Happy Easter!

I hope y'all enjoyed the holiday! I definitely missed my family. As Sunday was approaching, it felt strange knowing that I would not be spending Easter with my family this year. So, I decided that I had to find something to do to celebrate. I know -- why not a 21-mile hike?! So, I spent my Sunday hiking the "Desert Divide". I am going to try, once again, not to kill you with pictures. I apologize in advance because I know there will be a lot.

We started at the Spitler Peak trailhead and made our way over to the Pacific Crest Trail.

Dinah, Udi, Maria and Jess. Lake Hemet in the background. 

The photo on the right is of the junction of the Spitler Peak Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail.

View from the junction. And a really big uprooted tree -- see how tiny Dinah looks!

So, this is around the time that things started to get sketchy.

I know that I mentioned that the hike was about 21 miles. What I did not mention is that it was originally supposed to be 17 miles. And there were not supposed to be trails covered in two feet of snow. But what is "supposed to" happen and what actually happens in life are two very different things, and this hike suddenly took on a whole different feeling -- especially when the grey clouds started rolling in and the sun disappeared.

See the mountain and blue sky in the background about to get covered up by the wall of grey?

This is a Pacific Crest Trail emblem. Kind of rare to actually see because people pry them off of signs and trees and STEAL them. Which is very annoying.

This is Oliver, who we met after things got a bit ruff (sorry), and he helped to brighten our spirits a bit.

Oh please please please can we go to Skunk Cabbage Junction?

That tree is growing out of the rock. Which I thought was kind of neat. So now you get to look at it, too.

The clouds began to pass and we got a little bit o' sunshine.

Look familiar? Back at the tram station from Thursday morning! (Thank god.)

I am so completely drained. And I think it is very obvious.

Would You Like to Try an Organic Energy Chew or Waffle Sweetened With Honey?

Don't laugh! Okay, you can laugh. 

[Also, I realize now that it might look like I have a thermostat attached to the side of my head, but I don't.]

Today, I worked at the Exchange on the Marine Corps Base doing a demo/sampling of some products from a company called Honey Stinger. It was sort of fun. 

Before finding out about this job, I had actually purchased some Honey Stinger waffles (lemon flavored ones) on my own and I really really like them! You should try them if you see them in the store -- they're a nice alternative to energy bars that have weird gritty textures and not-quite-right flavors. 

I think maybe the Honey Stinger bee is the more athletic and intense brother of the Buzz bee.

   

Nighttime Things

Stars through palm fronds.

Oasis palms -- they're bigger and fatter-trunked than the ones seen elsewhere in the desert. And their "skirts" have not been trimmed.

Bunny! And really cool cactus.

Ah! Two bunnies! I actually see bunnies pretty much everyday, but the ones I usually see have bigger ears than these ones.