MT Eddy Summit

Every single time I packed my bags and headed off on a trip my mom would look at me and say, "you're going to take me next time right?" I felt horrible. I knew she wanted to go, but truthfully I hadn't found a route that wouldn't make her hate backpacking and ruin the entire experience for her. One day while looking back at old pictures from my time teaching at Chico I remembered at Mt Eddy Summit trip I had run with Mike and again with Lil. I knew this route like the back of my hand since I had already done it twice. It was a course we had taken our beginners on. It was an easy hike in, and beautiful camp site on dead fall lakes and a challenging yet achievable summit to the top of Mt Eddy. We set the date and convinced my sister to come. We also invited my God Mother Jill, who I owe most of my achievements too. She is a an amazing woman who introduced me to my love for Canyon country at a young age. My family and I got to spend a few summers living on a house boat with her and her family in Lake Powell. A lake that left an ever lasting impression on my soul.

Of course we took the dogs. Shelby and her friend Bailey (Jills dog). We loaded Jills car and started driving North towards Mt Eddy, (located in between Shasta and Lassen). I was very excited because all three of my guest had never been backpacking. They have all day hiked, but never backpacked. I knew Jill could do it, she can do anything. I know I get my strength from my mom, so I knew she could hang and would have the best expedition behavior ever, shes a MOTHER. And as for my sister, I was skeptical, she enjoys her amenities, you know a toilet, a shower, running water. Though, we did grow up in the same house, so I knew she could kick ass too. The hike in was smooth, we took pictures and told stories, we ate snacks and told jokes. The trail up to the Dead Fall Lakes campsite is beautiful. Its a small narrow trial that runs along the middle of the mountain, making big curvy patterns along its cliff side. Waterfalls around every corner (the dogs loved this!)
We quickly reached the lake where we set up camp. It was more beautiful than I remembered. Probably because I was so impressed with my family. There was so much life around the lake. It was lush and green, contrasting with the dark black and white mountains covered in rock and snow.

 We all layed in the wild grass letting the sun warm our faces. We put on our swim suits and jumped in the lake. Shelby swam for hours, just chasing the splashes she created with her paws. Bailey watched. We decided to wake up at 3 am and head for the summit at 3:30am so we could be at the top by sunrise. I woke up at 3:30am and everyone was snoring. Especially the dogs. I loved them too much to wake them up. They were going to need their rest. I went back to bed. 5am. I started boiling water and woke everyone up with breakfast and coffee. We packed our day bags with snacks and water and then hit the trail for the summit. I was so proud of my sister, she was in the greatest shape I've ever seen her in. She was passing me up on the trail. As we gained elevation we started approaching more snow patches. Shelby and Bailey would run and roll in the snow like children playing for the first time. We reached the summit in awe.We took pictures and did the tourist thing, then went on our seperate ways to do some reflecting.

It was a beautiful moment. We were 6 strong beautiful women that just reached the top of a mountain. I couldn't have been more proud. My mom and sister had never done anything like this, and I felt so honored to be the one guiding them. It was icing on the cake to have Jill and Bailey with us to share the experience.
Celina's Photos

More Photos

This is my ankle the night before we left for the trip... I play soccer with men... and I'm kinda always hurt