I’m up early, looking to make miles after yesterday’s half-day. I’m starting to get nervous – it’s the middle of July, and we’re not even through the Sierra. We’re not necessarily behind in terms of timing – but we’re not necessarily in a good spot either. I’m ready to go, ready to walk, but the others are enjoying the morning. Eventually, Homegrown and Sprinkles are ready to go, and the three of us make our way off up the hill. Continue reading
We’re up late – by the time I’m conscious and poking my head out of my tent like a turtle, the last of Sprinkles’ family is packed and pulling out, raising hands and friendly smiles in well-wishes. With a night’s sleep distancing me from the madness of yesterday, I’m feeling a lot better, though I’m not in a huge hurry. The others, even after their zero, aren’t in too much of a hurry either, so we head to the shop, charge things, relax our way into the morning. Continue reading
My alarm goes off at 3:15, and it’s basically like Eye of the Tiger is playing in my head. I’m awake, I’m focused, and I am going to get up Half Dome for sunrise. I’m just gonna. There’s not a doubt in my mind. Weeell, enough of a doubt to push me up and out of my warm sleeping bag in the dark, stride over to fetch my bear can, pack up as quickly and quietly as I can. I’m out just before 4, right on schedule – and as I run into the second trail junction for Cloud’s Rest, it turns out I’d camped exactly where I thought I had. Everything’s falling into place. Continue reading
It’s nice to wake up among friends – so many hikers all in one spot. They’re all in for a zero today, relaxing among the exuberant children and ever-patient adults of Sprinkles’s family, but me, I’ve got miles to do. I’m waiting on Outro in particular – she, Wolf, U-Turn, and Evac should be pulling in this afternoon, and I’m excited both to get the whole band back together and to get started on our JMT/Half Dome side quest with Yoda. Should be a good time. Continue reading
I’m up early, apparently – it’s 6 by the time I rouse myself, but the other two gents aren’t moving. The two girls in the tents are eating breakfast, barely finish before I’ve eaten and packed and am moving. My friends are waiting in Tuolumne Meadows, and I’m so excited to meet them. Continue reading
It’s one of those mediocre evenings, where my dreams – only half-remembered on waking – seem to keep me up half the night. But I’m up anyway, packing up, skulking out, occupying the nearby rock to finish dinner for breakfast. I eventually leave my perch for the nearby water, stock up, and am on my way back towards the PCT. Continue reading
I feel not at all rested in the morning, still kind of drained by the previous evening. I loiter in the hostel until it’s time to scoot, and then Outro and I get invited over to the condo the others are staying at. Continue reading
I enjoy sleeping in as much as my body allows, but then it’s up and out. Zero schmearo, I have a lot to do today.
Another early morning where I wrestle with the quandaries of fitting a bear can into my morning routine – you’d think I’d be used to this by now, but it’s still a struggle. How does Outro pack up so fast? But she’s packed and off like a shot, go on and get that pass, girl. Me? I’m a’comin, I’m a’comin. Continue reading
Soooo clearly, I’m quite behind on these posts. Turns out that trying to write for Backpacker and my regular job back home and you fine folks while attempting 25+ mile days is a bit more challenging than I first anticipated. I wanted to let y’all know that I am still, in fact, on trail, and still, in fact, on track to finish – hopefully by the end of September. Oregon is treating me kindly, and I’m looking forward to Washington, too.
I am going to keep writing and posting, albeit probably at the same snail’s pace I’ve been recently. I’m taking super-detailed notes on each day – and between those and the pictures it’s pretty easy to reconstruct things as they were. Being down to the wire, as it were, I have to put finishing first, as much as I would love to write write write in lieu of some of this walking.
I will finish blogging about my hike, don’t fret – and I’ll hopefully succeed in hitting my fundraising goals for Big City Mountaineers. I’ve even got a stretch goal and reward planned, assuming y’all like people dancing in silly costumes. Meanwhile, thanks for sticking around – I’ve got so many more stories to tell you, and I’m happy you’re here to hear them.
Brown Girl on the NST 