New Member Hello

[Cali]

Hello all! I am proud to say that I finally joined your wonderful forum here!
People call me Cali, but what ever get my attention usually works, so feel free.
Ive been a long time lurker on this forum, reading, pondering, fantasizing to an extent about my aspirations of getting out and backpacking again.
Born and raised in the Coachella Valley, San Jacinto has always been my escape from this ever expanding, high-walled compound, checkerboard grass/concrete mess we call Palm Springs....
Sorry, I mean this wonderful vacation/retirement town

Well here I am, getting back into it! YEAH

Got Some Goals:
Quit Smoking Cigarettes-Check 8/8/13
Summit San Jacinto-Check 9/3/13 (yes, storm day, hail, flooded out trail)
PCT 74-I10
Skyline
C2C

This forum has been a great inspiration to get me back to my "scouting" ways and to enjoy the outdoors fully.

-Cali

[Perry]

Welcome! And congrats on reaching those goals. I'm guessing you're not going to do 74 to 10 next because it's probably the hardest and some of the sections are still closed from the fires.

That's a funny description of Palm Springs. So many things here in the desert are about exclusivity, whereas hiking is very different because it's open to anybody who wants to do it.

[lilbitmo]

Got Some Goals:
Quit Smoking Cigarettes-Check 8/8/13
Summit San Jacinto-Check 9/3/13 (yes, storm day, hail, flooded out trail)
PCT 74-I10
Skyline
C2C
-Cali

Welcome Cali

Might be a while before you can do that PCT from 74 to I-10 with the fire closure but you will love it when you can.

Congrats on the quit smoking, did that myself back in 12/04 when I too started hiking, congrats on the wet summit that's always a trying adventure

Hope to see you out on the trail, enjoy.

Lilbitmo/Patrick

[Hikin_Jim]

Welcome!

I did the first section of Hwy 74 to I-10 last Memorial Day weekend, exiting at Humber Park. I threw in a couple of peaks for fun. Here's a trip report if you're interested.

HJ

[cynthia23]

Welcome Cali! And congrats on quitting cigarettes. That's probably the biggest summit of them all. Everything you do in comparison will be easy!

[OldnSlow]

welcome! I quit in '92, wouldn't be hiking as much as I do if I hadn't quit. Great goals. Keep us posted on your adventures!

[zippetydude]

Welcome back to the wilderness as well as welcome to the board. Since you've been a lurker, you know we sometimes get a spirited debate going, but even then we all seem to end up friends. I always enjoy running into people from this board when I'm out on the trail. I hope to meet you out there as well.

z

[Screerider]

I started smoking young and didn't become a nonsmoker until my mid to late 20's. Thirty years later, comparing myself to other hikers, I think it still slows me down. Bummer. Compared to everybody else though, I'm in decent shape. Better than many life time non smokers who aren't getting the same exercise.
There is a mental difference between quitting and being a nonsmoker. I'm not a quitter. It's mental anguish. When I did try to quit and had a backlash, I'd have go through it all over again. You know, after this pack...work. When I decided instead to become a nonsmoker and had a smoke, well it was just plain silly. A non smoker smoking. I'd put it out and that was the end of it. No need to quit. No work involved. I just didn't do it again.
The difference may be abstract, but it really is all in how you think of yourself.
The PCT from the I-10 is a nice gentle trail to start off with. Two months as a nonsmoker, you probably still need to clear your lungs before undertaking anything major. Likewise you can hike up the canyon by the southern end of the South Lykken trail. Hike far enough and you should find water. South Lykken itself has a moderate elevation gain and is a little more strenuous. North Lykken is a good third step. Museum trail being the fourth. Each will give you a good assessment of where you're at physically.
Good luck on your goals. I haven't done C2C completely myself. I go part way up and come down which is another option. A good way to get in trouble though. I enjoy it too much and don't want to come down. Stay up too long and you come down in the heat which even on a nice day can get over bearing. Enjoy and I'll see you out there. I'll be the one everybody's passing up.

[HH8]

I'm guessing you're not going to do 74 to 10 next because it's probably the hardest

Nah, that you can break up some, but Skyline whipped my ***

Anyway, like they said, "welcome!" and keep expanding that list, even if you accomplish it in pieces

[Cali]

wow, look at all those open arms! it is awesome!

Perry-that list is going to be in a flux state of being. lol or at least I hope! With the Coachella Valley, I had to wax out some poetry from my grey matter on the subject. All inclusive is always better.

Lilbitmo-I can wait for a decade to go by with me being a non smoker, so congrats! Yeah that 9/3 storm came from nowhere, i was up on top, 1 cloud, so clear. Then 1:15 hour later, rain, hail, lighting. I was going to camp in round valley, once i saw my new tent had started to leek(no seem seal, stupid me), I called it...To the luck of a Canadian couple I found lost under a tree. They were far from the "back to tram" trail, I gladly showed them where it was, guided them back to tram. 4pm by this time, and the "Log Bridge" had about 1.5 ft of water flowing over. Man, what a day.

HJ-Hello, and thank you for the welcome, I have been on your site many times the past couple of months, one of very few DETAILED and fun reads about our little corner of Cali. The DDD is a great staring point! Jim, please keep it up, for the betterment of mankind!

Cynthia23- The accent was crazy steep, but the decent is smooth smooth smooth. Thank you for the encouragement.

OldnSlow- To be without > To be with.

zippetydude- Thank you, good to be here. Everyone on here seems to be smart about the way they post, I respect that fully. I have been involved in many other online community's and if there is one bad egg it can stink up the hole place. But here you have a full dozen of healthy bright eggs. And that's why i joined, to meet other like-minded eggs. Ill see you soon.

Screerider- Wow big post, thank you. lol, on the non smoker thing, one would think it would be easy to just NOT do something, right? But here are millions of us who have been trapped by this self-propelled habit. It takes a mind shift, or quake, to change that. Im thinking of doing South Lykken Trail tomorrow, midday or so. how many miles untill you see water? isn't it only 3.5 miles total? so South, North, then Museum trail. I will take your advise and track my times. C2C is my top goal, the big thing for me, is if i can leave with a 3-day pack, clime Skyline, 3day backpacking in the san jacintos, then back, either tram or skyline. If i can do that, ill be happy, and ready for more challenges.

HH8-from the outside looking in, they both look pretty donating. But this is always the classic debate, one shot vs multiple days, sleep at home/sleep on granite... But either way it will be fun.

I was great to see all of you welcoming me to the forum. I will say hi when I see all of you out there.

Thank You
-Cali