Day 10 – July 13, 2014 Odometer Reading: 101.00 miles Miles today: 13.33 Camped: above Rosemarie Meadow – elevation 10,067 Today’s Key to Success: Gatorade Really? Back to not sleeping? It’s getting so common, it’s boring to even write about. This time I was snoring, and I never snore. I’d wake Aidan up with my racket, so he’d gently wake me up to try to get me to roll over. After hours of this, Read more…
Day 9 – July 12, 2014 Odometer Reading: 88.67 miles Miles today: 9.09 Camped: Junction to VVR – elevation 7,800 Today’s Key to Success: Long sleeves The night was cold. Really, really cold. I put on all my long-sleeved whatevers and all my feathered things and squished myself against my husband, The Heater. My silk liner hugged me tight. I fell instantly in love. Aside from once when I woke up and it was Read more…
Day 8 – July 11, 2014 Odometer Reading: 79.58 miles Miles today: 6.38 Camped: Squaw Lake – elevation 10,331 Today’s Key to Success: Dr. Bronner’s Biodegradable Soap We didn’t sleep again. We never seem to anymore. No idea why. Even took Benadryl last night. It was cold. It was really cold. That’s usually good for sleeping. I got up in the middle of the night to put on my down jacket and my down Read more…
Day 7 – July 10, 2014 Odometer Reading: 73.2 miles Miles today: 13.00 Camped: Northwest side of Virginia Lake – elevation 10,381 Today’s Key to Success: Hot Chocolate *splat*. A drop of rain on the tent. Then a few more in quick succession. Aidan and I woke up and simultaneously leaped out of the tent. We grabbed any gear that was left out, stuffed it in our backpacks, wrapped the backpacks in their water proof Read more…
Day 6 – July 9, 2014 Odometer Reading: 60.2 miles Miles today: 8.74 Camped: Crater Creek – elevation 8,676 Today’s Key to Success: Beer We didn’t sleep again. This time both my knees hurt and Aidan’s right leg was bothering him quite a bit. It seems like every day something new is painful. Every night that new ache and new pain leaks through our dreams and brings us back to the land of the living. Read more…
Day 5 – July 8, 2014 Odometer Reading: 51.46 miles Miles today: 10.01 Camped: Shadow Creek – elevation 9,065 Today’s Key to Success: Lip Biting Neither of us slept. Our hips hurt too much, even through the ibuprofen (“Vitamin I”). I dreamed of wide rivers, the other side only accessible over a bridge of railroad tracks. I dreamed of lost wallets and stealing cell phones. I woke up a lot. Aidan teased me about my Read more…
Day 4 – July 7, 2014 Odometer Reading: 42.45 miles Miles today: 13.05 Camped: Rush Creek – elevation 9,952 Today’s Key to Success: Pack Covers Yip…yip…yip…yip-yip-yip-ahoooooooooo We opened our eyes. It came again. A lone coyote singing his little lungs out. Singing good morning to the world. It was really early. We lay there, all quiet and snuggly. I put my head on Aidan’s chest and we listened for a while. The most beautiful song Read more…
Day 3 – July 6, 2014 Odometer Reading: 29.4 miles Miles today: 12.5 Camped: Lyell Canyon – elevation 8,886 Today’s Key to Success: Catching the Last Shuttle We slept so, so well. It was a cold and perfect night with no wind. I wore my down booties, and was grateful for all the Facebook peer pressure that made me bring them in the first place. I also wore my down jacket, my down hat, my Read more…
Day 2 – July 5, 2014 Odometer Reading: 16.90 miles Miles today: 11.76 Camped: in Long Meadow Today’s Key to Success: Trekking umbrellas “No vomiting,” Aidan said, “You need those calories.” He petted my head. It was 1:30 am. It had to be the heat. I barely slept, so Aidan was in the same boat. I fidgeted and fussed all night. I couldn’t get comfortable. Please, Morning, hurry up and get here. Aidan got up Read more…
Day 1 – July 4, 2014 Odometer Reading: 5.14 miles Miles today: 5.14 Camped: near Nevada Falls Today’s Key to Success: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale 4am came, loud and unapologetic. Don’t get up don’t get up don’t get up yet, I silently pleaded. Aidan got up. After several rounds of hugs and well-wishes, we were gone by 5. The Tuolumne Meadows Visitor’s Center was not yet open when we arrived, so Aidan took me to Read more…