Reconnaissance, gear test and food prep week

A lot happened this week.

I (Dan) spent a few days in Yosemite last week with my family. I did a couple hikes to the high country with my cousin and brother. It looks like the snow level is patchy around 7000' and full snow around 8000'+. We day hiked to the top of El Capitan with about 21 miles round trip. We also hiked to the base of Half Dome which was around 16 miles round trip. The cables are not set up yet so we couldn't climb it. Good thing climbing Half Dome is on our JMT itinerary!

Sara and I spent Saturday and Sunday in the San Gorgonio wilderness. Saturday we did the hike up to Vivian Creek so we could do some canyoneering before we drove over to the South Fork trailhead to backpack in for the night.

Canyoneering was umm....interesting. The water was cold but wasn't as bad as I expected. The first waterfall required a 180ft rappel. Once we made it to the bottom, we had some problems getting the rope down. It got stuck about 3/4ths of the way up the waterfall. About 2 hours later, after much sketchy climbing on both sides of the falls, we got the rope down. At this point, continuing down the canyon and negotiating the remaining 6 waterfalls did not sound like fun. So we somehow found a way back to the trail, and got back to the car.

Backpacking went well though. We hiked in from the South Fork trailhead about 7 miles to Dry Lake where we spent the night. We only hit patchy snow at about 9000' and we were able to camp on a dry patch. Sara and I had a lot of new gear to play with including a tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, etc. We also tested out some new food items we have planned for the JMT. We learned a few things about what we need for the trip.

More pictures here

We finished up memorial day weekend by packing up our food to send to the re-supplies. It took forever and we still aren't finished. I think we are going to be well fed and happy with the variety. Well...I say that now....

Notice the 2 huge bags of Swedish Fish and the 2 30 count candy bar variety packs underneath. We also found out that Easy Mac doesn't work without a microwave...

The Station. By Robert J. Hastings

TUCKED AWAY in our subconscious minds is an idyllic vision in which we see ourselves
on a long journey that spans an entire continent. We're traveling by train and, from the windows, we drink in the passing scenes of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at crossings, of cattle grazing in distant pastures, of smoke pouring from power plants, of row upon row upon row of cotton and corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of city skylines and village halls.


But uppermost in our conscious minds is our final destination--for at a certain hour and on a given day, our train will finally pull into the Station with bells ringing, flags waving, and bands playing. And once that day comes, so many wonderful dreams will come true. So restlessly, we pace the aisles and count the miles, peering ahead, waiting, waiting, waiting for the Station.

"Yes, when we reach the Station, that will be it!" we promise ourselves. "When we're eighteen. . . win that promotion. . . put the last kid through college. . . buy that 450SL Mercedes-Benz. . . have a nest egg for retirement!"

From that day on we will all live happily ever after.

Sooner or later, however, we must realize there is no Station in this life, no one earthly place to arrive at once and for all. The journey is the joy. The Station is an illusion--it constantly outdistances us. Yesterday's a memory, tomorrow's a dream. Yesterday belongs to a history, tomorrow belongs to God. Yesterday's a fading sunset, tomorrow's a faint sunrise. Only today is there light enough to love and live.

So, gently close the door on yesterday and throw the key away. It isn't the burdens of today that drive men mad, but rather regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.

"Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."


So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, swim more rivers, climb more mountains, kiss more babies, count more stars. Laugh more and cry less. Go barefoot oftener. Eat more ice cream. Ride more merry-go-rounds. Watch more sunsets. Life must be lived as we go along. The Station will come soon enough.

T-minus 27 days!

Less than a month until we leave for the trail!