Red's Meadow Rest

Heading "home" to Red's Meadow

After a beautiful shower and great night's sleep in a BED, I meet friends and family in Mammoth and head to our annual summer trip to Red's.

Ah, the lupine

Sotcher Lake hike reminds me of the beloved, gorgeous, emerald sheen--still a precious gem--just like the first time decades ago. Happy to be home!

Still in hiking and moving mode--hiked Minaret Falls, 7 miles and a bit more.  Lucy tags along (and me, being in denial, forget how hot and rocky this trail is.) She loves it, but on the return flight, her paws have had enough. Wrecked the old girl again... Sorry Lucy! Biting flies bad here too--something we've never had a problem with (http://sectionhiker.com/black-fly-season/) and never want to experience again.

BFFs

black flies biting as we posed!

Get a bout of hives on legs and blisters and heels crack even worse. Maybe this old body need a bit of a break.

So happy to be with my family...resting and taking in more of the Sierras I love.


Last stop--hot springs near the Green church. One big deep breath as I say goodbye to the Sierras for another year...

Untouched wilderness, Uninterrupted, Unbound, Unbroken.

Little Yosemite Valley to Yosemite Valley  8 miles

Got an early start--out by 7:30...a record for us! It is refreshingly cool and shady. Steep, rocky cliffs and stars near Vernal Falls that continue miles and miles, it seems. Slow and careful on ankles with still a heavy pack pulling me down. An endless descent--but awe inspiring falls, misty and powerful. Most people heading up to do Half Dome--huffing up all 16 miles roundtrip. Ugh. It feels good to be heading down...

Rocky stars lead to more uphill traversing to the top of vernal, an appropriate ending as I started the trip there a week ago. The descent is steep with packs and it take focus, but the reward is the perfect rainbow waiting for us half way down. Gravity yanks hard at us as we descend past valleys and toward trailhead, and I feel like we are cowboys riding into town after months in the desert. Glad we are not the ones huffing it up to Nevada Falls on a 90+ day. 

So shuttle back up to Tuolumne until 5pm, (not at 11:15 like the guys lost on the trail had told us!) so we hang out and meet Mathew--a concessions employee who lets me use his phone to call home. He is gracious and funny and downright kindhearted and it is an honor to sit with him. 

We treat ourselves to pizza, salad and a drinks (boy have I missed fresh fruit and veggies!)

We huff it in the heat to the river to soak our sore and blistered feet...ah the water is heavenly. 

Waiting near the Visitor's Center, I long for solitude again, now over burdened with big families and noise. Already missing the trail. 

Being out of the craziness for a week makes me appreciate silence, reflection and pristine views of untouched wilderness, uninterrupted nature, unbound, unbroken. 

Hiking the Sierra Loop Trail...50 miles. Over 100,000 steps. It was difficult. It was amazing. It was hot, exhausting and overwhelming. But invigorating, motivating and something sacred. So grateful to be with my dearest friend. Two ten-year-old girls still laughing and trouncing through the woods...just a few decades later. :)

Sky-stretching granite faces

From Merced to Little Yosemite Valley  8.7 miles

Pleasant up and down hill rock trailing following the all mighty Merced River once again. Gorgeous rock formations, sky-stretching granite faces cradling pools of emerald and jade as they usher in cascades and roaring rapids.

We take a peaceful swim in our own private pool that calls our name. So serene, meditative paddling through the chilly water. Attacked by a strange bug-yellow jacket mixed with a bee--with menacing green eyes. He stalks us, and we are on guard!

Breathtaking granite cliffs continue and upon the trail a lucky horseshoe!

But the heat intensifies and we drop in elevation and near Little Yosemite Valley. Quickly we notice the remains of a canyon fire--miles and miles of charred trees. Extremely hot passes with no shade. Slivers of respite, only a few degrees cooler--quickly named THE DEAD ZONE. No leaves to absorb the heat, no bugs, no birds, and eerie quiet that makes me want to move through this area as fast as we can.

Hello rattlesnake, slipping and sliding under the brush. We are zombies, so hot, so wiped out that we barely see it.

The heat almost gets the best of me, but we make it to camp.  Dusty and crowded--full of hikers doing Half Dome and families wanting to overnight it there. Hike a mile further to filter water--bit by something vicious on my calf. Instant fire and swelling. Argh!

So tired--eat powdered eggs and mashed potatoes, laughter and a wonderful friend.

 Fall into my tent.

Out cold. What a day.

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.