After leaving Sierra City, I got closer and closer to the heart of the Sierra mountains where I call home and I was so excited seeing familiar landscape. The only difference is that with so much snow we had this year in the Sierra, meadows were still covered with wildflowers and the hills were so green like we are in mid July.
The first familiar place I passed was the Donner Summit on the I-80. In the winter, I used to come to the Donner Ski Ranch with my good old friends. In the summer time, I drove back and forth between California and Wyoming for my summer job.
Going under the interstate on the PCT has been bizarre experience. There is usually a tunnel or some sort of way to go under the heavy traffic with so much noise. It is a significant contrast from the trail experience. This time under I-80, two PCT hikers were standing in the dark tunnel and singing a song. The acoustic that was created by the tunnel was incredible and they made this crossing so much more pleasant for me.
That evening I could see Lake Tahoe. For the next two days, I put many miles so that I could be at Lake Aloha and Echo Lake in the Desolation Wilderness on my birthday. My friend PaHoua introduced me to the area last fall. The night before my birthday, I made it to Richardson Lake. I arrived at the lake in the twilight. I bathed in the lake with the moonlight and watched the reflection of the moon in the ripples that I created. The next day, I bathed in Lake Aloha with glorious sunshine and rest flat on the granite to receive blessing from the sun and the world.
I also had amazing support during this section. My friend Christie made the last minute decision to meet me at the Ebbet Pass. She brought me resupply and delicious lunch and we hiked a few miles together. Another friend Kelly met me at Sonora Pass. We camped together to have quality time and exchanged so many great stories from the summer. She also helped me figure out my health issues. Since leaving Sierra City, I had some gastrointestinal problems and her recommendation of how I can care for myself made it better.
The Sonora Pass reminded me what it’s like to be in the Sierra. The terrain became more ragged and I started to go above 10,000 feet. My body usually does pretty well with high elevation but my declined health made it more sensitive and less adaptable to it. I took my time to go over passes and hills that were over 10,000 feet and continued south at slower but sustained pace to Dorothy Pass. There, I saw a USGS sign that says Yosemite National Park boundary. That moment, I felt a huge relief in my gut. I came so far on this journey. I have only 260 miles left to complete the PCT in my home mountains. My internal compass was awakened and turned on to guide me without a map. I know these mountains on and off trails, the weather patterns, all the water sources on and off the map and other details. In addition, my friends are here. Many of them offered resupply support along the way. For that, I also felt comfort and ease as I approached the crux of the entire PCT in terms of elevation and remoteness of the path.
From Glen Aulin to Tuolumne Meadows, it was like saying hi to my good old friends, following the Tuolumne River. Mount Conness was glowing in the early evening light. It is my most favorite mountain in Yosemite. As I looked at Conness, I thought about an amazing day my friend Sarah and I had together last fall when we climbed the north ridge. When I arrived at Tuolumne Meadows, my friend Kelly surprised me. She said, “I trusted that our energy would find each other.” I was supposed to meet up and spend a night with Sarah at her cabin in Tuolumne but Kelly said she got sick so Kelly stepped in to support me again. I was so touched by her presence. I’m so blessed because of people like Kelly. They have gone through similar experiences and have a deep understanding of the support role. As I thanked and said goodbye to Kelly, I said, “My journey is only possible because of many people who support me and they are in my mind all the time. Behind every success of individual, there are tens of hundreds of supporters.”
Appreciation: for Tim, a Sierra City local, who gave me a ride to the trailhead, for Christie for making such a spontaneous and brilliant decision to come support me at Ebbetts Pass, for Poppy, a PCT hiker, who gave me electrolyte and immune tablets to help me with my health on the trail, for two women for giving me a ride at Tuolumne. Although I didn’t get to see Sarah, I appreciate her for cooking warm meals and holding my resupply at Tuolumne. I would like to dedicate very special thanks to Kelly for being double trail angels at Sonora Pass and Tuolumne Meadows, showing up with so much love and care, driving countless hours, taking me to her home, cooking amazing Thai food, problem solving together, offering critical feedback and support to improve my health and so much more. What I appreciate the most about Kelly is her presence – we’re in this together.
Best learning, challenge and disappointment: the biggest challenge during this section was my health and I was so disappointed that I could not enjoy my time as much as I did in other sections. I got so weak – my legs felt hollow and my body felt empty. I’m usually very good about backcountry hygiene and I rarely get sick while I’m in the wilderness. I learned that I’m vulnerable to whatever caused gastrointestinal problems. It was a good reminder to continue practicing good hygiene and hydration.
Exciting moments: coming to my home mountains and seeing my friends. I also enjoyed reflecting on so many good memories from the time I explored these places with my friends. So good to be home!
