beach. From there, I took the sand along Salt Creek Beach and then Dana Strands. And then in the cool ocean breeze, I took the many agonizing flights of steps back up to town where I hoped onto the Headlands Trail which is a short-cut back into downtown (or the Lantern District, as it is named). The stairs were terribly difficult, and I needed to stop and rest one or two times.  Around that time, I glanced down at my garmin and noticed that I was running about a half hour later than I had planned, and that I far past what I thought would be about 4.5 miles total. In all, this loop was 8 miles, which took me by surprise, especially odd because this is not a new loop, I’ve done it many times before.

The trip:

I noticed these beautiful purple flowers (which I see often in the wild in the coastal hills) on my way to the trail that leads down to Monarch Beach:

The tunnel beneath Highway One (the little bus is taking tourists back to their hotel):

Finally at the seashore:Monarch Beach:Dana Strands:The Headlands:

Unexpected Day Off

I didn’t know that I had a day off from class last Thursday. The evening I had already secured a substitute so that I could attend my sons’ award ceremony, but I had planned to work during the day. My students though kept telling me that there were no classes on Thursday because it was the last day before final exams. Finally, I decided to look up the official school calendar. Sure enough, no class.

And so I set off into the wild blue yonder, Santiago Truck Trail that is, on a warm weekday mid-morning. Though much of the wild grass has turned brown, spring flowers were still in full bloom. My goal was to the flag and back. Goal met. I did much thinking, but some of the time I thought about nothing, and that was really the most refreshing part. I ran only some of the time, hiked much of it, perhaps a third. This is some of what it was like:

7.31 miles, 1,300’ elevation gained.

The Different Sounds of Silence

Oh, woe is me! When will I have the time and strength to wander again? This past Sunday, even in my lagging and out-of-shape condition, I did finally make it out to the wilderness to wander. Recently, I learned that Trabuco Creek Road had finally re-opened, so being so long away from my friend Cussin’ Jim, I made the trip out for a late morning hike. No running involved. I didn’t want to kill myself.

To begin, I didn’t arrive to the Holy Jim lot until about 10:30, and there were no parking spaces open. That’s expected on a beautiful warm spring weekend. I found a spot to squeeze my truck in about a quarter mile outside of the Holy Jim Lot, just past the volunteer fire department. There, I parked in between two other trucks, one of the owners still packing his gear for a fishing trip along Trabuco Creek, not twenty feet from our automobiles.

I cannot tell you just how many hikers I came upon along the road to the trailhead, and also along Holy Jim for a bit. The creeks were still flowing strong, even in many places that I have not seen water in many years. There were mini-falls over boulders, and creeks to cross even across roads. I lost most of the hikers at the Holy Jim Falls junction, as that’s the main attraction in these parts. And after that, well, it’s a pretty hard ass hike. It’s not the worst of hikes, just a relentless, switch-back after switch-back, mostly in the sun.  And I’m not good in the sun anymore (still it was worth it!).

Spring flowers littered the landscape, and after about mile two, Lupin was in full purple bloom. Even though I always hope that it could, the camera can never illustrate the spring flowers full beauty. But it’s close enough to snap a shot anyway, again and again. 

I sure do love Holy Jim. But it is not a hike for the weak, and I’m teetering on that. There are so many beautiful scenes – ridges from afar, orange rock trail walls, flowers and snakes (I saw a rattler!), and every so often, glorious tunnels of shade through small groves of trees.  I wasn’t quite sure just how far I’d make it up the trail. And since the heat was strong, I really could have turned back at any time. But I endured to a little over mile four, to a location where I took a seat and looked out over these Santa Ana Mountains. 

Just before my turnaround point, about a half mile or so, I decided to unplug the music. I thought that the silence would suit me better at that point. I was hot, and I was tired. And the silence definitely did me better. Amazing how many sounds there are in the silence. Insects flying by my ears sounded like cars whizzing by on a tiny highway. The breeze blowing through the trees sounded just like the gentle ocean waves crashing onshore about quarter mile from my house. And as I got further down the mountain, I the stream broke through the silence. It was fierce and loud, kind of like an angry wind storm blowing through the trees. I didn’t miss the music piped in from my ipod one bit.

Miles: 8

Elevation gained: 1,964’