Day 98

Start: 1062.7 End: 1077 Total: 15

It was a really relaxed morning as last I heard I was meeting my friend Josh’s mom at Carson Pass between 4-5. Josh is a friend from SLC who moved out to San Francisco. His parents happen to live halfway between there and the trail. The plan was his parents, Kathy&Michael, would pick me up, I’d stay at their place for a night then go into SF with Josh. 

I warmed up water for my breakfast and coffee which is a rare sight these days. I’ve just been drinking cold coffee and eating my pop tart as of late. I took my time packing up and was walking a bit past 8. 

There were some ups and downs before the first big climb of the day. I had a scare where my hip belt got jammed and I couldn’t get my backpack off or fix it. Luckily it came apart without breaking. 

I ran into Tangent halfway up the first climb. I was surprised to see her as they were out an hour before me that morning. She said she didn’t feel well and was just taking a break. I made sure she was good on food, water and electrolytes. She said she was just exhausted, they had been doing a lot of long, big days with little rest. That she has been a vegetarian for so long and is losing so much weight on the trail. I sat there a while with her and we talked, more so I listened to what was going on and how she was feeling. She mentioned just having fought with Jetpack and stated hiking with a partner is hard and she isn’t so sure she’d do it again. I heard her out and shared some of my own experiences. After chatting for a bit she said she just needed to go her own pace and thanked me for my time stating she felt a lot better. 

I kept going up the climb and got service. I checked in with Kathy and it looked like she was going to be earlier than I had planned. I still had plenty of time and told her I could make it there by 3. It was a beautiful view with big blue lakes at the bottom of the mountain as I went up and over and in to the view of another big lake. 

The trail descended a bit before making a direct path towards a big mountain. Right at the base the trail skirts to the right and goes up a much more gradual ascent. It goes up and around to a steep snowy traverse. I put on my microspikes and took out my ice axe, might as well use these things. I was much more confident with them making my way over.  Just in front of me was Jetpack and Side Trail.

Near the top there was a very steep chute and I was thankful to have all my safety gear. I made it to the top and kept going. There was a small lake and I had some minute to spare so I took a quick dip before making my way down. 

At Carson Pss there is a non profit group with a little store and information booth that was giving out candy, pop and chips! I saw a couple from Puerto Rico that I had been leap frogging a bit, along with side trail and Jetpack. Kathy soon arrived and we found each other when I heard her asking the ranger station about a rock that was on the picture of the Google map pin her son sent her. 

I introduced myself and we got along immediately. Kathy brought me a delicious sandwich, fruit, chips, and chocolate. It was such a treat! We chatted all the way back to her home where I met her Husband,  Michael. Josh would drive there that night and we would go back to SF in the morning. He was coming in after work and the traffic was bad so I wouldn’t see him until the morning. I got a shower, did some laundry and chatted with Michael and Kathy while having a margarita, it was a wonderful night!