I was wrong about restored connectivity; it's been another extended stretch with no signals. So, to catch up...
After a couple of cool, rainy days resting in Mammoth Lakes (daily routine: breakfast, then a few hours in the public library, then stocking up on calories at the Vons market, including a daily pint of gelato/ice cream/frozen yogurt, followed by soccer matches in the afternoon/evening), I headed back out to the trail on the first daily Reds Meadow bus from Mammoth Lakes of the summer 2015 season. Summer has arrived on the trail. The nights have no longer been freezing, but the warmer temperatures have brought out the mosquitoes...
The hundred miles up to and through Yosemite Park are full of more steep alpine canyons and meadows. The elevation changes have moderated -- only 1-2,000 foot changes instead of 3-4,000 -- but remain steep and tiring. The meadows are muddy with snowmelt, leading to the mosquitoes.
Beyond Yosemite, my radio began picking up Nevada stations, even if my phone remained unconnected, and the terrain began drying out, as any snow had already melted and run off, leaving dry channels. Unfortunately, the dry conditions are at high risk for fire. After my arrival to South Lake Tahoe on Sunday, a fire just off the trail has grown to over 16,000 acres in size, and at least a few hikers were told to skip over a 75 mile trail section due to the fire; they hitchhiked in to South Lake Tahoe.
I've headed off the trail for a bit to wrap up some administrative items, catch some more soccer, visit family, and think through my plan and approach for the trail going forward. More thoughts and photos to follow.
After a couple of cool, rainy days resting in Mammoth Lakes (daily routine: breakfast, then a few hours in the public library, then stocking up on calories at the Vons market, including a daily pint of gelato/ice cream/frozen yogurt, followed by soccer matches in the afternoon/evening), I headed back out to the trail on the first daily Reds Meadow bus from Mammoth Lakes of the summer 2015 season. Summer has arrived on the trail. The nights have no longer been freezing, but the warmer temperatures have brought out the mosquitoes...
The hundred miles up to and through Yosemite Park are full of more steep alpine canyons and meadows. The elevation changes have moderated -- only 1-2,000 foot changes instead of 3-4,000 -- but remain steep and tiring. The meadows are muddy with snowmelt, leading to the mosquitoes.
Beyond Yosemite, my radio began picking up Nevada stations, even if my phone remained unconnected, and the terrain began drying out, as any snow had already melted and run off, leaving dry channels. Unfortunately, the dry conditions are at high risk for fire. After my arrival to South Lake Tahoe on Sunday, a fire just off the trail has grown to over 16,000 acres in size, and at least a few hikers were told to skip over a 75 mile trail section due to the fire; they hitchhiked in to South Lake Tahoe.
I've headed off the trail for a bit to wrap up some administrative items, catch some more soccer, visit family, and think through my plan and approach for the trail going forward. More thoughts and photos to follow.
