Day 179: mile 968.5-982.4
The lake was looking more like a mirror as I packed up and headed out this morning. I climbed a bit and then the trail became very hard to follow. It was mostly just rock, so I kept losing it, which was not very timely. Eventually I decided following the exact trail wasn’t going to happen, and headed in the general direction I needed to go until I found dirt again. …well more like snow and ice.
I ran into a couple of hikers who needed to borrow some toothpaste, which made me smile. I love how on trail this is a completely normal request and one granted without hesitation. I don’t think they were expecting me to have it at the ready and pull it out of my hip belt pocket. I’d been brushing on the trail as I walk these days since the mornings were cold and I forgot a few times. Dental hygiene is important out here!
I continued on and the icy trail stopped, I was above the trees enjoying the warm sunshine once again. Although it was a slow morning between losing the trail and then an icy trail, I was almost to the top of the pass! A beautiful little lake appeared and I had to stop for a short break to enjoy. Thank goodness the view was nice, because the bar I was eating had expired back in June (it’s now October) and was a little stale. I guess that’s what you get for packing all your boxes before the trail and then unexpectedly skipping the Sierra until the end. Oh well, calories are calories right!
I reached the top and started to head down. The snow appeared and then the icy trail was back. This time I was moving at a snails pace because going downhill on ice is quite slippery as you can imagine. I guess that second 20 mile day isn’t happening.
Just after the ice cleared I had the best surprise! I stopped to tell a fellow hiker to beware of the icy trail, but wait a minute, I know this guy! He’s a true SOBO I met up in northern Washington (around Goat Rocks) where we chatted for a bit when he was just starting his hike. He was so bright eyed and bushy tailed, like me when I left Campo. His energy put a smile on my face back then, just as it did today. I had a feeling I’d run into this guy. How cool. We exchanged information so I can do a little trail magic when he gets close to San Diego.
I headed back up for a bit, greeted by this amazing light grey granite, and then down for the final descent of the day. It was rocky, and you guessed it slow. Theme of the day, slow going. It was like someone evil built these stairs (but really, thank you to those who maintain the trail, you are awesome!).
I made it to the creek crossing that stood between me and the most gigantic flat campsite ever. Determined to keep my feet dry at this point in the day, I knew I’d find a way. Success! It was a pretty proud moment. I felt a bit bad when I was too late to share my way with a couple who was already halfway across in the water when I noticed them.
I finished setting up my tent, happy I was about 3 feet away from where a squirrel decided to start dropping pinecones from a pretty high distance.
Goodnight!
XOXO Green Light