Day 28: Gettin' Into the Groove

(Wrightwood @ 369.5 to 387 = 17.5 miles)

Groovin' right along.

Well, we began two hours later than normal -- "slept in" and caught a hitch from Waterboy -- but we still managed a nearly 2 hour lunch, an hour and a half dinner/water stop, and were in camp with time to chat and be to bed by 8:30.  And hiked 17.5 miles.  4 of which were straight uphill to the summit of Mt. Baden-Powell at over 9000 feet.  (Scouts, this is YOUR summit!)  I realized when we kept a 2-mile per hour pace uphill and PASSED day hikers (!), that we may finally be getting our hiking legs under us!

Tribute to the founders of the Boy Scouts.

We admittedly struggled a bit in the beginning.  Nagging injuries, extra gear, nagging injuries ... so to be here today doing solid miles with substantial breaks is a big deal for us.  Oh, we're not as fast as the long-leggeds and 9 pound-packers in the front.  We will never be.  But to put in an easy 17.5 and arrive at camp relatively early AND relatively pain-free is very exciting.  It's as if we've moved into another level of hiking.  And indeed, I think we have.  Both in our physical ability and in our hiking relationship.  We're getting into the groove in both respects.  And we're thrilled.

Handstands for summitting Mt. Baden-Powell.

Kindergarten Cop took an extra day off to visit family for the holiday (right, the holiday ... we wondered why we ran into so many day hikers!), but we're sure he'll catch up.  I think he's meant to cross paths with us throughout the hike.  Maverick left town a day earlier -- it'll take some slacking on his part for us to catch him.  And Scallywag is right behind us.  He finally bought shoes -- he'd been hiking in Tevas (I thought of you, Dylan!) -- so, he'll catch us soon, too.  He's our official dual handstand photographer.  And hugger.  A great person to bump into.

Overlooking the Mojave Desert.

It's been a good day.  Tomorrow, a detour and more mountains, and then we move onto THE Mojave!  Eeek!  Nah, we'll be fine.  Early starts and afternoon siestas are in the plan.  That along with our official groovey trail legs should have us covered.

Scallywag, official dual handstand photographer and trail hugger.