Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in Rainingvodka's LiveJournal:

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Thursday, September 25th, 2008
10:03 pm	Spent three days this week in martinez going through jury selection for an attempted murder case. I figured with my background in military law I would not be a desireable member of such a jury. I was ultimately correct as the DA excused me on day 3 but it looked like i'd be hearing the case for a while. In a way I was a little sad. It was nice wearing jeans and t shirts on work days and it would have been a really interesting experience serving as a juror. I've been called to duty four times so far and never made it to a trial. Today I went back to work and talked to my new boss in regards to a salary negotiation. Unfortunately, due to my time in Martinez, all the paperwork had already gone through and the only way they would consider bumping it up would be for me to lie and say i wasn't happy enough with the original offer to take the position . . . I just figured i really ought to give negotation a shot. I gave it my shot and ended up saying, no problem the original offer was fair (please I really want to get out of the call center). I had a lot more luck inquiring about a merit increase and employer financing my goal of become a certified treasury professional. WHere it's possible my boss might have seen me a bit of a slacker/greedy sommabitch to ask for salary negotiations after already accepting the initial offer . . . i gained it back by impressing him with my ambitions about that CTP certificate . . . not a lot of bankers get that but he himself was one of few who did. Wednesday I'm crafting an offer for a townhouse. =) Third try for one. Current Mood: good! Current Music: Azure Ray (Comment on this)
Thursday, September 18th, 2008
7:16 pm	First of all, Built to Spill (live at Slim's 9 Sep 2008) Been a VERY interesting week or two . . . BTS was *awesome* last week i farkin loved their set and think it was even better than last time at the fillmore in february And! This past tuesday I got to see the Toadies . . . a band I NEVER thought I would get the chance. They were amazing!!! even with the drunk rowdy and chatty crowd I still got my doors caved the hellways in. I was all scatterbrained because of junk at work though -- i forgot my rechargable batteries at home and had to buy an 8 pack at a safeway in SF before heading into the venue -- and then after the show i forgot where I parked and thought someone had stolen my car for a few minutes (until i remembered it was just around the corner . . . ) MANY MANY MORE great shows on the calender too: Nick Cave this friday at the warfield Sheryl Crow/Son Volt/Cat Power/Henry Rollins/Black Keys saturday at concord pavilion (lawn seats, but hey, i got the tickets for $6.00!) Cold War Kids Sept 26 at GAMH Sigur ROs Oct 3 at the Greek Mtn Goats oct 23rd at the Indy Mtn Goats oct 24th at the fillmore Ted Leo/Against Me! oct 28th at the Grand Neil Young and DCFC Nov 1st in Reno Jack's Mannequin Nov 2nd at the Indy Crooked Fingers Nov 11th at GAMH Decemberists Nov 25th at the warfield Over the Rhine Dec 4th at the fillmore Vienna Teng Dec 13th at the Palace of Fine Arts Mercury Rev Dec 17th at the Indy Jenny Lewis is also doing a solo show at the Herbst on Oct 27th but i was never a huge fan of her first solo album, so, much as i love RK, i'm passing on that one . . . I think I've spent enough already on bands I MUST SEE! OMG OMG! AND AND AND! I got the promotion and transfer at the office!! and a fat raise!! so much excitement. yay. Current Mood: hella stoked! Current Music: Rilo Kiley (Comment on this)
Monday, September 15th, 2008
9:34 pm	Careers in Finance, homebuying, and timing This weekend brought a serious shakeup to my financial future. The bank I work for falls under a parent company that was just recently purchased by a larger conglomarate. I won't mention names but the stock of my parent company jumped about 5 points at the news than closed on the NYSE at +0.01. Today ended up as the worst day on the Dow in over five years, closing at -504. The good news is my 401k is stable due to my recent movements into a more bond centered portfolio and hedging bets that stock in my parent company was at rock bottom. The bad news is I don't know if the bank I work for (or my job as I know it) will exist in six months. The timing just royally sucks as I was getting ready to make a solid bid on a very nice and attractively priced condo wednesday, and set to hear this week on that promotion/transfer that I interviewed for within said bank. With the merger brokered so quickly there has been no information dissiminated (or even discussed on even the highest levels