God's Great Plan

OK... so season 4 of the ol' Wichuwa-Ka was a dud. A mere week in the Colorado wildrness and poof... end of journey. A series of unfortunate/fortunate (crisis/opportunity) events that have led to my relocating base camp in Hawaii with my partner. We both are in need of R&R. I'm now teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu in Kaaawa and also offer live on-line lessons via http://skype.com/ username: sifuzeigler If you already have a SKYPE account - drop me a line by clicking the balloon below:

I will be section hiking in California and Colorado in 2009 God permitting.. No concrete plans. I'll be doing seminars in support of the new Wing Chun Club schools in Morrison CO, Placerville CA and Humboldt CA, so I'm sure I'll be able to squeeze some wilderness time in.

Thanks for reading my rants. Perhaps I'll share some of my local Hawaii hikes with you all. Kaaawa Valley is awesome! Until then.

aloha, Pygmy

How the West Was One

Gearing up for the Colorado Trail

I'll admit it. I'm a gear head. I love getting new gear and testing it out. For the first time I'll be hiking with a partner and possibly a group of people. Also I may not hike certain sections that are ugly or down trodden. I'm not hellbent on doing the miles. This is more of a vacation hike. Get a few hundred miles in and go back to work. I expect that 09 will be the same but I will be planning a large scale trek for the year 2010. I'm clueless as to where... Afghanistan, Peru, Patagonia, Golden Gate Park?

New to the gear list is the Six Moons Lunar Duo aprox. 2 1/2 lbs. A castle for two. A Western Mountaineer Sumer Lite sleeping bag, only 1 pound. A GoLite rain jacket only 7oz.. SolomonSpeed Cross 2 Running Shoes. My Granite Gear Nimbus pack is holding out and still weights about 3 pounds. Other mainstay gear include, titanium pot, tyvek sheet, cat can stove (V8), Thermarest Prolite 3, Western Mountaineer Lite Vest, Prana Stretch Zion Pants (small)... yadayadayada. For a full run down of gear you'll have to check out the archive section on the site. So far my base weight (no food no water) is 15-16 lbs. defiantly not ultralight.

I'd like to ask this question: Does anyone have any advice regarding hiking the Colorado Trail? What's your favorite gear? Favorite towns? Best food? Places to avoid etc... I haven't resorted to discussion groups yet. In fact let me know of such groups if they exist. I've got the data and guide books but haven't read them yet.

Pygmy
ps- I almost for got to mention my favorite piece of gear... the ECO Media Player. This thing is awesome! It plays video, text, pictures, radio, recorder, flashlight and cell phone charger... powered by hand crank! 5 oz.

Coloreds on America's Trail Systems!

It's true! Colored people are frequenting our beloved trail systems. Not many mind you. But they... we, are here and it could only get worse... better. The numbers don't lie. On the PCT alone out of the 549 1/2 hikers on the trail this year 1 is colored. 2 are Asian and don't really count (they'll never make it past Warner Springs). No coloreds are expected AT ALL on the CT. However with my arrival there's bound to be more. Who knows. By 2010 2... maybe even 3 ethnic colored peoples will brave these incredible wilderness areas of our great nation.

How will the other hikers respond to such drastic change? How will the towns react to these strange intruders with espresso pigmented skin?

America is still a racist country. This is even more prevalent in the back-country regions. Guide books don't ever reflect this simply because not many people of color really go into the back-country. My experience of being a minority (in skin color alone) has been and I suspect will continue to be interesting to say the least. Sometimes sad I'm sure. But without a doubt... ENTERTAINING!

I will be reporting the behaviors and attitudes of these fine people as I saunter through our National Trail systems. I'll also be reporting my own ill behavior and attitude as I cope with these various situations. I'll tell which towns to visit and which towns to burn... just kidding. But most of all I'll tell you which dances and songs the white folk most prefer you to entertain them with. So grab your bottle top tap shoes and lets go hiking!

Wichuwa-Ka Season 4 Colorado Trail

"Pygmy" is getting back on the trail for season 4 of my Wichuwa-Ka (Wing Chun Walk Across America). In July I'll be hitting The Colorado Trail (nearly 500 miles). I'll be in SLO acting in a movie called "Lizard Boy" right before I hit the trail. This year has been very busy so I'm really looking forward to getting out this year.

OK... why the title? Let me make it clear that in all actuality I am not an ethnic. Because I am of Scottish English Polynesian decent I have a darker skin color than most so called "white" people. But with all due respects... I was raised white, schooled white, went to white churches and dated white girls. I even had the same prejudices as my white friends. I'll even admit to still harboring the same feelings toward "coloreds" but I give these shameful notions little credance. We all know that in America... "All men and women are created equal..." BUT!

Many white folk just don't get it. They think they are good people because they are being tolerant of colored people. Often they behave entirely different towards coloreds without even realizing it. Since I've started hiking in the early '80s I've had a lot of experience with this sort of behavior.

I'm not blind to all the wonderful people on the trail and in the towns of these amazing places throughout America. But they are overshadowed by the well meaning white folk that think they're doing someone a favor by being tolerant. Of course in some towns the people are downright rude... but I prefer this to the hatefulness of tolerance.

So this is a manual/journal/guidebook that I wish I had before adventuring out into the back-country. What are the people really like? How do they behave when in the presence of someone different. This is fine reading for people of color, foreigners, gays and lesbians or anyone whom may be outside of the American mainstream white culture. I love all people. My hope is that this will bring people closer together... or comfortably apart. viva la logistics!

