In just over a month, I will be packing up my things and heading out to see the Grand Canyon for the first time in the 48 years I’ve lived on earth. I’m quite excited as my friend, Cindy and I plan to join a group of about 8 others who have also signed up to have REI Adventures lead us through this amazing backcountry. Apparently, it is one of their most difficult backcountry getaways and, to be sure we have a good trip, they have asked a lot of questions about our preparation and prior backpacking adventures. As you might guess, I’ve done a lot of hiking over the past few months to get ready to take on this adventure and have had a lot of fun in the process.
One of my adventures was over this past weekend. TheMAN, YaYa, and I took on Mount Manuel Trail in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The park staff told us about it when we asked about a 5-6 mile hike in the park. She told us that Andrew Molera had a nice 6 miler but that Pfeiffer had this trail which was about 8 miles long. We decided to go for it – with plans to turn back early unless we can’t stop ourselves from going the distance.
The trail was challenging and beautiful. However there were segments where the trail appeared to have fallen off the side of the mountain. The soil was loose with little tread in many sections, as is noted in this forum I found later. Thankfully YaYa slowed considerably after hitting these sections as he was worried about me safely passing. Meanwhile, worried about him, I jokingly said “I don’t know how I’m going to let this boy go off to college in 3 ½ years; I can hardly bare it when he is out of my sight.”
We all made it safely down the hill. However in one section, where a fall would not have been too bad, the ground came out from under me. My leg slid out leaving the rest of me hanging onto the loose soil remaining on the trail. YaYa stood just far enough behind me to see but not be readily available to help. TheMAN came and pulled me up with my trekking pole.