Many evenings had been spent with family and friends in the backyard, drinking rose and eating wood fired pizza. Days were spent learning to swim, car camping and going on easy backpacking trips. Tan lines became so pronounced that, during showers, we joked that the kids forgot to take off their “white” bathing suits. It was wonderful. And too easy, so the last weekend before school was to start a recalibration trip was scheduled. We left home Friday morning at sea level, and starting hiking at 6:30 pm at a bit over 8,000 feet in elevation. Switchbacks, elevation and the lack of acclimatization combined to frustrate the young hiker. His usual pace was not sustainable and many rest breaks were required; suggestions of “slow and steady” were met with scorn. Well after dusk we topped the switchbacks. I had promised that, even at this high elevation, on flat and downhill terrain he would be fine, and was relieved to see he was. Camping at a “famous spot” was the goal, and he was game, so off we went into the night, dad following son, with a waxing crescent moon lighting our way. Hiking at night in the mountains is special, doing so with your young son is magical. Around 9 pm we reached a swampy lake that had other campers and he decided this was a fine place to bed down for the night. It wasn’t the “famous spot”, but that was a stretch goal with a low probability of success. We had tried and failed, that is OK; that is life. It was dark and the trail was new to both of us, getting back safely is the only requirement. He is asleep almost immediately. My mind wanders. Listening to his gentle breathing I gaze at the stars. Is the trip too hard? Should we turn around tomorrow? I hope not. I have cut short several backpacking trips for no reason other than my inability to control my mind and I desperately hope this trait has not been passed on. Despite being warm and comfortable I do not sleep well. At 6:00 am I start packing up and shortly we are munching bars and hiking in the cool morning. More climbing is required and I’m anxious to get it done early while it’s cool. Gaining elevation is still frustrating him, but not like yesterday. The goal appears at nearly 10,000 feet. We make it, take photos and cook dessert for breakfast. Then we drop down the other side, our car is waiting nearly 6,000 vertical feet below. Junctions, specifically the distance and/or time to the next one, is a dominant theme. A poor attempt is made to quote Muir while explaining “journey” versus “destination”. Next time he’ll have his own watch and map. On the switchbacks we chat with a ranger, and for the remainder of the trip he talks into this imaginary radio, mounted on his right shoulder, to his imaginary ranger colleague. Further down we enter the domain of the manzanita, which mom uses to boost the temperature of the wood fired oven at home. An equation forms, manzanita equals pizza, and over the next several hours we stuff ourselves. Eventually we reach the junction to the “really famous spot”, which mom has in no uncertain terms prohibited us from going to. We continue down, seeing more and more people until the second nights campsite is reached. But it’s only noon, and the car is only four miles away, so we continue, with no less than three stops to cool down and sooth muscles/joints in the river. During the second river stop, while boiling water for lunch I look up to see only his head sticking out of the water and am both relieved and proud; his body needs the restorative power of the water but it is much colder than he’s used to. It seems as if all of humanity is passed in the final few miles on this Saturday afternoon and I am surprised to enjoy the chaos. Everyone is extra careful around him during the steep, exposed descent and finishing seems to be guaranteed. Correction, he seems to be finishing somewhat easily, tired but still strong and in good spirits. Around 4 pm we reach the car and are home around 8 pm, about 36 hours after we left. The trip has not gone as planned, he has recalibrated me. 
PJ views Half Dome, the “really famous spot” from Clouds Rest, the “famous spot”. For more photos and other trip details go here: http://caseyandemily.com/Backpack/Backpacking.htm Click here for an attempt at a hyperlink to the address above.
