October 9, 2011

Hike Around Pinecrest Lake

My grandparents have a cabin in Pinecrest, CA.  For the most part I have detested going on any trips to the cabin for various reasons (it always smells because we go up less than once a year, there is not a lot to do, it is freezing in the winter and boiling in the summer, and worst of all the bugs are gigantic).  I have avoided going to the cabin since I was in at least high school, if not middle school.  Last week, my no cabin streak came to an end.

My family needed to get out of our house for a weekend, and with a cat and a dog, we needed to find a place other than a hotel … the cabin provided really the only option.  So we packed up our stuff and on a Thursday started out on the 3 hours drive.

Luckily, my dad and my sister had gone up to the cabin earlier in the summer and deep cleaned it, so it was not so bad when we got there.  We still vacuumed and washed dishes etc., but nothing major.  That night I went to bed early (7:30!) because it had been a long day of packing a driving and the altitude typically makes me go to bed early anyway.

I knew that I needed to do some physical activity while I was at the cabin, but I was not sure what.  I brought a couple of workout dvds with me, but I was not really into doing that.  I thought maybe I could swim in the lake, but it was pretty cold.  So my sister and I decided we would hike around the lake … the entire way around the lake!

On Friday my sister and dad went fishing early, but my mom and I slept in.  At about 11, after my sister came back, we set off for the lake.  We started our hike at exactly 11:23am.  The first part of the hike was fairly easy (partial pavement leading into a dirt path).  The view was amazing!  We had to stop and take tons of pictures.  



The hike got increasingly difficult as we faced some mud and some massive rocks among other things.  At the halfway point (the bridge) we were feeling pretty good, but in the need of some water and sugar.  We stopped and took a short break to eat some pluots. 

The second part of the hike from the bridge to the dam was the most challenging with more rocks and a lot of uphill climbing.  But the views were quite rewarding.  



We finished our hike at 2:23pm – it took us exactly 3 hours!  The entire trip around the lake was approximately 4 miles.  It was the first hike that I can say I truly enjoyed, and I know that most of that is due to my increased level of fitness.  I am actually looking forward to another hike soon!

It takes gumption to hike around a lake!


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