Desolation Wilderness backpacking, day 2

Got up at daybreak, made coffee, read New Yorkers in the tent while waiting to see if the rain would let up. It did, finally, a little bit, so we set off (sans packs) to explore the area. Really fun to just tromps around and these gigantic slabs of rock - no trails (and no brush), just a topo map. Lots of little streams and waterfalls and some pretty little lakes. By the time we turned around to head back, the rain started up again, and I was pretty darn cold by the time we got to our camp. We'd maybe gone 3-4 miles?

Ate some salami and cheese and decided to pack up and head out instead of waiting around for the weather to turn fair. (Glad we decided this - sounds like Monday ended up being even rainier than Sunday!) I warmed up quickly once I was carrying a pack up a big hill. About 5 miles back to the trailhead. Got back to the car by 4pm, were back in Davis around 6.

All in all, a great trip! Amazing how quickly the cold, wet feelings fade into the background, and the memory of being out completely absorbed in nature shines through.