[ranger rock]

track-and-elevation

I wanted to hike on Friday when it was sunny but was forced to stay home until the weekend. It rained all day but I stayed warm with my newish raingear and new waterproof boots. I was told by other hikers coming down there is no snow on the summit of Ellinor but I did not make it all the way up there from Big Creek. I did my first field test of my new homemade caldera style cone. This new cook system weighs 1/4 pound less than my old system. I had given up on my Hieneken pot in the past because it was so unstable, but with the cone it's more stable than my evernew pot! Hot chocolate and hot lunch made my tummy feel a little bit better

First field test of my new cone.

I felt pretty ill all day with digestive issues and was happy to have made it so far. My original goal was just to make to the lower Ellinor trail head. On the way back I was so tired that I cut down to the road bridge over Big Creek and thus saved 1/2 mile of hiking. There is one blow down consisting of two rotten snags on the Ellinor Connector Trail just before it meets the Lower Ellinor trail. Many thanks to the Mount Rose trail crew for this wonderful trail system. It looks like they have done a lot of work on the Upper Ellinor trail since I was last there. 11.5 miles with 3,500 feet elevation gain Pictures and details on my blog: http://mosswalks.blogspot.com/2012/11/upper-ellinor-via-big-creek.html

Gomphidius subroseus

Hypholoma fasciculare

Hylocomnium-splendens

So glad these bathrooms are open to the public again!

bathroom in Hoodsport is open again

6-sign

[Hiker Mama]

Well, that's a respectable distance even without digestive issues! Looks like a pretty area.