I'd rather be hiking than......

Can't believe I have stayed in one place so long. When I returned to the Reno/Verdi area I expected to be here for just a brief period, especially since the temperatures have been so hot. (I would much rather be cold than too hot.) Anyway, my intentions to move to the high country were squelched with numerous doctor's appointments and family obligations and a storage unit that is bursting at the seams with material items I may never need again. (I'm enjoying the minimalist RV life)

Thank goodness for Craig's List. I have managed to pare down some items but the 8x10 storage unit seems to be extremely demanding by sucking cash out of my pocket every month for rental fees. Thus, I have decided to be somewhat responsible and stick around to try and diminish this demanding relationship. It was really hard telling John that the storage unit was taking precedent over my visit to Frazier Park. Life goes on. However, it is not fun sorting through years of stuff and determine what must really go for good, via garage sales or charity. My sons apparently don't want the "stuff"and their wives really don't want antiques and heirlooms. The heirlooms will be stored in the hopes minds may change in the future. My mission and challenge is to sort and pitch the unnecessary over the next week and prepare for the garage sale of all garage sales; then call St. Paul D'Vincent to pick up what is left over.

So, in between sorting "stuff", family obligations, and those awful annual doctors appointments (actually its been three years so annual doesn't really apply) I have managed to get a little hiking and biking in. One of my favorite hikes is to hike up to the Mt Rose Summit. It's a ten mile round trip, but there aren't too many 9,000+ ft peaks around that you can hike, rather than climb in such a short distance. The day was absolutely perfect! My friend Sandi and I started out early in the morning and we managed to be at the summit for lunch. The wind kicked up some, but the cool breeze was much appreciated.

Water falls on the way to Mt. Rose Summit. The wildflowers are still in bloom!

Sandi made it to the Summit!!

Sadie, stops and poses in the wind at the summit near wildflowers.

Prosser resevoir. This were I camped earlier near Truckee.

Lake Tahoe from Mt. Rose Summit.

Mt Rose Peak as seen from the falls.

Another favorite hike is up to Marlette Lake. Actually,I've mountain biked the trail more than hiked it and it's on the way to the famous single track Flume Trail. Usually, I go in the Fall when the leaves are turning or early summer when it's cool because it's a hot dusty trail with lots of elevation gain. However, a cool weather front arrived and I sized the opportunity to scoot up to the lake with my friend Maureen. My body went in shock trying to adjust from the recent high 90 degree temperature to a high of 50 degree temperature. I was sure it was going to snow...which it has done before in the high country in August. Maureen and I got to the lake before it started to rain, but the ominous clouds prompted us not to tarry and we hurried back down the mountain quickly to arrive at the car just before it started to pour cold rain.

Marlett Lake

More storage unit sorting and purging will continue next week in preparation for the "garage sale" on the weekend then off to see my family on the coast and then maybe a visit to John place to see how his "new relationship "is going.