Mono Pass to Tuolumne Day 6

I'm excited when I wake up because our next stop is Thousand Island Lake!  Seriously beautiful spot that I love.  It's "only" 7.7 miles with a climb of "only" 500 feet!

But Carolen is not doing well.  She's been up all night vomiting.  We ply her with tums and immodium and hope for the best.  She says she's going to start walking ahead of us.  We catch up with her at the Agnew Meadow trail junction and she has made the decision to walk the 3 miles to Agnew and catch a shuttle back to Mammoth.  I can see that her hands are shaking as we stand talking.  What to do, what to do?!  Should I walk her out?  Will she be okay for 3 miles on her own?  In the end, I think she's a really strong hiker and has had more experience than me with being sick on the trail.  She walks away and we watch her go.  Later we'll find out that she made it to the shuttle and back to Mammoth.  Her husband came and got her.

Now we are three.

We had a nice leisurely meander in the woods throughout the day.  John Muir "meandered" so we did too.  We also lolligagged and mosied. 




Shadow Lake:  John Muir's favorite.























As we started our descent down into the Thousand Island Lake area, it started to sprinkle.  Okay, it's okay, just sprinkles.  Then it started pouring.  We stopped and got out rain gear and kept walking.  We could hear the thunder in the distance.  That's okay, keep walking. 









By the time we rolled into Thousand Island Lakes, we had a full blown thunderstorm roiling overhead.  Thunder, lightening, pouring rain, hail. Hail!   Look below, we're all still smiling! 






We were not comfortable camping in the granite of Thousand Island Lakes with the lightening though.  After much walking back and forth (including a few sketchy and slippery log creek crossings), trying to figure out a safe place, we decided to backtrack to a cove of trees.  Phew- safety!  We pitched our tents and EVERYTHING was soaking wet despite pack covers.  All of a sudden, Nancy says, UH OH!  There's a no camping sign for this area.  CRAP.  So we debate back and forth about what to do and if the sign really encompasses the area we're in and if the map the ranger gave us really specifies this area, so on and so forth.  In the end, we decided that a $500 each fine would not be worth it so we packed up all our wet, disgusting crap and backtracked some more.  I had already gotten some dirty water which I didn't want to dump because it took me some effort to get- slip sliding down a muddy slope and then climbing back out.  So I carried an extra 64 oz of water to backtrack and moved soooooooo slow.  We ended up at another lake, the name of which I can't remember. 

It's a very pretty lake and we have sweet little spot right above it.  Everything is wet but sleeping clothes and quilt are dry so that's all that matters.  And we're alive!  At this pretty lake! 





Positive Thought
Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. ~Anthony D'Angelo

Mono Pass to Tuolumne Day 4

I awoke groggy and hung-over from exhertion and lack of sleep. 

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. 

References for Isaiah 40:28

• Cross References

• 85 40:28 - S ver 21
• 86 40:28 - S Dt 33:27 ; S Ps 90:2
• 87 40:28 - S ver 26
• 88 40:28 - S Isa 37:16
• 89 40:28 - Isa 44:12
• 90 40:28 - S Ps 147:5 ; Ro 11:33

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.                        

References for Isaiah 40:29

• Cross References

• 91 40:29 - S Ge 18:14 ; S Ps 68:35 ; S 119:28
• 92 40:29 - Isa 50:4 ; 57:19 ; Jer 31:25

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;                           

References for Isaiah 40:30

• Cross References

• 93 40:30 - Isa 9:17 ; Jer 6:11 ; 9:21
• 94 40:30 - S Ps 20:8 ; Isa 5:27

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                            

Mono Pass to Tuolumne Day 5

We awoke in our soft beds at Red's Meadow, feeling the pull of the trail.  But not before breakfast! 






A plastic chair has decided to hitch a ride with me.



Once our bellies were full again, we readied ourselves for the walk du jour.  Our goal was Rosalie Lake, 8.6 miles.  We would climb from 7600 feet to 9350 feet.

My pack was heavy with a full bear can of food.  I had some new food to try this trip.  Some of it worked and some didn't.  I had stove top stuffing with cranberries, walnuts and gravy for a few breakfasts and really liked that.  Another new addition was dark chocolate- LOVE!  Didn't melt and was great for pick-me-ups during the day and a nice treat in the evening.  I also had Halva bars which I hated!  It was like eating a crumbly powder.  Gross.  I also didn't like the little mini sausages and cheeses.  Man, I choked those down out of necessity but they sat in my stomach like a ton of rocks.



Devils Postpile



The climb out of Red's Meadow is so pretty.  Deep forests and running creeks.  Hot and muggy again.  There were times where it felt like I was walking through pea soup, the air was so thick.  One step in front of the other, painfully, woefully slow.  I thought of my legs like pistons, just cranking out the steps.



Break time!









Water sources started dwindling and seasonal creeks were dry so we had to filter water from a shallow, algae filled puddle of water.  Mmmmm, fresh mountain water!



As we were filtering water at this delicious spot, a girl wearing a tutu walked up.  Hello, I love your tutu, I said!  She started talking about all the hiking she's done and I asked her if she had a trail name.  I can't remember what it was- Fifty Pop or something along those lines.  Named after some fish species.  Her family came walking up then and we talked a bit.  There were 7 or 8 of them.  They were henceforth known as Tutu Family or Tutu Girl.   We would leap frog with them all the way to the end.





I pulled my umbrella out for the first time on this day.  What kind of sweet pleasure is this?!  And why haven't I been using this on previous days?  It cut down on the heat so much I couldn't believe it!  I attached it to my sternum strap so I could go hands free and still use my trekking poles.  What joy!  What relief!



