Sunday, September 30, 2012
Day 4
My mom and Chuck came to visit!! We planned the whole weekend around food as per usual, and did a bit of moving into my new place (photos pending). We went to Jeanine's for breakfast (YUM), where I can never decide between the huevos rancheros or the granola. Sounds weird but the granola is seriously amazing.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
New Life
When did I become a grown up? This is weird. I've decided that I'm going to start doing a picture a day again... at least for as long as I can stand it! Partially because I want to start blogging again, and partially because this will force me to do something other than get home from work and fall asleep at 9. The pictures will most likely be at least 80% food, but just humor me and pretend my life isn't totally boring. Today the succulent was blooming :)
Friday, September 14, 2012
JMT Part IV
Day 11: McClure Meadow via Muir Pass to Unnamed Lake Northeast of Helen Lake, 12.2 miles.
Day 12: Unnamed Lake Northeast of Helen Lake to Deer Meadow, 11.3 miles.
Day 13: Deer Meadow via Mather Pass to Kings River, 12.0 miles.
Day 14: Kings River via Pinchot Pass to Woods Creek, 11.6 miles.
Planned
Day 15: Woods Creek via Glen Pass to Vidette Meadow, 13.2 miles.
Day 16: Vidette Meadow via Forester Pass to Tyndall Creek, 12.0 miles.
Day 17: Tyndall Creek to Guitar Lake, 12.1 miles.
Day 18: Guitar Lake via Mount Whitney and Trail Crest to Trail Camp, 10.0 miles.
Unplanned
Day 15: Woods Creek to Roads End, 15.2 miles.
Well, the last few days were crazy! I easily saw the most beautiful views I have ever seen in my life. The day that we went over Muir Pass was my most favorite. Our trail dads celebrated with us on the top of two passes, so parental. We lived (and hiked) through an insane hail and lightning storm on Mather Pass. We had more shits with views. Our blisters and our butts got used to the constant daily torture. And poor Emily sprained her ankle. We hiked the long way out and vowed to return!!
Day 12: Unnamed Lake Northeast of Helen Lake to Deer Meadow, 11.3 miles.
Day 13: Deer Meadow via Mather Pass to Kings River, 12.0 miles.
Day 14: Kings River via Pinchot Pass to Woods Creek, 11.6 miles.
Planned
Day 15: Woods Creek via Glen Pass to Vidette Meadow, 13.2 miles.
Day 16: Vidette Meadow via Forester Pass to Tyndall Creek, 12.0 miles.
Day 17: Tyndall Creek to Guitar Lake, 12.1 miles.
Day 18: Guitar Lake via Mount Whitney and Trail Crest to Trail Camp, 10.0 miles.
Unplanned
Day 15: Woods Creek to Roads End, 15.2 miles.
Well, the last few days were crazy! I easily saw the most beautiful views I have ever seen in my life. The day that we went over Muir Pass was my most favorite. Our trail dads celebrated with us on the top of two passes, so parental. We lived (and hiked) through an insane hail and lightning storm on Mather Pass. We had more shits with views. Our blisters and our butts got used to the constant daily torture. And poor Emily sprained her ankle. We hiked the long way out and vowed to return!!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
JMT Part III
Day 8: Edison Lake to Rosemarie Meadow, 12.3 miles.
Day 9: Rosemarie Meadow via Seldon Pass to Muir Trail Ranch, 9.5 miles.
Day 10: Muir Trail Ranch to McClure Meadow, 10.6 miles.
Well, it took us a week to get totally naked! After seven days of partial cleaning and full on modesty, we decided it was time to have a REAL nature bath, courtesy of Bear Creek. It was wonderful to say the least. We climbed over bear ridge and made our way into Rosemarie Meadow. It was a freezing night. And an even colder morning. Defrosted over Seldon Pass and passed by several heart shaped lakes (aw). Made it down the never ending descent to Muir Trail Ranch (the lowest point on the JMT) and picked up our huge barrels of food for the final ten days. Camped next to the river and had a great relaxing evening, complete with french braiding and a viewing of Tina's toenail being drained. Awesome!! Hiked through the valley the next day before climbing up the switchbacks towards McClure Meadow. Heeded the advice of another badass woman hiker and went off trail momentarily to check out some beautiful pools and water falls. Continued on and found a campsite to be shared with a funny family of men who all had their own tents and made it impossible for us to find a good spot to poop. Inconvenient.