Washington State

It has been a few weeks since I've gotten off trail. I hiked a good portion of Washington state and a couple of Northern and Southern California sections this summer.



I would have to agree that Washington state is second only to the John Muir section of the PCT. I was there in August and experienced a good amount of rain and mosquito's along with a great amount of blueberries and dramatic scenery when the clouds would part to reveal the wonderful Cascade Mountain Range.



I talked to a few rangers and one said that this was his favorite time of year to be in the Cascades. Two weeks prior the whole area was covered in snow. Now all the wild flowers are in massive bloom. I'm told that by September they're not as vibrant. Actually I would have to say that Washington has Yosemite beat for wildflower displays.



UGGGG.... I really got to find a better BLOG service. I uploaded 5 images but only got 3. 2 just up and disappeared. I'll post more on the journal when I have time to geek with blogger. Til then go check out the images. The whole trip is up on line.

Just in closing... Brian made it the whole 113 miles... Stehekin really really sucks and you don't ever want to go there... ever... never.

Truckee to Bucks Lake 7/10/07

OK... These pictures are in reverse order and out of sequence by 5's... uggg. I refuse to fight with the technology. Far be it from my job to make Blogger upload images in an intuitive fashion.

I was only on trail for two weeks before abandoning the rest of NorCal due to fire hazard. This year is especially bad due to the low snow/rain fall. fires are popping up all over Northern California. While camping at "Diminutive Lake" I awoke 4 am shrouded in smoke from the Antelope Fire. I high tailed it out of that region and cut out at Bucks Lake. I got my resupply from Belden and headed ocean side to reconfigure this years hike.





I wanted to rent a econo-car but all they had were these huge Chevy Silverados. The gas mileage wasn't all that bad and the ride was enjoyable with plenty of uphill passing power. Now I know what all these people with the big trucks are grooving on. "Riding down highway 299 in my big ol' pick-up truck!" Funny.



The very small town of Belden. I picked up my re-supply from here thanks to my buddy Ben whom also trains in Wing Chun Kung Fu. We stopped and chi saoed in the stamp press. It was like something out of a Hong Kong movie.





Ben Jacobsen was one of my first students back in Hawaii. He is now living in Placerville and will be heading the Wing Chun Club there. He is currently a Level One Instructor under Wing Chun Club International. Ben and I had a lot of fun training together and I look forward to future sessions. Ben is a world class high diver and now delivers mail for the United States Postal System. Clearly stated... Ben Kicks Ass!







Ten miles or so before getting to Bucks Lake there was a little dead bear on the trail. It still had it's fur and teeth but the bugs were making quick work of it. Yes Car (No Car's wife) speculated that it may have been shot in the head. Hard to tell. I took this dead bear as an omen... that and the smoke lurking over the hills. I pretty much ran this 7 1/2 mile uphill section.



Like I said... pics out of place. This is me and Rest Stop from Texas at Bucks Lake Lodge. Lou is the new proprietor there and he was very nice to us hikers. Rest Stop and I leap frogged a bit before parting at this juncture. He also stayed at Frosty's and we had fun exchanging stories about him and the other hikers on the trail.




I took a little swim/bath/laundry here at the Feather River. I think it's the middle fork of the feather river but I 'm not sure. I did not see anyone on the trail from Sierra City to Bucks Lake except for Steal Away going sobo. Steal Away was finishing his 10 years thru-hike and is going on 70 years old. He had his pack swiped from him by a bear while he was at Bucks Lake.











The Sierra Buttes are the last sign of the Sierras and you get a feeling of departure in this area. Very beautiful but also very used. North of this area is a heavily used and abused area with mountain bikers on the PCT. Signs are everywhere but they are ignored. No one is out here enforcing the laws so it's recreational anarchy. Bikes, guns and lots of fun here on the PCT.




Smoke from the fires.





The famous or infamous Robert "Bob" Frost aka Frosty. Bob takes in select hikers and I was targeted as a recipient of his hospitality. He is a retired Forest Ranger/Firefighter and was featured in "Journey On The Crest". Frosty had plenty of stories to bemuse me with and was entertaining in an offbeat sort of way. I'd say Bob himself would describe himself as a dirty ol coot with a warm heart.



Frosty dropping me off beyond the trail head thusly avoiding the hellish climb over the buttes. I look forward to rehiking this section during the fall or winter. That's Rest Stop in the passengers seat... Frosty's next victum... I mean guest.



This Sierra City dog got his own meal... albiet roadkill.





On the way to Sierra City I had to go 3/4 miles off trail to a horse camp. I cursed all the way there only to be greeted by a few California Cowfolks. Actually horse folks to be more exact. They were very nice to me and had breakfast ready in the morning. I was made to eat everything so there were no left overs. I was obliged! There was a road that went right back to the PCT so my cursing was in vein. I lost no miles and the hike to Sierra City was a sinch.











Shout out to Yeti (thanks for the calcium and phone card), Deisal, Patrick and Clara, Chiggar (thanks for the benadril and pin prick), Jacob, Jen aka "U Whine" as in Jenuwine lol, Greta, Hammer Lane, Marsha, Hotpants and Reaper, Saltlick (thanks for the water), Steal Away, No Car and Yes Car and Germinator... and a guy named Oso whom's section hiking.

Fun with Pooh

Bill is so generous to allow us stinky hikers into his wonderful home. Here's some of the fun when you get to Pooh's...