Spring 2008 Feature Article

January 2008 — Hikers Hut Adventure. Our Saturday night sleepover at Sam MacDonald Park before our club's normally scheduled hike

Janet organized the event and off we (Mary Ellen, Mark, Ellen, Don, Steve, Toni, Cathy & Janet) went, showing up laden with food, sleeping bags, many beverages of choice, games to play at night and happy hearts. It's a lovely little A Frame with an indoor bathroom! It faces the ocean and a beautiful canyon overgrown with trees. Loads of stars at night…gee it wasn't even cold. We settled in, enjoying some appetizers and drinks then jostled about until we all found JUST the right spot to sleep. As we sat down to eat our dinner we heard some heavy footsteps…and outside the door was a wonderful silhouette, Don, holding a pizza box high in his right hand….ahhh dinner was now complete! He had many a story to tell of hearing wild animals chasing him and his pizza as he hiked up in the twilight to the hut! We, of course, listened to every word as we ate his pizza. After dinner, clean-up and building a roaring fire, we played a board game of charades that was silly and fun, all the time making sure we kept ourselves well hydrated for the next days hike. Steve brought coffee cake with lots of frosting for dessert. It is amazing what you can carry for only 1.5 miles.

We were up and moving around (ok, some of us) at 6am getting breakfast and enjoying the beautiful view in the morning as the sun came up, painting each and every tree with a glorious golden paint brush. What a memory. We packed up and tromped on down to the parking lot to drop off our stuff and pick up the rest of the hikers who were joining us for our normal Sunday hike.

The hike was great, up and down hills, midst trees and through meadows. Lunch, the highlight of every hike, was at the Overlook, which is truly a beautiful spot. It's surprising to come out of a dense cool forest into a small clearing with a picnic table and lots of warm sunshine. We watched the pollen puff out of the trees below us in the canyon below and float along in the breeze as we munched on our sandwiches. We visited about many important and profound things and generally just enjoying each others company…well maybe some of us just zoned out.

All in all the trip went well, a few little mishaps, but everything turned out just fine in the end. I felt that I'd been gone longer than 24 hours. This is a definite do-over!

The next overnight will be in May with Todd's Pt Reyes camping/hiking trip! You should really plan to come- we just have too much fun!

Ellen.

Contact the SCMTA webmaster