Two-fold purpose of post title -- hilarious librarian video below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8QjjKrEK7Y&fea ... r_embedded
Also, just as I learn something new when I read a book, I learn something when I hike a trail
Mark, Kathryn and I met at the turn off -- the plan was initially to go up Marion and come down the Seven Pines trail. I've never been on Seven Pines and was looking forward to a new trail and a more gradual descent.
We made to the Dark Canyon campground (neat drive BTW) and spied a steep dirt road heading up to the trail head. Uh oh -- we're both in front wheel drive vehicles with a low clearance. Headed back to Marion.
Made our way purposely up the trail to escape the onslaught of bugs at the trail head. This was Kathryn's first Marion trip -- when she commented on the steepness of the trail, Mark and I both laughed and said "just wait." We told her to picture the upper section of Skyline.
Finally reached the Deer Springs junction and made our way up through the "desert section" (buckthorn, manzanita, etc), the log crossing the swamp (just love the sucking sound of pulling my boots out of the muck) to the blessed stream crossing heralding the entrance to Little Round Valley. It was nice to see good water flow this late in the season.
We moseyed up the never ending switchbacks (at least there's shade) to the summit trail junction, took a short breather and then scrambled up over the rocks. Had lunch at a flat rock looking east towards the Salton Sea. It was toasty on top but very clear. My friend Steve Fossett dropped in and joined us for conversation and comaraderie. Before heading down I unsuccessfully searched for my Swiss army knife that I lost the night Karin and I were on the summit. This is the same knife I used to open the sardines during my stay at the San J Bunkbed and Breakfast in 2008, so it has sentimental value
When we reached the Marion Mt. descent, I remembered exactly why I wanted to come down a more gradual trail and why I'll never hike down Skyline. I lost both big toe nails coming down South Fork two weeks ago, so going down was even more unpleasent than usual. Knew we were close to the end when the bugs started swarming again. I found myself on a paved road in a campground. Hmm... this isn't right. Turns out it was the Marion Mt. campground. Didn't even notice it on our way up (what I meant about learning something new). Got back on the trail, reached the cars and said hasty goodbyes to get inside our cars and escape the bugs.
Notice there's no beer at the end of this trip report
Miles of smiles,
Ellen
