Day Eleven: Saturday, July 5, 2014

Hike approx 5 miles out to car parked at North Lake Parking. Drive home. Sleep in my bed tonight.

I awoke early again, and had my 2/3 cup coffee and nut bar for breakfast. I was hiking by 6:30am. I figure I can be down by 8:30am easy, with about 3.5 miles ahead to go and then a little walk to the car parking. The hike down is beautiful and I stop to chat with a couple guys on their way up. They examine my lightweight backpack and the effortless bounce I seem to exude in my stride. I explain the qualities of my groovy backpacking ultra-light gear that has made this trip possible, thanks to a dear friend who graciously loaned it to me in order that I might have the ability to hike light and fast.

I make it down to the beautiful forest below in no time, complete with mosquitoes and amazing blooming wildflowers again. When I started crossing little streams I knew I was getting close to the trailhead, so I found a spot away from the trail to do a final washup. I had hoped to be “presentable” and so I also rinsed out my hair, letting it dry curly instead of mashing it under my hiking baseball cap.

Creek crossings, flowers, and my final trail out. 

When I popped out at the trailhead I looked for the parking lot. All told, I hiked 5 miles this morning, and it was 9:15am when I got to the car. But the car was there, just as Brian had promised! He put my car keys in a zip-lock baggie (which we all carry for our food supplies), and then duct-taped it to the underside of my rear bumper (duct tape being another backpacker staple item). I chuckled at the humor in that, and then gave thanks for this fine gentleman who made my life so easy today. I make a mental note to write him an email (note and contact details were also in the baggie) when I return home.

Driving down to Bishop from this high parking area I noticed the dramatic mountains receding in the rear view mirror at a fast loss-of-definition pace. At a distance they now looked like nothing. Why would anyone want to go up there? Peaks, yes. High, yes. But no definition to their incredible, understated beauty. And yet I know their secrets; learning them requires getting up close and personal. Then you see it all on an intimate scale.

As the mountains fade my tears flow. How can I really be leaving?

 

The great Sierras look so very different from this perspective

In Bishop I get that coveted egg tomato breakfast bagel I have had tucked in the back of my mind for the last 24 hours. It was worth the anticipation! Plus I got a bear claw. And coffee. And fresh squeezed orange juice. Here comes a food coma! OMG! Bliss! I buy another sticky bun for the drive home, and I hit the road.

Driving seems WAY TOO FAST! It’s almost freaky. I’ve traveled by my own feet for the last 11 days, at about 1.5 to 2 miles per hour. While walking I see the trees, lakes, mountains, streams: all move from in front of me to behind me, and my progress out there feels real. Now things whiz by so fast it shocks me. I consciously try to focus on my safe driving, so that I don’t “check out” whenever I wistfully look to the west and see the mountains soaring just over there. I removed the top of my convertible, turned on the music, and settled in for the long drive home.

It was all fine for a while until I got to Lake Tahoe, which is high elevation and alpine. It looked so much like my daily home these last 11 days that I erupted in tears again. That was hard, and once again I forced myself to focus on driving.

I arrived home at 7pm. The stress of driving seemed far greater than carrying a backpack for 19 miles! I was home, safe, and blissfully at peace. I was really glad the world stopped whizzing by at 60mph!

Elevation map of the John Muir Trail. I started on the right, at Mt Whitney, and went left....leaving between Bishop Pass and Muir Trail Ranch (having crossed that bump which is Muir Pass)