Stats

Start: Mosquitoville Tentsite – Mile 970.6
End: Dorothy Lake – Mile 996.4
Elevation Max: 9,428
Elevation Min: 7,564
Elevation Change: 5,843 up & 5,068 down
Average Heart Rate: 114
Walking Time: 9 hrs 37 minutes
Date: 6/12/2022

The Walk

I relaxed this morning. Expecting Detour and Mounty to pass me. I’d catch them later in the day. I needed to catch someone because my power bank freaked out last night. It showed 0% charge and won’t charge any devices, eventhough I haven’t used it since leaving Yosimite!

I left with at least 65% charge. The power bank did this a month ago in Idyllwild. As soon as I plugged it into an outlet it started working again. I’m hoping that plugging it into someone’s power bank will fix it. Maybe? Hopefully, because my phone is at 9% battery.

This would be a bigger deal before I had maps. My phone isn’t essential since I don’t use it for navigation. But it’s nice for taking pictures, writing down notes, and listening to music or books. Also it’s nice to know I can find my way if I ever do get lost!

I headed out around 8. The mosquitos picked up right where they left off last night. Swarming while I packed up my gear. There must have been 10 on me. A bug spray shower helped a bit. I was thankful for my long pants. I haven’t had any bite through them yet.

I packed up and hit the trail. It was an overcast day. My stretch goal is Dorothy Lake. But I have no idea how it will play out. I also have a sore throat. Detour was coughing the last few days we camped together, so I probably picked up what she had. Or it could have been from the crowded buses at Yosemite.

I sorted all my snacks and put them where I could reach. I don’t plan to stop today. At least I won’t get my bear can out for food. I’ll snack as I go and see how I feel. It would be a granola bar kind of day.

The morning was cool and overcast. And the mosquitoes were buzzing. I found a pair of sunglasses on trail and set them on my hat. Hopefully I’ll find someone ahead who can use them. My phone only had 4% battery left. But I snagged a few pictures.

The morning hike was pretty relaxing. I went passed Benson lake and crossed a few fords. I was able to keep my feet dry after searching for a way across. I even used a bever dam for one crossing.

I saw fields of flowers almost ready to bloom! I bet I’m a few days they will be popping. It made me sad to walk through a bit early, but I bet I will see blooms further up trail.

I made good time in the morning and noticed I wasn’t very hungry. Not a good sign. My sore throat wasn’t going away and nothing sounded good. I ate a bar whenever I started to feel weak, but other than that I focused on walking. Dorothy lake was a long ways away. It would take 26 miles, and I wasn’t close yet.

I walked up to Nugget taking a lunch break after a water crossing. She let me plug my power bank in for a second and it worked! I went from 0% to 75%, which is good enough for 3+ full phone charges. I was relieved.

As I was leaving she asked if I found the sunglasses on my hat. Her husband lost them this morning and I was happy to return them! I would have put them in a hiker box for someone to take, but it’s always nice to get things to the proper owner.

I saw a deer looking straight at me 20 feet off trail. That was the last cool thing to happen today. And then it went downhill.

By the early afternoon I knew I was getting sick. My energy was way lower than normal. Then at 2 it started to rain. I walked in it for 30 minutes expecting it to be a passing mist like usual. But this wasn’t going away. The sky stayed dark and new clouds rolled in.

So I stopped under a tree and set up my garbage sack pack liner. If I was feeling normal I might find a good spot to set up my tent and take a break. Or even stop for the day. But I needed to get to town ASAP. I didn’t want to be stuck out in the mountains while sick.

I wrapped my sleeping bag and extra clothes in a garbage sack, stuffed them in the bottom of my pack and put on my rain jacket. Then I headed out into the rain. Determined to get as far as possible. My pack is water resistant and the garbage sack liner should keep things reasonably dry. But this is the first real test.

I came to a shallow river crossing with a thin log to walk across. I slipped my first step and my shoes splashed in. Welp, I was 60% wet anyways. I might as well accept for the last 11 miles.

A mile later I got to Wilma lake. I expected the crew I was hiking with to stop here. I went to take a break under a tree, but was instantly swarmed by mosquitos! I was fully covered up, but at least 10 landed in my legs. I did not want to be here. How are they still out in the rain?

At this point I had 10 miles and 1,500 feet to climb to Dorothy Lake. I was already exhausted and wet. But the idea of a bed and rest tomorrow won. I pressed on, accepting the sucky day.

The last 10 miles was messy. The trail was covered in water. I was exhausted. I stopped caring about dry feet and walked through every water crossing. Areas I’d usually hop around on rocks I plowed right through the muddy trail.

At 6:00 I saw a group of hikers who had a fire going right alongside the trail. I didn’t recognize any of them, but they said hi as I walked by. I was 4 miles away from the lake. If I stopped there no way I’d get to Bridgeport tomorrow.

I have no idea how they got a fire going in this weather. Props to them! But I also didn’t want to get them sick, and I had no energy to talk to people. I wanted to lay down and try to sleep. So I kept going.

At 7:30 I looked down at my watch. I’d been walking since 8:00 am without a break. I was a zombie. The elevation change for the day blew my mind. Over 10,000! That’s might be the most elevation I’ve ever done in a day.

A few minutes later I passed a sign that said 0.6 miles to Dorothy lake! Thank god. I could actually get there before dark! I had 40 minutes left until sunset.

The last stretch of trail around the lake was a marsh. I walked right through the standing water. I didn’t care anymore. A few minutes later I found a flat spot to pitch my tent. I was so thankful and relieved to be here. The wind was picking up and I quickly set up.

I dug the garbage sack from the bottom of my bag and found a dry sleeping bag and dry clothes. I might have lost it if I had to sleep wet tonight. It was going to be 30 degrees.

I made dinner from inside my tent and called it a night. Or tried to. I laid in my tent stuffed up and not able to sleep most of the night. At least I have a chance to make it to town tomorrow. A 20 mile day over Sonora Pass will get me close enough to hitch into Bridgeport. It’s a tiny town with a hotel and a general store… all I really need.