June 26th
Lower Barrett Lakes(37.8)-Bishop Pass/Bishop (40)
Mileage: 8.7mi (includes 6.5mi side trail to resupply)
Town Elevation: 4,160ft
Town day! We had one pass on the SHR to get over this morning and then another on a side trail to resupply. After yesterday, I think we all were just hoping all would go smoothly and we all were ready to rest up in town. I woke up with a whole new ailment. My bottom lip was swollen to twice it’s regular size. I mentioned it as I packed up and Rockin’ said she had the same thing. It was apparently a sunburn from the sun hitting the inside of our lip as we must have been hiking with our mouths open gasping for air yesterday. Jeez, one more thing. The sun and the reflection off the snow is intense. I’ve been covering up more each day.
I was a bit nauseous and still not 100% (not sure I ever will be up high) as we headed toward Knapsack Pass. Fortunately, there was little snow and we were able to find the use trail that led us over the pass. I forgot to get a photo from the bottom, but here’s one from the use trail when we were about parallel to the pass.
Knapsack Pass
Once on top, we could see down into Dusy Basin, and in the distance, LeConte Canyon, where we’ll be headed. Notice the haze. There are multiple large fires all around the area. Turns out this is a record early occurrence for fires out here as it’s normally the second half of the summer. It’s pretty sad and unfortunate.
Knapsack Pass overlooking Dusy Basin.
Eventually, we will head towards LeConte Canyon, but for now we are headed to the right (east) over Bishop Pass to resupply.
Coming off Knapsack Pass.
Rockin’ in her element of the Volkswagen sized boulders.
Our route intersected the Bishop Pass Trail and we took it the rest of the day down to Parchers Resort, where we planned to stay and had our resupplies mailed.
Beautiful scenery of Dusy Basin before Bishop Pass.
Here’s the catch. Well, actually a few catches: We are a half day later than our goal of making it to Parchers for their awesome Sunday morning brunch. Parchers has very few other options for real food. Rockin’ has a sinus and chest infection (had it before starting the hike) and needs to rent a car to go to her home in Tehachapi (4hrs away) to get some antibiotics. We want to rest and take a zero. All of these things added up to not staying at Parchers and choosing to hitch 30mi to Bishop.
So before I get back to that, let me talk about our experience on the way down the 2,100ft Bishop Pass Trail. First off, we weren’t sure how far down it was, so we asked the first hiker we saw coming up. Turns out, the hiker was a PCT veteran who I was familiar with. This hiker, who will remain unnamed, openly admits (and admitted as we spoke today) to having a lot of anger and negative energy. We only spoke for a few minutes, but his energy (nothing to do with us) was not good and Rockin’ even openly told him that we didn’t need his energy on this route and that he had a lot of anger (yes, another reason why I love Rockin!). After leaving him, I was ahead with Rockin’ and within a couple minutes we saw another hiker coming up. I told Rockin’ I wasn’t going to make small talk after that last experience, so we just said hi to the woman as we crossed paths. As we crossed, it struck me that it was a much older woman who I would have liked to talked to and I was mad that the other guy put me in a mood to not talk to her more.
I immediately thought of a woman who I’ve been in contact with the last few months. Her name is Nancy Pallister(aka Wandering Daisy) and she pretty much wrote the bible on the Wind River Range in Wyoming, which is where we are headed after the SHR. We’ve emailed back and forth with her about route choices and it turns out that Nancy actually lives four miles from Why Not. She and Why Not met a couple of times to discuss our route options and we knew Nancy was going to be in the Sierra and Winds also this summer. I really wanted to meet Nancy, but chances were low that it would work out. Anyway, all this ran through my head as we crossed paths with this woman. As soon as I passed her I wondered where Nancy might be. Then a few seconds later we heard Why Not at a switchback above us greeting the woman. It was Nancy Pallister!!!
I was elated and love the fates of things. If all our little time eaters and route decisions and ailments hadn’t happened, timing would not have worked out to see Nancy and sit and talk with her for 30mins right near the top of Bishop Pass. We were right where we were meant to be all along. I can’t even tell you the boost it gave me just to be in her presence. She’s done all of the SHR and knows every inch of the Sierra it seems. Nancy is 67yrs old and has done badass mountaineering for over 50yrs. She was a relaxing energy to be around. It was such a contrast and swing in energy from the interaction we had just had with the other hiker and I kick myself for letting that negative experience shut me off to the next person that was hiking towards me. Nancy now loves to go up to places for a week (or more even) and just take it in. Hike to each nook and cranny, go to the lakes, and fish and relax. While we were with her, Why Not quoted something I said yesterday after our stressful scary experience on Potluck Pass. I said, “I really think I’d rather just be in the Winds and do what Nancy Pallister does and take her book and explore all those places she has in there.” And now here we are right in front of Nancy as she’s doing just that in the Sierra! I’m telling you, that made this whole leg worth it and was infinitely better than any all-you-can-eat brunch.
Nancy Pallister (Wandering Daisy) recalling her SHR experiences.
As we talked to Nancy, maybe I was just hearing what I wanted to hear, but I was motivated to keep going. Just an hour before, I was asking Rockin’ if we should consider waiting a week or two for snow to melt. Now, after talking to Nancy, my gut feels like giving it a shot. Man, what a boost and what a cool woman.
