Resupply # 1 and New Friends

Tuesday, July 15

Day 3

Upper Cathedral Lake to Lyle Forks Base Camp

15.4 miles

“I want to see what’s on the other side of the hill, then what’s beyond them”

- Emma “Grandma” Gatewood

A relatively easy day of hiking. Slept okay last night. I woke several times with the usual aches and pains from sleeping outside. Skipped breakfast again and got on the trail just after 7 AM. Breakfast has not sounder good last two days. I probably really should eat it though. From Cathedral Lake the trail was downhill all the way from the to Tuolumne  Meadows.I passed a young boy, about six years old today, hiking with his parents. He was very happy despite the rain. It brought a tear to my eye thinking of Cade and home.

I first made a quick stop was at the visitor center to see if they had a book I wanted to for Cade. No luck.  Next it was onto the mountain shop/gas station where I picked up a Ridgerest sit pad. The two hikers I met from Connecticut had them and said they really liked them. I can see why. It adds just a little extra weight but a lot of comfort during breaks and at camp. 

I arrived at the Tuolumne  Meadows store and restaurant around 10 a.m.  I was hoping for a hamburger but had to settle for eggs, potatoes, biscuit and sausage as breakfast will still being served. I figured I would eat first, before doing my other chores, to give all the food some time to settle, before hitting the trail again. I hoped to avoid the onset of food coma this way. It worked!

I sorted through my resupply box, and donated a few items to the hiker box. I also picked up three gels from the store to try for breakfast over the next couple days. I really do need to get some energy early in the morning to help me to avoid crashing. I also mailed a postcard home to Cade. Hope he likes it. I left the store and headed back to the trail through the campground. While I was  probably not truly on the official trail I wanted to be able to say that I hiked the entire JMT without having to cross a single road.

The walk down Lyle Canyon was easy as promised. The hardest part was resisting the temptation to stop and fish every 50 yards. The Tuolumne River is gorgeous trout water! Jay would disown me as his apprentice if he saw the miles of water that I passed up in order to make miles today.  At a bridge over the Tuolumne River I stopped to get the rain gear out again, as the clouds were darkening again and I could hear thunder.

Just after noon the rain came and kept up most of the afternoon. More thunder and lightning today, but I kept moving on. Luckily, despite being soaked I did not feel too cold.

I met James and “Z” (Zohar) from New Jersey and we passed each other throughout the afternoon.  We ended up camping together near Lyle Fork Base Camp. Both very nice guys and are on a similar schedule as mine, so I imagine I will see them in the future. I did get to do a little fishing at the creek at our site. I managed to pick up three brookies; two on an Elk Hair Caddis and the other on a Purple Haze.

A big morning tomorrow as it starts with a 4 mile climb up 2000 feet to Donahue Pass. I went over Cathedral Pass yesterday but did not realize it until I looked at the guide last night. Hopefully my body will be up to the climb, and I can avoid any nasty weather. I am going to aim for Marie Lakes Trail for tomorrow.