Mammoth to Tuolumne Meadows 6/12- 6/13

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Sugar Mama Patti Cakes our trail angel from Mammoth. 

Devils post pile, Mammoth.

Thousand Island Lake

It's been a couple of days since we have blogged. We're just having a walk in the park now that the high snowy passes are over and the raging rivers are behind us.

 

     Donahue Pass was a slow meandering climb. There was a bit of snow but nothing that a person with a good set of eyes couldn't walk around. We ate lunch surrounded by curious marmots and one bold ground squirrel, also called a "picket pin". He came nose to nose with the marmot just to let him know who was boss. Ground squirrels stand up and whistle when there is any sort of danger. Firecracker can't count the number of times she has thought someone was whistling at her and turned to see no one. She now thinks it was these picket pins whistling away. We did not feed the animals but did talk to them about world events and various TV series. They were attentive and polite listeners.

We began to see a lot of John Muir Trail (JMT) hikers going in the opposite direction to us. We were happy not to be going back to those passes these  hikers were about to tackle. It's also approaching the weekend so there were also a lot of weekend hikers. They're easy to identify - they have no rhythm or spring to their step and their equipment looks new as well as their smell...they smell new. 

      People often stop to talk and ask us where we are going. We do the same. We met a women from Felton who was so thrilled that TC and DG were 59 years old. She was 53 and wanted to do the PCT but first she was starting with theJMT. This is always a good idea. The JMT is a good warm up.

     News flash: DG new and improved trail name given to her by Moxie : firecracker. To be consistent, if you please you can call her Dirty Firecracker but Firecracker will do. Meaning : bright, explosive, loud, surprising, powerful, a small thing having a big impact, in your face, frightening, joyous, celebratory.

Big mistake for TC. (Food that is)

For over 40 years TC has come to climb in Tuolumne, this is first time she walked there!!

     

  Yesterday while nearing Tuolemne, TC began experiencing some gastrointestinal distress. It was after having a cup of tea and nuts and chocolate. Her intestines began to gurgle. We ate dinner at Tuolemne Lodge ( which was a big mistake because the food was medocre and Firecracker really was't hungry); TC had grilled trout and some veggies she'll never eat again. By the time she stood up to leave the hurl reflex was set in motion. We had to walk a mile to get to the walk in campground. TC had not thrown up yet  but she looked tentative the entire way. We reached the campground and after pitching the tent TC pitched her food about twenty feet from the tent. She was on her way to the bathroom but failed to make it. Firecracker lost track of her for a moment and was talking to two tanned Israeli's about pita and falafel and matzo ball soup. It was getting dark when out of the corner of her eye she saw TC bent over, her head close to the ground,just to the left of her about twenty feet away. She continued her conversation with the couple wondering if they were seeing TC. They certainly weren't hearing her because she was silently throwing up, a  very difficult thing to do. She saw Sarah look over at which point Firecracker said,"She's not feeling good" and demonstrated a wretching motion. Everyone sympathized and the conversation continued. What help can one be to a person throwing up?

Best to keep one's distance. Firecracker was astounded that the event was happening in silence. How does one do this? How is it physically possible? TC returned to the tent and verified that indeed she had thrown up 3 times in that hallowed spot in silence.

    Today TC felt weak, tired and slightly nauseous. She did eat oatmeal & juice and manage to keep it down. There was a bit of diarrhea yesterday and today  

But no more vomiting. Princess gave her some Nux Vomica which allowed her to walk and Firecracker gave her an acupuncture treatment after they had walked ten miles. That seemed to do the trick. She ate a little and revived slightly. They set up camp early and now TC is asleep. 

    You can imagine how hard it was to organize our re-supply from Tuolemne - TC was unable to look at food and FC was still unable to eat dehydrated food. They decided to take everything and buy bread, Black Forest ham, and some fruit. FC was sure she could eat ham sandwhiches for a few days. TC was not saying anything.

Toulomne Falls near Glen Aulin.