Rebecca Hikes

We were desperate to get outside for Memorial Day weekend. I had not gotten to see some of my closest friends for an extended period of time in months. In some ways the distance has made us closer than before -- whether over the phone, by email, or on someone's doorstep, I have found it easier to tell my friends that I love them. In all other ways, the physical distance makes it more difficult to share in the day to day of each other's lives. With other close friends I have drifted apart. The puzzle was to figure out where to go, and how to do it within the growing patchwork of mis-matching inter-jurisdictional regulations. Alameda County still has its shelter in place order, but Mendocino National Forest was opening up, and had even allowed camping. We agreed we would travel separately by car, camp separately, not share equipment or food, and hike 6 feet apart. We would choose a remote, non-developed campsite that would probably not attract too many visitors. T suggeste...