Day 67

VVR to lake Virginia - 14.5 miles

Total - 893.0 miles

Woke up to having to pee around 5:30am quickly did that but almost peed my pants running to the restrooms of VVR. Got back in bed to listen to my audio book red rising before hopefully breakfast. Instead I fell asleep again and woke up around 7:30z dazed and confused I got up and made my way to the restrooms again before trying ti find my crew. Marc and Caleb were standing outside and I asked if they ordered breakfast and they hadn’t because they were waiting for me. So cute those two. Immediately ordered the lumberjack breakfast and waited for dad to show his face. He apparently had a leak in his pad last night and was tending to that before looking for me. He ordered breakfast then as well. The lumberjack breakfast was MASSIVE. Two pancakes the size of your head, eggs, hashbrowns, two bacon, two sausage, slab of ham, and toast. I got through all of it but the pancakes as it was an easy pack out. We then waited around until our ferry ride which was at 10:30. Brutal time to start hiking. I didn’t want to hike but a zero in the future kept me going. The ferry ride was cute with this old guy tending to the motor. Before we pushed off the half owner of the resort scooted off on a motorbike looking steezy asf. Everyone was impressed. We slowly crossed the lake on the ferry listening to the captain give his facts. Dad noticed that flapjack, a guy we had been leapfrogging in the sierras had the same missing finger as him. Basically the same exact cut. Flapjack got it though through his brother who accidentally sliced it off with a hatchet when he was 6. They proceeded to have an ET moment after the discussion. Super cute. We finally reached the end of the ferry ride and started on trail. It was pretty easy for the first 1.5 miles to get back on trail. The only thing I hate more though is a mass start where a big group of people start hiking all at the same spot at the same time. You are playing with do I push to get ahead or do I hold back but that risks me actually wanting to pass people. It’s a science really and today we pushed ahead. It was the right call with the group as we were in the middle of the pack, speed wise. The guys that only charge passed us and the people who took their time were behind. We had major pass and it was 6 miles up and boy did it kick our asses. So many switchbacks. It would level off after a mile of switchbacks and then pick right back up where it started with more switchbacks. We had to cross a stream at one point and the rocks were just far enough from each other making me question my jumping abilities. I had to work myself up to jump. I got across unscathed while dad did the first hop only to be pulled back by the weight of the pack causing one foot to go into the water. The blister foot as well which sucks. The snow wasn’t bad at all. I think we are through the worst of it for pass wise. We got to the top of the pass only to be rewarded with 0.3 more miles of uphill. At the top, we are a little aka I ate my pancakes and some chips and candy. A well balanced meal. We were being dive bombed by mosquitos though which caused us to keep going. It was snow fields on kinda steep terrain but nothing too bad. We slipped all the way down. Chased by mosquitos of course. I’m going to treat my clothes in mammoth. We headed downhill for awhile before our next climb. Again, switchbacks after switchbacks. Sweat was pouring down my face. Two girls were ahead of me and I was playing the game of should I pass them or just slow down. Don’t want to do that awkward leapfrogging ya know? I decided to slow down and just trudge on. Brutal climb. Not even a pass too. That was our last major major climb before mammoth so I was happy to get that over with. We then got to the lake we were planning on camping at. We had to cross an inlet dirt though, so shoes and socks came off to cross. Felt good though as my feet were stinky and dirty. I had to step in the mud tho at one point and that almost made me throw up. Got to the campsite to a whole bunch of people who were on the 9:30 ferry. Thought they were gonna go a little farther but understandable why they didn’t as the lake and area are gorgeous. Probably one of the best alpine lakes I’ve seen on trail. Green and lush with bright blue sparkly water. Mountains tower over it as usual. We set up camp and as we are cooking gourmet comes up to us. We chatted a lil asking how he was and what’s his plans are. Seems like everyone struggled with this section mentally and physically but now we are better for it. No one can stop me now. Did all the chores and choked down some mash potatoes in my tent while dad ate his in his tent. Mosquitos are getting worse by the day for sure. Tomorrow we head into mammoth for a zero day. We are staying in an Airbnb with the guys and girls. Klara and Louisa booked us one with a jacuzzi and sauna. Just what the doctor ordered. We are about 15 miles from the trailhead but luckily there are bus systems that hit the trail head for hikers. That’s just in case Louisa and Klara pick up Caleb and Marc before us and want to head in to town.

Dad said this is one of the hardest things he’s done. Hes about to hit 200 miles too tomorrow. This is the hardest thing I’ve done. But when I look back on each day it doesn’t seem like it even if it is. I can’t wait for mom and Nathan to experience it. Mom climbed mount Adams over the weekend like the beast she is. I know she’s training to come out, hopefully Nathan is! If not, imma wipe the floor with him as I am so fit now. Legs are pure muscle. Skinny arms still but that’s not the point.