Palisade Trail - 12 miles of rocky technical challenge

I've never hiked with more than 5 or so people. So I took a huge leap for today and signed up for a Meetup in which 41 people had RSVPd. That's a crazy number! But even I knew that so many people would not actually show up and that the large number would also lead some to drop out. How could I be so right?? We ended up with 26 people. Still large! But about 8-10 of them were McSpeedies so they basically took off after the first mile and said goodbye to the organizer. The rest of us were left in their dust to hike at a comfortable pace while scrambling over rocks and roots, walking along tiny ledges with incredible death drops to one side, and stopping to enjoy the incredible vistas. We were on the Palisade Trail in the Calistoga, CA area. We started at the top trailhead and worked out way down to the end at Silverado Trail and Hwy 29.

It was a little stressful for me as an introvert with little experience in hiking 12 miles to join a group of people that I don't know and had never met with an event description that included, "12 mean, rocky, technical, challenging, narrow, eroded, rugged miles. Not for beginners." But I could not have asked for a better outing to join! The 16-18 of us that ended up hiking together naturally rotated so that each of us hiked with everyone. I brought up the rear for awhile. Then I led. Then I was middle of the pack. So I got to spend time with a variety of people and even hiked one section for about 30-45 minutes on my own. I admit that was a little disconcerting since I was used to seeing others to that point so I did wonder periodically if I was lost. But with the aforementioned death drops, there hadn't really been any opportunity for me to get lost.

I had decided, because the distance was a little longer and the ruggedness a little more than I had experienced, to wear my Ahnu Montara Boots rather than my heavier Asolo Power Matic Boots, which was a very good decision. I needed to be light on my feet with all the scrambling. By the end of the hike, we were mainly going downhill. Sounds easy enough. But it was downhill on these small rolling stones that would roll under our feet so we would slide and walk... slalk? I suppose we could have tried glissading but I don't think that would have been very comfortable. And not to complain, but my big toes were not happy and actually look like they are bruised. Darn! Just glad I didn't have the heavy-duty boots on!

An interesting part of hiking to me lately has been when we get close to the trailhead and run into fresh smelling people! Actually, I don't think "fresh" is the right word. "Perfumed" would be more accurate. They've taken a shower, used hair product, lotioned up, and maybe even actually used perfume before heading up the trailhead. This is not a criticism or judgment in any way. The people I'm talking about are generally going out for a social stroll rather than a hike so it makes more sense to prettify. I only mention it because of how often I experience it... being out in the woods, getting smelly and sweaty and then coming closer to civilization and meeting up with them. On this particular hike, we met up with a large group of teenagers who seemed to be exploring the area just a mile or so from the trailhead. They turned around about the time we met up. So there was this motley crue of hikers who have been "out there" for about 6-1/2 hours along with a bunch of perfumed teenagers making our way down the trail together. It made me wonder if they got as much a whiff of us as we got of them! lol Eau de Trail.. or Eww de Trail!

One of the guys on the hike who I think should be trail named "Pizza" kept talking about how many calories we were burning so that we could have pizza at the end. Six and a half hours! Pizza! lol When we got to the end, we did go into the pizza place that had been mentioned in the description. And "Pizza" went ahead and ordered pizza for everyone. He was super excited! lol Unfortunately he got the supreme and I don't eat beef or ham so I couldn't share in that excitement. But I enjoyed some chicken wings while another guy who is vegetarian enjoyed his salad. Funny thing about the vegetarian is that I had no idea who he was and didn't recognize him. Turned out he was one of the 8-10 who had gone ahead at the very beginning so I'd never really seen him. lol

One thing I learned from this experience is to be wary of parking at the trailhead for a one-way hike. I took 4 of us up to the trailhead and left my car there with the plan that I would get a ride back up at the end. Well at the end, everyone left.  ha! So the 4 of us who drove were left waiting for the organizer who has been doing this for years and probably knew to make sure her car stayed at the end of the trail for just that reason. Definitely not a big deal though I was a little nervous because I wasn't sure if the organizer had actually left her car at the bottom. That would not have been a fun walk up the road!

So it was a full day of hiking with some awesome people who I hope to meet up with again soon and some incredible views. An easy drive home (new tires on D'Azul!) with little traffic topped it off. What a great day! I might be getting into this longer distance hiking thing.

To help youth have these great experiences outdoors with beautiful views and awesome people, please go to my Summit for Someone page and make a donation: http://support.bigcitymountaineers.org/goto/summitjourney