Backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains Part 5

08/29/09

California Part 5

Day 7 – Today was a very good day.  Yes my blisters hurt, yes we are apparently in a prime bear area tonight, and yes waking up at 6:30 is way too early, but it is glorious out here.

Today’s hike was a nice 7-mile jaunt, the majority of which was downhill.  There was a section at the top where for about half a mile or so we were hiking through this gorgeous alpine meadow surrounded by alpine lakes and snow capped mountains.  The rest of the hike was down a mountain and through a forest.  Tonight we are camped about 200 yards from a picturesque mountain stream.  

When we set up camp around 2, most of us headed down to the stream.  It was washing time after 4 days of camping.  The washing off was very quick, as the water was freezing.  I submerged myself and then spent the next hour and a half trying to warm up.  The rest of the night was spent preparing and eating dinner.  We have assigned crews for the cooking chores.  The rotation consists of 4 groups that do breakfast cleanup, lunch, dinner, dinner cleanup, and breakfast the next day.  Today was our day on the rotation.  That means we have to make breakfast in the morning and then we get a few days off.  We are making fiesta eggs in the morning.  

I will say that the food is amazing.  I think I’m eating better here than I do at home.  I had dried pears with Brie for lunch to go along with tabouli in a pita for crying out loud.  Tonight was a rice and tuna medley filled with fresh vegetables, nuts, and soy sauce complimented with miso soup and coleslaw.  The preparation done by Cathy for this trip continues to amaze me.  

I don’t know how well I’ll sleep tonight since this apparently is a bear hot spot.  We have triple checked to make sure all the stuff that smells appetizing has been moved down to the bear canisters.  We have also been told to leave our packs open so they can sniff tem without tearing them.  I was going to sleep without the rain fly, but I would rather only hear the bears and not see them.  If we do hear them rummaging around camp, we are supposed to yell really loud, so we will see how that goes.  I hope I’m laughing about it in the morning as much as I am right now.  

Tomorrow should be a short hike.  There is an optional side hike up to a glacier.  As long as my feet can take it, then I will definitely do that.  Blisters stay away.  I had Cathy doctor them up for me tonight.  I will find out tomorrow if that made a difference.  I now it will still hurt, but nobody ever said living in the wilderness was easy.