Keeping Pace

Keeping Pace

Wanna Get Away?

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TheMAN and I had a few hours to kill — sacrificing only a few hours of sleep — while in the desert. We made our way to Joshua Tree for a look at the landscape.

While we were out and about, we caught a glimpse of this guy returning from an overnight trek in the backcountry. It was about 8 AM and nearing 100 degrees already. The heat didn’t seem to be a problem. Maybe it was the result of being able to get away from the hustle and bustle of life but this guy was really laid back. So much so, that I’ve already looked up the requirements for getting a backcountry permit in Joshua Tree.

Of course, first things 1st: Clouds Rest is already permitted for early July. I can’t wait.

Backcountry Battle

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20160704-IMG_5218On our recent trip into the backcountry, I was forced to confront my demons of inadequacy. Although I am not the best at MANY things, I have often found that my ability to push myself and muster all of the strength that I have into making up for my shortcomings has often gotten my by. But on this such trip, I was lacking the push through the discomfort and unable to harness my strength. My hip flexors where screaming and the 35+ pounds of weight in my pack wasn’t helping. To make matters worse, my red blood cell count was low on account of prolonged menstrual bleeding (20+ days of it) and the hormone my doctor put me on the slow the bleeding was having a diuretic effect which only served to make staying hydrated even harder as I was taking diamox for altitude sickness.20160705-DSCF3145

When theMAN informed me that we would be cutting our first trek short and staying at a site closer to our starting point, I felt like I’d let him down. The tough gal he’d once dated was now wimping out. I was angry — at myself — but it took a bit to recognize just who I was mad at initially. Trying desperately to harness the anger for a final push, I started to let it get the best of me. This only served to slow me up for my emotions were weighing me down to the point of self-destruction.  Fortunately, we arrived at a lovely camp site and were afforded the luxury of more time to just relax and take it all in. With slightly less than 7 miles covered and an elevation gain of 9,062 feet, it was well-deserved.

On Day 2, we traveled nearly as far but only had about 5,000 feet of elevation gain. My body felt a little better but I still couldn’t keep up the pace. Although the next day would take us up to over 11,000 feet elevation, I decided to stop the diamox and see what would happen.20160706-DSCF3188

Fortunately, I did okay. Day 3 was a turning point of sorts. My hip flexors were less grumpy and my energy level was better. Of course, it also helped that theMAN took back some of the shared items such as the poles to the tent and the water filter. We also made a point to rise early and get on the trail before the heat of day kicked in.

We were picking our campsite with hours of afternoon left to just relax and enjoy the view of Kearsarg Lake with the Pinnacles in the background. After lunch and setting up camp, we went down to the lake where theMAN relaxed on a rock in the sun and I found a nice place to take my yoga practice.

The following two days, we made our way back towards the start. Feeling much better, I was able to steal back a little bit of the weight. Although theMAN would gladly have carried it all, I know that his body doesn’t take the descents as well as the climbs.

We had a fabulous trip and even got to see our first bear (not once but twice) out in the back country!

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Flatulance Happens

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We are off on another backcountry getaway and I’m reflecting back on my first such adventure with theMAN. It seems like forever ago – yet it was only six years back. Still, there are memories that will forever be engraved in my mind. Putting on the fully loaded backpack for the first time and questioning my ability to make the trek was one of them.

Another such memory was on our first night out. We’d eaten our rehydrated meal which consisted of some version of chili. The night was getting cold and we had a big day ahead with plans to reach the top of half dome ahead of the crowd so as to minimize the stress of being on the cables and freaking out. I was excited, and nervous… AND I had a gas.

I took one last trip to the outhouse – a rare commodity in the backcountry – and hoped and prayed that I could release everything that was causing my stomach ache. No such luck.

Before long, we zipped up the tent and crawled into our sleeping bags. All was well…until it wasn’t.IMG_5094

And when it wasn’t well…

Um…

Well, it was bad.

In the smelliest way.

We laughed ourselves unconscious – or maybe that was the smell. All I could think of afterwards was that this experience was a litmus test of sorts to really see how much this guy liked me. I mean, after such an occurrence there was no way I was going to convince him that my farts don’t stink. Because they do!

