birthday backpacking

pete wanted to go backpacking this year for his birthday. we've been talking about doing the skyline to the sea trail--a through hike that starts close to our house--for many years. however, neither of us have done much backpacking in the last ten years, so a three day, thirty mile trip seemed a little ambitious to me. we opted instead for the loop trail in big basin, which covers some of the same ground as skyline to the sea. 

our hike to the trail camp was six miles, so we got a rather leisurely start on pete's birthday. as we headed out the door, the rain started. we were prepared, but really?! it hadn't rained in a week and there was no rain in the forecast for the coming week...just the two days we were backpacking. 

the rain turned out to be great...critters like the banana slug and rough-skinned newts were out in force!

 

we also mostly had the trail to ourselves on our first day. the wildflowers were still in bloom, which was an unexpected treat. the rain stopped by the time we got to the trail camp so we could explore a bit and enjoy our dinner and books outside the tent. 

 

birthday boy!

wild iris

balloon flower

red clintonia

copious turkey tail fungus

we woke to rain on day two, but it tapered off relatively soon after we started packing our gear. we did opt for a bar breakfast rather than starting the stove in the rain. the highlight of day two was all the waterfalls--gold, cascade, silver, and berry creek. descending along them was a bit nerve-wracking, especially since the rocks were slick from the rain.

gold falls

cascade falls

silver falls - the sketchiest descent

berry creek falls

less rain the second day made for a lot more hikers and runners on the trail, but it was still enjoyable. the two sides of the loop were very different in flora and fauna and beautiful all around. we are so lucky to have this state park twenty minutes from out house. i think we need to make this an annual event!