Across the Pond

Yes, I did a moderately strenuous hike yesterday. That's no reason to skip out on my Monday hiking companions!

Well, except for a little problem with my hiking boots. As I approached my car at the end of yesterday's hike, I was dismayed to discover one sole flopping loose. [Hey! These boots are not that old! There is plenty of tread on that Vibram sole!]

A design flaw, perhaps? Rather than being glued in place, the grippy sole was affixed to a rigid plastic undersole by a few plastic pegs—some of which had snapped off. Which meant that, if I were to hike today, it would be in my heavier, cold-weather boots. On a hot day.

So be it.

How many times had I passed the Guadalupe Reservoir, biking along Hicks Road, and wondered what was on the other side? I remember being surprised when I studied a map and realized the hills on the other side were part of Almaden Quicksilver County Park.

I was intrigued when the group settled on a hike in that very section, giving me a new perspective on the dam and Hicks Road. Recalling a crazy guy I'd seen across the reservoir a couple of years ago, I was happy to be part of a group.

We were all happy to be part of a group when we heard a rustling noise, and then a loud crash. A runner who had passed us on the trail turned back to check on us, worried that someone might have been crushed. Somewhere nearby, in the canyon below us, a tree (or large branch) had given way.

I didn't expect we'd hike high enough for a view of Mt. Hamilton—but there you have it!

Six miles on a hot day in heavy boots ... I sure was happy to pull them off when we finished!