Suzanne Finney, PCT Class of 2008

If you want to follow a PCT hiker this year, Suzanne is a great writer. Below is where she posts her trail journals. A direct link to her trailjournal account is www.trailjournals.com/suzannefinney. I've had some email correspondence with Suzanne and one phone call. She is a very special lady.

This linked journal page below, from her PCT 08 journal, is a special page for me. She lists "Internal Rules" for her herself while she hikes this year.

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=212973

Baby is gone and out on her own.

Earlier in the day I could tell Baby was practicing and getting close to flying off.

Today is the first day she really practiced flapping her wings.

Mama is in Baby's nest looking up at Baby on the condo stucco wall.

Mama was freaking out. Mama repeatedly tried to get Baby off the wall. Mama got on Baby's back and pecked Baby and then tried prying Baby off the wall with her feet.

Mama also feed Baby while Baby was on the wall. Baby must have been exhausted.

Ray spotted Baby as Baby left her nest. He said,"Baby is on the condo wall." I went for my camera. I spent the next 1.5 hours taking photos. I shot some movie too. Tired and off the bed now. But I someday hope to put together a photo essay of Baby and Mama.

Baby flew up on the roof of the Condo and Mama followed her. 37 days from egg to flight.

Bye bye Babette. (See Emily, I still call Baby Babette even though Ray didn't want me too.)

Baby is getting rambunctious.

Baby is out growing her nest. Mom has built up one side of the nest recently.

Baby has a pattern I've discovered. I've watched her so much that I know when Mama is coming to feed her. I go out and stand very, very quietly 3 feet away and shoot photos as Mama is landing.

Ray gets mad at me for going outside so much. He thinks I'm going to scare Baby into flying off before Baby is ready to fly. I think Baby is going to fly within the next few days. Baby flapped her wings today to keep herself from losing her balance now that she courageously stands perched on the top side of the nest.

Mama comes to the rescue now that Baby is so cocky. Mama is very strict and I get a kick out of catching her beat Baby down in her nest anyway she can.

Mama comes at the same time everyday to shade Baby from the hot sun. Then I get to photograph Mama's beautifully colored back feathers. Baby has some green in her back now too.

And there are fewer and fewer times when Baby sits still with Mama. Ray and I are going to be very sad to see our Baby fly away.


Any bets on which date she'll take flight?
If Baby doesn't fly away soon, I'll never get ready for this trip.

More PCT early thru hiker sightings.

Katy and Leah proudly displaying their new Class of 2008 PCT bandanas. Katy and Leah started April 1st at the border.

Jan, Katy and Leah

Zeke, Jan, Leah and Katy at the famous Paradise Cafe, one mile west of where the PCT crosses Hwy 74.

Baby has lots of feathers.

Baby is habituated to me. I am an ever present presence. I talk to Baby. Baby knows my voice, my camera lens in its face and Baby feels safe but somewhat confused by me.
Baby has feathers which means it isn't going to be long now, maybe a week, before Baby takes flight.
I can't imagine how two babies could fit in this small nest.

I must have clicked off 100 photos today. Everytime I passed the glass window, Baby or Mama were doing something so cool it had to be photographed. I spent many hours today distracted and very interested by new behaviors.

Mama lands midday to shade Baby from the hot sun that shines directly on Baby around 1pm. Mama spreads her tail feathers and wings very wide to shield Baby from the direct heat of the sun.

I will eventually upload a lot more of the photos I've taken to Flickr.com but I haven't the time now. I'll post when I've uploaded photos to Flickr. I hope to do a photo essay of Baby from beginning to end too. But not until I return from my trip.

Mating bugs

Ths sun had been up for 20 minutes this morning when I spotted these two bugs at it while on a bump & grind hike with Katie.


Off to LA in a couple of hours. Can't wait to see many of you tonight!

ADZPCTKOP and Baby

Many of you have heard me talk about the PCT Class bandanas I make up every year. You've also heard me mention the ADZPCTKOP hiking weekend I attend before the current year PCT hikers hit the trail.
Well, click on this link below to see a photo of me in action on the ADZ website and learn more how the tradition of gifting the Class bandanas began.
http://siechert.org/adz/pct_bandana.htm

P.S. Baby is doing ok, I think. I'll take another photo soon and post it for you to see how Baby has grown in size and how many feathers she has now.

I read more about baby hummingbirds. Ray and I thought Mama was neglecting Baby at night by not sleeping in the nest any longer. But what I learned is that a certain point in Baby's development Baby begins to be able to generate her own body warmth and no long needs Mama to sit on top of her.

I also read that the baby's self defense is that she knows not to peep and make noise for Mom. That's why Baby is so unanimated! Duh.