Day: 195
Direction: Southbound
Trail location: 1297.6
Cumulative miles hiked: 2035
Miles hiked today: 6.58
Elevation: 6626
High/low temp/humidity : 89/62/20
Spinning on the turntable: Toby Mac: Eye on it
I wish I could say that today was a better day for hiking for Noelle, but that wouldn’t be entirely accurate. The terrain was flatter, so that was better.
The heat was higher as we traveled through a burned out section with little shade protection.
A nap following lunch was interrupted by a North Bound Thru-hiker (NBTH). He was VERY excited to have seen a momma bear and her cubs. I understood his excitement, but wasn’t that thrilled to have my nap cut short!
We pushed onto Twin Lakes and met three young and very excited Ranger biologists. “There’s been a confirmed bear sighting!” Spoken in exactly the same way you’d say “I know who shot JFK!” We discussed bear bag logistics and headed to the lake.
We wasted no time and waded into the water for a swim. Honestly! If section hiking means reading my book by a fresh water spring for a few hours, or swimming in a mountain lake for an afternoon, SIGN ME UP!
After a few hours we pushed on for another mile. The closest bear boxes are eight miles ahead and we can’t reach them today. The rangers want everyone to use bear canisters, but we don’t have ours.
We cooked dinner about 300 feet from our campsite and hung our bear bags about 50 feet from our tent.
Tomorrow we’ll head for Warner Campground and try to take a zero to give Noelle a day to rest.
Perhaps you’re just more adventurous than I, but I wouldn’t be interested in seeing a bear at all. Maybe behind a tall fence. Maybe. I’ve seen a bear in the wild before; got the adrenaline pumping.
Once in 2019 when I was walking south to the Canadian border to meet Steve, I saw a bear at the side of the trail. I hurried to get out my phone to take a picture. Then she stood up, pulled up her trousers and was startled to see me about to take her picture. 😂 Turns out hikers in black rain gear look similar to bears. 🤷🏻♀️