The day started with a warm welcome from a bear looking for some tasty treats from the garbage. The bear went to a variety of trash cans checking out which cans offered the best goodies. Ultimately, the bear was chased away. Reds Meadow does not have appropriate trash cans. This bear will need to be removed. It is so unfortunate because it was a huge cinnamon and blond black bear.
Our hike started well. We made good time. The up hill at altitude brought Joaquin to her knees or so she thought. Red Meadow is less than 8000 feet and we were soon above 10000. Neither of us were hungry, but we split a cheese sandwich and stopped every two hours to snack and check our feet. No blisters yet. 

We headed up an unnamed pass with careful watch on the skies and the mounting clouds. The weather turned quickly and somehow we managed to pitch the tent and climb in.  We both had our sleeping bag in the tent to rest on, but the wind was strong and the rain fly was not staked out right and we were getting wet. This seemed minor compared to the thunder and lightning.

 Two hours later the storm stopped and we hit the trail at 5:00. More climbing and less resolve. We both had the nauseous headachy feeling of altitude. We didn’t wanted to bother with cooking so we stopped and shared another cheese sandwich.

About 8:00 we realized we’d be short of our destination. We found this small area on the uphill climb. We struggle pitching the tent. After three attempts we gave in to our ill fitting abode. We managed sleep.

We head for the trail at 5:00 AM tomorrow morning. It took 35 minutes to get our permit this morning. The park employee had me so confused, I broke down and bought a map and then poured over it for an hour. We should be ready. We won’t know until we exit in 13 days. 

We will have a break on Wednesday when we hike into Vermillion Valley Reort to resupply. Although we will blog everyday, we can only post when we have reception. So hopefully you’ll hear from us then.

Here’s our last carbo load dinner.

Dear Friends,

We arrived safely in Bishop today. Boy is it hot! Ate dinner at a new brewery here in town. Food was great and  the band played while we Ate

The heat is draining and we have not even started the hike. Yikes. We are so spoiled with our coastal weather

Joaquin here. We survived the trip. Todd drove twenty miles over the speed limit the whole way. It was like The Gran Prix, right on the tail of every car in front of us. 

The food was good, but nobody in the band could hold a tune. The guys, Greg and John, who sat with us because that’s what you do in a brewery, offered me a job at the Mill, a nightclub, doing stand up. We may get on the trail a day late. I’m working on my new career.

Todd walked us around town looking for a motel that we could hide out in if we ever need to hide out.  

We are so sad that Todd can’t join us on the hike. He may be hiding at the Thunderbird Motel.  

June 26, 2015

The backpack is packed and re packed several times. I cannot figure out what I can possible leave behind. 

I am enjoying my last morning at home savoring my cup of java, my plush purple bathrobe and my very comfortable bed/pillow. 

This is an adventure of a lifetime and I am so excited. I am looking forward to keeping up with all of you via this journal. 

Wish us luck…

Donedidit 

So today, Sunday, June 21 Joaquin, Useitup and Donedidit celebrated the summer solstice and Father’s Day by hiking 21 miles from Corralitos to Aptos. We started at 7:20 am and arrived at our destination at 3:45 pm. Overall, it was a great hike. Hauling 30lbs on your back is not easy but ….this is an adventure of a lifetime.  I am so lucky to have trail mentors like Joaquin and Useitup. 

Wednesday, June 17th

Today I met with Sue Walkup for a hike in Garland Park in Carmel Valley. The weather and terrain are quite different from Sanra Cruz. Lots of oaks and open views. I heard it was 103 degrees there-hot with a nice breeze. Good friendship, conversation and hiking. 

We saw a huge rattle snake, but it didn’t phase Sue nor Me, and the dogs remained clueless. 

Stopped at REI and tried to get the bear proof canister for Donedidit, but she decided to wait for her order to come in. It’s all about the gear at this point. She just put in an order for Dirty Girls Gaitors. One more item and detail attended to. 

Here’s a picture of Sue and I. 

Our entry into the unknown of the wilderness is coming quickly.  Maybe too quickly. How will we get everything ready?  When Terry and I hiked the trail last year, I spent nine months getting ready.  I’m in fast-forward mode.

The two boxes that Donedidit and I mailed today weighed 23 pounds together.  Terry says we each need that much.   But we can’t carry 23 pounds of food.  So if we run short, we’ll get off at Kearsarge Pass and go into Independence. Sounds simple.  It’s an eight mile hike over a mountain pass and then a 13 mile hitch-hike, a quick shopping spree and repack, and then we hike the same route to get back on the trail.  I hope Donedidit isn’t reading this.

Today, Terry and I hiked up to Five Finger Falls.  NO other people.  None.  It was beautiful.  We both carried our packs.  It was only 12 miles, and our packs are relatively light.  Tonight we’re pretty beat.  In less that two weeks, I’ll need to don my pack with 15 more pounds, and walk at least 6 more miles per day at altitude. Sounds exciting, huh?

Today we spent the entire day prepping for our trip. We revised the itinerary. Now we will drive to Bishop to get passes for the JMT on Saturday,  June 27. We start our hike Monday, June 29. 

Today we organized our first re-supply and all the food we plan to carry before re-supply. We are exhausted, and we have not even started the big hike. 

Donedidit is off to REI to purchase a large bear resistant canister. This canister holds  8 days of food, but we are hiking for 10 days. Do you see a mathematical error here? What shall we do?  This is a think-draw-write problem.  Our collaborative solution is for a friend to meet us on the trail at Kearsarge Pass. Can you be that friend, please. We feel hunger pains already. 

 This saga continues …

Donedidit by Joaquin

June 8th. 

First day after completing my 9 week interim job and I’m waiting for Donedidit to retire on Friday. Our pumps are primed.  We have permits and reservations to begin our hike on July 5th, but we hope to leave sooner. The thought of 11 hour hiking days interrupts sleep, so we just want to begin.

Our route is the patchwork of missed-miles from my last year’s failed attempt thru hiking the PCT.  Even though I completed nearly 2000 miles, I still have nearly 700 left. Last year my hiking partner and husband, Useitup, completed the whole trek. Following injuries, I just didn’t have the fortitude to keep up. Will this year be different?

With the trail name, Donedidit, my friend will have to do it. Even though she lacks experience backpacking, she’s only worried about bad coffee.  She’s got her priorities straight.  

I’ve assured her we’ll have plenty of bad coffee, and it will be the least of our travails.   

So soon we’ll be heading south from Mammoth CA, hoping to scale all the peaks including Whitney. Then we’ll hop up to face the mosquitoes for a short section in OR. Finally we’ll meet up with my friend Andrea to tackle all of WA. 

 
Please join us on this blog. 

Donedidit by Joaquin