A Weekend at Pinnacles National Monument

This weekend was our third time hiking at Pinnacles National Monument, and we finally made it to the top!


Last fall we started our hike at the RV camping area which is a good three miles from the trails that link with the High Peak Trail.  Knowing we would have to walk back three miles, I was not enthusiastic about trying for the peak.

This time we were able to take a shuttle bus from the campground to the Condor Gulch trailhead.  (See I'm still smiling!)


1.7 miles doesn't seem like far, but miles seem longer when they are rocky and are about 6 to 10 percent grade.


As I looked thru the pictures Craig took, I don't seem to see any that show how steep the trail was!

This was taken part way up the first leg of the climb.

I'm in better shape now than I was last fall. And I have lost ten pounds since January. It really made a difference. 


But I still had to rest frequently.


Every seat size rock or 
patch of shade was appreciated.

And then it was time to push on.


I carried the water and snacks, Craig carried his big camera!

What can I say,
the views were breathtaking.

These pictures can only hint at what we saw. If you ever get to this area, there is more than beautiful coast and San Francisco to explore. 


Pinnacles feels like another planet.

A pile of old rocks, is a pile of old rocks, until you start to see them as something else.  We may have been getting punchy, but we were both sure we saw a large lion.


We did make it to the top, and hiked about three or so miles along the High Peaks Trail before working our way back down.

Most of the trail surface was very uneven and covered with rocks of many sizes.  We had to be very careful   to keep from turning an ankle. A walking stick and high top shoes are on my shopping list for the future.


Going downhill was almost harder than going uphill.  It seemed to put a lot of stress on already tired legs and knees!


But we did it.  Craig says that if I lose another ten pounds hiking will be even easier!  He's right and it is something to aim for. 


When we got to the bottom of the High Peaks Trail, we still had another half mile or so to the nearest shuttle stop, but it was a soft sandy trail along a creek bed.   So nice.  So level!

We were very happy to get onto the shuttle. 


Ah to be so young!


We had hiked less than five miles, but  it seemed much farther.


It was so nice to get back to the Alfa and take showers. We sat outside and had cheese, salami and crackers.


I had a pot of Cuban Black Bean soup simmering in the slow cooker and I baked cornbread muffins to go with.   This was the first time I used the convection feature, it worked fine.


We were in bed by eight, and watched the movie "Hugo" on the new TV in the bedroom.  Blue Ray sure is sharp! 


My legs hurt, but it was a good hurt.  Much like after the first day of the ski season.   I knew I had used them! A couple of Alieve were quite helpful.


To be continued ...