It was the first day of a 3 day backpacking trip. Nick and I were meeting our friends the Commander and Jesse at the Bear Valley trail head. This was the Commander’s  first backpacking trip, you can read more about her awkward experiences on her blog. I tweaked my back somehow the day before but was determined to continue with the trip. Besides I was psyched, I had been feeling a little wound up the last few weeks and needed a break. We were spending the first night at Sky camp, a 4.5 mile hike from the trail head. Along the way we spotted a banana slug, something the Commander had never seen before. This little creature that resembles a slimy snot covered flaccid penis surprised her.

 It was warmer than we expected when we got to camp, but the Commander and I both crashed in our respective tents despite the fact the heat turned them into saunas.

 We bummed around camp for awhile, when seemingly out of nowhere Nick shows up with a bag of charcoal he pillaged from another camp. Hmmmm…grilled banana slugs anyone?

Day two found me wishing I had brought oatmeal instead of freeze dried backpacking food, which I was quickly getting tired of.  We decided to take the round about way to our next destination, Glen camp. We dropped down to the coast and took a break at Sculptured beach, an amazing little spot with a few small sea caves and tide pools. 

My back was feeling better but Nick had pulled a muscle and the Commander was feeling beat and we still had about six miles to go. I gave her the bailout option, but she chose to see this through, a decision I am incredibly proud of her for making. It got me thinking about my own choices I have made in my life and how in the past I have bailed on trips way too early. Not anymore, I told myself. Over the past year I have been growing a lot and have gained an immense amount of confidence which has enabled me to get outside of my comfort zone and stick with my decisions. We continued on, eventually reaching camp after a ten mile hike. The Commander saw signs along the way that indicated there was a much shorter route we could have taken, so I took care to keep my crotch away from her foot.

 Our site for the second night was overgrown with foliage and grasses and the bugs swarmed, but the sounds of the frogs and birds in the surrounding woods was amazing. They lulled me to sleep until in the middle of the night I heard the sounds of what I call the murder birds. It really sounds like they are killing someone in a bloody crack induced rage. The third day found us with a 4.6 mile hike back to the trail head. Jesse and I set the lead pace with the Commander and Nick bringing up the rear. It was great to finally be able to spend time with my friends for a few days and finally getting the Commander out in the wild. So what’s the next adventure? LIFE! And a rafting trip.