Intro

Welcome to a story, or stories I should say. A compilation of adventure tales. An ongoing itch to see, smell, and touch the world, or at least the deserted roads and rarely trampled mountains of America. Characters within the descriptive paragraphs of these stories carve out the coming and going companions in life; vital life people and pieces that parallel a universe for moments, days, years. And then spear off, leaving granules of magnificent memories of magical places. They leave a lasting trace, a gained sense of courage to stand tall on oxygen deprived mountains and shout absurdities like: I love you Ralph! Ralph is a teenage reindeer stuffed of the finest synthetic polyester fiber poof; he says made in Indonesia but really tells me he is from the North Pole. Delivered through a chimney one December night 20 years ago, we instantly became cuddle buddies upon that morning's sunrise. He is the instigator. The inspiration. And the imagination. He breathes creativity. Laughter. His is a dear companion. And yes, at 4lbs he tags along atop a pack or strapped to a rack. In delirium of 107 degree heat, the small possession of material belongings gain a persona. Innate objects become friends of the road and trails. And as for the humans who accompany, their presence reads priceless. Without O'Reilly, a 29 year old New Hampshirian with superior taste buds, the mathematical six foot four inch tall German, or handful of organic peanut butter and 99 cent jam eating munchkins, there would be a lot less excitement. The encounters we make with our specie, encapsulating the world with their awkward ways and over consumerist love, somehow we have managed to become overly adored creatures. Their generous hearts restore a faith that goodness prevails in the upheaval of a sometimes lost humanity. As for myself, I'm just the navigator, paddling up the stream of life munching on Clif Bars, with an iPhone documenting the frailties and goodies underneath all the simplified complexities in the world we reside. So again, I welcome you to get lost and dream a little through this typed text and your imagination. My name is Kristen Gentilucci. I live in Berkeley California and I love dogs.


Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Day 7.

Miles: 15.6
Elevation gain: 3800ft
Altitude: 11,000ft at silver pass

For once AT&T tops Verizon. Atop 10,000ft I'm not sure if I can applaud that. A clear signal in the middle of the Ansel Adams Wilderness miles upon miles, mountains upon mountains, hidden from electricity, the world in action, geometrical cities and consumerism and yet barely a bar of juicy reception in my home upon a hill in Berkeley. 

This hike is starting to become a walk though a national geographic magazine. Each turn we take, corner entered, images so memorable, so beautiful, they burn lasting vibrant mosaics plastered in the scrapbook of our brain. 

The day was filled with a pleather of peaks and valleys of emotions and sugar highs and lows. Deciding not to wear in a brand new spiffy pair of hiking boots, has left a very painful ankle. With a Dr. on board, we thought the problem was easily diagnosed, but without a blister of sorts, the problem must lay deeper than his specialized eye could see. Grueling uphills are oddly questionably painless and runaway downhill miles trudge by like a stubbed toe. 

I guess life is good when pet peeves dwindle to flies flapping wings for dear life trapped within the breathable walls of a tent. With such simplicity and utter daily exhaustion time suddenly exists on its own clock. Things sync with one another out here. The sun sets in quite moments and trees grow silent waiting for sleep. The sky opens its doors to larger pictures and we shrink into tiny dots underneath the starry night.