Memorial Day Weekend

• First dinner party at the new house with the O'Briens

• Backpacking!

• Long walk on the beach with Jo; Moonlight Beach is looking great but still not open

• Short beach time at Cardiff, too many flies from all the kelp

Laguna to Cuyamaca Backpack

Troop 774 headed out on a backpacking trek from the Lagunas to Cuyamaca.  The trek was a 20 mile one-way trip from the Penny Pines trailhead to Green Valley campground with overnight stays in Granite Springs and Arroy Seco primitive camps.  This was my shakedown hike for my JMT gear.  I had almost all my stuff I intend on taking in July.

• Bear canister was nice and big and not too cumbersome
• Quilt compression sack was key to creating more room in the pack
• I am approaching the weight and volume limits of my G4 so have to watch what I add very closely
• Flip-flops were a great addition for end-of-day foot comfort
• Duct tape works great for blisters
• My food continues to refine and I am pretty set with the menu
• Cowboy camping worked out great and was a big timesaver
• Solio charger worked nicely charging my phone from around 50% - 99%

Eating Analogies

Mark Sisson has a nice post on some analogies about complex health subjects.  It is a good primer on myths and mysteries about health.

Bengt's Birthday Weekend Activities

• With Bengt's 13th birthday, the teenagers have evened the odds in the Osten household.

• Bengt and I went fishing aboard the Chubasco II.  The trip was just off shore in the local kelp beds.  Fishing was pretty good.  Bengt got a nice sized oceanic whitefish and I pulled in a monster 31 lb. halibut.  That easily won the trip jackpot!  Thanks to the crew for a good time.

JMT Time minus 2 months

2 months to go!

Weekend Activities

• Long walk on beach with wife
• Episcopal Refugee Network Gala
• Wonderful Mother's Day dinner at home with the kids

PCT Photo Contest

Awesome photos on the PCT.