New Friends and Resupply #2

Thursday, July 17

Day five

Lake Ediza trail to Deer Creek

16.8 miles

“It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit”

~J.R.R. Tolkien

I think it is a good thing that I have to look at my watch each night to know the day and date. Another big day!

Luckily it did not rain throughout the night, but nevertheless everything was still wet in the morning,

and had to be packed up that way. I had been re-tapping 2 to 3 toes on each foot daily to prevent blisters. I only have two very small one so far, and they are not giving me any problems, so the taping must be working.

I hit the trail and headed down to Shadow Lake, which like many lakes here is a beautiful blue-green color. From there I gained about 500 feet elevation to Rosalie Lake. The grade of the switchbacks was not bad at all. I felt strong on the ascent.

The fish were rising at Rosalie Lake when I arrive so I broke out the rod and managed to catch four rainbows; three of them were over 11 inches. A great way to start the day! From Rosalie the trail was a steady downhill to Devils Postpile National Monument. I met up with Jessie and Avery, from Aspen, just as we crossed the bridge into the Monument. Yes we were off the official JMT, but you can't come this far not see the rocks. Besides there are so many trails here is gets a little confusing to stay on the actual JMT.  Hike your own hike!

I hiked with Jesse and Avery into Reds Meadow Resort and joined them at the restaurant for lunch. A cheeseburger, chips and a Mountain Dew. After reading about these burgers for over a year, I can say they lived up to their reputation. After lunch I picked up my resupply box and did a little laundry. I was able to charge to my camera batteries and iPod. I ended up leaving a bunch of food behind in the hiker boxes. I had over-packed as I guessed, but at least I was able to leave something behind for others to enjoy. I did pick up a Justin’s peanut butter and two snickers out of the hiker box for myself. I also bought a new hat before leaving Reds, a ball cap with a neck shade cover/flap. James and Z were here as well, picking up their resupply and left an hour or two ahead of me.

The best part of Reds was that I got to call home and talk to both Karen and Cade. Both were surprised to hear from me. I forgot until late morning that K flew to Houston yesterday. She said her mom's memory is not doing well. I wish I could hold her and tell her everything is going to be alright, but we both know it is that it is not going to be the case.  I got really choked up when I talk to Cade. All he really said was “I love you” and “I miss you”, but it really did get to me, as it does every time I think of him. He is still too young to really understand why Daddy is out hiking and is not at home. But I feel okay knowing that he is in the great care of Grandma and Grandpa who love him more than anything in the world.

 

As I went through my resupply box I watched the storm clouds building again, in the direction I had come from. I figured we were in for another wet afternoon and debated whether to carry on or stay at the campground there. Finally looking in the direction I had to go and seeing clear skies I decided I would head out. As I left Reds at 5 o'clock I teamed up with a solo lady from the Bay area we set out to find the JMT together, which can actually be a little tricky. We managed to find it easily enough. Leaving Reds the trail climbs 800 to 900 feet through general switchbacks. I stayed with the woman for 30 minutes or so then I pulled ahead as I was feeling stronger.

Just past Red Cones “mountain’ I ran into Jesse and Avery's camp and chatted with them for about 10 minutes. They said James and Z have gone a mile further up to the Upper Crater Meadow, so I carried on.  An hour and a half later I found their camp, but it turns out it was at Deer Creek. This made me feel better as I was thinking it was a damn long mile and I was moving really slow. Turned out it was 3 miles. I felt strong entire time. The stretch in between these two sites has been my least favorite of the trip so far. Lots of downfalls, not over the trail but along it. There are a lot of tenters here tonight; probably eight in just one little area. This is one of the last water locations for a few miles (the longest waterless stretch so far) which accounts for its popularity.   I can hear James snoring away 30 to 40 feet from me maybe it will keep the bears away tonight.

I am going to try new a hiking strategy tomorrow. First I am going to force myself to eat breakfast, as I need the calories. Then I will hike for 4 to 5 hours, having a snack along the way. Then I'm going to have dinner for lunch and try to take an hour break before hiking again. I seem to hike best in the morning and evening, so I give this new strategy a try. The dinner course will be lunch. I do not my hiking until after 7 PM, so maybe a big lunch, like today at Reds, will keep me strong thorough the afternoon. Another great day on the JMT!