09-15-2019, 09:30 PM
I had the most fails of any backpacking trip so far.
SEP 10: Altitude sickness resulting in a sharp headache, nausea and vertigo. Then that night - my bag is rated to 30F and it went way below that. I imagined Greg and Nate wondered if this was how it was going to be every night. The next morning, my teabag froze to my sierra cup.
SEP 11: My flashlight, which I use for RM & JM, and refreshed batteries just prior to the trip, decided it only works at concerts and during the day. I thought it just froze.
SEP 12: Our water filter which we got in '97 died. Stacy thought Tara's friends were too hard on it last year during their backpacking trip in Desolation Wilderness. I broke a water bottle lid strap - one of Tara's bottles actually.
FRIDAY 13: Both of my boots lost their soles. Left boot was only holding on by the toe; right toe and heel. Stacy said she remembered me mentioning that one was getting iffy on a previous recent hike but I looked them over before I left and they were okay. Where the sole attached to the boot just corroded, maybe due to the cold? Strangely I lost another boot some two decades ago on the same trail. The nosepiece on my sunglasses also gave way, causing it to dig into my nose.
SEP 14: When we got to my car, we dumped our gear so Nate, being a boulderer, could check out the legendary Camp 4 at the base of El Cap. The valley was super full with long lines and packed shuttles. It was hot, like high 90s. I wasn't worried about bears because we were parked in such a high traffic area (right next to shuttle stop 1). Then I remembered that we left the fuel cans in our packs. My car gets super hot in the sun, like in the 100s when it's only 80 outside, the pitfall of a black ride. The shuttles were too packed so I dashed back to the car on foot - about a mile - with explosive visions. I got back in time - the car was hot but nothing blew up.
Nevertheless, it was a great trek. There were some truly magic moments - Yosemite always delivers.
That morning frost on the field, twinkling rainbow refractions as the sun hit the ice - I've never seen that before and imagine the phenomenon was the inspiration for xmas lights.
And Greg's patriotic suggestion to make it for Ireland lake was inspired. I never would have gone on that detour and it was incredible - so pure and pristine, so stark and forbidden, so desolate.
And the bear. Stacy and I took a short break on the trail and I had just opened a fragrant blueberry 'no b.s.' bar.
S: there's a bear. [said quietly and calmly, as just like saying 'there's a pika']
G: huh?
S: a bear. over there.
G: what?
S: Do i have to say it three times?
I look to a log about 20 feet away and the cutest bear pops its head up and smiles at us. A small bear. A yearling maybe.
G: that's a baby bear.
We both think 'where's mom?' simultaneously and get the heck out of there as fast as we can.
I will carry those images in my mind forever.
Plus it was great fun trekking with Greg. We've come a long way from Denny's, right? Hope more of your pix turn out. Looking forward to seeing them. Stacy loved the burned forest pic, as did I. That one is almost on par with Ansel. It's at least as good as Alan Ross.
SEP 10: Altitude sickness resulting in a sharp headache, nausea and vertigo. Then that night - my bag is rated to 30F and it went way below that. I imagined Greg and Nate wondered if this was how it was going to be every night. The next morning, my teabag froze to my sierra cup.
SEP 11: My flashlight, which I use for RM & JM, and refreshed batteries just prior to the trip, decided it only works at concerts and during the day. I thought it just froze.
SEP 12: Our water filter which we got in '97 died. Stacy thought Tara's friends were too hard on it last year during their backpacking trip in Desolation Wilderness. I broke a water bottle lid strap - one of Tara's bottles actually.
FRIDAY 13: Both of my boots lost their soles. Left boot was only holding on by the toe; right toe and heel. Stacy said she remembered me mentioning that one was getting iffy on a previous recent hike but I looked them over before I left and they were okay. Where the sole attached to the boot just corroded, maybe due to the cold? Strangely I lost another boot some two decades ago on the same trail. The nosepiece on my sunglasses also gave way, causing it to dig into my nose.
SEP 14: When we got to my car, we dumped our gear so Nate, being a boulderer, could check out the legendary Camp 4 at the base of El Cap. The valley was super full with long lines and packed shuttles. It was hot, like high 90s. I wasn't worried about bears because we were parked in such a high traffic area (right next to shuttle stop 1). Then I remembered that we left the fuel cans in our packs. My car gets super hot in the sun, like in the 100s when it's only 80 outside, the pitfall of a black ride. The shuttles were too packed so I dashed back to the car on foot - about a mile - with explosive visions. I got back in time - the car was hot but nothing blew up.
Nevertheless, it was a great trek. There were some truly magic moments - Yosemite always delivers.
That morning frost on the field, twinkling rainbow refractions as the sun hit the ice - I've never seen that before and imagine the phenomenon was the inspiration for xmas lights.
And Greg's patriotic suggestion to make it for Ireland lake was inspired. I never would have gone on that detour and it was incredible - so pure and pristine, so stark and forbidden, so desolate.
And the bear. Stacy and I took a short break on the trail and I had just opened a fragrant blueberry 'no b.s.' bar.
S: there's a bear. [said quietly and calmly, as just like saying 'there's a pika']
G: huh?
S: a bear. over there.
G: what?
S: Do i have to say it three times?
I look to a log about 20 feet away and the cutest bear pops its head up and smiles at us. A small bear. A yearling maybe.
G: that's a baby bear.
We both think 'where's mom?' simultaneously and get the heck out of there as fast as we can.
I will carry those images in my mind forever.
Plus it was great fun trekking with Greg. We've come a long way from Denny's, right? Hope more of your pix turn out. Looking forward to seeing them. Stacy loved the burned forest pic, as did I. That one is almost on par with Ansel. It's at least as good as Alan Ross.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse