Today was exciting though because we would be in Red's Meadow by days end with promises of resupply, showers, laundry, and hamburgers. I also wanted coke, lemonade, and an ice cold beer. Red's Meadow is a pack station that has a little store, cafe, and cabins to rent. We had to hoof it though because the store closes at 7pm and we needed our resupply. Nancy and I mailed ourselves food so we didn't have to carry 8 days worth at one time.
http://www.redsmeadow.com/
We start walking about 7am (earlier than usual) and there's a little climb out of Virginia Lake. Things are heating up quick. It's gonna be a humid day. We had 12 miles to go.
In case you aren't aware, high altitude causes excessive farting. Yes, it's a proven fact and studies have been conducted. By now, we are farting machines. We were polite in the beginning, saying Excuse Me, but by now we just let 'em rip and continue walking. The official term is High-Altitude Flatus Expulsion. Wikepedia has a nice little write-up on it, if you're interested. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-altitude_flatus_expulsion
We came across a cool little 900 mile marker that a PCT thru-hiker had done up.
I didn't take many pictures on Red's Meadow Day because we were so intent on getting there as fast as possible. I think we rolled in about 4:30pm which is stellar for us. Honestly, it was a push and I really thought for a minute that I wasn't gonna make it to Red's. Lots of self-talk and mind games.
When I could see the parking lot at Red's I just kept saying over and over out loud, ThankYouJesus, ThankYouJesus, ThankYouJesus. But then BAM! Hordes of people milling around on the lawn, long lines at the store, shuttle busses from Mammoth, noise, noise, noise! Culture shock!
Carrie decided to leave the trail. She procured a ride for $100 back to our start point. She will drive Nancy's car to Tuolumne and park it where her car currently sits. This solves the no key dilemma. She has much to do back home and feels she needs to go. Good luck, Carrie!
Nancy and I go into the store to retrieve our resupply but the guy says he can't help us yet with the long line. So we wait. Carolen also needs to check us into the cabin we have reserved. But wait we must.
Finally, there seems to be a shift change so we go back into the store. The dude running the register doesn't like me rifling through their resupply book (just doing what the guy before told me to!) so we exchange unpleasant words. At last we get our resupply and our cabin and can get out of this nest of nice smelling people who are staring at us like we have just escaped prison.
Next up- hamburgers! Sorry I was remiss in my food picture taking duties and didn't get a photo of the hamburger. I assure you, it was delicious!
Showers please! We each had a turn at the shower and what a glorious experience that was! Ahhhhhh.
Then laundry. We had packed quarters and laundry soap in our resupply so we were able to do a couple loads. We hung out on the deck by the washing machines and just relaxed and chatted. Talked to a PCT thru-hiker named Zappa (he really looked like Zappa) for awhile. He and his girlfriend, Dollywood, had already hiked the Appalachian Trail.
Over the course of the evening, I made it back to the little store several times to buy various items as I thought of them. Fritos, Snapple, Blue Moon beer, an apple, and Spoons! They only sold packs of spoons so I took 3 out and put the rest in the hiker barrel. The hiker barrel (or box) is a tub of cast-off hiker crap that is not wanted anymore (or not wanted to carry). There was a whole pumpernickel loaf in this one that was as heavy as a brick. I can see why someone would want to off-load that. There was a huge bottle of lotion, various edibles of questionable origin, a giant thing of oatmeal, hot chocolate, wet wipes, hand sanitizer. We took the wet wipes and sanitizer.
Here is my pack exploded on the couch doing resupply.
It was a tough yet fabulous day. Clean, showered, full belly, and here with my hiking friends.
Postive Thought
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. ~Isaiah 40-28-31
No comments:
Post a Comment