most likely) so I just can't make a mortgage commitment right now, and who knows if that promotion opporunity will matter six months from now, assuming I even get it. farking darnit. I have a feeling everything is going to be fine, and I'll be gainfully employed without much disruption come second quarter 2009, but feelings do not equal money and mortgages require money and money alone. I get to watch a golden real estate deal die as I wait and see what the future holds. The housing market should stay depressed and great for buyers a while still -- I don't see our economy changing for the better much within the next six months, so all hope of home ownership is not lost, yet. Working in the financial field, surround by parents and family friends in the biz, I've learned that mergers, bankruptcies, and acquisitions are just plain part of life. I can't say the shoe was ever that far from the ground, but damn. damnit it all to heck. Current Mood: sad and angry Current Music: U2 - random (Comment on this)
Monday, September 1st, 2008
11:31 am	Go go GOP So Palin's 17 year daugher is preggers. That's not likely to improve the GOP ticket at the polls . . . Labor day = goodness. I woke up a few hours ago then kinda laid in bed doing that doze on - doze off / half-like conscious relaxation for about 45. Signed up for the Warhammer Online Beta -- Target had a $0.99 "pre-release" package with a beta registration code and pre-release goodies/early access to Live servers code and a $5.00 off coupon for the actual game (although the coupon is not valid until a week AFTER retail release . . . wtf?) Anyway. yeah. I haven't seen anyone I know in Age of Conan in days, if not weeks, and the game is losing it's appeal w/o built in groupage . . . i've realized that pretty much no matter the content is, MMORPGs just got plain old boring without a consistent group of people to play with. That's what I loved so much about in Everquest -- I always had a great guild of 60+ hardcore raiders that would play end game content six days a week. I miss that quite a bit. It makes me want to go buy a high level account and get back into the game -- but I won't. The only reason I won't is time differences. My old guild raids on east coast time 8pm-12pm. I can't get home from work in time to make that start time . . . Current Mood: relaxon jaxon Current Music: Decemberists (Comment on this)
Monday, August 25th, 2008
10:27 pm	Transcribed Posts. Pictures and recordings forthcoming First day back to the office. Everyone remarked how thin I'd gotten, how the stache/goatee looked great, and how beautiful the pictures I shared were. I went through and picked out all the digital photos that came out the best (about 185 or so) and now I'm working on rotating and reszing them for the interwebs. The analog/disposal camera photos have been developed also but i have to scan those myself since the photo lab's was down . . . I just finished transcribing all my entries so you can scroll down some to read the day to day recount if you'd like. Work itself wasn't too bad. It was a rather calm day as Mondays go and that really helped. I started a more "normal schedule" of 8:30-5:30 today too and that's quite the welcome switch. There is another position that opened up at the bank that I'm planning to apply for as well -- which would mean less dealing with aggro clients, more money, and career development to boot. Fingers crossed. Met with my real estate agent this past Saturday and we found a condo that might have potential. Meeting her again tomorrow night to see the inside of that one and four others that also look promising. All in all things are all quite lovely. Not everyone is having such a good go of things right now though, and all my heart to those. Current Mood: excellent Current Music: Aimee Man (Comment on this)
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
10:26 pm	Out of the Wild. I am back from hiking the John Muir Trail. I finished Sunday and made it home Tuesday evening. 230ish miles (I did a few side trips) in about 15 full days (just a short 4 miles on day one due to an early evening start and an early afternoon finish on day 16). With all my training hikes I breezed through most of the trail, even doing a couple 20+ mile days and really got to enjoy the hike while some seem to be content to just get through it. I've spent the last two days picking my life back up and integrating myself back into society and my family. I lost fifteen pounds (and all the belly fat I stacked on for fuel) and have a fledgling beard now. I kept a paper journal the whole time and will be transcribing here (and backdating them) if you are interested in my trip notes. I took somewhere around 450 pictures with a digital camera and a few disposables (so I could blow some of the shots up way huge). I also recorded about two hours of audio of birdsong, wind gushing, and water flowing . . . I will certainly inform yall when I have those items available for your perusal. As a quick summation: Amazing. I truly learned to appreciate the beauty of life, of our natural world, and the value of our friends and family (whom I missed so dearly by the time I caught the sunrise on Mt. Whitney). Glad to have gone, glad to be home. Current Mood: rejuvinated Current Music: Alaniss Morisette (on random) (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, August 18th, 2008
