Not an ounce left to give, but heart overflowing

7/14 Tuolumne to Vogelsang

We start on the John Muir Trail and head over 7 miles uphill—1500 foot elevation gain. We pass the tree line, approaching 10,000 feet. But it’s HOT, HOT, HOT even at that elevation. It takes us 8 hours, never ending stone stairs & steps. 

Blisters go wild, big toe and pinkie (which soon becomes “the alien toe.”) Meet Karen & Kim as they descend, graciously donate their bug nets and more insect repellant…as we head for the army of stingers ahead. Vogelsang is gorgeous, breathtaking peaks, glittered with snow—golden light over Lake Fletcher…and bugs. Mosquito heaven! We lumber into camp, once again wiped out, zombie-like shuffle and finally find a spot to camp (“get this thing off my back!” I was ready to pass out.) Cover up head to toe, set up camp, filter water, soak sore feet in the icy lake and cook dinner. Gorgeous view from our granite kitchen…marmots, rabbits,  and bushy coyotes running in the meadow. The last sunlight touches the top of Fletcher Peak like Midas, turning them to gold, an almost-full moon and Mars alongside. 

Glen Aulin...coming in backwards...visiting Mo's Rock

Glen Aulin Camp... it's a gorgeous hike along the breathtaking Merced River...so many stops that make us pause. The hike is long...we are sore... 6.9 miles in total back to Tuolumne Meadows. But we make a pit-stop at Mo's Rock. The sacred place to remember my first best friend, dog of all dogs.

We plunge into the icy water and are replenished. It is moment to remember, to enjoy, to appreciate what has been, what is  and what is to come. 

We push forward, in awe of Tuolumne's gifts until we make it to our second night coziness.

And it begins...

High Sierra Camp...here we come!

Starting point... May Lake! Heading to Glen Aulin Camp.

Heavy pack! Uphill heartbeat in my head. Thump....thump...THUMP! Backpack too small, digging into my left shoulder. Ouch. Quick dry towel as padding to the rescue.  But I am distracted by the amazing, craggly trails and views that display the top of the world meadows filled with lupines, asters, forget-me-nots, pestamon, columbine, and Tiger Lilies.

Exhausted. An uneven backpack. But the hiking is meditative, quiet and my footsteps, 26,000 of them, equal 9.5 miles as we reach Glen Aulin Camp. And it feels good to push ourselves until there is nothing left. We hike past the high sierra camp into the backpacker's camp...walking with nothing left to give. I barely make it up the boulders to our campsite. Fall over, like turtle onto his shell, as a group of teen boys hop up boulders like they carry no weight on their backs. But I push on...

We make our camp and enjoy a yummy dinner at sunset on a rocky boulders.

And then cozy in the tent, sleep, and ready to do it again!