We stopped to take a break and I had been having some weird stomach and back pain issues. When I went pee, it hurt like a mother.  Shit, I said out loud, shit!  It actually took a little for the pain to subside- it felt deeply internal.  I stood on the side of the trail breathing through it then sat heavily on a log.  Tutu Family came by and chatted some.  I couldn't engage though because my mind was swirling with thoughts of urinary tract and kidney infections.  Just calm down, I told myself.  If there is still pain by bedtime, start the Cipro.  I carry antibiotics for UTI and sinus infections as well as an anti-fungal so I had that safety net.  I increased water and electrolyte intake throughout the day and didn't have any further problems.  Phew.

We made it to Rosalie Lake.  So beautiful! 





I was so tired, I straight laid down on my sleeping pad before setting up my tent.  Savasana- Dead Pose.



There was a crap ton of people (as far as wilderness standards) at Rosalie Lake.  We had people camping all around us and could hear them talking and laughing.  We had 3 fishing dudes right next to us who we thought were going to be an issue.  The only issues were that they had a campfire (not allowed) and I could hear them talking loud at about 3:30am (assuming they got up early to fish).







Loved Rosalie Lake.  Wonderful, gorgeous spot.

Positive Thought
My dear friend, clear your mind of can't. ~Samuel Johnson

Mono Pass to Tuolumne Day 3

Today's goal was Purple Lake, 12 miles, with a climb over Silver Pass, topping out at 10, 700 feet. I was beginning to realize this trail was just a series of very high ups and downs.  Climb, climb, climb and then down, down, down.  A giant rollercoaster of granite, forest, meadows, lake, creeks, rivers, mosquitos and endless possibilities.

We began our climb up out the forest and back into the granite then back down into another valley. We went through a long, narrow meadow canyon filled with marmot and pika.  The little pika would chase each other out into the meadow and across the trail.  The air was filled with their chirping noises.

We began the ascent up Silver Pass, taking one slow step after another.  It was tough. When we made it to the top, we splayed out to eat lunch.  It was hot as usual so Nancy stripped down to her bra.  I was sitting in the dirt, spread eagle in my skirt, when a PCT thu-hiker rolled up and plopped down to cook his lunch.  He was a weirdo.  Got an immediate pervert vibe off him.  I asked him what his trail name was and he held up a sign that said Czech Mix (from the Czech Republic).  He stared at Nancy's boobies and stood too close to me when we got up to leave.  Buh bye, Czech Mix!

We continued on and down from Silver Pass, walking through high apline meadows and no-name lakes.  We had many water crossings and some were really scary.  Some had logs to walk across and some were just rock hopping.  The rocks were sometimes too far apart and it got the adrenaline pumping.  We were crossing a river and I was on a rock, smack in the middle, thinking about listening to some music, when I felt a presence.  I turned my head and Czech Mix was standing on the rock right behind me.  Crap!  Really! Not only was it creepy but it was bad river crossing ettiquette.  We made it to the other side and I stepped aside to let him go by but he said he needed to stop and filter water.  Okay, well I think he could have done that on the other side and avoided scaring the crap out of me.

Down and down we walked, running into people here and there.  One guy was high on benedryl because his mosquito bites were too itchy.  Ran into a couple of ladies eating pizza so we had to ask about that- they were only doing a couple days so were able to carry in delicious food. 

When we finally reached what seemed to be the apex of the downhill and started going uphill again, I thought "What fresh hell is this?"  None of us realized that there was an additional 1500 foot climb to Purple Lake.  Up we go again!  Is this a pass?  I don't know.  All I know is it's hotter than the hinges of Hades, the climb is gnarly, and I'm tired and hungry.  This was definitely a mind over matter scenario.

After what seems like an eternity, we reach the top and I'm stuffing snacks into my face as fast as I can.  We make it to a lake.  What lake, I don't know, but we decide to stop and cook our dinner and then walk the remaining 2 miles to Purple Lake.  For this, I'm grateful.  I do need to eat dinner.  We eat; Nancy and I still sharing a spoon.

Then we continue walking.  We have the scariest rock hop so far but we all make it across.  Everyone speeds ahead and then it's just Nancy and I plodding along.  I'm sure Nancy could go faster and she's probably hanging back for me because I'm reaaaaaaalllly slow especially when tired.  We start going down, as is the way of this trail.  This has got to be the longest 2 miles of my life.  Darkness is setting in and we're going on 9pm.  It's a 13 hour walking day.  No bueno.

Nancy and I get to a junction in the trail and we go left because I see some people camping and think it's our group.  No, it's a bunch of dudes, smoking cigars.  I'm uncomfortable.  We continue a bit down and decide this is the wrong way.  A bit of panic spurs me back up the trail, past the cigar-smoking dudes.  Then I see the PCT sign and continue along what, I assume, is Purple Lake.  We come upon some people camping but I can't see if it's our group so I stand in the dark and stare at them.  I hear Carolen call out "Tina?"  It's them.  Phew, so all is well.  No, all is not well!  It's been 13 hours of walking and it's dark!  I'm pissed!  Upset that I took the wrong trail, upset that I've been walking so long, and upset that I have to pitch a tent on a slope.  I'm so tired, I don't even pull out my inflatable mattress.  I just lay on my foam pad with my legs elevated on my backpack, feeling my spine release and my feet throb.  Then it's a night of sliding down the slope and crawling back up in my tent.

This was the worst day.

Positive Thought
The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. ~Christopher McCandless