9:45 pm	OFF the JMT again -- Day one back in civilization I told myself today that if I couldn't get a ride out of Bishop by noon, I would give up on hitchiking northwards and just wait for the bus. Around 11AM Eagle Eye (trail name) Brian gave me a lift from Bishop to Mammoth Lakes after hitching himself to get his car (he had to abort a JMT attempt w/ his wife and 1 year old child after too many complications made it look miserable). They did the whole PCT in 06 (before the child was born), taking five months. We had a lot of stories to share and it was really another great hitching experience. After sitting on my pack with thumb out-stretched I caught another ride with a Latino gentleman headed to Reno/Tahoe/Sacramento. He was a really nice guy but just creepy enough to make me decide *never* to hitchhike again. I kept wondering if he was just *really* loney or if had ulterior motives in giving me the ride. Especially with all the talking about the friend he'd "lost" and asking me to "hang out" with him for a while. He was originally going to Reno but decided to head to Tahoe and hang out on the lake there instead, then maybe head on to Sacramento to see a friend of his there. I politely told him that I really didn't have time to spare and wanted to get home that night to see my mother (which was totally true.) After learning there was only one bus from Tahoe headed the way I wanted to go (and it had already left) I sidled over to a Hertz counter and rented a one way home for $145. I *almost* just got in that car and started driving home, but decided that I had a whole week off still and I was in tahoe . . . I might as well enjoy myself there for a bit. I hit some tables at Harvery's and won enough at Blackjack to pay for the car =) So. Hitchiking was an exciting experience. I don't ever ever plan on doing it again, but it did get me home two days before I'd really figured, I got to see my mom, and I did have some fun in Tahoe. Plus the car had Satelite Radio which was really neat. And Tuesday turned out to be only day off my vacation my sister wasn't busy so I got to spend time with her and one of my neices. So all in all I really great day back in society. (Comment on this)
Sunday, August 17th, 2008
8:45 pm	JMT -- Day Sixteen. Last day Sitting in a room at the Thunderbird Motel in Bishop. It's 4:04PM and I'm showered, waiting as the clothes I washed in the tub dry so I can go check out the Bus station -- it's right near here by chance. I caught sunrise on Whitney afterall. Still a full moon so plenty of light with that and my headlamp, Gorgeous and cold. I wore my gloves abd jacket all the way uo. A fitting camp on the trail -- switchback ledge at 13200 ft last night -- my last night, and now, a Motel. I got super lucky as a cool couple, Dave and Tracy, picked me up hitchiking out of Whitney Portal and took me all the way to Bishop. [Ed note: my only experience with Lone Pine then was buying my ride-sponsors coffee at the main st coffee shop) I gave them $20 for gas money as a tahnkyou. I was able to call Dad and he checked. Bu fares to Oakland from Reno are only $40 and run every few hours. So I hope to catch the Bishop -> Reno bus at 7AM tomorrow and be home by late tomorrow afternoon. I give all thanks to Dave & Tracy -- who just finished a 30 day cycling tour of the Oregon and CA coast. My first experience hitchiking & it was awesome. They were great company and we all three laughed the whole 70 miles from Portal to Bishop. [Ed note: later discovered said bus wouldn't run until tuesday and ended up hitching all the way to Tahoe then renting a car home from there . . . ] The descent from Whitney was hard on my right ankle. Think I twisted it a bit. So good to be showered and clean!! I walked the Main St and discovered the North Bound Bus to Reno doesn't run Mondays. I check the Enterprise tomorrow (closed today) and see if they do one-way rentals (doubtful). Then I either pony up another $56 for the Motel and kill life in Bishop qall day (not an enticing idea) or hitchike all the way to reno -- on a Monday no less -- which does not sound promising either. I picked up two 24 oz Pacifico;s and a big store packaged sushi platter for dinner. Welcome back to "civilization" indeed. [Ed note: I wanted a sit down steak dinner but really didn't want to sit in such a resteraunt and *wait* for it, and there were no buffet places) Kicking back watching a Myth Busters Marathon and the Olympics (Comment on this)
