Hiking: Scrambling to La Vibora

We spent our first days learning to choose campsites, pitch flies, and cook. The nights were colder than we had expected, but the days were just as hot as we has guessed they would be. 

While Rob and Kristin went back for some equipment, Dee taught us how to cook -- hash browns had never tasted so good!  It was a day of firsts --our first meal, our first class on bombproofing, and Ryan S. had his first encounter with a deadly animal -- a rattlesnake sunning down by the water. After a memorable class by Kristin on how to sleep warm in cold weather, we turned in early.

We headed off to La Canoa and had a steep climb to the top of the ridge. We met up with Rob's group the next morning and got our first taste of bushwhacking through manzanita. Ryan had his second encounter with poisonous animals when he met a few annoyed bees and received four stings.  We soaked our feet in the stream by the Old Corral and learned more about map reading and scouting. Using those newly acquired skills, we found our way to the "beautiful camping" described on our maps and set up for the evening.

The next day we made it to our new camp early and had our first bath! We even had time to do a bit of laundry before our first aid class. That night Brooke regaled us with her reading of Bobba Fett. The following day, we spent learning how to bake bread, how to tie knots that would do a better job of keeping our tarps up, and how to make our camps even more bomber.

   

 After a hearty breakfast, we headed toward Picacho La Vibora (the Vibrating Peak). For nearly 4 hours, we scrambled up and down drainages. While Dee, Kristin, and Rob scouted the route for the final ascent, we took a much needed break. For those of us with the fear of heights, the last bit was challenging, but everyone gave each other encouragement, and the view was well worth the effort.

From the top, we had a panoramic view of the range. In the distance we could see La Encantada -- it didn't look so far away or so large from where we were.

We spent a while picking out landmarks and strategizing about the best route back to camp.

   

 

On the way down, we split into three groups and each group made its own way back to camp without the instructors. Even though they left last, somehow they made it back to camp ahead of many of us.  Eventually, everyone made it back safely, though Bobby and Ryan had a bit of a scare when a rock split in two while they were scrambling over it and nearly toppled over onto them.

 

For More on Hiking, Choose a Segment Below

Searching for the Mission

Making Tracks to the Re-ration

Ascending Diablo