Backpacking.

Yessirree, that's where I was for exactly (more or less haha) 6 days. We left last Sunday and drove for a long long time to get to the end point of where we were planning on going to. We then drove to the start point of where we were going to start. That's what we were planning on anyway. We drove for a real long time (probably over an hour, but that's a guess) on this trail that was as bumpy as the Indiana Jones ride at Disney Land, probably a little more bumpier actually and not as fast or as fun :( . anyhoo we finally got a point where Fred (the owner of the truck we were riding in) figured he might have blown out some gears. It was also getting dark so we stopped and camped up by some trail head. The next morning we drove down the road a ways more and got to the trail head we started the backpacking trip from. I'm not sure exactly whether we were supposed to start there or not. I didn't pay much attention to the navigation of where we were going because to tell the truth I didn't care that much. We had six people with us and enough that knew what they were doing so I didn't pay much attention to the navagating junk. Anyway, we hiked all day that day mostly through marshy muddy stuff. We finally stopped. Me and Benjamin were really exhausted and sore. I think that was probably the longest day we did on the trip ironically. We couldn't find a good camping spot so we camped on this area that was kind of slanted but good enough (at least for me, some of our group griped a little about it) We ate an MRE (meal ready to eat) that night. It was delicious too. Those are the meals they get in the army. The next day we hiked a while then got to this mountain range we had to cross. So, we walked up and over. It wasn't exactly the easiest way over, and in fact I think it was probably one of the harder ways over, but we made it (finally ). We climbed up what was probably like a 45 degree slant (or more, some of the time I was pretty much crawling and using the three points on at all times rock climbing rule too.)
So, we got over and then took lunch and a little lay-down rest. I got to have the rare privelidge of using the exotic Chandler picture taker. So, I got some backpack nappers on photo :) After we left that place we walked for a little while and then crossed another pass (AGAIN!!) lol. that one was fun because we found a gigantic snow drift at the top and I wrote my name in it and then we went to the top of the pass. We sat at the top of this pass longer than any other one. This was fun, one of the best views on the trip either way you looked too. I also got to see a pica (I think that's how you spell it). Those things are the funniest little bunny/mouse things I've ever seen. Then we climbed down a steep muddy and snowbank filled section of mountain intent on being slippery. We lived through that easier than most of the hiking though :) I enjoyed sliding on the steep portions of snow. After we went down a ways finding a camping spot pretty close to a small stream we set up our tents. There was so little flat camping ground (that was covered by some scrawny trees we used for wind buffers) that the tents were actually touching except for one. We camped there for a few days and that was actually our last camping grounds of the trip. While Chandler, Benjamin, my dad, and I stayed here. During this trip I had been applying suntan lotion like a crazy man because I'd learned my lesson after skiing, as Chandler, KC, and Traci could tell you lol. Even so with all my sunscreen drenched skin I got some sunburn mainly on the areas of my skin that got exposed when I was forcibly made to get a haircut. Can you believe it? I had to get a haircut!
lol, I actually had wanted to look as shaggy as I could for the backpacking trip so I tried to avoid getting a haircut till afterwards, but my dad said I'd have to pay for it if I waited (awfully mean eh? lol).
Anyway these last few days of the trip we saw some deer that stayed around our camp for like 2 days. We got really close to them too, that was cool. Chandler spent most his time taking as many pictures as he possibly could of the deer lol. We had to stay in the tent one time for a long time playing euchre, which was fun but they were small tents!
I think in all reality they are supposed to be one person tents but we had two people per tent. For euchre however, we had four people packed into one tent to play for a while lol.
After one day we went down to see if we could get any reception on a cell phone to see if Fred and Mr. Prall left a voicemail as to how their situation was. They had gone to see about getting the truck out off the mountains. (I don't know if I remembered to mention that.)
So after we got about 1 mile away from the parking lot we met up with Mr. Prall who told us how things were going and stuff. That morning we'd taken a little hike too. That night Fred got back and he'd gotten the truck out really well with the help of some really nice folks. Well, the next day we hiked all the way back to the parking lot and then went into town and ate at a resturant. That was pretty good. Unfortunately they were pretty expensive for how much food they gave. On the way home we all had monsters (well the kids did). And Chandler was going wacky with caffiene lol. I don't know if I was or not, but it seemed like I wasn't reacting much to the caffiene at all lol, I think I was just really tired.
Overall I think that the trip was really really great and I'll remember it for a long time. To the tell the truth however I'd say backpacking is really boring, and not really worth the effort it takes. If you're planning on going packpacking I'd advise you just go rent a campsite somewheres where there's a lake or a swimming pool or something and go have lots of fun. However if you do go backpacking be sure and bring a camera or your hard work will only leave you sore (although more buff)and picturless. I think besides the good fellowship the sights are probably the best thing on the whole trip. That's pretty much all folks.

Actually there's more.
Last Sunday,
We went and gave out free ice cream with our church along with newspapers from our church and tracts. We, as usual, had fun with the dry ice :) :D XD
Me and Sergey went around and held cups of water with pieces of dry ice and telling people we had hot coffee lol. Later after we went to get ice cream me and Sergey made a dry ice bomb hehehe. The water bottle we put the ice in swelled up bigger than I thought a bottle could. Then Sergey went and poked it with his toe and it blew. That was really really loud too lol. Then tonight we went and watched more fireworks near our home. I think they were better than the ones we saw Sunday. Even though they shot them off more slowly they were way bigger and the boom level was much better :)

Bits and peices

During the backpacking trip we decided that you couldn't have a rockslide unless you had molasses.

We started calling Chandler's Mp3 player the little red thing of happyness.

We started laughing at certain flowers for no particular reason.

We came up with; "lethargic slug" Isn't that great? LOL

Yeah, so the moral is. If you have sanity save it and don't go packpacking if you know what's good for you!

Till next post.
Your faithful typer,
Yokanchi

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"if the shoe doesn't fit, get a blister"
~Chandler
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Isn't that a great quote I think it fits alot of liberals. If the environment doesn't make you happy get offended?