California Adventure

Entry 1

August 3 (updates from July 30 through August 2)

I landed in Fresno around 7:30 pm on July 30. Next, I rented a white Ford Mustang and headed north on 41 to where I stayed the night with Carole and Sherman (my first experience). The next morning I headed to Yosemite Valley to try my luck at Camp 4 (a first come, first serve camp ground in the park). I had to do this because everything was booked up in the park. I found out that this was the case after booking my flight to Fresno. Therefore, I decided to take my chances with no itinerary.

Although I got to the camp at 7:30 am, the line was already longer than the available spaces. Nevertheless, I waited for the ranger, but didn't get a spot. It was Friday so demand was high. I eventually found a place in the Yosemite tents. After getting my lodging squared away, I went to talk to the ranger about routes. Upon his suggestion, I took the Yosemite shuttle to Four Mile Trail. From there, I hiked up 3000 feet to Glacier Point and proceeded back down towards the valley on Panoramic trail for a total distance of 12.5 miles. That night, I had pizza in the valley, a glass of wine, and some good conversation with various visitors. It had been a long day so I headed off to my tent and called it a night.

On my shuttle trip the previous day, I met a woman who had been visiting the area every year for 30 years. She said that I MUST see Tuolumne Meadows. In response to this quality information, I packed up and headed out 120 East towards Tuolumne. Upon arrival to the tourist area, I again stopped at several shops and visited the ranger. It is my habit to write down all suggestions and then make a determination about which suggestions seem most fitting for my personal journey. In this case, it was the clerk in a village supply store who pointed me in the right direction.

As usual, I took the trail "less travelled" and hiked the highlands without encountering a soul other than woodland creatures. On the Lyell Trail, I ended up with a coat of dirt from head to toe. To top it off, I had to cross a stream and my shoes got soaked. Needless to say, when I returned to my car, a shower was tops on my list. Another local told me that Mammoth would be a great place to visit for the weekend. She told me that they were having a blues festival. Of course, that's all it took to convince me. A few more miles on 120 East to 395 South would get me to my next destination.

Mammoth Lakes lived up to my new friend's description. It offered a series of lovely lake views, a fun little shopping village and some night life too. That night, I asked around to find the best Mexican food (of course I had to have some Mexican food). Roberto's won out. Duck quesadillas in honor of Ben (he loved duck) and a margarita to reward myself for the long journey thus far. After finding out where the Saturday night fun would be and arranging a guardian, I headed to Lakanuki for some evening festivity. It was a good time of dancing and people watching with water on the drink menu for me (hydrating for the next day's hike). It was a lovely time and I met some very nice people from various parts of California. Of course, as always, I was doing my research. I noted several suggestions about where to go next. Among the suggestions were Tahoe, Reno, Newport Beach, Mt Whitney, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and more.

The next morning, I went to the village and shopped around a bit. After speaking with several local hikers in the sporting shops, I determined that I should head to Rock Creek. I gathered some food and necessities for the next leg of my trip and went to Mosquito Flats for an 8 mile hike on the John Muir Trail. When I was almost back to the trailhead, I ran into two hikers who were finishing up a 5 day hike. They suggested I visit Bishop, skip Whitney for various reasons, and definitely go to Sequoia and Kings Canyon. So, off to Bishop I went for the night.

Finally, I got some decent reception to begin logging the details of my journey. I went for Mexican food again last night at La Casita, downtown Bishop, and met some more locals. They suggested a very unique hike for today that "the tourist don't know about." Supposedly, there is a long pipe that you can hike on which will take you part-way to the far side of a beautiful lake. I considered this, and may check out the pipe for curiosity's sake. However, I am very sore from the 28.5 miles I have hiked so far.

For now, I'm going to check out downtown Bishop as they have a hiker's exchange. After that, I may continue south...we shall see. One thing I know for sure, if it is up to me, I will likely never prepare an advanced itinerary again. If I had made plans for this trip and booked reservations, etc., I would be so limited right now. Talking to locals and making plans each morning is not a chore, it's great fun. It ensures that I will reach out and meet people and also that I will find all the sweetest spots! I am so grateful for this time.

As for the other task of this journey (facing the loss of my beloved husband), I am finding healing as I round corners which reveal beauty I have never before seen, listen to music, cry happy and sad tears, relive moments from the past, encounter majestic scenery, and push my physical limits in my hikes through amazing wilderness trails. Here I go!

I picked up some arm sun covers, sand blockers for my shoes, and a brunch burrito from El Ranchito. Jeff at Sage to Summit made me a personalized list of hikes to hit on my way south...off again!