Day 72

Campsite to glen aulin Sierra camp - 14.9 miles

Total - 949.5 miles

Last night was brutal. Coldest night that we have experienced on trail. I kept contemplating on putting on rain gear and ultimately deciding I’m too cold to even reach outside my tent for it. I had no socks on and everytime I woke up I had to make sure I could still move them as they felt frozen solid. My pad also kept deflating and my hip was hurting. It was a bad night. I woke up as well naturally at 6 despite my dad and I agreeing for a 5:30 wake up time. I immediately panicked and got out of my tent to search if people had left. No one had left. Every tent that we saw last night was still there which was reaffirming that I didn’t fuck up. Frost covered everything from my rain fly, to my bear can. My 2L cnoc also half froze allowing us to deny gravity. I slowly start getting ready and packed up and slowly I started to hear shuffling around. Went over to Caleb to chit chat a little once people started getting up and talked about the day before where we got into camp late. He said it felt like a fever dream. Dad and I then hit the road as it was an easy flat 9 miles into Yosemite or tuolomne meadows where he would depart me. AHHHHHH SO SAD. Idk if I mentioned it yesterday but we are now in Yosemite backcountry. Last time I was here, I drove from utah, now this time, I walked here from the mexico border which is INSANE. We followed the windy river all the way to the road where I got a lil bit snippy with dad as I was in pain and hangry. The other part of today was I started my period which was frustrating as I wasn’t expecting it. Klara started hers yesterday and clearly she is a powerful being as now we are synced. The one time I hike with a woman and not the guys and she has this much power over me. Crazy. After snapping a dad a lil bc he kept thinking every parking lot we passed was the exit, we finally made it to the turn off to reach tuolomne meadows post office and store. We stopped quickly though at trail magic as they had a sign up and it turned out to be the couple who gave us trail magic on dads first day in Kennedy meadows! It felt like a full circle moment. Then we officially headed to the store and grabbed drinks before ordering a breakfast burrito at the grill. It was delicious and just what I needed to dampen the hangry beast inside of me. The post master finally showed up and we grabbed our two packages which he had graffitied our names on to the side of each for easy access. It was very cool. Did not get a pic tho for some reason. We sorted through our stuff and tried to fit everything I needed while only giving away a little bit to the hiker box. Dad is going to mail me some of the peak meals that I couldn’t fit into my bear can aka didn’t need for the 5 day stretch. Then it was time for him to go. Immediately as we walked to go get him a hitch, I started crying. I didn’t want him to leave. He was my rock out here to keep me going in the rough times no matter how many times I was cranky or hangry or tired. Every pass, he got me through and was so understanding. I don’t know if I could’ve done it without him. It felt like we just got into a routine after three weeks and I want to keep that going. I love my group but I want to share this experience with family as well. It was still happy tears though that I did get to experience this with him. Just sad that it’s over but happy it happened. Cheesy but whatever. I think I saw him tear up as well but I’m not sure. Four cars later, maybe three minutes, a guy pulled over into the parking lot asking where he was going and dad was off. Now I’m back by myself. Well with my group but not with him. We then chilled on the curb while we waited for people to get lunch. Had a couple of bevs and then around 2:15 we headed out to finish the last 6 miles of the day. Marc and I hiked these together while chit chatting like always. Always a good chat with him. It was pretty flat so it was easy miles. We passed by a gorgeous 50 foot waterfall before crossing the bridge into camp. Mosquitos flocked us so we found a space with a lil bit of wind in defiance. After a water run and washing off my nasty lil feet, I started dinner which was the peak freeze dried meal of chicken coconut curry. DELICIOUS. Everyone kept commenting on the smell and how good it was. I warned everyone that I needed to be horizontal ASAP so that’s what I did after food and landed in bed around 6ish. They were still chit chatting outside which I would chime in on every once in awhile especially when klara told her most embarrassing story. Then we exchanged stories for a bit before they gave in to the mosquitos. I was happily in my tent tho. Early night but I need it after yesterday being on my feet for so long. Plus the nights sleep was horrible with the cold. Hoping for it to be better tonight.