Donedidit has many spiritual guides. From the start she noticed the many ways that the bear and the deer were with us. Yesterday as we headed blindingly on the Bear Creek Trail the lizards helped us on our way. Today we’re facing many fords. The streams and creeks are guiding us. She uses a mantra repeating, “I respect your currents and your power and the life giving wonders of water. I am strong and will tread respectfully across you.”

We crossed seven fords and were strong in facing each one. Thankfully the water was warm for Joaquin, and tolerable for Dr. Deet, formally known as Donedidit. We continued in wet shoes up the sharp climb to Marie Lake.  Once again the mosquitoes were our constant nemesis finding bare skin at wrist, faces and rears when it was necessary to expose them. 

The climb proved difficult for Joaquin. She’s still not acclimatized to 10,000 feet. Sometimes reaching our destination seemed so difficult. While constantly monitoring the clouds, fighting mosquitoes, shouldering heavy packs with essential food supplies that we could not force ourselves to eat, reapplying sunscreen and deet, drinking water, and finding water to filter. Key discovery: water equals hoards of mosquitoes and filtering water exposes skin for the mosquito buffet. Seems like they spread the word that we have removed gloves and mosquito netting. Come one, call all and you can eat at the flesh smorgasbord. We affectionately call them assholes. This leads to our next conversation: “WTF is their purpose and do they have assholes?” We ponder if these assholes maybe our true spiritual guides.” Their life expectancy is less than 24 hours. WTF???

BTW We heard on NPR that it is now ok to say WTF even though it has the f word in it because words like snafu have been added to our lexicon, and it too had the f word in it.

In case you do not know this, one of other spiritual guides is NPR. We admitted that we are NPR junkies and we’re unable to get our NPR fix, thus we have to recall and retell old NPR stories to satisfy our addiction.  Good thing we have a plethora of stored NPR driveway moments. 

Dr. Deet also sings entire scores of musical. Today’s performance will include a variety of songs from Oliver. As she sings she professes the she has a bad voice and cannot carry a tune. No animals have bothered us, and other hikers give us wide berth. Believe it or not, she knows the lyrics to the entire score of Westside Story. 

Tonight was a turning point for us. We no longer cared about picas, marmots or bears tearing into our tent. As the rain began while we we’re setting up, we threw our food in the tent to eat for dinner. Our hasty effort left the menu stark. It consisted of GORP, breakfast bars, Turkey Jerky (which only Dr. D. could eat), and mini candy bars. This was our most nutritious meal yet.

  Campsite

 Marie Lake