Saturday, August 16th, 2008
8:35 pm	JMT -- Day Fifteen Camped at the end of a switchback jsut below the WHitney summit trail JCT. A small little spot carved out just right for me and my tent. Got here about 4:30. Was a good day. Started it by summiting Tawny Pt to see the Kern RIver Basin drainage. Proceeded on a leisurely paced hike -- stopped at 9:30 for birdsong recording and relaxing. This after just hitting the trail @ 8:40AM. Tawny point was @ 1:15 hour round trip. No coyotes last night or this morning but oh well. Passed a few parties today that had gotten ahead of me while i lagged these last couple days. Did about 12.5 trail miles & prolly 1.5 climbing Tawny Pt. After setting camp and while cooking a marmot crept right up to the far edge of my tent. I think he might have been chasing a little bird. Saw and photo hunted several of those today -- especially just below Guitar Lake, One of those let me get within five feet. Awesome! After dinner I walked up and over Trail Crest trying to get cell phone reception {Ed note: Verizon]. I wanted to call Mom & Dad and see if they could still come get me or look up the closest place I could get a one-way rental car. Descended down the "hundred switchbacks" to below 13k but still no bars . . . I will have to call them tomorrow afternoon. There is a *chace_ Dad my still be able to come get me but I doubt it. So I will bus to Bishop on Monday and see what options I find there. Worst case is I bus to reno and rent a car, fly, or bus home. I may not be home until Wednesday. Forgot to mention a ranger, K. Davis, stopped to chat on my descent out of the Charlotte Lake area, He was the only ranger of the four I've seen who asked to see my permit. He was cool though -- all the Rangers have been. We chatted about the trail and itinieries and such. Great Sunset tonight. I was considering an early start tomorrow to catch sunrise from the summit but deicded it would not be safe to hike these last few miles in the dark. [Ed note: i thought it would go from full moon to no moon in a single day but turned out quite wrong, happily] Mom told me to be safe and on this one I listen. Hiking solo I have not done any x-country or much peak bagging. With no partner as backup it's not safe (or smart). Tomorrow is actually the last day, but this was the last night and I am saddened. I am glad to be done and I am saddened. I am glad to be done and returning to civilization, showers, and"real" foodm and Abby, but these last two weeks have been an incredible journey. I can't believe it comes to a close. I am pleased with how well my training prepared me -- More so than just "hike" this trail, I have truly enjoyed it. Even the Golden Staricase even though it was a bitch. All the other hikers I met were kind and good humored. The views were just incredible, the wild-life astounding. I hope my pictures, words, and recordings serve me well to remember these momentous weeks, It has been an experience I shall never forget, and an accomplishment to be proud of. (Comment on this)
Friday, August 15th, 2008
8:15 pm	JMT -- Day Fourteen Nothing overly exciting today [Ed note: within the context of every day being beautiful and life affirming as it is, of course . . . and not getting to the evening yet ] The final climb up to Forester Pass was long but not difficult -- I tried recording the wind @ the top w/ mixed results. Have made quite a lot of natural world recordings and will spend a long time @ home working with them. I am kind of worried about the low s/n ratio since I'm obvioulsy not talking rock concert decibal here . . . time will tell -- the headphone out of the r-09 is kinda lousy. I made camp @ 3PM or so here at Bighorn Plateau -- a semi large circularish span of flattish groung made of rocks and sand. There is a small pond here but I am unsure of the water clarity -- I filtered all the water i needed for the night from Tyndall Creek earlier. The clouds that parked over Forester Pass yesterday are all gathered out here -- no rain yet and they are all still loose -- more white puffy than gray and omninous -- but there is a lot of time for them to gather forces. I'm happy for not rain but camp is set already just in case! On this hike I've had my dinner basically split between 1/2 Mtn Home & 1/2 Backapcker Pantry. Overall I have enjoyed the Mtn Home entrees more. Met a nice older couple out here -- they camped on the otehr side of the pond. They heard coyote last night at Crabtree. Hope we hear them here. Nice sunset reflection of Mt Whitney in said pond -- really the first sunet I've seen out here -- usually I'm too surrounded by trees or neglect to look elsewhere . . . but this one is pretty. A Full moon (or full to me anyways?) rose over Mt Whitney just as the sunset was finishing and was reflected beautifully in the pond. The level of stillness, quiet, and utter peace right now is exactly what I sought here on the trail. Such a beautiful evening in a 360 degree panarama. Magic. (Comment on this)
