This blog of my 28 day traverse of the Sierra High Route will be unlike the PCT or the Cycling the Rhine blogs. On those I had cell service nearly every night and could post the day's activities as soon as they ended. On the high route, there is no cell service, except during our weekly food resupplies when we are near a town. Consequently, there will be 6-10 day periods of no news followed by a dumping of 6-7 entries, each written each night of the trip but not posted due to lack of connectivity. If you are interested in following the unfolding of this traverse of the high Sierra, check back periodically to see if I got connected and was able to post a report.
The contents of our van is a contrast in camping styles. Sally is "siege camping" in the Valley for the next seven weeks. Our van is awash in clothing bins, tents, canopies, stoves, carpets, etc. Rightfully so. She will be dressing up each morning in the uniform of a volunteer for the National Park Service to serve the public by answering questions and assisting visitors to Yosemite. She will be camping, literally living, "in a van down by the river", but expected to look like she stepped out of a boutique. Hence the litany of supportive gear to make the transition from dirty camper to manicured volunteer easier.
In contrast, the next 4 weeks of my life will be spent hiking the Sierra High Route. I have to carry everything for about 28 days. I never have to "look good" for anyone. Consequently, my gear fits in my backpack and is the best I can do at being minimal in weight while keeping me comfortable and alive. I was hoping my pack would weigh in below 30 pounds, including food for 8 days. I nearly made it at 32 pounds. Of course, when two liters of water are added it swells the weight to 36, but I will quickly reduce the overall mass as I devour food.
I added a few luxury items to entertain me. I have a frypan and oil (2.5 lbs), anticipating the fat fish I hope to catch. Also, a fishing pole and assorted lures (1 lbs). I have a solar panel, small battery and required cords (1.5 lbs) to keep my headlamp and iPhone charged. As you can see, I could shave 5 pounds off my pack (14% reduction), but I'll enjoy my luxuries.
Both Sally and I will be camping, but the substance and style are radically different, hence the variance in our gear.
We are currently motoring down California Highway 89, about 100 miles north of Susanville. Our goal for the night is Yosemite, either the cool high country of Tuolumne Meadows or the heated environs of Yosemite Valley. Which we choose depends on how long it takes us to get to the park, which is dependent on how long we hangout in Reno. We have a few items to test and possibly buy at the Sierra Trading Post-shirts for me and shoes for Sally. If we are quick, we most likely will make it to the Valley. If we doddle, it's the meadows.
The other determining factor is flying down the highway a few hours behind us, Ed Thompson. We spent last night in the van at the 7 Feathers Casino in Canyonville in southern Oregon. Ed was in his comfy bed in Salem, 2 hours north. We left the casino, southbound on I-5 at 6:30 am this morning. He left Salem on the same highway at 7:30 am. This put him 3 hours behind us. Due to the slower speeds and accelerations of the van, plus our more frequent stops, we figure Ed will catch us by the time we reach Tuolumne Meadows, where he plans to leave his car for the duration of our Sierra High Route adventure (28 days). We will load his pack, food boxes and assorted gear into our van and waddle down to the Valley in our overloaded Westy. Whether we waddle down tonight or tomorrow morning depends on the time of our rendezvous.
Our plan is to spend Friday setting up Sally's campsite, see a few old friends and prepare for each of our coming adventures.
Update: Ed caught up with us in Carson City at the In & Out Burger, where we had dinner together. After dinner, Sally rode in Ed's nicely air conditioned Subaru while I piloted the VW alone down 395 to Lee Vining. Ed passed me near Bridgeport, then sped up the steep 120 grade to the Tioga Pass entrance while I coaxed the VW up the same grade. We met at the Wilderness Center parking lot. Ed added his hiking gear to the mounds of gear already littering the van, then squeezed into the rear seat and we were off. Although it was nearly 9:00 pm, we decided to head to the Valley. Ordinarily, we would just pull off the road and sleep, but the mounds of gear filled the bed; plus, Ed had no where to sleep even if we could free up the bed.
Once in the valley, about 10:15, we headed for campsite "F" in the North Pines loop. It was occupied. Undaunted, Sally walked I'ver to converse with the campers still up on the neighboring site. She learned that the campground office had given her site to visitors for the night.
We had met Hiroko, a very sweet Japanese volunteer ranger when we were down in July. She was camped in "D". Sally approached her tent and woke her up, even though it took a minute or two to rouse her. She was startled and a little apprehensive at first, but soon recognized Sally and was very amiable about letting us crash in her campsite for the night. It took 15 minutes to offload gear and put the food in a bear box to give us room to sleep in the van. Finally, about 11:30 pm we three sat quietly at the picnic table, had a beverage and then retired. Sally and I slept in the van, Ed in his sleeping bag on the picnic table.
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