As we prepare for the next trip, I wonder if I threw any sort of chili into the mix of dehydrated food. If I did, I should probably add a clothespin to the packing list.

One’s Down Fall

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When hiking in the backcountry, especially on trails of a technical nature, it is of the utmost importance to keep your mind focused on the task at hand (the trail) at ALL TIMES. As the trail gets more and more difficult, muscle soreness, fatigue, and the other effects of increased altitude start to wear on you… and the mind wants to wander to more pleasant moments – such as being at the final destination.

It was Day 3 of our Mount Whitney adventure. We were making our way back to Whitney Portal from Trail Camp, where we opted to spend another night after an amazing but challenging day hiking to the summit. We woke at 4:30 am, packed up camp, and began our descent. Fueled on a Cliff Bar and a water, breakfast would come a few miles down the trail. We eyed the fatigue of the day hikers with respect for their ambitiousness of taking on the entire trek (Portal to Summit and back) in a single day – and were ever more grateful that we opted to cover the same mileage in three days time.

The trail was rough and rocky in these early miles yet I let my mind wander back to Day 1 as we revisited familiar territory. I knew better than to do this and would call myself back to the here and now when I would catch myself. Except for when we hit the spot where I’d had a melt down over my water supply running low, then completely lost it when theMAN hiked on ahead of me to scope out the water supply. I hadn’t heard him tell me what he was doing… and ALL my abandonment pictures ignited. The fact that we’d heard the news of the missing hiker having been found dead just an hour earlier certainly was having an affect on me. That was on Day 1. It was now Day 3 and I had 2 liters of water and knew there was plenty of spots to get more in the miles ahead. I came to the spot where I cried “you left me” in theMAN’s arms, and thought back to the emotions that coursed through my being in that moment: my late husband’s “deal with it” intolerance for my insecurity when bumping up against fear, and my dad driving off with his belongings stuffed into his VW bug the day we were told of the divorce, and how, in spite of his promise to be there for us, he was NOT.

Yes, I let my mind wander. I didn’t see the rock until after my foot tripped on it, my ankle rolled, then my other knee landed on it. THAT brought me right back. With well over four miles left to travel to Whitney Portal, there I was sitting on the ground, writhing in pain. It was NOT GOOD.

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I looked up at theMAN, there at my side (as he had pretty much been for the entire trek). I was not alone; I could do this. I stood up slowly and began again, feeling strong and capable after my downfall. I’d be okay. I put one foot in front of the other and, thanks to a little physical discomfort (aka pain), I did not let my mind wander off task until theMAN and I were safely off the trail.

On top of the world

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By the time we hit Trail Camp (12K feet elevation), I wasn’t feeling too hot. We ate and slept, hoping a night’s rest would provide us with enough time to acclimatize to the gain in elevation, and allow us to summit. To be honest, I was rather nervous that I wouldn’t be up for it. But I held onto hope that I would.

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Fortunately, I woke feeling good, although my oatmeal was not at all appealing to me. We entered the switchbacks full of excitement and awe. We’d seen so much beauty already. It was hard to imagine  what was ahead of us.

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We were treated to incredible views as we began distancing ourselves from Trail Camp. With each switchback, the view was even more picturesque. Lakes we had not come in contact with on our journey came into view.

While the view changed below us, so did the view up above. Each switchback, each turn, treated us to something new, whether it was snow, water run-off, or wild flowers.

We paced ourselves, stopping to hydrate, refuel, catch our breath, and/or capture an image or two.

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And before long… or I suppose it was long,.. we hit Trail Crest.

It was hard to believe that we could go any higher but, sure enough, we found out that we could.

Over the next two miles we climbed, and traversed, and climbed some more. More incredible views, this time overlooking the West (Sequoia National Park). We met up with the last portion of the John Muir Trail and came in contact with some amazing JMT through hikers.

Finally, the summit came into view. From afar we could see the storm shelter on the mountain top and watch the little dots (other hikers) snake back and forth toward the top. We were getting so close…yet it was still far off in the distance.

Until…

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