Day 68-70 – The walk

9.48 // 911.7

Today it was time to return to the road. This morning was pleasant and relaxing. We knew that we would only do 8 to 10 miles, so we didn’t need to run out of condominium. For some reason, I felt little energy and I didn’t have much appetite. In the end I took some yogurt with granola and instant instantaneous breakfast with thick cream and took a nap on the couch. We leave the condominium around 11 o’clock and walk to the brewery. All had lunch. I had some snacks of my delicious quinoa salad, Falafel, but I couldn’t eat much. I wonder if I was anxious to return to the road, but I’m not sure. I felt better when we moved. We were able to wear the free tram back to Lake Horseshoe. We take a spur of 3.25 miles back to the PCT. The land was pretty. It was downhill or a little rolling. Nothing too challenging and it was good to start half a day, especially with new shoes and what was felt like a heavy package. After 6 miles we met Reds Meadow that had a general store. We stopped a little there and took drinks, ice cream and sweets. We walk another 2.5 miles to a camp. This is really good because there is an available toilet, a garbage container for garbage and bears boxes, so it is very easy to establish a camp here. We had dinner at the Picnic table by the river next to our tent until the mosquitoes persecuted us.

16.04 // 927.2

We left the camp this morning at 7 am with the Tramilia. We knew that we only had 16 miles for the end today, so we left a little later. It would be an easier day, which is good because I am late in my calories. I felt much weak today. There were 4000 feet of climbing on those 16 miles. It seemed manageable, it wasn’t severe, but I was dragging. We stopped a couple of times. Once he was in a camp about 4.5 miles. We saw some mules there. We filter water. In fact, I was doing good so far. Then we start a more steep inclination and that slows me. We were another for 5 miles and we reached a camp. There I just went to bed for 20 minutes and took a nap before sitting and having something to eat. The rest of the day I did the best I could and I was dragging behind others. We walk up to 1000 Lake Islands. This was perfect because it was a warmer day. We were all sweating for the climb. It is an alpine lake. I was glad to get into the water and swim a little. I wasn’t in the water for a long time, enough time to cool off and then I went to bed in the very beautiful warm rocks. We start walking again. We had a little from top to bottom and then a lot in reality and that bothered Bob’s knee and simply slows us. It is disappointing that the descent can be so slow. It was steep and rocky. We arrived at the camp after 16 miles around 5:30 pm there were many mosquitoes. We put our store. I leaked some water. We all have dinner together and then we arrived at our store at 8 pm we all feel the altitude and climb. We are prepared to go through the pass in the morning. The pass is 3 1/2 miles away and 1500 feet high.

17.35 // 943.7

I slept very well last night. This morning we start with the climb to the pass. When we started climbing, speed was decreasing. It was a beautiful day, blue skies, rocky terrain and a good group. While we continue to climb the second mile and even the third mile, it was very slow. I just have no gas in the engine. I don’t know what is happening. Donohue Pass (11,083 feet) was not the highest pass we have made. When we approached the last half mile, there was a snowfield. Bob was there going on how to get to the path. I really struggled to take that pass. I guess I was 20 minutes behind all others when we reached the top. We sat there and had a little break and then I had the time to start down. The rest of the day was supposed to be quite easy, although the descents are difficult. They are steep, rocky and beautiful, but not an easy cruise. We probably did 3 miles on the other side of Donohue Pass and then we took a break through the Tuolumne River. I ate something, I took off my shoes and tried to relax. I was simply dragging all day, but I was thinking that the next 9 miles, which knew they would be mainly flat, would be very revealing. And unfortunately, he was very revealing. I really had nothing in the tank. Bob stayed behind me and was watching all the changes. I tried to change the plants because my right heel was bothering me. And with my right heel it bothered me, I was walking differently and that was bothering my right knee. But the real problem was the little energy it had. I was walking 2 mph in a basically flat stretch and falling very far from all others. This is not expected after 70 days of hiking. This was supposed to be an informal cruise very easy and I just dragged. For Bob, it became clear that I needed to return the road. I think my body is worn, so we decided that once we arrived at the Tuolumne Meadows general store, we would find a way to reach the city. We were able to get a Yarts bus trip to Lee Vining. The bus driver was fantastic and extremely helpful and made a big difference in our day. We find a hotel room and showers. Bob went and got some groceries. I talked to our friend who is a doctor. He gave me good advice and we will take measures tomorrow.

Happy paths,

Julie

@Julieandbobgoforahike

This website contains affiliate links, which means that the walk can receive a percentage of any product or service that you buy using the links in the items or ads. The buyer pays the same price that would do it differently, and his purchase helps to support the continuous objective of the walk to address his quality backpack advice and information. Thanks for your support!

For more information, visit the page about this site.