Mono Pass to Tuolumne Last Day

I was peaceful and reflective when I woke up.  Actually, I didn't really sleep.  I had a rock digging into my back all night.  But I was peaceful and reflective all the same.  The last day is always emotionally interesting.  There's some sadness about coming off the trail yet excitement to see loved ones, eat real food of course, and get clean.  It can be a little difficult to assimilate back into civilization as well.

Our obvious goal was to reach Tuolumne so we would be descending a few thousand feet into the valley.  It was heating up to be a scorcher.

We had to cross the river again but we chose to wade across in a shallow area.  The only rocks available for hopping happened to line up right next to a waterfall.  Um, no thanks. 

We started switchbacking down.  I just felt the calmness of the forest settling around me and couldn't help but think of John Muir's words, “I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”  So true.  I let the serenity melt into me.







As we continued down, we ran into more and more people.  Day hikers, JMT thru-hikers, section hikers.  They came in every size, shape, color, and age imaginable.  You could tell who had no experience and who had alot.  But kudos to all of them for attempting whatever dreams they aspired to.  Best of luck to all of them.











Last day selfie- whoa look at the swollen eyes and hair do!  Still smiling though.



My umbrella worked great in the heat.  So glad I had it.







Almost there!  We needed to get to Tuolumne Grill by 5pm to get our hamburger!





I was just coming out of the woods from taking a pee when this group of kids (in their 20's) came walking by.  One chick glanced at me and did a double-take.  She said,"Whoa, how many days you been out here?"  I said "8".  Then a dude said "Your pack is huge.  You could, like, go to the moon and back with that thing. Har Har Har Har!"  Then another dude started rapid-firing questions at me:  How long you been out here, how many miles, what trail you doing, bam, bam, bam, bam!  Too much, too soon!  I felt like going into Neo mode, dodging bullets like in the Matrix.

Neo dodging bullets:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc4cBiSXoCs  






The only deer was saw the entire time!



We had a long long walk through the flatlands and meadows.  Some ominous clouds started to gather and we could hear thunder in the distance.  We weren't too concerned about it though since we were on lower ground.

We should have been concerned though because we got the fury of the skies unleashed upon us.  We made it to the campground/lodge junction just as it started to sprinkle.  Which way to go, which way to go?  We debated it for a few minutes and a fisherman told us to go through the campground.  We were trying to figure out which way would be closer to where the car was parked.  To the campground we trekked and it started pouring rain, lightening and thunder.




The lightening was cracking too close for comfort!  At one point, Nancy flung her trekking poles away from her and onto the ground.  Metal, you know!  The rain was coming down in sheets and we didn't know which way to go so we ducked into the campground bathroom.  This was my first experience taking shelter in a public bathroom.  I'm here to tell you, it's no fun.  So gross. 

Ingrid came up with this plan to walk out to the campground entrance host and get directions.  I'm not sure what the plan was supposed to be after that though.  So Nancy and I went after her, still in the pouring rain.  We all met up at the campground entrance and realized how very close we were to the car.  HOWEVER, we would miss the hamburger at the grill because it was after 5pm.  I wasn't really that sad though because we were so close to the car.




And we did end up getting a hamburger after all- at the Whoa Nellie Deli that is conveniently located at a Mobil gas station right outside Tuolumne.  Don't knock it till you try it!  It was super amazing. 



Once our bellies were full, we made our way down to the Best Western in Bishop and crashed hard.  We slept like the dead.  The next morning at breakfast, who did we see??  Tutu Family!!!  So funny how things work out.

So what's next, you ask?  I don't know but I'm ready to go again!

Positive Thought
Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature's darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature's sources never fail. ~John Muir

Mono Pass to Tuolumne Day 7

I slept really well and woke up feeling great.  Am I getting into the groove finally?  Now that we only have two days left?  Makes me a little sad.  But I will be happy for a shower and a hamburger.