Thursday, August 14th, 2008
5:45 pm	JMT -- Day Thirteen Good Day all in all. For the first time, I stuck to my itiniery, go figure. 15 miles today. Stopped at @ 11200 ft below Forester Pass -- at @ 4PM. Was a nice campsite in a small grove of trees at the very edge of the timberline with Bubbs Creek nearby. I have 34 more miles on the trail so going over the pass today is pointless and there are storm clouds malingering -- not enough to rain yet and winds are favorable but no need taking chances. I have been leap frogging a "go-lite" couple since Pinchot Pass -- Mika (or Michael?) and Ally -- 20 somethings. I remarked on my ride conditions [Ed note: my scheduled ride would not be able to get me from the trailhead -- that ride was coordinated for a full week later than I would finish this) and indicated I had no need to go long anymore or cross the Pass today. They issued sympathy and Mika (Michael?) lamented that he had only a CRX since Ally is from Davis and he would love to give me a ride if he had the room. Oh well. Dinner tonight was chilli mac -- and in part to lighten the load a bit and to use it up, I opened the packet of tuna I'd scored at MTR. Spooning a bit of it together with the chilli mac resulted in quite the pleasing taste combo. Twas Good! I mixed all the fish in and ate well. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008
6:25 pm	JMT -- Day Twelve It seems I can't stick to an itiniery . . . the campsite I planned for today was no longer viable/legal so I had to keep going up to Dollar Lake where "Restoration Site. No camping" signs made my question, "just these particulars sites or the entire area?" I was tired but with my ranger meeting (Darino) two hours back at the "Golden Gate of the Sierras" (a suspension bridge over Woods Creek) I had no authority figure to ask. Rather than risk upsetting the delicate eco-system and ranger wrath, I trudged on to find a nice spot at Arrowhead Lake, which is quite pretty so . . . 18 miles or so again today. I didn't even mean to move so much. I still made camp @ 5:30PM. Lots of trail sections were up and down when they were supposed to Just be one or the other. Pinchot Pass was not nearly the ordeal as the previous ascents -- and even the climb up from Woods Creek (about 2000 feet) was relatively easy. Got some great birdsong from Bench Lake this morning, and the image of Mt Arrow reflected in the lake was quite pretty. The foursome (2 girls/2 guys) i've been leap-frogging complained of feet problems. I overheard them talking to another two mates of theirs' "You don't want to see our feet." My feet are fine. No blisters, no sores, no blackened toe nails -- nothing. I attribute this, and the success of my entire enjoyment of the JMT really, to this: good training and good planning. I change my socks at least once a day (usually at mid-day) and am only using gear I've tested extensively and trained with. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, August 12th, 2008
6:50 pm	JMT -- Day Eleven Easy day -- only @ 12 miles to Bench Lake - 2.5 of those off the JMT -- but it has a beautiful sunrise apparently, and with the way mileage workds out due to Forester Pass, and being done on Sunday meaning no need to rush (No long distance bus service on sat/sun) so I planne a light day to rest my foot/ankle which has been more and more aggravating lately. Bench Lake is gorgeous! Mathers Pass and the Golden Staircase both sucked. Glad I split them up into seperate days. Upper Basin on the east side of Mather's Pass is almost like a martian landscape of loose rock dirt. So barren for miles except for the occasional pool of water you almost can't see (if you try). I got to camp here @ 4PM so I explored the lakeside a bit (found nothing of note) and did laundry. So exciting! I sunbathed a bit today on my mid-day break =) There is another party camped here near me around a small rock outcrop. Not sure if they arrived b4 or after me. After finding this campsite I dropped my pakc (not literally) to walk around the lake. They're more quiet then the people at Garnett at least. It's not quite 7PM and I'm bored. Sudoku I guess for just the second time on this trip [Ed note: i stapled together several pages of sudoku puzzles for something to occupy myself on the trip. The blank spaces around the puzzle were my journal pages] So there went 20 minutes. Guess I'll check if laundry is dry . . . (Comment on this)
