Backpacking in Big Sur - Cone Peak

Almost at the top of Cone Peak

This past weekend I went back to Big Sur, this time with Brandon, Mihai, Lea, Eric and Jesse. We hiked the Vicente Flat Trail up to Cone Peak (the highest coastal mountain in the US) and then camped at Goat Camp and hiked back out through the Stone Ridge Trail. The first day was amazing, tough, and frustrating. We drove to the trailhead overnight and camped right beside it. Then we got up early the next day and started hiking at 830am. It was about 5 miles to Vicente Flat camp and then another 7 up to Cone Peak. We climbed 5000ft in total and made it to the top for a beautiful sunset view at 530pm. It was the most beautilful hike I've ever done. The first 5 miles were coastal so you could see for miles up the pacific coast and for miles until the horizon took the sea away. Then we were just walking through forest and Big Sur vegetation which changed a lot as we got higher and higher up. The top of the mtn was close to the water so it was really beautiful. I really couldn't remember anything cooler. 

Brandon and Mihai filtering agua

 The summit was hard, but doable. However the next 4 miles were rough. The sun set quickly and we left to hike with only our headlamps. It was a relatively new moon, so the stars were beautiful but we had to rely on our headlamps. I think the hardest part was not really knowing how far away the camp was. We had an idea and knew the length but just being in the dark, not being able to see anything, and being really tired and hungry gave us all some extra anxiety. We finally hit Goat Camp around 9pm, threw our packs down, cooked dinner, and got ready to pass out. We didn't bring tents and slept under the stars so it was awesome.

The next day we got up and could see the water right from camp. It really was a great campsite. We packed up and left around 9am and spent the whole day hiking 11 or so miles back to our cars. The second day was not as strenuous, but all our feet hurt more so it was kind of a trade off I guess. The sun was warm, but we were in and out of the trees so the weather was really perfect. After we all got to the trailhead I think we spend an hour just laying down and recovering. That night we drove through San Luis Obispo and had clam chowder in a bread bowl and tons of fries. We took turns driving legs and finally got home around 1030pm. I can't really believe I'm doing all these things in a weekend without having to take time off work or a long weekend. California is so close to everything that vacations can really be a weekend thing. I'm spoiled. 

On Motivation

Do you ever go on a trip and when you get back you feel changed? Your perspective has widened or your ideas have turned a different direction. I took a week and drove up the PCH, hiked the Pine Ridge Trail, saw wild cormorants, and breathed the fresh Bay air. Somehow, someone, something along the trip gave me the motivation I have now to finish my medical school applications and work on the list of things I've been wanting to do. Before the trip, June for me was quite stagnant. I would stare at my personal essay and not write a word. I would wake up at 10am and read fiction until dinner time. I watched 2 seasons of Game of Thrones. Only small things in my life changed like getting a new crank set for Frankenstein or finally replacing the passport that I lost. I was bored, and I didn't know how to get out of the funk. 

Luckily Dan stopped by LA and he let me hop into his TDI Volkswagon for a spontaneous trip up the PCH. Funk discarded and self-reflection commenced. Four days on the road listening to metal will definitely hone your skills for tuning things out and spending time looking inward. Just kidding. I only did that 80% of the time. Anyway there was plenty of quiet time and talks about who we are and what we think that I started to unravel some parts of my life I previously tabled. Like religion. 

In San Jose I hung out with my Aunt for a whole day. Man is she a talker. But she definitely changed my perspective about who she is and what she’s doing with her life. She quit her job and went back to school because she wants a better life for herself. Proof that it’s never too late to change.

The whole week was about family and friends. There was plenty of time for long talks and just hanging out. I guess I don’t really get that in LA. But it’s funny how I feel that this trip changed me more than the last one to Havasu. Maybe it was the timing in my life or having more chill time to think or do nothing. Either way I'm different, and I've found some motivation. Thanks friends and family. 
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En español - gracias a Gen por su ayuda. =)
Alguna vez cuándo hayas vuelto de una vacación,  ¿sentiste cambiado? ¿Que tu perspectiva esté ampliada o tus ideas hayan girado hacia una dirección diferente? Tomé una semana para subir la costa pacífica por autopista. Durante el camino subí por Pine Ridge, vi cormoranes salvajes, y respiré el aire fresco del área de la bahía. De alguna manera, alguien, o algo del viaje me dio la motivación para terminar mis solicitudes para la Universidad Médica y para trabajar en la lista de cosas que quería hacer. Antes del viaje, el mes de junio fue un mes muy inactivo. Miraba fijamente a la redacción personal que tenía que escribir, y no escribía nada. Me despertaba a las diez de la mañana y leía ficción hasta la hora de la cena.  Miré dos temporadas de Game of Thrones. Pocas cosas en mi vida habían cambiado, por ejemplo compré bielas nuevas para Frankenstein o finalmente solicité el pasaporte que había perdido. Estaba aburrida y no sabía salir de la mala racha.  

Por suerte Dan pasó por Los Ángeles y me dejó ir consigo en el auto por el PCH. Durante cuatro días nosotros manejábamos por la costa. Tuve tiempo de pensar y reflejar sobre mi vida. Hablabamos sobre quiénes éramos y sobre como pensábamos. Empecé a desenredar partes de mi vida que había archivado. La religión, por ejemplo.

En San José pasé tiempo con mi tía Anna. ¡Ella hablaba mucho! Pero cambió mi punto de vista sobre quien era ella y qué está haciendo con su vida. Dejó su trabajo para volver a la escuela porque quería mejorar su vida. Una prueba que nunca es demasiado tarde para cambiar.

El resto de la semana estuve con familia y amigos. Tenía mucho tiempo para tener conversaciones largas y para pasar los ratos. Es interesante el sentir que esta vacación me cambió más que el último viaje que hice. Quizás fue el ritmo de mi vida o que estuve utilizando  mi tiempo para pensar o hacer nada. De cualquier manera soy diferente y he encontrado la motivación. Doy las gracias a mi familia y a mis amigos.