So allot has happened...

[Thumper]

Yeah, I've certainly been missing from here. I rarely get on a computer anymore. Usually to quickly check the weather or order mower parts. I got a "promotion" at "work." My buddy said I was doing nicely and working out even better than expected. He didn't want to lose me to the grass cutters. (My neighbor owns a lawn cutting/field painting business and his dad was also trying to recruit me to mow for the local school system he works for.) So Ralph gave me a raise and it's pretty much just him and me now, though we did bring The Kid on a few times when we needed some muscle.
The Kid took me on a 5 day backcountry hiking trip through the Sierras culminating in a summit of Mt. Whitney. It was breathtaking, literally. Probably the hardest thing I have ever done. And probably the most beautiful country I've ever seen. We spent most of our time above 10,000 feet. We flew in and out of Vegas so we drove through Death Valley twice. It was well over 120F both times. When you open your car door and it's 125 out, it's actually comical it's so hot. So one morning I was gasping for breath at 14,500 feet. Then later that afternoon I was laughing at the heat at -250 feet. It was the trip of a lifetime, The Kid was a beast.
Sorry I haven't been posting here, I'll try harder. When I get home, I'm so tired and sore I just eat dinner and usually pass out. I've never had so much fun...

[lady_*nix]

Oh awesome! And it's okay you're not posting here that much! TBH I'm just glad least one person here is having that much fun.

[SciFiFisher]

Awesome news Thumper. Interestingly I have taken the boy to the Sierras a couple of times now in the last couple of weeks. Just to the day use areas of the Donner Pass State Park and the Calaveras Big Tree State Park. I can assure you I did not do anything as rigorous as your hikes. But, I did get a few pics of the boy climbing on various rocks and massive tree trunks. Big Tree state park is a preservation effort for a huge grove of Sequoia trees. They are a member of the redwood family. Where I live I am a short drive from the Sierras. Donner Party... Table for 6!

[Rommie]

That sounds great Thumper, wondered what you guys were up to.

Definitely a year for hiking. I've done about a dozen peaks so far, but none obviously as impressive as Mt Whitney (most of mine are like 2mi up a trail types). Can't wait for some this fall with the foliage!

[code monkey]

good to hear from you!

the trip sounds wonderful!!

what special steps were taken at the airports?

[lady_*nix]

Wait... I missed the part where you flew. Through Vegas.

Dude, you do realize you're going to have to quarantine now, right?

Edit: wow what the fuck was I thinking when I first replied to this? JFC my brain must have been in hibernate mode. Thanks for catching that cm.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Good to hear from you Thumper, Glad to know everything's going as well as it could be expected under the current circumstances

[Thumper]

We were masked from the moment we got out of our car to the moment we pulled out of the rental car garage, maybe 7 hours solid. Then any time we were in town or public we were masked. Same on the way back home. My Mom picked us up at the airport and all were masked. Mrs. T really didn't let me near her for a couple weeks on our return. (that was fun )
I admit I was a little disappointed with people's behavior at the airport. Some really weren't trying to maintain distances. But I see that at grocery and big box stores all the time.

Fisher, those hikes sound awesome. Sequoias are indescribable. Lots of huge Ponderosa Pines along our hike. It was kind of neat to know the hard work it took just to see some of the incredible vistas. Not many people get to see what I saw.

Rommie, The Kid has done some hiking in the eastern mountains. And we're talking about possible weekend hikes of parts of the AT.

[code monkey]

thumper, please be advised that the at now prohibits overnight camping and has closed the privies.

[SciFiFisher]

thumper, please be advised that the at now prohibits overnight camping and has closed the privies.

Closing the privies is understandable. Sadly, I suspect that some people will just that as an excuse to water the poison ivy.

[Rommie]

thumper, please be advised that the at now prohibits overnight camping and has closed the privies.

This is definitely not true on some sections at least. I see the AT in the Whites and campsites are booming and outhouses are too (though more porta potties than usual). Record capacity this year doesn’t change those things and people will just ruin the woods if they don’t have a place to go to the bathroom, that’s unfortunately gotten really clear on some trails.

So I’m sure AT specific stuff shut down, but def is fine in sections more popular like the national parks/ forests. TBH camping in the woods by yourself is probably safer than what a lot of people are up to in daily life in many cities looking at case numbers.

[code monkey]

rommie, I don't know if I saw an out-of-date notice or if I misunderstood but I've very glad to have been corrected.

[Thumper]

There weren't any campgrounds let alone privies anywhere near to most of our hiking.

[SciFiFisher]

There weren't any campgrounds let alone privies anywhere near to most of our hiking.

[Rommie]

So, we hiked like a mile of the AT last week! In Shenandoah NP, visiting my sister, who had my cute as buttons two month old nephew in a baby Bjorn and my BIL had my three year old niece in a hiking backpack. This is important because while hiking out to the viewpoint some hikers in the opposite direction got our attention- momma bear on the side of the trail and OH YES that is a cub! Backed up a fair bit, momma crossed the trail with cub in tow, and a minute later cub two runs across as well.

The funny thing about it my sister and I were very much the attitude of "give her space and respect and it's no trouble." BIL and F were like "why the hell are we continuing this hike now that we've seen a bear?!" Somehow us ladies won. I think we have collectively spent many more hours in the woods than the boys.

[Thumper]

One down, 2189 to go!

[Thumper]

Very cool about the bears.

[Rommie]

One down, 2189 to go!

We also stopped in Harper's Ferry, AT headquarters. Pretty much everything was shut, of course, but I did get a fun sign of Georgia vs Maine and being about halfway between both.