Portola Redwoods, Ascent to Long Ridge OSP

I was feeling a bit less fit than I wanted for this time of the year, having skipped any serious hiking for over a month (adult life has a way to get in the way…). So I decided to throw myself at the hill climb from Portola to Route 35 and see if I could make it.
And well, I couldn't. Maybe with a bit less heat I would have summoned the will to finish it off, barely made it a quarter of a mile farther than on studio.youtube...
Yet it had been a while since I had walked up Slate creek, and the views from where I chose to stop were great, with shade and a slight breeze to boot. Should have eaten a sandwich up there but the thing with summer hikes is that if you stop for long the ones that get a snack are the bugs.
I'll have to try again in the fall…