Monday, August 11th, 2008
7:20 pm	JMT -- Day Ten Forgot to mention yesterday that I left a Macanudo cigar at the Muir Hut "Alter." Only @ 15 miles today bt the last five sucked my wind and shit. I wanted to do some laundry tonight at the lake, but the trail and all campsites are too far above Upper Palisade Lake. Getting water was an ordeal enough. Leap-frogged a younger foursome several times today. Coming down out of Muir Pass was beautiful. After hiking through the austere Mtn lake basins -- Several varities and colors of flowers all over the trail and some very nice waterfalls. Being back under tree cover that I'd left yesterday afternoon was wonderful. I enjoyed hiking through Evolution basin and viewing the moutains rising around the lakes but i really need more color and forest cover to feel complete out here. Kind of an uneventful morning. Hit the Golden Staircase @ 2PM or so I think, maybe earlier. I already can't recall starting -- I just recall the slug fest getting up all those rocky switchbacks . . . I didn't make the lake until 6PM and I was dead and ready to stop at 5PM. LoL I'd be interested to see what I weigh now after ten days on the trail -- I built up a bit of belly blubber to burn on the trail but I don't know that I've actually lost much of it. I'm sure I have though. I haven't been eating enough caolries to replace all the calories burned . . . especially on days like yesterday & today where I basically bonk and go into severe fat for fuel slugging. I thought today would be an easy day since it was only 15 miles and 2500 feet climbing. I guess I was wore out from yesterday still. [ed note: "The Golden Staircase" was the last section of the JM to be completed in 1938. The trail actually had to be dynamited out of the cliff face because it was virtually impassbale by foot and completely unpassable for livestock. This was the region along what would become the JMTthat Joseph LeConte could not bring his livestock through in his 1908 journey, one hundred years ago. The rough nature of the trail still makes for quite the haul hiking up] Saw a young buck near the Kings Fork JCT. First sighting on trail! (Comment on this)
Sunday, August 10th, 2008
8:27 pm	JMT -- Day Nine Currently at @ 10900 ft, bonking badly above Evolution Lake. I haven't really had more than a 15 minute break since breaking camp this morning. All the climbing today & extra weight from resupply has worked me pretty good. I never finished breakfast -- backpacker pantry huevos rancheros because it tasted *awful*, but I just scarfed what was left (I'd planned to bury sometime today to get rid of it but never got around to it. Luckily my conscience prevented me from despoiling the environment) and the flavor wasn't a hindrance whatsoever. I'm low on water and there is no camping here (to protect the "fragile shoreline") so I'm not sure if I should damage the vegetation by going offtrail to filter some from the lake. Sapphire Lake is only another two clicks, tops. Hell I can see where the mtn basin for it is. I slammed half the water I had left earlier (drank a full 16oz squueze bottle b4 writing) and eating that leftover breakfast has made wonders, plus this time off feet obviously. Hehehe. Only 3PM. Stopping at Sapphire means I don't exceed my itineary for the first day on this trip, but I don't want to risk bonking again on top of Muir Pass. [Ed note: at this point I moved out and what comes next is all at camp later that night] I stopped at the inlet to Evolution Lake when the trail crossed it and filtered water. Sapphire Lake turned out to be way smaller in person than on the map -- and I climbed out of it's basin b4 realizing. I felt strong, but a little winded. I decided to just go for Muir Pass and made it! I stoppedto filter water My body didn't even complain much -- I gnoshed one Cliff bar, pounded water, and powered up to the hut and back down to a perfect little campsite in a sparse grove of trees overlooking a lake around 11k (according to my altimiter which I haven't calibrated lately so it might be off a bit). The sire is perfect for the sunrise. Pitched tent, filtered water, and got dinner started just b4 dark (around 8:30PM) Now I'm waiting on dinner to cook -- it will be a while since I'm at such a high elevation. The Pass was gorgeous -- I took so many photos. What a day!! The meadows were also amazing. Mcclure Meadow in particular. The climb into the basin from camp this morning wasn't