Day 15: Zero In Mammoth LakesJuly 5th
I mentioned yesterday that we all sent resupply packages for the next four day leg (to Tuolumne Meadows) to Motel 6 here in Mammoth Lakes. This is common practice for hikers to avoid having to hit PO hours. I’ve only had one hiccup in packages in the last 5yrs of mailing myself resupplies and now I can say I’ve had a major one, ugh. Weeks ago, Why Not called the Motel 6 and asked for their address to mail packages. Turns out the person failed to include the PO Box number. The post office is just a block from the Motel 6 and the packages were clearly labeled to hold for hikers with our estimated ETA. The policy of the PO here in Mammoth Lakes is that if it doesn’t have a PO Box #, they return it to sender. What a shitty thing to do when they are one block away and know exactly what the package is for and know the Motel 6 gets tons. Rockin’s package made it because she luckily sent it through UPS, which isn’t required.
It’s an annoyance, but not hike ending at all. Myself and Why Not needed to print maps and buy things to resupply, which neither of us were planning to do on a relaxing zero. We lucked out big time, and a blog follower of Rockin’s, named Michael, was in town and lent us his car for the morning. What could have been a tiring full day task took just a few hours, whew. THANK YOU MICHAEL!!! Trail magic saves the day!
Michael saves the day lending us his car this morning.
The rest of the day was spent getting the blog updated, chasing down my box that is bouncing around the postal system, and catching up on correspondence. I do want to give a shout out to my friend GoalTech, who has been my devoted editor on these lengthy posts. He has been letting me know of many of the spelling and grammar errors that I blame all on autocorrect (of course!). THANK YOU GoalTech! It is now 5:30pm and I am going to attempt to do all my emailing and then watch the final two episodes of VEEP, which is really my only goal of the zero dammit! If I’m lucky I’ll get to watch more, oh boy!
So although we hit Tuolumne Meadows in four days, I don’t think we will get service to post anything until we finish three days after that. We are aiming to finish around the 13th or 14th. I know it seems like we should be home free, but this section is definitely no cake walk and is one to be taken seriously. It’s gonna be a tough one, but hopefully, we can finish it out just like we have the last couple weeks. One day (or even step) at a time.
I personally am getting more adjusted to both the elevation and the terrain. I have moments I greatly enjoy it and moments where I am still quite afraid and swearing, but I think that’s common for the SHR. All is good except my bad ankle (surgery on a severed ligament 10yrs ago), which is yelling at me and my face which can’t seem to get enough protection from the wind and sun. Yep, that damn dorky hat is continuing with me.
Ok everyone, you can track our progress to the end on my Where’s Wired tab and we’ll be back in civilization in about a week and hopefully headed to the High Sierra Trail after that. A few days on a trail that runs east-west across the Sierra that will get us back to the car where we left it at Roads End.
Oh, and while you wait, here’s a reminder of Why Not and Rockin’s blogs for more fun and photos.
Why Not: nancyhikes.com
Rockin’: ladyonarock.com
So Rockin finally got her zero that she missed having to go back and forth to Tehachapi..
Balance.. but p pretty rotten of that PO.
Yes! A good rest for all of us. I could get used to this zero every leg thing…
Hi
If you have Verizon and are on the High Trail section of the PCT, you’ll likely have signal until around 1000 Island lake.
Sweet! I’ll check for it then!
I noticed you mentioned your ligament. I broke my ankle and severed my ligament on the descent of Mt. Shasta a long time ago. My “ligament” yelled at mean over the years on long hikes. Then years ago, before BTR, I started hiking and running barefoot and on ulta-lightweight DIY huaraches after a series of bad blisters on a two week hike .
I did the TRT last year barefoot and with my DIY 4mm huaraches only – no shoes. I had no foot, ankle, knee, or back issues at all, and averaged a 22MPD pace.
Ever since I embraced barefoot walking and running, I noticed I had no more issues from the mended bone or my ligament. My feet and ankles are substantially stronger. Tomorrow and Thorsday I’m doing another 50 mile barefoot training fastpack run on the McKenzie River.
You don’t have to dive in the deep end and go 100% barefoot. Nor do I (snow climbs are still plastic boots and crampons). But consider adding a couple half hour jogs a week on the grass. Then work up to a couple hours a week. Strengthening your feet and ankles did me a world of good. I have no issues with joints of any kind any more.
Just my $0.02 worth. YMMV.
The kindness of friends & strangers. The trail community amazes.
Have you ever read the books by The Barefoot Sisters.. Isis and Jack Rabbit… They did the AT southbound and at least one of them completed northbound.. barefoot, for most if not all… makes my feet curl up in recoil, but it worked f o r them
Lucy and Susan Lecher.. The Barefoot Sisters Southbound and Walking Home.
I’ve had so many problems out of the local post office since moving to KY – misdelivered packages (it’s how I met all my neighbors), items returned even when addressed correctly and, the latest, they won’t pick up mail at my box unless they’re dropping something off! It’s the first time in 53 years I’d ever heard that it is NOT THEIR JOB to pick up mail, only to deliver it! The ‘policy’ is even stated on their web site. My 93 year old neighbor hadn’t even heard about that one, and has never not had their mail picked up. Well, until the latest rash of substitute carriers who have evidently memorized every loophole possible to not do their job. Or, evidently, only do JUST their job. Sorry for the rant, but I just freaking hate the post office lately and am not shocked in the slightest that they returned your packages. Out of meanness. Just because they can.
This one looks pretty good to me! 🙂
I’ll throw one general correction out to all the PCTers who follow you instead…it’s Vermilion with one “L” and it’s the Sierra not Sierras.
OK…I feel better now…glad to help!
Keep on hikin’!
Haha! Love it!
You’re near me. Are you headed this way. Any idea where you’ll be over the weekend? Possible meet up on the trail?
Well, we will be in Tuolomne Meadows briefly in 4 days but not on the PCT and I don’t think we will have service. I don’t think we will be close enough to make it worth a visit right now.
What are the nigh time lows at your typical camp elevations? I’ll be in the Sierras in about 3 weeks and want to know what sleeping bag to pack.
It’s been very uniquely warm for us. Tonight is more normal with overnight temps in the 30s. We all love having the 10 degree bags out here. The Sierra can go any direction and it’s best to be prepared for the cold temps!
Y’all are getting so close! Keep being amazing and staying positive 🙂