{"id":1660,"date":"2020-08-30T20:37:16","date_gmt":"2020-08-31T03:37:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wandering.earth\/?p=1660"},"modified":"2022-01-29T19:36:23","modified_gmt":"2022-01-30T03:36:23","slug":"jmt-2020-day-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wandering.earth\/index.php\/2020\/08\/30\/jmt-2020-day-4\/","title":{"rendered":"JMT 2020 Day 4"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Goal for the day: Lyell Fork Bridge<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, with the resupply my pack gained many pounds to make it the 3-4 days down to Reds Meadow. Wish they had a scale at Tuolumne Meadows so I\u2019d know exactly how much, but it was probably 2-3 pounds over what I started with down in the Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 21 day sample schedule I am using for reference lists this segment as 3 days, but I\u2019m giving it 4 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I REALLY didn\u2019t feel like continuing when waking up that morning. Even before packing my gear, I was not very motivated. This night was probably the worst night’s sleep I had gotten up to that point. I use earplugs, so it wasn\u2019t the noise from the other backpackers. Maybe it was exhaustion from the long day the day before. I even looked up the YARTS bus schedule to see when I could abort back to the Valley by catching the bus. Not a good sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, after packing my gear, having breakfast, and having my last Diet Coke (from my resupply package), I mustered the motivation to put my pack on and head towards the JMT. My pack didn\u2019t seem that much heavier, so that was a relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since I had taken care of the little loop the JMT takes around Tuolumne Meadows the day before, this day would start out with a simple stroll though Lyell Canyon. Since it’s mostly meadows running along the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River, there only a little elevation to climb for the first 8 miles. I still wanted to get some of the remaining elevation done to lessen the final climb to Donahue Pass the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But then I ran out of steam at the end of the canyon before the big climb. 10 miles in 8 hours was enough considering I almost gave up that morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only 500 feet climbed though (it’s a very long canyon).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means I\u2019ll have 2,000 feet to climb tomorrow to reach Donahue Pass. Hopefully fresh legs will help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coyote!! As I was settling into my camp I heard a rustle to my side. I turned and saw a coyote trotting towards me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I yelped and surprised us both. I got a couple of quick pictures as he scurried off, but I didn’t manage to capture him in them. I made a point to keep an eye out for him that evening. Since I was surrounded by trees, there wasn’t much to see at sunset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10 miles hiked, 8 hours, 500 feet climbed
33 total miles hiked on the JMT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlights:
\u2022 Beautiful meadows<\/strong>
\u2022 Came up a little short of daily goal \ud83d\ude41<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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