With sunshine and morning temperatures in the forties, it was a comfortable start to our shuttle hike. Seven of us set out for this winter leg-warmer. The trail begins with a steady climb through manzanita and madrone, transitioning into conifer forest with a few rolling ups and downs. The final ascent returns to manzanita and madrone, opening to sunny views of Applegate Lake and the surrounding snow-dressed mountains. Along the way, early hints of spring appeared—blooming manzanita and emerging shooting stars.
We took lunch on a spur trail leading to a rocky ridge with sweeping views. During the break, Leslie posed a great question: “What’s in your first aid kit?” After she shared her kit and Ten Essentials, others followed. Nanci and Michael then gave a quick overview of the expanded group first aid kit, including wound care, immobilization strategies, SOS use, and evacuation considerations.
A shout-out to Leslie for sparking this timely conversation. With Bob and Leslie leading hikes over the next six weeks, Leslie has taken on the group first aid kit in my absence.
After lunch, we descended from the ridge and stopped for a group photo among blooming goldfields (FYFs, as Hank likes to say). Continuing through the conifer forest, we crossed two large downfalls before reaching the creek. Since Scott had never seen the Bigfoot trap, a side trip was in order for those wanting extra credit. The trap has been redecorated— now displaying a vibrant splash of color. Though still standing strong, the roof shows signs of decay.
We finished with a final climb back to the road. Despite the ups and downs, the trail was easy underfoot, with only a couple down fall to navigate.
Nanci
