Day 60: Mile 924 to 937   (13 miles)

(Lyell Fork River)

Got moving this morning and stopped for breakfast at Rush creek. Mosquitoes were bad! This is the worst I have seen yet on the hike. Rumors say they are bad from Tuolumne Meadows (Which I will reach today or tomorrow) through South Lake Tahoe. I ended up making it a quick break and as soon as I got moving, I ran into Lord Vader. He is a former teacher from Chicago and he got his trail name from his students and I learned quickly he was huge into jazz music.

As we hiked together, we ran into a section hiker who was next to a creek in the grass on his hands and knees looking for something. We found out the guy realized he had lost his wedding ring somewhere between where we were and another two miles up to Donahue Pass where he started this morning. We helped him look around for about 20 minutes and weren’t able to find it. I wrote down his email in case we found it on the trail anywhere else. After getting up to Donahue Pass, we looked around there also but never found his ring.

From this point on, its all downhill today. Spent the rest of the day walking along the Lyell Fork River which was slow moving clear water full of fish. There is no camping four miles before Tuolumne Meadows or 4 miles after. This is one of the most popular areas for tourist in the Yosemite Valley area and there was no way I was going to attempt to camp in the campground with all those people. I opted to stop early today and camp four miles before Tuolumne Meadows. My leg is feeling great today and why push it when there is no need. Lord Vader caught up and decided to do the same thing. I climbed up the hillside out of view of everyone and had my own private spot to camp where I can just relax and not be bothered.

(Just relaxing inside my tent)

(I never see myself in a mirror and didn’t realize how dirty and beat up I was looking!)

I think the plan is to be up and going by 7am and arrive at Tuolumne Meadows around 9am in time for the opening of the stores and post office to resupply. I cooked up a huge batch of mac and cheese and chased it with some fruit punch. I heard something near by and looked up the hill and saw six deer hanging out grazing. When I look down the hill across the river into a huge open meadow, I can see a few more deer out there. I keep scanning the meadow hoping to see a bear, but no luck.

Day 61: Mile 937 to 948   (11 miles)

Woke up and marched into Tuolumne Meadows at 9:30am. I got my resupply box and bounce box which allowed me to upload all my pictures on my laptop so I don’t lose any pictures. While the pictures were downloading, I went over and had lunch and some ice cream. There are tons of JMT hikers and tourists all over. Apparently, I’m right next to the second largest campground in the United States and I believe it based on the amount of people around. They are all nice and clean and myself and other thru hikers look like some true hiker trash.

I had a new belt mailed to me because the one I have been using has been a pain for a long time and I don’t like how it works (or doesn’t work). The tiny post office there said they didn’t have my package even though the tracking number said it was delivered. I ended up wasting a couple hours battling them over this issue and in the end, from the window, I was able to look up on the shelf and point out my package that they said they didn’t have. I had my new belt and was ready to get moving again. I left with Lord Vader at 5:30 and was hoping to get another seven miles to Glen Aulin campground which is where we can find some bear lockers. Bear lockers are now scattered in certain areas along the trail for hikers to put their food in to keep safe from bear. I can’t forget to mention, I got some homemade cookies sent to be from my parents today also. This is a nice surprise!

We ran into a couple day hikers who said they saw a mountain lion about a mile and a half down the trail that ran off. They said it was in an open area with a bunch of big boulders so we will keep an eye out just in case.

While walking, I noticed something moving super fast to our left and looked pretty big. We stopped to see what it may be and as it got closer, I realized it was a hare. Which is basically a giant rabbit! I have always heard of them but never knew how big they really were! Saw a second one a few minutes later running off quickly. By the time we got to the open area near the boulders we saw a giant coyote. I have seen dozens in my life but never one this big! It ran up the trail and over a hill. By the time we caught up to him, he took off running again and disappeared to never been seen again. The wildlife today as seemed to really pick up and I’m enjoying this! Next on the list was a group of bucks hanging out by the water.

(Lord Vader)

We arrived at Glen Camp at 8:15pm and found a spot to camp with Day Dreamer, Shutterbug and Diane. They got a fire going while I set up my tent and joined them at the fire to tell stories about the trail and our experiences thus far.

(Waterfall near Glen Camp)

Day 62: Mile 948 to 966   (18 miles)

Today was not to much of a eventful day. Had lunch at Summit Pass and hiked with Beer Goddess and Hawaii for a little while before taking another break at Miller Lake which was a nice view.

(Miller Lake)

Another day full of up hill but glad to report my leg is doing great. I got to the top of Benson Pass and set up camp before the sun went down. I mixed up one of my favorite dinners that consisted of potatoes, stuffing and bacon bits with some hot sauce. I went up on a rock which was still in the sun and ate dinner and had to fight off the bugs. Right before dark, a hiker named Nips and one other showed up and set up camp. I was already inside my tent and falling asleep while they were getting set up.

(Trying some blue Gatorade that I found in the hiker box)