We parted from Nancy and the 5.5mi trail that went down just 2,100ft felt like 8mi and over 3,000ft. We all felt like it was never going to end and it must be miscalculated. We are also going to come back up this same trail with a weeks worth of food. We took a break about an hour before the end and got yet another boost. A group was there studying the beetle population on some of the trees or something. They were super friendly and had students and the leaders of their groups talked with us. It turned out the woman was the biology chair at the university that Why Not graduated from in 1975…and Why Not had been a biology major! Just wonderful coincidences! We also met an Israeli PCT hiker with a great spirit. Having hiked the PCT, we knew that there tend to be a good representation of Isrealis on the PCT. He said there is even a 2016 Isrealis Facebook page. Yep, that’s how big the PCT has gotten!
We got to Parchers after a 1mi or so hitch and paid them for our boxes since we decided to go to Bishop instead.
The next challenge was to get a hitch the 30mi to Bishop. It was HOT and we took turns trying. It wasn’t a super busy road and each car was either full or not headed our way. Check out the two strategies in myself and Rockin’s hitching. Notice, she is also using the 1lb fold up seat Why Not found on trail and packed out. That thing came in handy the last few days!
So who do you think got a car to pull over??
Yep, Rockin’ with those legs of course! Meet Rex with a T-Rex tatoo.
Rex gave us a ride and somehow squeezed all three of us, our packs, and our resupply boxes in his speedy little car. We made it to town around 4pm, had dinner, checked into a motel, and did some chores and blogging before retreating for the night. Tomorrow is a much welcomed zero while Rockin’ heads home to Tehachapi for some antibiotics and hopefully will be clear to return the next day. It hasn’t been affecting her energy and she’s doing great out there, but it feels terrible and she is losing sleep coughing at night. Plus, you don’t want to mess with upper respiratory stuff on a high route like this. It’s serious stuff. We’ve got our fingers crossed and will find out tomorrow how it’s all going to go. Man, what a day. Something tells me I’m where I should be and to give this another shot on northward.
This post is a real mood elevator of the most natural sort. ?
Nancy just looks calming. ?
How wonderful that you got to meet ?
.
Sorry about the angry man.? ?
I used to work for that professor! Spent many summer days in that drainage, as well as Rock Creek to the north and Big Pine Creek to the south. Small world!
Loving the posts and photos – keep trekkin’!
Haha! Awesome! Man, she was energized!
Oh yes – she loves her work. And who can blame her.. gorgeous country! Good luck on the upcoming section!
Erin, you are absolutely correct: you should not mess with a respiratory infection off-trail in the Sierras. I got a bad one when we were doing (much off trail) the eastern boundary of Sequoia Nat’l Park some time ago (read about it in the Western Mountains section of twohikers.org Bad news for sure. Hopefully, the rest day or days will help some. Good luck.
Roger
Wandering Daisy!!! Ahhh! That is so amazing you got to meet her, and that you feel motivated to give things another shot!
Isn’t the flux of life just so great? 🙂
Sending positive vibes for Rockin’ to clear up her respiratory woes. Hugs to y’all!
So cool you met up with Daisey!! She has the stuff legends are made of. I came so close to running into her and her husband a few years back. Coincidenly, they actually hiked almost the exact route I was hiking a few days later. Long story, another time. Good to see you got the motivation to keep hiking a little out of you comfort zone, but the smarts to hit the brakes when you need to. You three stay safe out there and have a great summer…
It sounds like this day couldn’t have turned out any better. Nancy came along at the right time, didn’t she? Amazing how someone can suddenly motivate us towards something but I’ve always had confidence in your abilities since I started following you a few years ago.
To be honest, all you ladies inspire me, especially when I realized Rockin and Why Not were in my age group. That’s motivating to me.
Keep walking and enjoy your zero day.
Sherri (The Laughing Nanny)
So motivating!
Well, if that isn’t a perfect example of “the trail provides!” It teaches us lessons and provides us with a little boost when we need it.
Thank you for sharing the Wandering Daisy story and pictures. Nancy DOES seem like a woman one would want to sit down and speak with for hours – She looks like someone who has some fascinating stories! Your story and Nancy’s picture have absolutely brightened my day!
Get some rest and enjoy the moments.
Oh, I am SO jealous! You got inspired, and it inspired me too! I’m ready to go! Okay, not really, but so glad you’re not giving up, and will say a prayer that Rockin’ is on the mend, so as not to lose those legs…If she doesn’t come back, you may have to show yours the next time you need a ride! lol
Oh and I totally forgot, that Knapsack Pack overlook picture of the 3 of you could totally be a Gossamer Gear ad! If they don’t use it, I’ll be shocked!
Haha! Rockin and I are GG ambassadors and are happy to take that one for them. Love the Mariposa!
It is hard to say more in light of all the wonderful comments. But I’m very pleased with your progress. Thanks for sharing some very cool moments. I don’t believe in coincidence and I indeed believe you were right where you needed to be, watching His had in action is amazing. Blessings to you three.
You got to meet Nancy in the Sierra. SOOOOOOOO cool!
The four of you are a dream team of adventurous, fun, loving women.
Love the honesty of your reports. I have been looking at the SHR for years now. I know it is way harder than anything I’ve done (except for short runs up pass gaps and talus fields to passes; not day after day). I’m 65 now and will probably not make it, except for possibly a few less dicey sections. (No one I know is interested in talus!) Anyway, I’m reading your reports years after you did this, but they are still great, and from the opening page entry list, I can see that you did actually make it. Great job! Great women!
Aw, so great to hear! I’m really glad all these can be used years later…and who knows, it’s never too late. There might be a social group on fb or reddit or somewhere else that might have someone that is like you and would like to pair up!