Backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains Part 4

08/28/09

California Part 4

Day 6 – What a trip it has been so far.  It’s 7:56pm as I lay down for bed right now.  That’s early, I know, but when you are getting up at 6:00am it is the thing to do.  Besides, when the lights go out, your options are limited out here.  We just got done eating dinner and watching the sunset over Yosemite Valley.  It was a crazy purple and pinkish sunset.  The fire on the other side of the park probably intensified the colors.  Dinner was ground turkey tostadas with tomato soup.  Out here that is 5 star quality.  

Yesterday was brutal for me, I won’t lie.  Maybe I’m a wuss, but I got some nasty blisters on my heels and pinky toes.  I think it is obvious, but I will say it anyways.  Getting blisters on the first day of a backpacking trip really sucks.  That combined with the elevation threw me for a loop.  I had the biggest headache when I got to camp.  I didn’t want to talk, and I didn’t even want to eat.  Yippee altitude sickness.  At least the scenery was gorgeous as we are camped next to a serene mountain lake.    

I don’t think the altitude is too much of a problem, but because of my blisters I took the day off.  Almost everyone climbed the nearby mountain called Vogelsang Peak.  I however stayed at camp with our leader Cathy.  I went down to the lake and watched everyone hike up until they were out of sight.  I would have stayed there, but it was freezing cold.  There were clouds blocking the sun and the wind was blowing about 30 mph.  I went over to another lookout to get out of the wind for a little while.  I read and ate my lunch.  Finally I got tired of the wind, so I went in my tent and napped.  

I got up when everyone came back.  They said the hike was gorgeous, but really windy and cold.  I spent the rest of the afternoon meandering around the lakeshore, stopping to read from time to time.  Finally it was dinnertime, my favorite time.  We all came together for that as most of the day hikers had gone to their tents to nap.  

So here we are on the second night.  I couldn’t be more thankful that today was a layover day.  I don’t know if my feet could have taken more.  I’m going through great lengths to keep my blisters from getting worse.  Tomorrow is an 8-mile hike, and it will certainly be a test.  I do feel much better after today.  Resting in the mountains will do that for you.  All I can do at this point is stay positive and take my time.  There is a long way to go, so my feet need to get better.  They don’t have a choice.  It really is amazing out here, and time will tell what tomorrow brings.

P.S. I really hope I don’t have to get up to pee at 2am.  Peeing in sub 40-degree weather in the dark isn’t my idea of a good time.