August 5th
This has been the toughest day so far. We started climbing right from the start. My headlamp died while I was packing up camp. So I walked along with Jodie trying to stay in her pool of light and not create shadows. The trail was really rocky and picking our way along with one light was difficult. We stopped to give my light a charge, by then I was starting to be able to see in the predawn. We endlessly climbed up this mountain. I kept waiting for the morning sun to hit us so we could stop and eat breakfast in warmth. We must have been in the shadow of the mountain because it was taking a long time. My legs were getting shaky so picked a spot to eat. The hot breakfast was wonderful! I felt better.
Marilyn Monroe, another hiker, came along and asked if either of were missing some red tent poles. Jodie said yes quickly knowing we both have red and dark orange tent poles. Until that moment I had completely forgotten that I laid down one of my tent pole sections next to my backpack and had missed them when I put my pack together in the moonlight. I was flooded with gratitude!!! I felt deeply cared for and looked out for in that moment by God, the trail and the universe and by someone’s act of kindness. “The trail will provide” he said and smiled and continued on.
We finally summitted and the trail smoothed out again. We entered a meadow that we walked through for 5 hours! It literally was a 6 mile long meadow and we nearly broke 11,000 feet, 10,844 ft at my highest waypoint. The altitude was making us feel sleepy. It was warm and sunny. I felt like the lion in the Wizard of Oz and I just wanted to lie down and take a nap.
We stopped a lot and rested and stretched. Today my pack felt heavy and my body was achy. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Everyday I’m sure I’m getting stronger.
Jodie’s blog bikehikerepeat.com
More photos on FB
Oh wow, such beautiful land! 😍
And yay to protection on the trail! Whew! 😅