Back2BackPacking

 In high school, towards the end of our 2nd-last year, the Form 4 ("Junior" year equivalent in US, or Std. 9) class would have a hike in the Drakensburg every year - 4 nights / 5 days across the Berg with some spectacular views and an amazing experience overall. It was my first backpacking trip, and for some reason I never got back into it. Until now - 15 years later. 

Day 0: Car Camping along Highway 1

I was invited to join some friends for a backcountry trip in Big Sur. We headed down Highway 1 on a Thursday morning. Having never previously driven this route, I was blown away by some of the views. Old bridges, spectacular cliffs on the edge of the ocean and Redwood-covered mountains could not be soaked up by my eyes enough as we snaked south past Monterey, Carmel-By-The-Sea and into the state/regional parks zone.

We set up camp for the night at Fernwood Campground - a convenient car-camp spot the day before heading out on trail. Got to put up the new hammock I recently got as a gift, and was very happy with the comfort and warmth of it.

 

Once camp was set up, we drove further south on Highway 1 to check out some more views. A stop at McWay falls in the late afternoon was magical.

Day 1: Big Sur Station to Barlow Flats

Some hikers have big pushes and cover quite a lot of distance - I see many doing over 20mi a day. Fortunately, the group I was with knows how to make a hike enjoyable, with regular stops and a very reasonable pace. The hike to Barlow flats was about 9mi and we got there mid-afternoon with plenty of time to set up camp and unwind. I've really been enjoying Relive for recreating the activities - here's the hike in

Day 2: Day trip to Sykes Hot Springs

Leaving camp set up at Barlow Flats, we packed a day-pack and it didn't take long to cover the 5mi to Sykes. Spent a few hours there, with a quickish soak in the natural hot tubs and also a splash into the pretty-chilly Big Sur off a rock.

Vibram 5-fingers was not the best choice of footwear for the day. Even though it was 5mi out and 5mi back, the stoney surface killed my feet. Was glad to get back to Barlow and kick back in the afternoon. Relive it with me...

Day 3: Hike back to Big Sur Station

There has been a bunch of posts recently on social media asking "what is the worst part of hiking", and there's so many responses about spiders, snakes, rain, digging catholes/the toilet options, etc. All of those are wrong. The worst part of backpacking is when it is over. But all good things tend to come to an end. The 8mi hike back to the parking lot went a bit quicker than the way in. Partially because there was a lot more downhill, and probably also shorter stops and a slight sense of melancholy that it was almost over.

Not too much more to add that the Relive doesn't cover

Beers in the parking lot were the most amazing thing ever... or maybe the hot meal at Fernwood Tavern was.... 

Overall a magical and  fulfilling trip, and really looking forward to getting into this again.