Another Flat-Footed Adventure: June 28, 2012 - Shaggy Walks on Bologna Skins

Day 14
Reds Meadow Campground
Elevation: 7750 feet
Miles: 21
Trip: 238

(Written June 29, after a night in the campgrounds) Hoo boy. That may have been the roughest day yet. No passes, no big climbs, but my feet were killing me for the last five miles. We didn't take a big break because we were focused on making the dinner bell here. My chant on the way in was at first "Shower...burger...payphone" until a John Muir Trail hiker (hiked the PCT in '85!) gleefully told us that the hot springs showers had been condemned. So my mantra became, "Burger...payphone...beer". But by the end not even the wind-flattened forest could distract me for long.A cold soak in the creek (with the hotsprings locked up beside us...) and some cold beers went a long way toward dulling the pain. A hot pastrami sandwich and some phone calls took me the rest of the way.

So now we're leisurely waiting for our 10am departure time (something I suspect Andrew is having a hard time with) and giving our feet a chance to rest. Andrew's shoe order didn't make it to Tuolumne Meadows (our next stop) so he has to suffer with flat, blown-out shoes (he calls them his bologna skins) until Bridgeport. My shoes need to get me to Sierra City, which might be a painful experience...but we'll have a hotel room in Bridgeport to recuperate.

Before my feet started throbbing, yesterday was actually a great day. Our campsite Thursday night was beautifully situated in a step of land below Silver Pass and above a long valley. The mosquitoes gave us a little break, but not enough that we could forgo the tent. Yesterday morning, when we hiked through Virginia Lake, we literally hiked through Virginia Lake. Andrew first tricked me into thinking the only crossing was a deep inlet, then shamed me into fording it once I figured out the real crossing was a rock hop. The water was past my waist, forcing me to hoist my pack over my shoulders. It's embarrassing how easily Andrew successfully used the line, "Well, if you're not hard-core enough...". But I have to admit, it was fun, and now I have a tiny taste of what hikers endured in '06 and '11. Now, it's on to Tuolumne!

Shaggy says:

Slept so well at Squaw Lake last night. Didnt wake up until 5, which is late for me. Lauren got ready in record time, faster than me today. We were both excited to be headed to Reds Meadow for burgers, beer, and free hot spring showers.
We made great time as we went up and down for what seemed like all day. We forded Virginia Lake as I did in 06'. It did take some convincing for Lauren to follow me. I had to remind her that her trail name is Groler Bear, a mix of Grizzly and Polar bear. She did it and it made great footage. Which reminds me, we are making a dance video. Dancing from Kennedy Meadows to Canada.
We made it to Reds Meadow at 4 pm. We ate burgers, drank beer, and are stealth camping at the closed campground. The road to Mammoth is opening tomorrow. A big windstorm came through this winter with 150 mph winds. It knocked over thousands of trees. Luckily the store and restaraunt opened for us hikers. The free hot spring showers were condemed by the state of California. So we washed in the cold creek, and life is still very good. Should be at the big shin dig in Bridgeport for the fourth of July.
By the way. Every day I spend with Lauren, I seem to fall more in love with her. Life is good.