so bad. The climb into Evolution Basin wasn't so bad either until the end when I bonked and had to stop. About another 20 miles today, even with a 50 lb pack and all the elevation. Of course, it's 8:36PM and usually I'm in my bag now -- LoL. Didn't see Colin and Lindsey toda -- think I never will again probably after today's distance!! I seized the fuck out of this day -- een after getting wet feet twice crossing water (and having to stop to change socks). All of us look back on our lives and cherish certain days -- days no-one can ever take away. Today was one of those days -- one of the greatest I've lived and more so because I did it all myself. I'm sitting here, stargazing with not a soul for at least miles . . .no-one has this time and place in the mtns but me. (Comment on this)
Saturday, August 9th, 2008
7:45 pm	JMT -- Day Eight Turns out the watch battery problem was due to the cold not the condensation (since the watch is water resistant). I slept with it on my wrist in the bag last night and no issues (even in plastic yesterday morning it still said low battery) Late start because I wanted to have Backpacker Pantry Biscuits & Gravy for breakfast -- was not a "pour hot water in pouch, seal, eat in ten" deal so cooking and cleanup took a while. Hella good though!! Platypus (Nalgene 100oz flexible bag cantene) sprung a leak from both sides of the top where the lid screws in/ is cemeted into the bag. I sealed one leak yesterday b4 Bear Ridge bu the other is being more stubborn and still dripping somewhat. Not enough to cause much concern but a trifle annoying still. Lots of descending today @ 3000 feet. Made my feet bottoms sore by the time I made it to MTR. Pat [Ed note: the lady at MTR that takes care of the hikers coming in for resupply] was an elder, wizened, bent over lady with a hiking stick for a cane. A sweetheart. Got my mail (all arrived intact! Whiskey (George Dickell Barrel Select), cigars, and the camera from Mom and Dad -- they mailed me my mother's) Lots of hikers at MTR. All giving away extra food. I scored a packet of tuna. Ended up donating one dinner, breakfast, and two cliffbars. One day's food. I didn't need the weight and it's hard to cram everything into the bear cannister anyway. Hiked with a bloke named Colin for about twenty minutes a little while after stopping at MTR. (Until I reached my planned camp area and he stopped to wait for his sister Lindsey. Good people them two and I hope to see them again . . . ) They are going to Outside Lands ... both from a small town outside Portland. He took the dinner I donated back at MTR -- cashew chicken I think it was. It felt awkward hiking and chatting with someone for such an extended period of time. I havent done that in years, since Scott and I went to Anna Lake in the Trinity Mtns. ~ 17 miles today. It's hard for me to be exact because I'm not certain within 1/2 mile on the map of where I camped Day 7 at Bear Creek. (Comment on this)
Friday, August 8th, 2008
6:45 pm	JMT -- Day Seven Broke camp and moved out at 7:10AM. Made excellent time coming up Silver Pass -- Saw a marmot near the top who provided his profile w/ a backdrop of the mtn view North (Mt Seven Gables I think). Passed a lot of other JMTers today, all stopping at VVR I think, which i skipped. I had cheeseburgers at Yosemite, Tuolome, RMR . . . didn't need another and I had no resupply there . . . plus to get to the trailhead for the ferry at 12:15PM (next boat at 5PM) so up Bear Ridge I went . . . slowly but surely. Made the top at @ 3PM [Ed note: Over the next several days I would have other hikers comment about Bear Ridge and ask how it was for me. I told them all that it wasn't really too bad. Sure it was long but it was all on soft dirt (no rock scrambling like many of the passes), at a decent grade, and under tree cover the entire time.] 2.5 hours to climb 2000 feet is not bad [Ed note: During training hikes and on the JMT itself I would average 600-800 feet of elevation climb an hour) Foot acted up again -- did some relacing & leaned on the stick (ski pole or hiking pole? I found it wandering around Yosemite the first day. I'm not sure what it was actually made for but it works as a hiking stick nonetheless) I am sure that finding the pole and keeping it is why I lost my camera . . . but honestly the pole has proved far more essential . . . Made camp @ 5:15PM today on Bear Creek. I did what I could to wash my pants in the creek -- rubbing it against the creek boulders and tieing a clothesline to dry it (and some other clothing articles). Backpacker Pantry Louisianna Red Beans & Rice for dinner was good, but the amt of water asked for in the directions made it soup. About 16.5 miles today. Wasn't a "big" mileage day but I had a lot of elevation to deal with. Tomorrow is over halfway & MTR resupply. Wow!! Already!!! (Comment on this)
