Well, now that my trip is over and I’ve had some time to rest (read: gain all of my pre-trail weight back and then some, and whine about not having a job), I’ve decided to Continue reading “Post-Script: Thoughts On Gear – Tents”
Post Script: Overdue Thank You’s
I should have written this post months ago.
I have always been terrible at thank-you’s. If you’ve ever sent me a gift or a kind message and I didn’t respond or send you a thank-you card, well, I apologize. I appreciate every single one even if I am too scatter-brained to acknowledge your thoughtfulness. And I promise to make my southern mama proud of my efforts in the future.
Day 169: The Trail Ends Here
Date: September 30, 2017
Miles: 1153.8 – 1157.6
The traffic sounds that I heard this morning were a fitting reminder that reentry to civilization was imminent. I took a little extra time to eat my last breakfast (probably my 200th packet of oatmeal) before throwing my home onto my back and stepping onto the trail. Continue reading “Day 169: The Trail Ends Here”
Day 168: Toward The End
Date: September 29, 2017
Miles: 1127.2 – 1153.8
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” ~ Ernest Hemingway
I had a wistfully emotional day. The gray, cloudy sky matched my mood – it too seemed wistful, but not sad, about the end of this trek. I like to imagine that the dusky hills and valleys of the Granite Chief wilderness felt the same. An aching, ‘I have to say goodbye for now, but maybe I will see you again’ kind of way. Continue reading “Day 168: Toward The End”
Day 167: Almost Done
Date: September 28, 2017
Miles: 1103.4 – 1127.2
It’s my second to last full day on trail. This adventure will be over soon and I’m not sure yet how I feel about that. All day I vacillated between impatience to get back to the creature comforts of home and family, and my desire to stay out in the elements I’ve become accustomed to – dirt, mountains, sun, wind, valleys, trees, stars. Will I be able to slide easily back into a society obsessed with material things? Will I feel like a weathered square peg trying to shove itself into a plastic round hole? I don’t know. Continue reading “Day 167: Almost Done”
Day 165 & 166: South Lake Tahoe and Desolation Wilderness
Date: September 26 & 27, 2017
Miles: 1069.7 – South Lake Tahoe; South Lake Tahoe – 1103.4
This morning we hiked through the El Dorado National Forest and joined up with the Tahoe Rim Trail. It was very windy, but sunny and enjoyable. The highlight was a relaxing lunch next to Showers Lake. Continue reading “Day 165 & 166: South Lake Tahoe and Desolation Wilderness”
Day 164: Miles Of Mokelumne
Date: September 25, 2017
Miles: 1044.2 – 1069.7
“God never made an ugly landscape. All that the sun shines on is beautiful, so long as it is wild.” ~ John Muir
I slept in until 7 this morning, which is a rarity on trail. It was freezing cold, but better than yesterday. I felt pretty sluggish all morning and since I left camp later than the boys did, I didn’t catch up with JD and Fluff for lunch. At least I thought I hadn’t. Continue reading “Day 164: Miles Of Mokelumne”
Day 163: What Are You Looking At, Cow?
Date: September 24, 2017
Miles: 1023.2 – 1044.2
“The sincere friends of this world are as ship lights in the stormiest of nights.” ~ Giotto di Bondone
Last night’s temperatures tested the capabilities of my sleeping pad and quilt, and also my tolerance for discomfort. It must have been in the teens since I woke up every half an hour with some cold body part or another. When I finally dared to venture out of my quilt at 6:30, I found that a pair of my socks, my gaiters and my shoes had all been turned to blocks of ice. Continue reading “Day 163: What Are You Looking At, Cow?”
Days 161 & 162: From Cold To Warm To Cold Again
Dates: September 22 & 23, 2017
Miles: 1016.9 – 1023.2
We woke up at the pack station warm, if not totally dried out yet. Luckily for us, JD’s sister Mandi came to pick us up and take us to a family cabin in the town of Arnold a couple hours away. There we were able to spread out and get everything really dry. Mandi made us a bunch of food for dinner and breakfast the next morning, and gave us a ride back to the trailhead at Sonora Pass. She basically saved our butts. THANK YOU, MANDI! Continue reading “Days 161 & 162: From Cold To Warm To Cold Again”
Day 160: Icicles On Eyelashes
Date: September 21, 2017
Miles: 1005.9 – 1016.9 + 9 mile road walk to Kennedy Meadows North.
“It’s a winter wonderland!” ~ Seinfeld
Any gratitude that I had last night evaporated immediately when I woke up at 11 pm to the realization that so much rainwater had collected under my tent that it had turned into a waterbed. Water was splashing up underneath the vestibules of my tent and everything inside was damp, including me. I tried to go back to sleep, but instead laid awake for an hour feeling the clammy wetness of my quilt and wishing for the heavy rain to stop. I finally fell asleep, but woke up again at 2 am when Fluffy began yelling at me to get up because my tent was collapsing under the weight of the snow that had started. I instantly figured out that I was not just having a dream that someone was slapping me in the face with wet cuben fiber, it was actually happening. Continue reading “Day 160: Icicles On Eyelashes”