First post, trip itinerary

Hi friends and family,

So as you may know, my roommate Matt and I are headed out on our post-bar road trip soon. We leave August 11th and we'll be on the road until about October 1st or 2nd. Our itinerary is pretty loose and subject to change as we go. Also, I'm just reciting this schedule from memory, so I might be forgetting some stuff in here, but here's a rough sketch:

Aug 11-14 - Lost Coast, CA
We roll out from SF, headed to the Lost Coast in King Range to go backpack California's coast. This is a really cool trail area. I've been once before back in college and I'm real excited to head get back out there. We'll probably be there two or three days.

Aug 14-17 - Crater Lake, OR

Aug 17-19 - Eugene, Portland, OR

Aug 20-23 - Seattle, Suquamish, WA
We're going up to see our friend, newly minted 9th Circuit clerk Michael Esser in his new place in Seattle and see other friends in the area. And of course we'll have to stop off in Suquamish on our way to Olympic National for some of Grandma Anne's cooking.

Aug 23-25 - Olympic National Park, WA
This place looks awesome. We're likely headed out to Washington's west coast to go back packing and see some more of the Pacific.

Aug 26-30 - Victoria, Vancouver, BC
Taking the ferry from Port Angeles into Canada to see Victoria for a night, then onto Vancouver for the weekend.

Aug 30-Sept 2 - Banff, AB
From Vancouver we go east through Canada to see Banff. I've never been, but I've seen pictures and it looks amazing.

Sept 3-7 - Caley - Portland OR, Matt - Glacier National Park, MT
Probably the only dates that are currently set in stone (because I already bought my tickets from Glacier to Portland and back). Matt and I split up for the weekend. I'm headed out to Portland to hang out with all my college roommates. Matt's staying in Montana in Glacier with some friends.

Sept 7-14 - Glacier National, MT, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, WY
Dates are not totally determined, but what is determined is that we're checking out these three parks before heading to south Utah.

Sept 15-23 - Zion, Bryce, Arches, UT, Mesa Verde, CO, Four Corners, AZ, UT, CO, NM
Another big lump of dates. No set plan on where we're going or when, but we plan on camping all over south Utah and Colorado. We'll probably have to check out Four Corners too, just because we're in the area.

Sept 24-Oct 2 - Grand Canyon, AZ, Sequoia National, Yosemite, CA
So I'm going to have to find out what's the big deal with this huge hole in the ground they call the Grand Canyon. We're going to spend a few days to make sure we get to see the North Rim, which is apparently worth the extra long drive. After that, it's off to Sequoia to drive through a redwood tree, then to Yosemite (which Matt has never seen). If it's open and I've got the energy, I'd like to climb Half Dome.

Oct 3 - Home (GO BEARS!!! BEAT USC!!! And congratulations Alex & Olivia)
Finally home. Matt's off to see the California Bears dominate the spoiled children from Southern California and I'm off to see Alex, who I've known since fourth grade, marry Olivia, who I've known since seventh grade. Great way to finish off an amazing trip.

So while we're on the road, this blog will serve as our trip log, of sorts. We can post updates via iPhone when whenever there's coverage, and when we get internet access, I'll try to post photos as well. I'm also going to get a photobucket account or something to post all the photos.

Anyway, until August 11, I'll be either here in Sacramento or back in SF getting supplies together. Should be excellent!