We start walking, covering ground that we already walked the night before.  All is well and Thousand Island Lake is just ahead.  I'm excited to see it in the sunshine.







This is the log crossing we did a few times yesterday in the rain and hail.



Mmmmm....Perty!









We skirted Thousand Island Lakes, gazing at the serenity and beauty.  Then we started the climb out up Island Pass.  What a cute little pass this is, I thought.  All warm and snuggly, I just wanted to pinch the cheek of this pass.  It rolled along gently and didn't cause us any stress.















We mosied up the pass and then kicked up the speed going down the other side.  We had to make it over Donahue Pass before any untoward weather decided to make an appearance.  We killed it going downhill! 









Donahue Pass sits at 11,050 feet so we needed to climb about 1200 feet.  The section between Island Pass and Donahue Pass was the prettiest section so far.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  One little meadow after another with creeks and streams flowing throughout, alpine wildflowers blooming gregariously along the trail, marmots and pikas frolicking.  It was an alpine wonderland. 








Marmot!







We stopped to have a foot soak - felt SO good!  Unfortunately, as we were sitting there, we saw some dark clouds in the distance that seemed to be moving our way pretty fast.  We wrapped up our foot soak and continued walking for a bit. 





The storm was coming upon us fast.  We debated whether to continue or hunker down.  Donahue Pass is notoriously bad for storms and none of us felt like dying that day so we decided to sit tight.  Ingrid went up into a stand of trees while Nancy and I pitched our tents in a meadow.  And there we waited for the storm. 





I sat in my tent, peering out, watching the thunder and lightening show.  The lightening would crack and a few times I almost jumped out of my skin.  Wow, that was scary!  It poured rain for a couple hours.  I just hung out, put some pants on, ate a bunch of snacks, and napped a bit.  I had to pull out my quilt because I was getting cold.  The temperature had dropped 15 degrees when the storm rolled through.



Once the storm passed, we packed up to continue over the pass.  Ingrid came flying down towards us from her stand of trees saying "Wait, wait, something has happened!"  I was like Huh, What, What???  She said "I've taken a bad fall!"  I'm looking at her trying to figure out how bad this fall was; did you hit your head or break a bone? She fell on a slippery rock and landed badly on her knee, elbow and hands.  Thank goodness no head or bone injuries.  We plied her with ibuprofen and then continued walking!  Man, that Ingrid is a tough cookie.  She climbed Donahue Pass and down the other side, into the night, with not one complaint. 





The two hour break did me good.  I had a mental spring in my step.  I'm sure I looked like I was still plodding along but I felt good and had a little extra pep.



Made it to the top of the Pass!  There was no sign stating location or elevation though and I was very disappointed with that.  Come on- it's Donahue Pass!





Then we began the descent down.  We were shooting for Upper Lyell Canyon. I think at this point, I prefered going uphill to downhill.  You don't breathe as heavy going down but, man, it shreds the quads and knees.











Down, down, down we walked.  Holy crap, so far down.  We took a wrong turn at a river and had to backtrack to the trail- it wasn't far though.  Funny thing was, a thru-hiker followed us onto the wrong trail!  We just didn't think we'd have to cross the river.  It was the worst water crossing so far.  The rocks were spaced so far apart.  I should have just walked through the water like Nancy ended up doing.  But I propelled myself over those rocks on tired and shaky legs.  Ended up creating too much momentum and flung myself onto the far bank.  We made it! 

Then we continued down the last .86 of a mile to Upper Lyell.  The trail switchbacked down into the canyon on loose scree with multiple creeks rushing right over the trail.  If you're not careful, it would be easy to fall right off the side. 

We rolled into Upper Lyell at about 9pm.  My pep and spring were definitely gone!  We threw up tents, ate a hasty dinner, and went to bed. 



It was a full moon too.  A Strawberry Moon.



Positive Thought
I do not at all understand the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.  ~Anne Lamott