When life hands you a pandemic, make lemonade

I’m healthy, as are my loved ones, so I’ve got no reason to complain about how hard this pandemic is for me. Between no work and all my plans canceled though, it did leave me with an overwhelming amount of free time. I’m not great at sitting still, so after a few weeks of staying home and watching the entirety of Hulu, I decided I needed an adventure. Albeit a socially responsible one because I try to do my part, ya feel?
This led to what has been dubbed, the Reno Rim Route (I have a thing for alliteration, sue me). This path was designed to connect pavement, dirt roads, single track trails, and cross-country bushwhacking into a loop around the greater Reno area. The route stays up in the hills primarily, only dropping down when necessary (social distance ftw!).

After poring over maps and scouting unknown areas the best I could (or felt like that day), I set off! Backpack loaded and short shorts on, I began hiking.

It felt good to move again after being so cooped up lately. Fresh air, the warmth of the sun on your face, and a cool evening breeze. That's my kind of living.

Almost immediately I was blown away by the wildflowers, and the wildlife. Reno is on the edge of the Great Basin, a high desert most people consider to be relatively empty outside of interstates and legal brothels, having grown up here I knew that wasn’t the case but even still, I have never seen such lively nature so close to town.

Deer, horses, pronghorn, coyotes, bears, and marmots, I had no shortage of furry friends keeping me company. (Pronghorn)

I wear a size 13 shoe in comparison, thats a healthy bear! (Black Bear)

I also had plenty of not-so-furry friends out there! (Folding Door Spider)

I mean look at this slithery nope rope. (Great Basin Gopher Snake)

This ham wouldn't move till I took his picture. (Long Nosed Leopard Lizard)

Everyone loves a hot stone massage. (Desert Collared Lizard)

In addition to all the critters, the wildflowers were absolutely going off! I never would have covered any ground if I took all the flower pictures I wanted to, but here are a few of the ones I took. (desert paintbrush)

(Veatch's Blazingstar)

(Dwarf Lupine)

(Pale Agoseris)

(Whitedaisy Tidytips)

(Kellogg's Sand Verbena)

(Tansyleaf Evening Primrose ft. DJ Bee Butt)

In the end the route ended up being 115 miles with 16k’ of elevation gain over 5 days. It was incredible, and far more than I could have hoped for. And it thoroughly kicked. my. ass.

I’m going to go rest my feet for a bit, I hope you guys are finding ways to get through these wild days.

(MV edit: this is after postholing through thigh deep snow for 14 miles, I was rotating between pairs of socks every couple hours trying to dry them out a little bit but there was only so much you can do in that kind of sufferfest!)