Day 106: Lean and Feral!

6/30/20; mile: 943; elevation: 8,599 ft.

With another easy day due to my scheduled resupply in Tuolumne Meadows for another day ahead, I was able to take my time as I packed and marched northwards. The next big challenge was Donahue Pass, not a small challenge, but also the boundary for Yosemite National Park. Along the way, I passed by Aussie, which I can’t understand because that guy can push the miles.

Halfway up the pass, I get cell reception again and take some time in a makeshift “office” to post a couple more days to the blog. After that, it’s more slogging uphill to the pass. The exposed granite terrain is becoming easier on this experienced body, and the lighter food load adds to it. I’m finally starting to feel like this isn’t TOO much work, it just is.

But uphills are still uphills, so I’m more than welcome to yield to downhill hikers so I can take a breather. This one older gentleman says to me, “You must be a thru hiker.” When I question him as to why he thinks that, his response is, “Because you look lean and feral.”.

Well now! I’ve been accused of many things over my years, but that’s a first. And I’ll take it! Thank you good sir!

At the pass, park personnel are there to check permits. “How’s your day?” they ask as I come up to them, breathing very forcefully and loudly. “If you can’t tell by the volume, I’m still breathing” I say. That elicits a slight chuckle and lightens the mood. I pull out my PCT permit, and talk gravitates to trail experiences and roots of my trail name.

Even though my planned resupply isn’t until tomorrow, I’m still feeling itchy to make the miles today to maybe have some time to relax tomorrow morning. So I’ve decided, it’s going to be a 19-ish mile day, now mostly downhill or flat. Lyell Meadow, here I come. This is a very popular hike when the park is busy, but this year is quieter due to the reduced number of visitors allowed into the park. I mostly see JMT hikers beginning their trip southbound; chock full of questions about trail/snow/pass conditions.

Once upon Tuolumne Meadows proper, it’s a weird appocalyptic scene: wide trails designed to accomodate many visitors, but none are in sight. This is the first road crossing on the PCT since mile 702 when I I got back on trail on June 11 (yes, over 240 miles ago). And the walk off of the trail is agonizingly long and boring to get to the backpacker campground (the only kosher place to camp here for us). Once I finally make it, I reunite with other thru hikers, and the crowd grows as the sun sets. We end up with hot dogs and warm beers as well as some extra trail food from a pair of JMT hikers. As the light dims and firelight grows, the mood lifts and everyone is jovial. We’re a small inner group surrounded by other JMT and/or “fake” hikers who parked on the road and “hiked” into the campground. Doesn’t matter, we know who we are; what we’ve done. We earned this, and after tonight, the tribe moves one. Maybe not together, but always northward.

Savior out.