Friday, June 15th, 2012 
On our calendar, we have blocked off a few weekends reading, “Family Backpack Training.” If we don’t, those precious days will be filled with other important and not-so important events. As always, I was really looking forward to an entire weekend of backpacking.
The plan: First night at Orchard (3.5 miles in. Saturday, get up early and continue up the Mt. Wilson Trail to Manzanita Ridge and up to Mt. Wilson. If James was not able or willing to do Wilson, we would walk down the Toll Road and spend our second night at Henninger Flats, where James always asks to go.
After leaving Amber’s car at the trail head below Henninger in Altadena, we drove to Sierra Madre, posted our parking permit in the window of the 4-Runner and began our projected 20-mile journey at 4:30PM.
James did well on the trail. We made our camp by 7:15 and set up the kitchen and tarp. We would have “cowboy” camped but there was a lot of moisture in the air and our equipment was getting wet by 8:30.
For dinner, Amber and I both had burritos while James had his chili mac. We used the Super Cat and 2 oz of fuel for both dinner and hot drinks.
To bed by 9:30pm.
Day 2: Saturday was clear and warm. It never got below 59 degrees at night. It didn’t take long to pack; our plan was to eat on the trail. Once packed we watered up at the stream using very little Aqua Mira (4 drops per 3 liters). We believe the water is safe. So far, after four days, we all feel great. (still no ill effect as of 7-3-12)
The hike up Mt. Wilson Trail was difficult but not bad; steep but not horrendous. There were flies; both deer flies and black flies constantly buzzing our heads. Andy was constantly snapping at them.
Amber managing a smile despite the ever-present biting flies
James was taking small steps and stopping every 10 feet per minute. The pace was painful and admittedly, very frustrating. The temperatures were mild—about 73 degrees with clear skies and a slight breeze. Both Amber and I knew the conditions were not ideal but we continued on.
Once we reached Manzanita Ridge, 1-1/2 miles from Orchard, it had been over three hours. That averages 1/2 miles per hour.
James decided he would press onto Wilson after many bribes, encouragement and verbal prodding from Amber. Of course I wanted to summit too but knowing James’ condition and lack of love for hiking, I knew it wouldn’t happen. Amber stayed back with James for the first 1-1/2 mile, 3-hour leg, allowing me to go ahead. From Manzanita Ridge to the Toll Road, I remained back with James while Amber went ahead. James was weaving, complaining and whimpering the whole way up, as if he was summiting Mt. Everest. He told me the pain of each step was unbearable due to chaffing. I gave up on the idea of Wilson, as well as spending another night; now I just wanted to go home. I gave it all I had but having to endure incessant complaints, hundreds of stops and a 1/2 MPH pace was more than I could handle.
Once we got to the Toll Road, 1-3/4 from the top, James refused to go on. In fact, he was begging us not only to scrap the Mt. Wilson idea, he begged us to go home and skip the night at Henninger.
At the junction, Amber was waiting for James and I (Amber and I took turns walking and encouraging James as he talked persistently about video games). Amber did not know of the change of plans and was disappointed that we were less than an hour away from the top of Mt. Wilson, and we forfeited. James also broke the news to Amber that he did not want to spend another night. He said his body hurt, making it really hard to walk and take steps any more than a one foot stride at a time. He said he couldn’t go any further and really dug his proverbial heals in the ground.
The new plan was to just walk back to the car. Once the plan was mentioned, James had a new bounce to his walk. It was like a miracle. No more complaining, his body didn’t hurt like before.
We continued our ten-mile walk to the car with only a quick stop. Once at the car, we were all very tired, including Andy who was too hot.
All in all, it was not a good trip. We had a few laughs and nice stretches of trail.