AZT-Mules: April 10, 2008 Freeman Rd to Ripsey Wash

Corinne and Rosie looking good !

Last night Corinne's husband Jeff came out to our camp, a 2 hour drive for him, and he brought PIZZA ! It tasted so good ! He stayed to have dinner with us . By this time we had learned that a leafy salad just didn't work in the wind; it blew off of the plate . Also, the wind caught the pizza box, flipping some of the pizza into the dirt . We didn't let that stop us from eating it !

We camped very near the trailhead on FreemanRd. An okay place to camp; being up on a slight ridge would ordinarily be a good thing but it was very windy when we were there so; no campfire, and early to bed to keep warm .

Corinne had some sleeping arrangement challenges . She did not want to deal with the big tent that she had used on our last trip, so she borrowed a 2 person backpacker tent from me . What I didn't know was that she wanted to put a cot in it . That just did not work ! So she ended up using the saddle pads and a very thin foam pad for cushioning in her bed . It couldn't have been comfortable but she never complained; a good camping companion .

The next morning Dick fixed us our usual breakfast of a fried egg, a piece of buttered bread, oatmeal with raisins and walnuts, and small orange . He also always made a rolled up quesadilla, with jalepenos for me, for our trail lunch . That and a large orange was always plenty .

Dick packs up the camp; Corinne and I saddle the mules; and off we go .

The trail was very easy, good footing, basically level, and winding through junipers and open grass areas . The huge boulders scattered throughout the area give it it's name; the Boulder Segment .