Day 9: Rosemarie Meadow via Seldon Pass to Muir Trail Ranch, 9.5 miles.
Day 10: Muir Trail Ranch to McClure Meadow, 10.6 miles.
Well, it took us a week to get totally naked! After seven days of partial cleaning and full on modesty, we decided it was time to have a REAL nature bath, courtesy of Bear Creek. It was wonderful to say the least. We climbed over bear ridge and made our way into Rosemarie Meadow. It was a freezing night. And an even colder morning. Defrosted over Seldon Pass and passed by several heart shaped lakes (aw). Made it down the never ending descent to Muir Trail Ranch (the lowest point on the JMT) and picked up our huge barrels of food for the final ten days. Camped next to the river and had a great relaxing evening, complete with french braiding and a viewing of Tina's toenail being drained. Awesome!! Hiked through the valley the next day before climbing up the switchbacks towards McClure Meadow. Heeded the advice of another badass woman hiker and went off trail momentarily to check out some beautiful pools and water falls. Continued on and found a campsite to be shared with a funny family of men who all had their own tents and made it impossible for us to find a good spot to poop. Inconvenient.
JMT Part II
Day 4: Devils Postpile to Deer Creek, 9 miles.
Day 5: Deer Creek to Cascade Valley Junction, 12.3 miles.
Day 6: Cascade Valley Junction via Silver Pass to Edison Lake, 11.8 miles.
Day 7: Rest at Vermilion Valley Resort
Did a side hike to the top of Devil's Postpile - totally pointless. Looked like someone took pavers to the top of the mountain, should have just looked at it from the normal trail. Stopped in Red's Meadow for lunch and beer... amazing. Hiked through a previously burnt forest in the mist, very dramatic! But difficult after the beer. Deer creek was lovely. Stopped at Purple Lake the next day, but should have stopped at the next one because it was WAY prettier. Stopped at both :) Met a pack of boy scouts with one Jew. Camped at Cascade Valley junction and had a great bonfire. Silver pass was misleading but beautiful, and all the lakes were huge and crystal clear. Met a sweet old couple who dubbed us the Sierra Sisters and followed us on the trail to Vermilion in addition to the hordes of hopeful mountain men (haha). Walked across the dried up lake to a spot where we could get picked up in a little metal boat, and spent the next day nursing our blisters and eating delicious overpriced food. Overall it was great.
Day 5: Deer Creek to Cascade Valley Junction, 12.3 miles.
Day 6: Cascade Valley Junction via Silver Pass to Edison Lake, 11.8 miles.
Day 7: Rest at Vermilion Valley Resort
Did a side hike to the top of Devil's Postpile - totally pointless. Looked like someone took pavers to the top of the mountain, should have just looked at it from the normal trail. Stopped in Red's Meadow for lunch and beer... amazing. Hiked through a previously burnt forest in the mist, very dramatic! But difficult after the beer. Deer creek was lovely. Stopped at Purple Lake the next day, but should have stopped at the next one because it was WAY prettier. Stopped at both :) Met a pack of boy scouts with one Jew. Camped at Cascade Valley junction and had a great bonfire. Silver pass was misleading but beautiful, and all the lakes were huge and crystal clear. Met a sweet old couple who dubbed us the Sierra Sisters and followed us on the trail to Vermilion in addition to the hordes of hopeful mountain men (haha). Walked across the dried up lake to a spot where we could get picked up in a little metal boat, and spent the next day nursing our blisters and eating delicious overpriced food. Overall it was great.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
JMT Beginnings
Day 1: Tuolomne to Lyell Fork, 9.5 miles.
Day 2: Lyell Fork via Donahue Pass and Island Pass to Thousand Island Lake, 9.7 miles.
Day 3: Thousand Island Lake to Devil's Postpile, 16.2 miles.
The Lyell Fork campground was awesome, and a great first place for us to start learning to use the wilderness as our restroom (lots of big rocks to hide behind). We shared these first three days with a group of seriously badass senior (70+) backpackers from Truckee. Donahue Pass looked like Mordor. Island Pass was the worst. Thousand Island Lake was okay. Emerald Lake was really emerald. Shadow Lake was AMAZING (first shower). The descent to Devil's Postpile was seemingly endless - "If we go any further down we'll be in hell!" -Amelia. Turns out you can get to Devil's Postpile by car... disappointing after hiking for almost 10 hours to get there. Luckily the drinkable water and working toilets made up for it!
Blister Count: Too many
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