July 3, 2011

July 3, 2012 - Tuolumne Meadows We arrived in the campground last night about 8:30, just as it was getting dark. We found a campsite in A loop (our preference because we can pick up cell service from the Tuolumne Meadows Sierra High Camp) and cooked up a dinner of noodles, beans and Parmesian Cheese. Got up this morning late-8:15. I was awake at 5:45. Read my OEC manual on human anatomy and dosed until the potty forced the issue and rousted me from the warmth of the down quilt. This woke Sally and our day began. We took coffee cake we had purchased in Reno the previous afternoon to the “rangers in the box”. Ranger Brian, who we have talked with the past 3 summers gratefully took the cake. Two other Rangers were hanging out in the campground entrance station, so we met them and talked lifestyles for a while. Brian signed us up for 6 nights in A47 and we walked back to the van, cooked breakfast of scrambled eggs with spinach and bread, then headed to the post office and store. I was hoping my new down coat was in and Sally was hankering for a Pepsi. The post master, a fun 35ish year old guy said it had not come in, but mail came at noon, so come back sometime after that to see if it came in. Sally was feeling a little punky, probably due to altitude sickness (the campground is at 8800’), but a little ibuprofen and caffeine fixed her up nicely. We stopped by the camping office to pay for our camping, then returned to the van to prepare for a short 2.5 mile hike to Elizabeth Lake. With lunch, sunscreen and other assorted junk in our pack we headed by toward the post office as it was past noon. The post master (seems weird to call him that because he is very laid back and super friendly in a Tuolumne Meadow style) said he saw it come by he needed a few minutes to sort the mail, so Sally found a likely PCT thru hiker and struck up a conversation that lasted 45 minutes covering all aspects of the PCT from Mexico to Tuolumne. 49 years old, laid off, former ski and climbing bum having the time of his life. We picked up some useful information and gave him our number to call as he approached White Pass so we could bring him a meal. Got my coat from the Post Office then headed back to camp to eat lunch before heading out as it was now 2:00. We ate, then hiked out of the campground to Elizabeth Lake. Sally, under the influence of exercise induced asthma fixing medicine had a great hike, being able to breath for the first time in many years. Back to the van about 5:30, bike ride to the store for beer, pop and tomatoes, then dinner of lentil tacos and applesauce. The rest of the evening was spent reading OEC chapters while Sally read park material getting ready for her new position in the park.