Lazarow World-Hike-About: 9.38 Sierra Buttes revisited in complete contrast to previous occasion (see 9.35)

LAZAROW WORLD HIKE-ABOUT

Eastern Cape, South Africa: Storms River region.

'LAZAROW WORLD HIKE-ABOUT: WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HIKE-ABOUT?'

Hike-about is an adventure that commenced June 2010. After storing our household movables, ridding ourselves of a house but retaining our 'home' together, we set off with the purpose of hiking in different parts of the world, not forgetting the home country, the USA.

Our primary focus is hiking to mountain peaks but any challenging hike will do just fine. Extended stays enable us to enjoy and experience living in various places amongst differing cultures. Hike-about has evolved into a way of life. It's also a process of discovery, both the world and ourselves.

We work and live 'on the road' but return to the city in which our grandchildren reside, every couple of months. This provides us the wonderful opportunity to be with them as well as a child or two, even three and of course, friends.

By the end of 2023, the blog contained over 1,560 hikes (less than that actually undertaken), each a set of pictures with stories and anecdotes from the trails. An index to the right allows the viewer to identify earlier experiences.

Finally, we are often asked about the journey's end. Our reply, as accurate as we can state, is: "When we are either forced to cease through health issues or the enjoyment level no longer reaches our aspirations, we will hang up the boots."

"A Life Experience As No Other: Dare to Seize the Day Together", published by Fulton Books, depicts our life on the road and mountains until the beginning of 2017. It has developed 'exponentially' since then.

Jenni and Jeffrey Lazarow

Whereas we continue to update the blog regularly, we circulate email notifications infrequently.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

9.38 Sierra Buttes revisited in complete contrast to previous occasion (see 9.35)

Going into a semi-blind situation but invigorating

Situation not improving as we obtain altitude

We are heading for Sacramento, boarding a plane for San Diego, babysitting little Ellie and then returning after 4 days, to the trails. Ellie should help us with our fitness, although it has been quite good of late. “We need to get some laundry done,” our editor announced. Unfortunately, the Inns did provide such facilities. After completing our second hike up to the hut at the Sierra Buttes, we showered, checked out the hotel and headed for the local laundry. What a good idea, we thought, as we had plenty of time.

Watching the clouds move in to shield the summit

Going to check the 'view'

We had left the Inn at 5:45am on Sunday morning, completed the hike in freezing conditions, extensive cloud and fog covering the mountain and trail creating an exciting contrast from the previous visit. The walk up the two-hundred or so steps and around the observation platform, if not a little scary, got the blood flowing, particularly because of the gusting winds. Unfortunately, views were limited until about ten minutes into our descent when visibility became reasonably good. What do the say about timing? Fortunately, Thursday’s hike was in near perfect conditions.

What a difference the sun makes

Respite from fog and icy conditions on the way down

We entered the laundry to discover it in a mess. The window was broken, a wall had been severely damaged and the bathroom floor had a layer of excrement covering it. An hour before we left for the hike, at about 4:30am, a bear raided the laundry. We were on alert for bears on the mountain while an aggressive black bear was doing his washing, amongst other things, in the town. Had we known, we might have left our laundry bag for the 'bugger'—encourage him to be more productive.