Thursday, August 7th, 2008
6:35 pm	JMT -- Day Six Only about 15 miles today -- got a little late start so I could record birdsong & ease my left foot into the challenge . . . it has been a little aggravated at the end of the days . . . Ran into Rudy the Yo - Yoer again. Passed him early in the day. Monotonous forest with no view made more manageable by EV Berk 2 [Ed note: Eddie Vedder performing Solo in Berkeley, CA, night two). Camped at the JCT w/ Cascade Valley. Beautiful mtn & bridge view just b4 it. Dinner = Chicken & Rice with Beans mexican style = good. Have extra food due to eating at RMR & Tuolome so I made a hot Chilli Mac lunch @ Purple Lake (where my original plans had me camping for the night at one point) Yum! Saw a marmot (I think?) at Virginia Lake -- which itself was a gorgeous sight (the lake) -- and also a doe as I was leaving the lake. Descent to Tully Hole sucked. Fairly steep & my foot = aggro, Soaked it for a long time in the cold water of the river @ camp. I wasn't feeling it this morning. Felt kind of bummer and listless. I think I bonked and ran off fumes too much last night and my foot hurt a bit. I also had a scary low battery warning on my altimeter watch. I really relied on the altimiter to help me pinpont my location on the map and identify how far I had to go/climb. That it might die after only a few days on the trail was distressing to no end. Luckily birdsong @/and sunrise really brought me around and my foot loosened up a bit. The low batterly life indicator turned off after a few hours -- I think it was just condensation or something. I'm putting it in plastic to protect it tonight so will see tomorrow. Mostly all my gear has been working well butthat battery and the sparker on the Jetboil stove hasn't been enough to ignite the gas . . . I am using a cig lighter I found on the ground Day 1. (Yay for always picking up other's trash -- I have three books of matches but those are for cigars and emergencies . . . ) Camped at 5PM today (Comment on this)
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008
8:15 pm	JMT -- Day Five Didn't even realize it until I jsut added the mileage for today -- 21 I stopped at Devil's Postpile & had my picture taken. Then on to Red's Meadow Resort (RMR) where I had a beer & cheeseburger (After i told the waitress I would get the food and just eat outside because "I'm a little stinky," she said,"Everyone smells here!" "Oh, then I guess I willjust sit at the counter =)" I had actually just washed my arms and face at the restroom outside the cafe . . . growing hairy! Good Cheeseburger (double no fires -- the bears get into the grease so . . . ) I was originally going to camp there but it was earlish (3PM) and I felt OK (not great, but ok for a few more miles). The cafe was being waited by a Mother and daughter together. It was cute. Had cell reception at the "resort" (a few log cabins with electricity really) so I called my mother. They didn't find my camera but have shipped my mother's to MTR. She was so happy to hear from me and it was nice to hear her voice. Ran into a Yo-Yoer parked on the trail climbing out of RMR. He didn't look like he could finish the trail one way let alone turn around and come back the other way as well. Struck camp this morning at 7AM. Basically on the JMT @ 8AM (pictures and rock scrambling/such). Camped at 6:15PM or so. Made no dinner due to the late lunch at RMR -- and I really haven't been real hungry at dinner time anyway -- basically forcing myself to eat . . . Today I had mountain home cheesecake for breaky. Yum! (It was more like pudding though). Postpile was cool. Not eye-popping amazing but still cool. @ Camp I finished my sponge bath & smoked another stogey [Ed. note: I smoked a mini cigar every night after dinner) MMMM Cohiba! (Comment on this)
Tuesday, August 5th, 2008
7:10 pm	JMT -- Day Four ~16 miles. Totally blew the mileage on initial planning of today's stint, + lots of elevation climb & descent. Got to Garnett Lake wore out. Did not see my "friends." Did see lots of ppl & thru-hikers today. Some lame drunk asses camped near me -- lost about 30 minutes of sleep because of their yelling =( Those campers (one of them) apologized the next day at least. One Thousand Island Lake was pretty but Garnett was better imo. Coming down from Donahue Pass met a S->N thru-hiker. I think he took my picture while i was hiking down. "Older" gent, no shirt. "Rock and Roll." Dinner was Enchiladas Ranchero, from Richmoor (Natural High) -- YUM!! but it left no room for my 33rd birthday Backpackers Pantry Dark Chocolate Cheesecake. That will be breakfast tomorrow! (Comment on this)