Day 64- Just Not Feeling It

July 05, 2016

Vermillion Valley Resort(878.7) to Stealth Site(882.4) 3.7 Miles +1.5 mile side trail

It was bound to happen eventually. I woke up this morning and just didn't feel like hiking. We have really been pushing ourselves lately, both physically and mentally. I really felt like I needed a break, but VVR really wasn't what I was looking for. I really really really didn't want to hike around the lake to get back to the trail. I decided to pay for the ferry to get back to the trail. Unfortunately, the ferry can only hold 4-5 hikers per trip. There were a ton of people that were waiting before me. I reluctantly paid to eat breakfast in the restaurant. For $13.00 I got lukewarm French toast and a coffee. I watched a bunch of my friends hike out. They were doing an unofficial alternate so I didn't go with them. I'll see them in the next town, Mammoth Lakes. Mammoth is only twenty eight miles away and to meet up with my friends I need to take two and a half days to get there. I decided to hang around VVR for most of the day and to hike only ten miles for the day. 

Camp store at VVR

I can't really account for my time during the day. I probably just chatted with all of the hikers hanging around. I started to get antsy around noon and finally packed up my stuff and got in line for the ferry. I ended up waiting until three o'clock for a ride across the lake. It was a fun ride and I wish it had been longer. 

Fifteen minute ferry across Lake Edison

Once I was back in the trail I was dragging butt. I just couldn't get motivated to make miles. The trail up Silver Pass was littered with rock steps, which are my nemesis. I just find them demoralizing. 

Miles of rock steps

I had planned on hiking ten miles up and over the pass, but after two miles I was ready to quit for the day. It took me almost three miles to hike four miles. I kept taking a ton of breaks. 

Large log to walk across

Sweet waterfall 

Beautiful meadow 

I finally decided to give up for the day. There was no sense in just plodding down the trail. I knew that tomorrow was a new day and I could have a new attitude. I found an awesome place to setup camp. After getting camp setup I started to cook dinner. I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing and I managed to set myself on fire. It was a stupid mistake that could have ended very badly, but the worst that happened was I melted a large hole in my hiking pants. I sat on my granite rock and laughed so hard I cried. I am still chuckling about it. It was a fitting ending to the day. Since I didn't make my miles today I'll have to make some up tomorrow. The great thing about thruhiking is the lack of schedule. I have more than enough food for this quick section. As long as I keep walking north I continually accomplish my short term goals! 

Sweet camp site

"There is no good day or bad day, only good or bad actions" Amit Kalantri