I’m up at 4:30 and we’re leaving at 5:15. The morning came fast, but we spent the evening packing so we’re ready to go. We started to load the dirt bike but the carburetor started leaking like a sieve. It’s always something but at least it’s only the pit bike. Today is a trial track day for Racer #994, a.k.a. Foot, John Hughes who’s also my husband. He’s been off track most of the season for a variety of reasons so there’s some trepidation as to what the day will bring. Traffic is light this time of the morning. My phone rings and it’s John calling me from his truck, he’s a bit further ahead of me. “Check out the moon once you come over the next crest!” Ahh, there is only a slice of light ... read more

I’m up before the sun and it’s cold. The sky is starting to show colors and I break out the Pocket Rocket to boil water for some tea. Freezing. I make my tea, and cozy up in the hammock to watch the sky lighten. It’s a quick, cold breakfast of hardboiled egg, a slice of cheese and a banana. Time to prep my day pack. I’ll take 3 liters in the platypus with some magnesium powder mixed in, a little smoked salmon, jerky and cheese for lunch, plus an extra Guayaki yerba matte power shot, thank you very much. Time to button up camp, change into my hiking gear and I’m down the road. Today I’m hiking Brokeoff Mountain, which is ultimately why I decided to stay in this half of the park. It’s the second ... read more

I saw on Facebook that a friend of ours, Charley Blunt, was going to be practicing his starts down the street. It was Wednesday Night Drags at Sears Point. I’ve only lived in Sonoma for around 10 years but we still call it Sears. Anyway – I have physical therapy after work so John heads over without me and I catch up later. I roll up to the gal at the booth and pay my $10 to get in. I can smell it. Burning rubber. I head down the small hill into what is normally the pit area for road racing weekends and it’s been converted. What’s this? Cars are hauling ass, spinning around, burning rubber, squealing tires. . . I can’t get the grin off my face! Are you kidding me??!! I find John’s truck ... read more

We left on Wednesday after work about 5pm and sat in heavy traffic until we got out of Sonoma. The Motel 6 in Weed was calling our name - it’s only 10 miles north of Shasta City and a mere $45.95 per night. As it goes, we spend the evening dividing up shared items to carry, like the tent and kitchen and prepare our backpacks for the morning. Except for the mountaineering boots – those still have to be fitted with crampons. We’re at the ranger station the next morning shortly after 8 obtaining our wilderness permits and summit passes. We review their Powerpoint of the Clear Creek route in respect to where we would go from below the Headwall, which is as far as we made it on our last attempt in July. The instructions ... read more