July 4th backpacking trip

[ilanarama]

I was going to write up all the stuff we did, but I don't really have the energy. Hiked in past gorgeous waterfalls to a pretty lake, set up camp, hiked to another pretty lake, hiked up a mountain to the 12,640 ft high summit where we were attacked by hordes of ladybugs, hiked over a stunning high pass to another pretty lake, hiked back to the trailhead. Woo.

Here are the equivalent of 16,000 words, on my Flickr page.

Comments

[delurker]

When ladybugs go bad, eh? I am curious as to what your ankle-warmer things are: something to keep sharp spiky seedpods off your socks? Mini-waders? A fashion statement (in which case I understand fluro colours are the in thing?)?

[gnomad]

Oooh, pretty! And the phrase 'attacked by ladybugs' isn't one you hear every day...

[ilanarama]

Hee, they are mini-gaiters, intended to keep rocks and dirt and sharp spiky seedpods and water (in the light rain or quick wading sense, not in the downpour or river up to one's knees sense) out of the boots. I actually do have some crazy colored ones for my running shoes but I don't have a photo of me in them yet - see http://www.dirtygirlgaiters.com/job.html, mine are kind of like the second from the left in the picture of the four sets of legs on the top row.

[ilanarama]

I think that we had just sat down with our feet in their chosen grass tuft and they naturally flowed up to see what the GREAT BIG INTRUDERS were.

[traveller42.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the gaiter explanation. I was also going to ask. Pretty much what I expected.

I really need to get back up there, but this year is pretty well booked as far as time off is concerned.

[delurker]

Wow, those are awesomely bright!

[gnomad]

You were like exotic ladybug furniture.

I remember Biosphere 2 used to have a ladybug room. You walked through it and there were hundreds of thousands of ladybugs flying all around this fairly large, tropical space. It was very cool, but I always felt a little sad for the ladybugs because so many got trampled.

[ilanarama]

Aw, bummer. I hope to see you again out here some time.

[ilanarama]

Britt tells me that he has seen peaks in AZ (where he went to school) covered with them. They are so tiny and cute!