Changing plans

Hello everyone! 

It's been a while since we update the blog.   For a variety of reasons we have decided to head back east to finish out the summer hiking in the northeast.   Despite a "low snow year" in the high Sierra, being early in the season still presented an ample amount of snowy passes and a light tread cut across the chutes.  In climbing Whitney we got our first taste of this and I (Anna) realized how incredibly skiddish and anxious the ice/snow crossings make me at high elevation.  It was humbling and I have so much respect for all of the hikers who do these pass crossings in tough conditions every year.  

We considered skipping to Donner Pass to hike in northern California, but this would have meant being several weeks ahead of even the early hikers and spending a relatively solitary summer. We decided that we would have the most enjoyable time off if we came back to our "home" mountains and spent June and July doing some of the long-hikes we've always wanted to do.

That said, we're hoping to head out to the Long Trail in Vermont this June and maybe do some High Peaks in the Adirondacks this July.  We'd love company at any point, if you live nearby and want to escape for a weekend.

It is difficult for me to leave behind a plan that we had so elaborately put in place.   We had put a lot of effort into getting ourselves out to the West Coast and taking this two and half month break in our lives.  It's also freeing, though, to allow ourselves to do what feels best, despite original plans and schemes.   We are still very blessed to have this summer to spend time together and we look forward to doing a lot more hiking!