Fun isn't the Right Word to Describe Backpacking

I am writing you from Bishop, CA. In the past two weeks, we have left the desert far behind us. This is a good thing. The desert does scary things to people.

The reason why you haven't heard from me recently is because we have been without internet service for the past 150 miles. Bambi and I have entered the High Sierra, the most magnificent and isolated part of the Pacific Crest Trail. For me, this section has been filled with as many mental ups and downs as it has been filled with literal ones. And to give you an idea, we've gone from Walker Pass at 6300 ft to Mt Whitney, the highest point in the continental United States at 14,500.

The biggest source of suffering for me comes from two places. First being food. Perhaps you may have heard of it. I think it is hard for a human mind to conceive exactly how much food a hiker walking 20+ miles a day will need to eat. Also I believe that asking your body to work like that without food is akin to asking your car to work without gasoline. The human body is a selfish machine. It will not do you any favors without something in return.

This is what a hiker looks like when he has to hike 10 miles on 2 scoops of coconut protein powder.

The other challenge I have faced is IT Band Syndrome. I twisted my ankle walking on scree on the way out of Walker Pass, and I believed that act strained my IT band. Because this was at the beginning of a 50 mile section, getting out necessitated about 10 ibuprofen a day and profuse swearing. Some of the irritation went away as we rested in Kennedy Meadows, allowing us to press onwards. I am proud though, that despite the pain, we were able to complete the next section as planned. It certainly helped that we were walking through the most beautiful terrain I had ever seen.

Despite the beauty, communion with nature, and other hokey bullshit, I ask myself every morning when I wake up cold, sore, and hungry why on earth I am doing this. Plenty of people told me that I was crazy for attempting this trip, and sometimes I wonder if they were right. It much easier to read John Muir's books about the High Sierra, peruse google images, or frequent r/earthporn than it is be out here and have this experience.

And it is just that. An experience. Fun is not the right word. Because walking on golf ball sized blisters and batting golf ball sized mosquitoes is not fun. But it is an unforgettable experience. Maybe all it will do is make me more grateful for the conveniences of modern society, like Chinese food or access to infinite toilet paper. Perhaps though, this trip will alter my life in some more meaningful way. Only time will tell.

The moments of pain and suffering are sometimes abated by moments of sheer majesty, excitement, and gratefulness. Two days ago, we crossed Forester Pass, the highest point on the PCT at 13100 ft. The north face still had several feet of snow on it, and with the trail lost, we had the option of glissading (think ass sledding) or making mile long snow traverse right over a cliff and scrambling down the mountain-side to relocate the trail. We chose the latter, and I got a huge kick out it. Perhaps the trail is miserable sometimes because the stakes are low. If you are cold or hungry, you won't die. That doesn't even make for a good story. On the north side of Forester, the stakes were much higher.

I guess it's not fun if you can't die.

It's also unbelievably beautiful out here. Often the most pleasant part of the day is the "sunset cruise," or after dinner walk. Leisurely strolling about while witnessing a breath taking sunset is a quality experience. We are considering packing out wine, grapes, and cheese to supplement these walks in the future.

We've also met some awesome people.

 Sockpot, Mountain Spice, and Penguin

 Penguin and Mountain Spice

 Amtrac and Signal

Uke, Spirit Fingers, and Jambo

We will continue on. 95 miles from Bishop is Vermillion Valley Resort, our next resupply. We plan to be there in 7 days, but for these 7 days, I will pack out 12 days worth of food. I honestly think that this will make the next section much more bearable. If worst comes to worst, there is always the option of dropping out, finding a job at a National Park, and making money instead of spending it. Whatever happens will be the best. I am sure of it. Life is good, folks.