Goal for the day: Reds Meadow for resupply

I awoke to dreams of a hamburger. Not really, but that was the goal for this day (among other perks of civilization). I knew it was going to be a long day if I was going to make it to Reds Meadows for resupply, a shower, bed, and real food. I was right.

Sunrise had some nice color and as I hiked past Shadow Lake I saw some sunrise illuminated mirror images in the lake’s surface. Nice start.

Then I had to go up a set of switchbacks that had me thanking myself for not trying to climb these during the previous afternoon. On fresh legs, it was hard. On tired legs, it would have been torture.

Once I reached the high point for the day (Gladys Lake) it was downhill all the way, but it was still 9 more miles. Slow and by the time I got to the small Devils Postpile National Monument, it was very hot (since I was headed down below 8,000 feet for the first time since I left Yosemite Valley). The trail also dried up, so I was out of water by the time I got near Reds Meadow. That was just poor planning on my part since there were spots that I could have added a little water to my Camelbak, but didn’t.

Nearing Reds Meadow, I got something I hadn’t had since parts of Tuolumne Meadows: A cell signal. First I made sure the World didn’t end while I was without Internet. After that concern was put aside, I got a text with the results from my COVID-19 test… and I was NEGATIVE. So, I could continue my trek with confidence knowing that at least I wasn’t infected when I started my trek. I’d still take precautions to limit my contact with other people, of course.

As I crossed a bridge, I was a little surprised at how hilly the area leading up to Reds Meadow was. The only other time I was in this area hiking I seem to remember it being more flat. That was when I hiked about 3 feet of the JMT on my way out to Rainbow Falls. Once I passed that part of the trail, I could now just say I hiked the first 61 miles and the last 30 miles of the John Muir Trail without mentioning the hilarious (to me anyway) bit about “hiking a tiny, little bit in the middle of the JMT”). But that wasn’t enough for me, I wanted the whole thing.

As I approached Reds Meadow, I smiled at the little mileage sign that listed the miles to various locations (although the mileage numbers seemed to be a little off… but different hiking resources often had different trail and height measurements). From my starting point from Happy Isles to my final destination at Mt Whitney, it was a nice reminder of why I was out there.

After putting on my mask, I first went to the Pack Station since I thought that’s were the resupply packages would be. Nope. That was just used for their horses and mule pack trains. So I headed to the store next.

First: Get some cans of Diet Coke. Check. I couldn’t even wait to finish paying for them before I drank the first one. Priorities, right?

I picked up my resupply pail and then found out I couldn’t check into my Hiker Cabin until 3pm. Despite it seeming like a long day to hike down to Reds Meadow it actually didn’t take that much time and it was only 1pm. Still wished that I could have gotten down earlier, but the end result was the same. With time before I could check in, I could have gone and done my laundry and take a shower if I wanted. I wanted to, but decided it would be easier to do both after I could spread out in the cabin and organize a bit. Dealing with my backpack in the small shower stall would be a problem. So I just relaxed around the store, confirmed my resupply package items were intact, and had another Diet Coke. 🙂

My legs and feet also asked me to check to see if they had any accommodations available for the next night. That would be a long stay, but could help me recover from the first 7 days. But there wasn’t anything available. That’s probably for the best, because I really didn’t know what I’d do with a whole day there and I might be tempted to abort if I thought about it too much. The city of Mammoth Lakes was only 10 miles or so away and I might not even need to hike that if I could get a ride somehow.

So, I told my legs and feet that there was no availability and went on with what I’ve come to call my ‘half a zero day’. Whats half of zero? Zero.

I had a pair of light sweatpants and a lightweight thermal layer that I didn’t use that often on the trail and were mostly clean (I had only used them at camp so far). So those became my ‘Reds Meadow outfit’ that I used for the rest of the day. Note the lack of ‘underwear’ in that outfit. Trust me, those had to go into the laundry. 🙂

So I started my laundry, then headed into the shower. Ahhhhhhhhhhh…

A lot of dirty water flowed down the drain as I took my first hot shower in 7 days. There us only so much you can get off by swimming in a lake or washing your body with a little wilderness soap and a bag of water away from a water source (you shouldn’t put soap into lakes or creeks in the wilderness). I think I shampooed my hair at least 3 times to get all the dirt and oil out.

It’s remarkable how a good shower can rejuvenate you. I felt so good for the rest of the day.

Then it was time for that burger. BBQ Bacon Burger, fries, and a strawberry milkshake. Ahhhhhhhhhh…

As I relaxed with the simple luxuries of modern life, I had to go through my resupply package and repack my gear. I also a had to identify anything I needed from the store.

While I could get Diet Coke from the store so there was no reason to put those in my resupply package, I made a tactical mistake on two other items: Thinking that I had enough sunblock and mosquito spray to last me to my next resupply at Muir Trail Ranch AND that I could just buy more at the Reds Meadow store if I needed any, I didn’t put either in my resupply package.

The problem with that plan was that I couldn’t be sure of what brands and types they may have at the store. So while I might have enough mosquito spray to last, I knew I was very low on sunblock and needed more. So I ended up getting a 30 SPF sunblock spray (which I don’t usually use since I prefer a 50 SPF sunblock lotion) and a small 1oz bug spray bottle.

I also got another cooking gas canister to replace my half used canister and add to the unused 2nd spare that I picked up at Tuoumne Meadows. Otherwise, everything else I’d need came from my resupply package. I did end up trashing a few items of food based on how much I ate the previous 7 days.

I even decided to add the remaining Gatorade powder I had left over from my first leg to my new supply for the second leg of my journey. Having an endless bottle of Gatorade to drink from really helps keep me going during the long hikes and days when I backpack, during this trek more than ever. If only they made powdered Diet Coke. 🙂

I also reduced my ‘trail snacks’ (mostly pepperoni sticks and Cliff Shot Bloks) based on how much I ate during that first leg.

Of course, I had my fill of various sodas, junk food, and the weird joy of filling my Camelbak with pure water that didn’t need to be filtered while I was at Reds Meadow as well.

As my backup batteries, camera, and iPhone charged using some fancy thing the city slickers called ‘power outlets’, I rolled back the ‘sheets’ on my bed and tucked myself in. A real mattress and pillow that I didn’t have to blow up.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…

12 miles hiked, 7:30 hours, 1,750 feet climbed
61 total miles hiked on the JMT

Highlights:
• Shadow Lake
• Switchbacks up to Rosalie Lake
• Devils Postpile National Monument
• Reds Meadow and all the perks of civilization
• Daily goal achieved!