May 29th

We decided to get an early start today so we got up at 4:30am! We took our time with breakfast and packing up so we didn’t get on the trail until about 6am. It was nice to start when it was cooler out because we knew the first 4 miles were going to be all up hill. I was not looking forward to that but knew the views at the top would be worth every step. Boy was I right! All I could think of around every turn was “Well, you don’t get to see this everyday!” Since I doubt I will ever see these views again, I took my time to take them in and enjoy them. Treetop likes to hike a lot faster than me- with 653 more miles than me under his belt he is much stronger- so I hiked most of the day alone. I was very much OK with that as I knew he was waiting at a designated spot ahead and it gave me lots of mental meditation time.  

I made a new little friend in the trail today. He was kinda of rude tho- he was taking a nap in the middle of the trail and was playing dead. So I tossed a rock at him and asked him to kindly be on his way- he just stuck his tongue out at me and refused to move. Rude! So I took a picture of him and told him how handsome he was ect. I tried my best to channel my inner snake whisperer, however he was not about to budge. So I stretched out my hiking pole as far as I could and gave him a tiny nudge. He stuck his tongue out at me again and then turned around and slithered off the path. When he was a save distance away I thanked him and bid him a happy day and then continued- rather quickly- down the trail. Apparently, he was Rodney the rattlesnake and I was the only one in our group that he decided to introduce himself to- how hospitable!

We are camping at Fox Mill Spring tonight. My health app says we hiked 18.77 miles today. I’m completely spent! My finger tips are so cold from the exertion and heat/salt build up. Tomorrow will be another tough hiking day; we will hike about 20 miles into Kennedy Meadows where most importantly there is internet service available so I can call my kids! There are also showers, a restaurant and a store there with ice cold water! Sounds like paradise! I am going to see if I can get a ride into town tomorrow with the store owner so I can get a new backpack and new boots. My back and shoulders are extremely sore from the one I am carrying now. 

We will take a rest day at Kennedy Meadows and then assess the snow conditions before making a decision about entering the Sierras.