Day 47: What I Came Out Here For

47 days in, I finally figured out how to pitch my Altaplex tent correctly. Before you judge, it is pitched with a single trekking pole so it can take some work. I awoke with no condensation on my sleeping bag, which meant I actually pitched the tent correctly to allow for more breathability. 

4 miles into my day, I went to rock hop across a creek. I made two successful jumps, but on my third I hit a patch of ice and slid into the water. The shock of the cold water is better than caffeine (which I didn’t bring for this section). My toes barely began to warm up when the next creek .3 miles down the trail provided no option but to walk through it. Cold feet yet again. I guess it’s the caffeine equivalent of a ordering a double espresso latte 😂

At the third stream crossing, it started to feel like a joke. Again, no way around it but through it. Sigh.

We made good time in the morning cresting the first pass early in the day. Already, I could feel the weather cool as forecasted in the coming days since it didn’t start to warm up until near 10am. 

A hiker’s Lazy Boy recliner

The second pass was a different story. By the time we reached it, we’d already covered 20ish miles and I was exhausted. My body hasn’t recovered from the elevation/climbing over the past week, and my legs screamed in protest over a 20 foot climb, let alone a ~1,600 foot one. 

Before the start of the climb, I stopped, laid down in the center of the trail, and put my legs up the backpack to help rest/recover. It wasn’t a good look but it helped a little. 

One of the reasons I am on this adventure is to find my limits and push past them. I felt like I did that today. It was a source of energy on the climb knowing I’d reach a level of exhaustion I’d rarely felt and was continuing to push. Every step my body was telling my mind, “stop”, but I kept putting one foot in front of the other.

The hike down was arduous. I had mailed back my microspikes (basically, things you attach to your shoes to make it easier to walk on snow) while in Mammoth Lakes. It sure would’ve been nice to have now. For at least a mile, we carefully traversed a steep snow bank. A slip on the bank would’ve sent me sliding down it and into a river or a tree. Thankfully, we made it through safely but the miles were slow. I slid more than a few times but was able to stop myself before picking up momentum.

We called it an early night arriving at camp a little after 5pm, which is the earliest I’ve sent up camp since the first week. The last creek crossing required us to walk through it; a fitting end to the day considering how it started.

Hopefully the extra rest helps me recover for tomorrow.

Miles: 26.7

Total Miles: 1,204