<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hey All,<br>
<br>
I arrived back home a few weeks ago from my JMT/PCT Trek and just wanted <br>
to let everyone know how it all went. I flew into Reno and my friend (Ron) from<br>
Bridgeport, Ca. picked me up and delivered me to toulumne Meadows, the next day<br>
I was meeting up with another friend (UK Ray) who I met on my PCT hike in 2000, <br>
and three more of Rays friends.<br>
<br>
The plan was to stay at Toulumne Meadows for two days to get adjusted to the<br>
elevation and then start hiking south towards Mt. Whitney. The first day was <br>
hiking up Lydell canyon and we camped a couple miles short of Donahue Pass.<br>
One of Ray friends (John) was having a difficult time and when he finally reach<br>
our camp site, I could almost tell that John wasn't going to be able to continue<br>
to hike.The next morning they decided to hike back to Toulumne Meadows and <br>
see if John would feel better in a couple of days and start hiking again.<br>
<br>
I decided to keep on hiking, go slow to Reds Meadow and maybe they would<br>
catch up if they started hiking again. After waiting a day at Reds Meadow they <br>
never showed up, so I was off hiking in the morning and really feeling good. <br>
Today my destination was Lake Virginia, and before noon I had already hiked 12 <br>
miles. <br>
<br>
As I'm hiking towards the trail junction to Duck Lake, The scenery is just unbelievable<br>
so I wasn't watching where I was hiking, lost my balance fell forward and put a pretty<br>
nasty gash in my forehead, I'm getting up as fast as I can, because I sure found out that <br>
big cuts on the head bleed a lot, and before I got up and stopped the bleeding, there was <br>
blood everywhere, on the trail, the rocks, and everywhere on me.<br>
<br>
After a few minutes or so I finally go my composure back, I wasn't sure what to do, but<br>
since I got the bleeding stopped I was thinking just to keep on hiking. As I'm sitting there<br>
four hikers from Southern Ca. came by, they were being packed mule to Purple lake 2.2<br>
miles down the trail, One just happen to be a Physician he took a look at my wound and<br>
invited me to camp with them at Purple Lake. Well, after that fall guess I'm willing to camp<br>
with a doctor and it's only 2 miles short of Lake Virginia where I had planned to camp anyway.<br>
<br>
We all arrived at Purple Lake, set up camp and Doctor Van took a better look at the cut<br>
and said it needed to be stitched up. I'm sure I turned about as pail as someone could get<br>
after that announcement. Doctor Van assured me that he had all the medical stuff to stitch me<br>
up, so he brings over this big tool box filled with his medical stuff. (Gosh you can bring lots<br>
of gear on mules) <br>
<br>
Anyway, Guess I'm ready for this as I can be sitting on a lawn chair, under pines trees at<br>
Purple Lake. Doctor Van cleaned the wound, gave me an injection of novacane or something<br>
like that so I wouldn't feel any pain, and proceeded to put six stitches in my forehead. I gave my <br>
camera to one of docs friends (Bill) and told him to take lots of photos because I wasn't sure<br>
my friends would believe this story.<br>
<br>
After the stitching I was treated to a great dinner, better then I was planning on having that <br>
evening. The next morning I was also treated to a great breakfast too. After trying to thank<br>
this great group of friends enough, I started hiking again, the only problem was that big old<br>
bandage on my forehead, Every hiker I met for the next few days would ask what happen <br>
to you, and I would have to tell the story, and even I was getting a little bored after about 30 <br>
times or so, I was sure glad when I was able to remove that bandage. The rest of the trek <br>
was uneventful except for the scenery and the wonderful people I met.<br>
<br>
I'm not sure I should say this, but this trek was one of my favorites.<br>
<br>
Jeff Z.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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