The Day We Hiked for Epic Vistas, Fought Silence, and Almost Got Haunted

Jeannette Ortega
2 hours ago
4 min read

We’re back! It’s been a minute, but life decided to get in the way for a second, you know how it goes.

Ali popped in for a visit so we could put our heads together and grind out her new Timeless Photography website. Major victory: we actually made huge progress! Go check it out and show her some love over at tmlssphotographs.zenfoliosite.com.

After staring at screens all day, our brains were officially fried, so we decided to hit the trail in search of some epic landscapes. Naturally, we chose The Big Tree Trail and, in true "2 Lost Girls" fashion, got a late start and didn't even make it all the way.

To be fair, our hiking style is a huge factor here. We walk 10 feet, stop and take pictures, walk 10 more feet, and veer off-trail to photograph something else that catches our eye. It literally takes us an hour to walk one mile!

We didn't find the massive, sweeping landscapes we were looking for, but the trail delivered on the details. The wildflowers right now are absolutely stunning!

Nature’s Apology Gift:

Wildflowers & A Fake Waterfall

Right off the bat, those wildflowers were popping. Nature basically said, "Sorry about the lack of epic mountain peaks, here’s some gorgeous flora to make up for it."

Then, we crossed a little rain-swollen gully and decided to follow it for a bit. Lo and behold, we stumbled upon a "waterfall." I put "waterfall" in quotes because it was completely dry. Zero water. A 0% moisture situation. But hey, a dry ledge is still technically a feature, right?

The "Cool Rocks" Siren Song

Before I could even process our bone-dry waterfall, Ali was already climbing down into the abyss to explore the bottom. From the depths below, she started shouting updates back up to me:

"There’s a massive rock slab with a white vein in it!"
"Ooh, there’s moss tucked into the crevices!"
"THERE ARE SO MANY COOL ROCKS DOWN HERE!"

Now, look. You had me at cool rocks. I am a simple creature. I heard the magic words, abandoned all self-preservation instincts, and decided to climb down to see what all the fuss was about.

The Retreat of Shame

I made it precisely halfway down before my brain woke up and said, "Absolutely not."

Suddenly, the steepness hit me. The gravity hit me. The realization that I am not a mountain goat hit me.

So, picture this: there I was, clinging to the side of a cliff face on all fours, scrambling for my life like a panicked turtle trying to climb back up to safety. And off in the distance? I swear I heard Ali giggling. Just a little.

Eventually, Ali finished her subterranean expedition and casually scaled her way back to the top. No panic, no crawling on all fours, just pure grace—and pockets literally overflowing with rocks. (Rolls eyes into another dimension).

"Are You Telling Me I Talk Too Much?"

At one point on the trail, I was telling Ali about how my mentor used to tell me to spend at least 30 minutes a day in total silence, meditating, didn't matter what I was doing. He said you can meditate while walking, etc. I was trying to suggest we use our time hiking to meditate. Here is how that conversation went:

Me: "At least we're out here walking and taking pictures!"

Ali: "It clears my head."

Me: "Maybe we should try to walk in silence?"

Ali: "Are you telling me that I talk too much on our hikes?!"

Naturally, I started laughing so hard I choked on a long, defensive, "Noooooo!" (Note to self: never suggest silence to your hiking buddy unless you're prepared to defend your life).

Paranormal Activity at Fort Bayard

Just when we thought the chaos was over, we hopped in the truck to head back, and I decided to give Ali a quick tour of old Fort Bayard.

I paused at a stop sign, and suddenly Ali gasped: "Wait... do you see that light in that old house on the second floor?!"

Before I could even answer, Ali leaped out of the truck, camera in hand, to start snapping photos of the glowing window. Goosebumps instantly erupted on both of our arms, and the hair on the back of our necks stood straight up.

Did I get out to investigate? Absolutely not. I stayed safely behind the wheel with the engine idling, ready to slam on the gas just in case we needed to make a fast getaway from a 19th-century ghost.

The Grand Conclusion

Also, full disclosure: I tried to shoot a little video along the way, but we are slightly out of shape, so every single clip sounds like a scene from a thriller movie with aggressive, heavy breathing. Working on it, I promise!

Lesson learned: We might not have found the grand, sweeping landscapes, but we got website progress, wildflowers, a bone-dry waterfall, a pocketful of rocks, a near-spooking at a historic fort, and a severe blow to my physical pride. All in all? A 10/10 day on the trail.

Our Gear

Canon 5D Mark iv - Canon 24-70mms lens

Canon 90D - Canon 24-70 lens

Alps Mountaineering Hydro Trail 15 Back Packs

Cotton Carrier Holsters

Oboz Footwear

Trail