I hiked the Ohlone Wilderness Trail last year with a group of awesome women from the Turtles meetup group, and I remember the hike so fondly that I decided to do it again. Sunol is literally my backyard, the trail so beautiful and logistics so easy, there's no reason not to.
It turned out that this year, I was to hike this solo, and I wrote each day in my journal. Now that I'm back home and busy sitting on the couch, I decided to transcribe it here.
Day 1: Eagle's Aerie camp
It took me a while to muster up the courage to embark on this solo backpacking trip. Logically, there's nothing holding me back, I've done this same hike before, Sunol is quite familiar to me, and I'm not a novice backpacker. But somehow, I felt like I didn't have the permission to backpack alone - oh the workings of the mind!
Haripriya agreed to join me for park of today as a day hike and that was very fortunate for me. The drive from home was nearly an hour long with traffic in the evening, and alone, I would have gone crazy with anxiety - would I reach camp before it gets dark, will I be able to setup the tent comfortably.. all worries to flood my mind. Now here I am at camp, fully setup, dinner done, and writing this journal and there's still light enough to get about.
Ok.. about my home for the night. To my left is the gorgeous rolling hills framed by an oak tree. A picturesque sunset put on a private show for me. To my right is my tent with the bare necessities - and my kindle, journal, AirPods etc. I've got an inflated mattress and a down sleeping bag to sleep in and bird song to keep me company as I fall asleep. Counting my blessings.
It was a short hike of 3 miles today, tomorrow is a longer 7 mile climb to Rose Peak. But not before a sumptuous breakfast and coffee.. Looking forward, while also enjoying the moment.
It's getting chilly, cocoon awaits.
Day 2: Maggie's Half Acre, Camp 1.
Today is day 2 of my hike, and it is a dat for twos. This is my second solo hike, 2nd time hiking OWT, 2nd backpacking trip of this year.
The day started with vivid dreams.. I just had to step out of my tent to see the sunrise, and I'm not ashamed to say that I didn't. I stayed in my sleeping bag until 8am. After a quick breakfast and breaking camp, I started hiking at 9:15 am.
BTW, there's a squirrel come by to say hi.. Hello cutie!
The hike up was indeed strenuous. I met a couple who were hiking the OWT and heading to Stewart's camp for the night. I kept them in my sight for a long time and used them as my beacon. There was a big group of Indians, Tamil and Telugu, playing Tamil songs from the 90's loudly as they hiked. For a while, the songs kept me entertained, but soon I wanted silence and so I out hiked them. There were wildflowers everywhere! When there was a steep uphill and the sun was beating down on me, the poppies were smiling and nodding, encouraging me on. There were trees of all shapes and sizes - oaks and pines. and one particularly lovely tree with a carpet of yellow flowers enticed me to sit down and rest. I had lunch here, and instead of heading off right away, I sat down, pulled out my kindle and stayed for an hour. Here's the real benefit of backpacking, solo at that. I'm in no hurry to reach camp. Whether I arrive at 2 or 3 or 4pm, makes no difference, so I'd best stop wherever makes me happy. I saw all the day hikers hike past - they didn't have the luxury of taking an hour off from the longest day hike Bay Area has to offer. Ruby and I, on the other hand, were going to take it easy.
I still arrived at camp at about 2pm. It's a lovely spot, on an elevated area with no foot traffic. As always, there's a beautiful tree for share and making the site picturesque.
Time for a nap or some reading. I'll hike out to Rose Peak to catch sunset. Also looking forward to Rajma Chawal for dinner.
... The evening has been surreal and delicious. I lay in my tent reading. napping, moved to the chair for more reading, looking, listening to the constant bird chatter. Every so often, my mind would remind me to get up and do something useful - like fold the laundry, and I'll realize that there's nothing more useful to do here. Phone is on airplane mode, so no distractions from there. I'm not even wearing a watch, so no time pressure. I've been sitting for so long and so still that the birds here have begun to show themselves to me. Absolute peace and quiet.
I'm reading The Orbital by Samantha Harvey. It's a fitting book to read while on touch with and enjoying nature. What the astronauts and cosmonauts (what's the difference?!) see and admire from space reinforces my appreciation for the green grass, trees, ponds, flowers, birds and squirrels around me.
... I hiked up to Rose Peak to see the sunset. I met two men who had "flown" to this spot via a glider of sorts. Imagine! Being able to fly to a place like this and fly back to civilization, I was amazed. They left before sunset though and I had a spectacular sunset performance all for myself. It almost felt sinful that an orchestra of light and color be performed just for me. But it was, and I gratefully lapped it up.
Day 3, 10 miles to Del Valle.
I woke up before sunrise as I wanted to be able to get home early enough for an engagement. That turned out to be a good decision indeed, as the day was hot and there was no shade whatsoever. I started hiking out at 7:45 and reached the parking lot at 1:15 utterly exhausted. There were carpets of wild flowers, and I was listening to The Signature of All Things - Elizabeth Gilbert. None of this was distracting enough to ignore the unrelenting sun, uphill or downhill. I started wondering of people I encountered doing day hikes - do they know they have to do this in reverse to complete? Why are they torturing themselves?!
There was a stream at about 6-7 mile mark that was most inviting. I took my lunch break there, splashed my face with water - such cool bliss. This also ended the torturous downhill section of the trail, the first one at least, and for that, I gave thanks. The next uphill section was unforgiving and the downhill after was unending. My joy on glimpsing the parking lot was profound - oh sweet, sweet civilization!
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| That's the trail I just completed hiking! |
By now, I had clocked 19.8 miles on this trip with an elevation gain of 5,187ft. I deserved to be picked up and never have to walk another step for several hours at least, but that was not meant to be..
Raghu was to pick me up at 1pm but he was nowhere to be seem. It also felt suspicious that there were only about 10 cars in the parking lot. One of the drivers told me that the park entrance was closed and no cars were being allowed to come in! He couldn't give me a ride as his car was full, and so my only choice was to strap Ruby on again and walk on. Of course, there was no cell phone reception there too. I must have walked another agonizing half mile at least, when another car stopped by to see if I needed something. I explained my situation once again, and this time I got a ride, even though this meant that their child had to squeeze in the back amidst the crates - kind souls.. They dropped me off at the entrance where the helpful staff tried unsuccessfully to contact my husband. Just as I was mentally preparing myself to hitch the second ride of the day (and of my life!), I saw my husband! He had parked out over the hill as directed by the park staff, but had decided to drive another circuit to check for me at the exact time! As if the adventure of backpacking isn't entertaining enough, it now has extra masala to sprinkle on :)
Now to sit on the couch for a few days and let my legs rest. I may be up for this trip again in a year though, for strenuous as it is, the beauty of unspoiled nature just in the backyard of our homes is too enticing to ignore. Not to mention the feeling of accomplishment on completing this 20 miler!
Photo Album is here.
