[pct-l] Bishop to Duck Pass

[Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com]

I just came back from hiking between Bishop and Duck Pass. I hiked  
Southbound. It was really nice to not have a lot of snow to deal  
with. I think I stepped over only 3 patches of snow and one of those  
patches was on Bishop Pass, not even on the PCT. Gratefully, all  
those scary "one slip could be fatal" creek crossings were so mild I  
didn't even notice them. Yay for hiking the High Sierra in August! If  
I ever attempt a thru-hike I'm skipping the JMT section and saving it  
for last.

Anyway, some observations:
1) JMT hikers carry HUGE ENORMOUS dangerously heavy packs. Some  
people were so top-heavy their legs visibly shook from instability.  
Some people's packs weren't big enough so they piled on day packs and  
plastic garbage bags on top of their packs. But it appeared to me  
that they think that is what backpacking ought to be and they  
wouldn't have it any other way. More power to them. I couldn't hike  
with half or more my body weight on top of me, that's for sure!

2) I missed the camaraderie of the trail that the PCT has. Even  
hiking outside the normal thru-hiking schedule as I have done, the  
PCT (where it was just the PCT) was full of section hikers and we  
shared a special camaraderie. I didn't find that special camaraderie  
on the JMT. It was kind of lonely.

3) You know you're not a thru-hiker when you get off the trail and  
the first thing on your mind isn't food but a shower. And after the  
shower you still aren't thinking about food.

4) I hiked in Chaco sandals. I have lingering foot problems from my  
PCT hiking. I always had a nightly ritual of rubbing my sore feet. On  
one of my longer days I settled into my tent to do my foot rub but my  
feet did not hurt! There was no need to rub my feet.

5) In addition to my sandals I wore a skirt. Skirts are awesome! Just  
like shorts except if you want to put on long johns you don't have to  
undress first! My big fat thighs did not chafe because there's plenty  
of ventilation. The only problem I had is that with the skirt and  
sandals and my tiny pack, as I skipped up the trail, I think I  
intimidated too many people. Hiking is supposed to be rugged,  
dangerous and hard, right? And here comes this little fat lady  
wearing a skirt and sandals and the next thing you know she's half a  
mile of switchbacks ahead of you singing and skipping? Nobody wanted  
to be my friend except for one lady named Little Foot who hiked  
barefoot or in flip-flops.

Anyway, a toast to Steel-Eye as we have both finished the PCT! Now I  
can get my patch.

Diane/Piper



Books I've written:
~ Piper's Flight
~ Adventure and Magic
~ Santa Barbara Hikes
http://stores.lulu.com/dianesoini

We're not here for a long time, but we are here for a good time