JMT Day 4: Tuolumne to Donohue Pass

July 7th, 2008

Long day hiking. First time we had to wade across a river. Decided to wade across tonight instead of tomorrow morning. We are going to try to get as close to Donohue Pass as possible. We are spending the night on some granite slabs just below the pass.

Pictures:

1. Looking sexy in my morning gear

2. View of Lyell Canyon and whats to come

3 Looking down at Lyell Canyon

4. Higher elevation looking back at Lyell Canyon

5. Yay for zoom...ok I just really liked the Mts!

6. Looking west from our campsite below Donohue Pass

Mileage: 12.4/36.4

Elevation: 8680 ft to 10250 ft +1530 ft

JMT Day 3: Sunrise lakes to Tuolumne Meadows

July 6, 2008

The mosquitoes were horrible this morning. I had to wear long sleeves and they were still eating me alive. It's a good thing I'm not allergic to them otherwise I would be really crabby right now and would have scratched all the skin off my arms. I don't think that is a spot where I don't have a bite.

We made really good time today. Hiked 10 miles in about 8 hours. Most of it was down hill so it goes a little faster. We got into Tuolumne about 3:30-4p. Mugs set up camp and I went to find the bathroom. So far we've been lucky to have actual bathrooms at our campsites. This will all change tomorrow, then we'll be true backpackers! We headed down to the river for a swim and to wash some clothes. It was awesome! The water is so clear and fresh. A little on the cold side, but very refreshing.

Mugs and Cies went to a "Know your animals" presentation. I stayed back. I developed blisters under two toenails on my right foot and I still have the blister on my heal, so I cared for my feet instead of learning about animals. It's getting to dark to write and Mugs has my headlamp, so I'm going to lie here and look at the stars and question life. Nighty-night

Pictures:
1. Mugs and Cies heading out of camp towards Cathedral Pass
2. Me on the trail heading towards Cathredral Pass
3. The meadow we just walked thru
4. Mountains
5. I think these are the Cathedral Mts
6. More of the mountian range from Cathedral Pass
7. Mugs, Sam and me on Cathedral Pass
8. Sister bonding in the tent

mileage: 10.9 today, 24 overall
elevation: 9320 ft to 8680 ft + 250 ft/-990 ft

JMT Day 2: Clouds Rest to Sunrise Lakes

July 5, 2008

2p: We woke up to a surprise. I guess bears were in our camp last night. They played with our bear kegs and must have liked the one with all the snacks because it was gone. We spent about 3 hours looking for it and couldn't find it, so our calorie consumption was just cut in half. Now all the good food is gone and we are left with eating rice and oatmeal until we resupply. This is probably a good thing for me, but to so good for Mugs. We'll get through it.

I'm not as sore as I thought I would be today. My upper back and shoulders hurt the most, but I'm also not used to carrying 45lbs on my back. Although my pack down about 7.5lbs since the loss of the bear keg. I'm still enjoying the hike, but it's only been 1.5 days but we are 6 miles ahead of schedule.

8p: I made it through another day. We hiked into camp about 6p, ate supper (rice) and chatted with our neighbors. Found out that they are also from MN and are just doing a 40 mile high Sierra hike. Nice guys. I didn't stay long, to tired and I wanted to get some reading and writing done before the sun set. Plus the mosquitoes are out.

As for myself, I'm still enjoying myself. Mugs and Cies are about 15-20 minutes ahead of me. I don't mind. I just hike at my own pace and take my time. I just figure if it takes me 10 -12 hours to hike then it takes me that long. This is not a race, just have to summit Mt. Whitney by the 25th and so far we are a half day ahead of schedule. Tomorrow we are getting up early and are shooting to be on the trail before 10am. I wouldn't mind starting earlier just so we can get in a few extra miles each day. I may change my mind about this later on, but for now I'm feeling good, not too sore and just have to deal with the blister I developed on my right heel.

There were some awesome views today. I didn't take any pictures during the last two miles although I should have. I'll take more tomorrow as we hike out of camp.

