I only had one PCT mile to complete today before taking the blue blaze to Vermillion Valley Resort. I didn’t have enough food to get to Mammoth, so a small side quest was necessary.
The blue blaze to the resort was about 7 miles long, so although I didn’t cover many PCT miles, I still had a decent hike to do this morning. I missed breakfast, but I arrived just in time to see Holland at the Flash World Cup.
Fortunately, lunch was served shortly after my arrival. I set up my tent and got in line for food. The resort reminds me of Kennedy Meadows South, only with fewer hikers. There are other groups of families and individuals staying in tent cabins and RVs nearby. All hikers camp in the designated area next to the tent. There are about 20 people who have tents set up in the area.
I upgraded my snack supply to last me the next 2 days to get to Mammoth at the general store. This time I’m trying my first oatmeal blended with Breakfast Essentials after Mojo and Rogue One promoted it last night. I also bought a case of Oreos which I’m excited about.
In the warehouse they had these postcards that are part of a former hiker’s PCT project. You can draw a picture on the front and send a message on the back. Dromedary decided to participate and draw a picture of Muir Pass. I looked over his shoulder, since I’m not much of an artist. Your postcard was spectacular, of course.
Once the game was over, Dromedary and I decided to try (emphasis on try) and cleanse ourselves some more with a dip in the lake. The lake was much warmer than some of the alpine lakes we passed, but we were definitely not cleaner. I went for a quick swim before lying on a rock and chatting in the sun.
Somehow time flew by and it was time for dinner. We were all crammed around a picnic table coming up with crazy plans for our next Mammoth zero in a couple of days. We booked a condo through Airbnb for 10 people to stay. It’s going to be a very fun time. There is a hot tub, tennis court and it is walking distance to Mammoth Vons.
I continue to promote the Mammoth Vons view. It reminds me of the ski trips my family took when I was a kid. I clearly remember arriving in the late afternoon and arriving at Vons at dusk with the alpine glow illuminating the mountains. Maybe it’s nostalgia, but I’m excited to go to Mammoth Vons.
We cleaned the table and examined the board games. Of course they had my favorite, Bananagrams. Somehow I convinced the guys to play a few rounds with me. But we only made it a few rounds before everyone started getting sleepy. After all, it was almost midnight for hikers (8 pm).
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