Though Armen couldn’t stop thinking about the Range, he wasn’t looking forward to riding his ten-speed all the way into Sequoia National Park again in the hundred-degree heat of August. He conspired with his lower nature to remind his parents just how hazardous the highways and roads were. He casually recalled the heavy traffic and high speeds, the trucks and the drafts that they generated, and the narrow shoulders. His remarks appeared to produce the desired effect, but he couldn’t be sure until he mentioned that he and Sam had been planning another expedition.
When the time came, Mr. and Mrs. Adroushan mentioned that they’d been thinking about heading up onto the Range for a little mom-and-dad time, so maybe they could drive the boys up to their trailhead. This did, however, leave one matter unresolved. Siran asked, “what about Cindy?”
“She can go with the boys” was Garegin’s nonchalant answer.
Garegin got similar looks of surprise from his wife and son. “Maybe she can stay over at a friend’s house,” Siran suggested.
“Look,” Garegin argued, “Cindy’s tough. She can pull her own weight, and she might just save your butt, Armen.”
Armen wasn’t fond of the proposal, but he figured it was doomed to be shot down by Cindy anyway, so he tempered his protest. But he misjudged his sister. When the proposal was brought before her, she blithely assented, saying “Sure. Why not?” Armen was now sure that he didn’t know what to expect from his sister. She sure wasn’t a girly girl. Maybe it would turn out all right. Maybe she wouldn’t slow them down or turn them back. He tended to take such threats to his plans in stride, but this plan was a rather high priority at the time. He tried to dissuade his sister more than once, but such efforts only seemed to solidify her commitment to what had initially seemed like a whim.
Going by car provided them with the additional benefit of starting at a higher elevation, and deeper into the Range. There were several ways to get to the Little Kern. They could start at Mineral King, Balch Park, or Lewis Camp Trailhead above Quaking Aspen, among other locations. Mineral King sounded like the most exciting. They’d heard the name of that alpine valley many times, and Armen had seen some beautiful photos of the place, but when he considered where the best cattle grazing might be, he decided on Lewis Camp Trailhead. His folks could stay at Camp Nelson or the Ponderosa, or wherever they pleased.