Pictures:

1. Half Dome

2. View of how clear the water is. Still have to filter it.

3. The three Brothers

4. Me and Sam taking a break

Mileage: today 6.6 overall 13.1

Elevation: 7190 ft to 9320 ft +2130 ft

JMT: Day 1, Happy Isles to Cloud's Rest

July 4, 2008



1p

Mugs woke me at 0415 for my last shower. It will be a few days maybe weeks before I get another one. We left San Fran at 0530 for Yosemite where we will start our hike. This was a nice three and a half hour nap for me. I was out with Kate late last night. Once we got to Yosemite we had to get our permits and park Andy's (Cies) car and head out to the trail. We're off!!! My pack was heavy and my shoulders hurt, but the hike itself wasn't too bad. We walked across a wood bridge, saw Nevada Falls (amazing!) and headed upwards...this sucked! 2.7 miles and 2500 ft in elevation later my heels were killing me. I was ready for a break! We stopped for lunch at the top of Nevada Falls and I took a 15 minute much needed nap. Our next destination is the Cloud's rest junction, about 4 miles and up another 2000 ft.





7p

Well I made it though the first day. I hiked into camp at about 630p and now have supper going. UMMM rice! I'm sure I'll be sick of it by day 20. So far the hike isn't too bad...well I haven't done anything worse. I have all day to hike 10 miles. I think I can do it. The elevation is hard on me, but I'll get used to it. "Just keep swimming" is about the only thing that goes on in my head as I'm walking up hill (I so glad I watched finding Nemo before I left! :) ) I'll be sore tomorrow but well worth it. I made it through the toughest day. As for the views, WOW!!!! I can't even describe all the things I've seen so far. Pictures do no justice. I'm just hoping my pictures turn out. It is so peaceful out here, and when I'm not singing in my head I'm having some decent conversation with myself about what I want in life, who I am and what I want in the future. It's very peaceful out here. I so glad I decided to go on this trip.

Mugs and Cies filtering water

above: View of the trail

Right: Half Dome. Some day I want to come back and climb it.

Mileage: 6.5 miles / 6.5 miles

Elevation: 4035 ft to 7190 ft

+ 3155 ft

My final days in San Fran

June 30- July 3, 2008

I really didn't journal much this week. Mugs kept me busy site-seeing, taking in a Giants game (the A's were on the road :( ) , hanging out with her friends and packing for the trip. The week flew by fast and I can't believe that tomorrow we'll be hiking. My last night in a bed til July 25th. Tonight I am going to a movie in the park with Kate. Should be fun. I am so glad I got to hang out with her a lot while I've been here. Here are some pictures of my last week in San Fran.

A mural of my favorite book on mission street

Kate and I at AT & T park. Home of the Giants. My dad's favorite team

It's the "Full House" house

San Francisco Pride Parade

June 29, 2008





Too my disappointment the San Francisco parade is pretty much like the Minneapolis parade, with a lot more dykes on bikes. I guess in my head I was thinking it would be a lot different. I've been more impressed with the Minneapolis parade. I did take a lot of pictures. I would like too expirence it again. It was also kind of neat that to see the Parade in San Fran after they had just passed the right to marry. So historic parade,glad I could be a part of it. So here are some pictures of the parade.




The balloon people where awesome



You don't see this every day!

It's Cyndi!!!


OK I have a bunch more pictures but I'm not going to post all of them. I'll just tempt you with these!

Stumbling upon Pride

June 28, 2008

Today I got to play with a friend of mine I haven't seen since high school. Kate and I meet for lunch and happened to stumble across Pride. It was kind of neat to see that it's pretty much the same as Lorhing Park only smaller. After we stopped for a bite to eat (I had some spilling issues!) we headed towards a park (can't remember the name) to have a couple of adult beverages since I'm going to Castro Street next week with Mugs. And to our surprise we were among more gays then I've ever seen in my life. Seriously, thousands and thousands of people. I did met a girl from South Dakota so I guess wasn't the only lesbian that lived there. All I can say it was an adventure and saw more naked people that I really didn't need to see (I LOVE clothes!) We also heard the Dykes on Bikes. We couldn't see them due to the mass of people. It was a good expirence for my first San Francisco Pride. I hope I can attend this one again in the future.