10 in 10 athletes, from left, K.M. Cannon, Karl Horeis, Rick Gunn and Jeremy Evans on the steps of the Capital in Carson City on Wednesday.
I'm sorry about the mixup Monday when I was supposed to meet the four Nevada Appeal adventurers at Middle Velma Lake in the Desolation Wilderness.
Especially when I hiked 12 miles carrying a six pack, sandwiches, grapes and carrot sticks, not to mention camera, extra film and a book.
I know we were supposed to meet at Middle Velma about 11 a.m., so I started up Bayview Trail for the Velmas about 6:45 a.m. Nice day, a little cool, the pack a bit heavy, but it was only five miles, according to my map to the Velmas.
Only I made a little mistake. When I got to Lower Velma I was way early, so I decided to hike on to Dick's Lake, about a mile ahead. When I got back I got turned around and made the mistake of waiting for the group at Lower Velma.
About noon I got worried and took out the map and discovered I was at the wrong lake. By that time I figured the guys had soldiered on, probably thirsty for your lack of beer.
Well, there I was with that six-pack and five sandwiches (I'd made one for myself). It was very pretty there at the Lower Velma, lots of snow patches facing the lake.
So I thought, why not have a beer and one of the sandwiches. Better than lugging them back down the hill. So I took a turkey and cheese. Tasty. Then some grapes. And somehow I finished a beer before I finished the sandwich, which was very dry.
So rather than lug five cans of beer back five miles, I figured I'd sip another one. Slowly. Not a good idea to drink on the trail. I'd put the beers in the lake so they were very cold. And delicious. I took some pictures to show the guys later.
A pretty woman in a yellow parka stopped by and I offered her a beer and sandwich. She praised them. She was charming. And married.
About 1:30 I figured I might as well head back. The pack was still kind of heavy so I poured out two of the water bottles. I certainly wasn't going to drain the beers!
Back at the trailhead I doffed the backpack. The beers were still cold. But I don't drink and drive. Back at home in Carson City I figured it was safe to have one more beer, so I did.
And I want to tell you the sandwiches were good and the beers just dandy. Sorry the four adventurers didn't have a chance to enjoy them. Maybe next time they'll include a senior on their treks.
