{weekend notes}

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monday // normally one of my favorite days of the week, but not today.  The aches and pains are unreal.  Backpacking is no joke.  I have a new-found respect for backpackers – they are bad-ass hardcore hikers.  You add 40 lbs to your back and it’s a game changer.  Advil and bottled water will be my best friend for the next couple days.

First off, I have to give a big ol shout out to Taylor, our fearless leader.  Treks + Tracks guided backpacking trips are 100% the way to go for beginning backpackers.  They provide top of the line equipment and all the supplies you could possibly need.  Taylor, our Treks + Tracks guide was so knowledgeable and helpful.  A true bad-ass!!  We show up Saturday morning in full hair and makeup….it’s just the way we roll.  I’m sure everyone was thinking, look at these damn city slickers.  Hahah.  I guarantee it actually.  We are the girls that each packed 2 liters of water and 4 liters of wine:)  It’s called survival mode!!

I made little goody bags for each of my girls: survival whistle (thank god we didn’t need), granola bars, reese’s pumpkins (because they are BOMB) and of last but not least, fireball to warm us up at night.

We divvied up sleeping bags, poles, tents, cooking tools and food and loaded up our packs with everything we could possibly need for the next 24 hours.   Every little item adds up quick, before you know it the pack is over 30 lbs and you can hardly hoist it up and on your back.  You figure out quickly that the extra pair of socks, you really don’t want or need anymore, but you definitely keep all the wine.   This is our before picture, our after picture isn’t postable – we looked haggard!!

Check out the fox wandering the parking lot – I’ve never been that close to one before

We set off on the Palomarin Trailhead, Point Reyes, California at 11am.  Full of energy and ready to take in the beauty of nature.  We were with a group of 13 backpackers, all first time backpackers.

But first, let’s take a selfie!!  We look so fresh and so clean clean.

Four hours along the coastal trail through mountains, around lakes, over bridges, forests, and bluffs we made it to Wildcat Campground were we would be setting up camp for the night.  Wildcat camp is a backpacking campground.  Only accessible by foot.  Wildcat camp sets on a huge bluff overlooking the pacific ocean.  The view was incredible.

Once we found our site and set our packs down, we discovered the campground’s ONLY water source was dry.  That means NO water for food or drinking.  Exhausted is an understatement, but we considered packing up and heading back out.  NO water – No bueno.  This is where having a guide came into play, big time.  Taylor was bound and determined we would not go without.  We found out quickly that the backpacking community is very generous.  Our neighbor lent us their water pump/microfilter.  Taylor found a clean stream and pumped and boiled enough water to get us by.  I would have had NO idea what to do in this situation.  This is what I call rough’n it.  Creek water is not like my trusty smart water…lol.  We ate and drank the creek water and all survived.  We never went without!

Check out this spread our guide provided – cheese and wine made everything better, right?!?!  It did the trick for this group.

We set up camp and the circus tent and poured ourselves a glass, I mean collapsible cup, of fine boxed wine.  It instantly made everything better.

Alamere Falls is a 1 mile walk on the beach right below our camp.  I’m happy we decided to trek through the sand to check out this natural beauty.  Alamere falls is actually a “tidefall” (just like McWay Falls in Big Sur) which means it flows directly into the ocean.  I find waterfalls to be so incredibly fascinating.  And this one did not disappoint.  The sound of water trickling over the side of the cliff is not only beautiful, but relaxing.

This photo below pretty much sums up this trip.  I got an ab workout from all the laughing we did.  With each other and at each other, we never stopped laughing.  Well, maybe when we found out there was no water.

We bonded with our backpacking buddies over dehydrated food + wine and watched the sunset.  By the way, dehydrated food isn’t nearly as bad as I had imagined.  Three cheese chicken pasta + 1 cup boiling water.  Stir and zip up.  Let set for 15 minutes and voila dinner is served.  I may start serving these at home:)

Pumping water from the creek (below) by headlamp at 10pm.

Fireball CHEERS!!!

Sunday morning we feasted on a dehydrated breakfast + coffee and loaded up for our hike out.

We made our way off the trail in 2.5 hours (record-breaking time) We had our eye on the prize.  We unbuckled the weight baring strap around our waists as soon as we saw the car.  A crazy emotion came over me….We fucking did it!  Sweat dripping off my face, whole body cramping and sore, and the thought that we just conquered something pretty amazing together.  I couldn’t have done it without these girls by my side.  The true bonding experience we had this weekend is something I will cherish forever.  Unforgettable!  Thank you Greta + Nicole + Sara + Melika for buying that Amazon.com deal back in June and trusting my crazy bucket list idea.  I love you all and can’t wait to backpack desolation wilderness with you next Spring.

(Pit stop at the first bar for bloody mary’s + ice water + real food)

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xoxo stacyb