He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (and he’s ultralight)

The road is long
With a many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where

But I’m strong
Strong enough to walk with him (Granny’s poetic license)
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother the Hollies

BROTHERS !

It made Granny Hat very happy this past week that Mission (Stephan) flew out to California to hike for a few days with his older brother on the Pacific Crest Trail. Cousins April, Ryan, Corban and Abigail were the first family trail angels to bless Christopher with some trail magic on his trek. They brought grapefruit to ward off scurvy and delivered Mission to Big Bear City. Christopher and Mission hiked from Big Bear to Wrightwood over six days.

The Souseley Family, Christopher & Mission

Granny would have loved to listen in on some of her sons’ trail conversations. She hopes they solved some world problems. But if not, maybe at least they were able to trade in some civilization chaos for a walk in the peaceful wild. Would you rather hear sirens all night in the city or see the glow of forest eyes watching you while you set up camp? Christopher and Mission would choose the latter. Granny isn’t sure what she would choose.

BEARS !

Mission hit the trail one morning a little early in the hopes of seeing some wildlife and he was not disappointed. He saw a bear out foraging about 500 feet away in a ravine and then spotted a cougar darting from bush to bush. By the time Christopher came up the trail, the mountain lion was gone but the bear was still in sight.

BURGERS !

The brothers also enjoyed the traditional feeding frenzy at the thru hiker-famous McDonalds where the PCT crosses Interstate 15.

Burgers and milkshakes for breakfast and the same again for lunch and then Subway sandwiches for the trail. A little later on the trail they had a debate about milk shakes vs malts. One of Granny’s boys declared that they are different and the other maintains they are essentially the same thing. If Granny Hat’s sons weren’t solving some crucial universal issues, they were at least fielding some first world conundrums.

BEDTIME !

The campsites and sunsets have been epic and except for one very windy canyon night, the hikers reported fairly good weather and beautiful scenery. When the hikers were young in the wilderness their dad taught them how to pick the perfect campsite. Often, on a thru hike, expediency makes picking any somewhat flat place to camp necessary but when a sheltered spot with a view is possible it is an amazing reward at the end of the day.

BLOOMS !

“It never rains in California, but girl, don’t they warn ya’, it pours, man it pours!” The drought-ending, strawberry field-flooding, Tulare Lake-rebirthing rain of 2023 resulted in a wildflower bloom burst all through the deserts and mountains of Southern California. Christopher and Mission sent gorgeous photos and even a video of a waterfall coming out of a huge ponderosa tree.

BARE, not BEAR !

Somewhere up in them thar hills surrounding the Los Angeles Basin is a notorious hot springs called Deep Creek. It is a much-anticipated soaking spot for tired hikers and their aching muscles. It is also clothing optional, or so they say. Granny Hat wouldn’t know.

The brothers decided it would be a good idea to make a promotional video for the attraction; they thought it might shock the family. Christopher’s wife, Mandy, suspected that they were suffering from trail insanity and she is most likely correct. Maybe they got heat stroke from the hot springs, or simply got chased in by the birds and the bees. Perhaps they figured while in Cali, act like it. Just 30 miles west in Hollywood, the celebrities are trying to rock the near-nude look so…….. while in Rome, or Riverside or whatever.

Granny’s better half took the video project quite well, although he thought it was rather cheeky of the boys to make fun of things best left behind in the wild. Granny may or may not have a few photos but this blog post is on the internet! Their claim of spotting several politicians and other celebrities at the springs has not been substantiated. Granny doubts those types could even hike that far.

She does have it on good authority that the video is posted on Christopher’s website: veteranhiking.com It is titled Viewer Discretion Advised – VIEWER discretion indeed! Granny thinks there certainly wasn’t any on the part of the performers! It is comforting to know our Air Force was under such level-headed command in recent years.

Don’t worry, all you readers with standards of decency and well-developed moral compasses, the video is 97% family friendly. That’s all the news from Deep Streak, or rather, Deep Creek. Granny knows boys will be boys, but she also knows better than to give pre-teens a cam-corder.

Over 400 miles for Christopher now!

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. – Lao Tzu

Since the PCT is over 2,000 miles, maybe best to start with two or three steps?

BY MY SIDE !

Granny Hat’s Anthem Youth Choir sang folk and gospel music this spring. The lyrics to one of the favorites went like this:

“We must walk this lonesome valley, we have to walk it by ourselves,

Oh nobody else can walk it for us. We have to walk it by ourselves.

But I want you, Lord, to walk with me. I want you, Lord, to walk with me.

All along this lonesome valley, I want you, Lord, to walk with me.”

Granny Hat is so glad that for a week, Christopher had a brother to walk with him. Another cousin trail angel, Jacob Young, met the brothers, hiked with them for a bit and then taxied Mission back to civilization chaos. Granny is so thankful for family.

BADEN POWELL !

Granny Hat wants to add a few more photos of Christopher’s spectacular views from the trail and his ascent on snowy Mt. Baden Powell. As an Eagle Scout, he was honored to pay tribute to Baden Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts of America.