7 days in the wilderness

I was about six years old at the time, I’m guessing. My parents were our for the evening so Trish was babysitting me. She was in high school at the time and part of a backpacking club at Newport Harbor High School. That night they happened to be having a meeting. Part of the meeting was a slideshow of photos from a recent trip to the Sierra (I’ve been told Sierra is already plural so no need for an ‘s).

That evening inspired me toward a love of photography and a desire to experience the beauty of the mountains thru backpacking.

Though I’ve gone on two mini backpacking trips in the intervening 30+ years since that initial exposure at the backpacking club, (both were just a night or two) this will be my first multi-day (7) trip.

I’m going with friends who have planned the trip we will take in Sequoia National Park. They estimate we will hike about 8-10 miles per day, amongst peaks that are in the 10,000 to 12,000 foot range.

My pack is as light as possible, with only one short sleeved shirt, one long sleeved shirt, pants that zip to shorts, long underwear, windbreaker, down jacket, beanie, gloves, three pair of wool socks, sleeping bag, insulite mattress, and, of course, my camera.