Still alive! :)

Sorry to anyone out there who might've been worried about me given the lack of posts! This is a quick shout to say that I am in fact alive and well :)

I know I'm quite a bit behind on the posts. I was trying to write something every day but I'm realizing that I'm probably not going to be able to keep up with that :( Trying to go back and catch up has been a challenge with the limited time and energy at the end of my days.. We're also finally in areas where we get no signal - was amazed at how often we did from the trail through SoCal!

But so a quick update from here and now:

I'm in Bishop for a "rest" day trying to get my chores done. The trail has definitely had its ups and downs..

Near the end of the desert section in Lake Isabella, CA, I pretty much hit the lowest point I've ever been (so far) during any of my hiking... It could have been worse of course but my spirits were really low... The desert, the long miles, missing home, family, and friends, and being alone for as much as I had been had taken quite a bit out of me...

I like the sun okay, but I definitely wouldn't call myself a "sun" person.. I loved living in Portland, nuff said.. Just glad the conditions in the desert hadn't been worse b/c they most certainly could have been.

I actually really enjoy having solitude, some space and quiet.. But this trail has made me realize how much I enjoyed the shelters of AT. As a southbounder I could hike alone all day and occasionally even have the shelters to myself, but frequently the shelter was a place where people would come together and you could have some company.. Even if people didn't sleep there for the night it was often a place where people would come to cook and eat their meals... A place to socialize a little bit.. Or even just to have some company - I remember sharing shelters w/ guys who barely spoke a word, but it I'm realizing that even the presence of another can be nice... Out here the really haven't been places like that.. There are the occasional established sites or campgrounds but more often than not you hike along until you feel like making camp and you just find a suitable spot... anywhere along the trail. I'd hiked some with people but we'd inevits

In addition I was sporting some ugly and aggrevating blisters from a rash from the "poodle dog bush" (no, I'm not making it up, it's real and none of us knew about it either until we found out the hard way) on the back of and inbetween my fingers.. It was on other parts of my body (and not exactly the best places - think plant compound on hands, peeing, hot sweaty area to promote spreading... you get the idea..) but it was worst on my hands. Not too big a deal for most of the day while hiking but in camp a royal pain in the butt.. Packing and unpacking the worst part of it.. The blisters were swollen with pus and occasionally they'd break open.. Well enough of that, again you get the idea :P

[... insert run around all day, trying to coordinate with four other hikers, trying to get things done, and now waitin for dinner to go b/c still much to do before trying to get to bed at a decent hour for a 5:30am departure to drive back to the trailhead for a huge big day challenge - two mtn passes carrying 7 friggin days of food. Sure hope the second isn't too plugged up w/ snow...]

Ummm, so yeah, I was very seriously considering quiting.... On calling home and hearing Mama's voice.... I just couldn't hold it together... broke down and began to sob... having to fight to not completely start bawling.... Feeling low... Not wanting to continue, not wanting to quit, not enjoying the hike, feeling like I couldn't quit, thinking about just how far I had to go and how much longer it would take to do it, hating that I was feeling this way after having finished the desert and now about to enter perhaps the very best section on the trail - the Sierra and our NP's..... It was both comforting and hard to hear the voices of my family... Feeling the support and love but feeling so far away...

After some encouragement... An acceptance that I'm free to do whatever the heck I want to do... After taking a couple of days of not doing much of anything... After going to a health clinic and getting some meds to clear up the rashes.. After beginning to make plans to reconnect and hike with fellow hikers through the Sierra... I started to feel a bit better about things.

Then as if to test that newfound resolve, my shoes were stollen! :) I know, I know.. How the ??? I had washed them along with most of what I own to get any residual poodle dog plant crap off so they were wet. I went into a market to get a sandwich and left them right in front of the store. Apparently there is a [...arrrg, no tiiime!...] large population of transients in the area and one of them might've picked them up. Suck. Only had to get me 50 more miles to my new shoes waiting for me too :P So to the army surplus store to pick up a temp crap pair which thankfully got me to Kennedy Meadows blister-free.

Rory didn't end up making it but I was able to hook up with a great trio of people who just so happened to have all started the same day I had - 5/16! Funny :) a young couple, Page (Muu muu) and Avery (Avocado), and a deaf guy from New York, Guthrie. Was so glad to have a great group to hike with, for the company and for the added safety through the Sierra.

The Sierra....... UN-FRIGGIN-BELIEVABLY-BEAUTIFUL!!! We hit Sequoia and summited Mt. Whitney early the morning of July 11, and the first part of King's Canyon has been magical/magestic.. 9 days behind schedule but it seems we might be hitting the timing just right. We'll see how this next section goes with lots of passes to climb over and water crossings to negotiate. Amazing so far.... Had already wanted to but now I really want to read Muir... I honestly don't know how you put words to what we've been seeing....

Sorry no pictures from it, just no time yet :( was really hoping to share some of them as I think I got lots of really good ones...

Well on way back to trail so here goes. Won't have acces to anything for another long but short week!!

Wish me luck - this section will be the biggest test on the trail. Much love to all.

Fool

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