Taking an unexpected swim. Day 11. 10 miles. 28,128 steps.

Deer Creek.

 

What a horrific night we all had.  Thank God there were about 8 of us camping tightly together.  Somehow it made me feel a bit safer in the situation we found ourselves.
We left at our normal time around 7:30ish am.  Packed and ready to outrun the next approaching storm.  It was very chilly and drizzly rain when we left.  Walked quite a ways downhill through Lil' Pete and Big Pete meadow.  Headed towards Kevin's beloved Grouse Meadows.  Should be there around noon and hope to stop for a quick lunch and perhaps a drying out period for our clothes and tent.  Unfortunately, I stepped on a rotten log as I was crossing a creek.  Should have got it early as I did stick my walking stick on the log and felt that it was unstable. Not good.  I fell in.  Try and get up out of water that you are sideways in with your face in the rocks and your backpack holding you down.  Doesn't work so well.  Thank goodness for Joan.  I was walking with her that morning and she was able to help me out.  Such an easy little fall that would have been so simple to get up from WITHOUT a backpack on.

I was cold and all wet.  My backpack was wet as it was inside the creek.  Walked for just a short while as I was humiliated and dripping wet from head to toe.  Finally, my inner voice was screaming at me to get all these wet clothes off (well, it was really Kevin's voice in my head).  The only thing I had to wear was my Patagonia jacket and my rain pants.  Oh well, it worked.  Opened my pack and drained my bear can.  Thank goodness that my down sleeping bag was wrapped inside a dry bag.  That would have been bad.  Even the bear can had some water inside it?

Grouse Meadows was everything Kevin had promised.

I will never forget the video of him and Ari on the PCT swimming down the river.  So sweet.  Unfortunately, it was a bit chilly to jump in the river and let it take you for a ride, but I did check out the exact spot and his campsite.  I love that I'm following his footsteps.

My complete belongings.  Love my bags of stuff!

There is beginning to be a big BALE OUT on the JMT.  The weather is truly getting to people.  It's a lot and it's just unheard of in the Sierra's in August.  Crazy monsoons.  We spoke to a NOBO today who heard that Whitney was full of snow and ice?  I can't imagine going up and down Forester Pass to only have to turn around before summiting Whitney?  Joan is having a good hissy fit over this possibility as we all know how much she despises Forester Pass.

We continue to enjoy Hank's stories.  I have acquired my PCT legs for sure.  My stride and pace is good, most of the time.  I now know how much water I need and how much I need to eat, especially snacks throughout the day.  Everything still aches.  Aleve continues to be my best friend.

Kathleen is our rock.  She is very rational and has helped me get through these last few storms, especially the Muir Pass disaster of last night.  I will always be thankful to her for that.

It is not raining right now.  11 days on the trail and it is our first day of NO RAIN?!!!  According to Kevin's forecast (via texts from the DeLorme), the weather pattern should change tomorrow for the better.  Gosh, I hope so.  This is so mentally challenging.  Always being wet, setting up our tents in the rain, digging troughs, staying in our tents for many hours - just a lot of bad weather, and it's every day.

Golden Staircase and Mather Pass tomorrow.