I'm Back.

Well after 12 days I'm going to be back on the trail. I'm heading out of the San Francisco area tomorrow back to Mammoth Lakes, and I will be back on the trail Monday morning.

A big thanks is in order to my Aunt and her family for taking me in for the last week. Driving 5.5 hours out to pick me up and drop me off. Room and Board. And a free seat to the Diablo Theater Companies performance of "Hello Dolly". They saved me from going insane at Mammoth Lakes.

I was looking forward to 4th of July around Lake Tahoe however this detour has put me behind. I'm not worrying about how being off the trail for nearly two weeks has affected my chances of completion. But I'm having a hard time not worrying that this episode might be just the first bout of Strep on the trail.

It's odd getting off the trail for this long. I watched myself fall back into some old habits while constantly cramming food into my mouth. I also am not as antsy as I thought I would be. I thought I would have a strong desire just to get back on the trail. In truth I do not feel different on and off the trail. It will be good to get back on and continue Northward, I still have lots to see and do.

As always I hope all is well and enjoy.

Still in Mammoth Lakes

Ah, day 4 in town. I must say I'm feeling a lot better after my second ER trip. I have not developed another abscess, but I had gotten a ton of my favorite symptoms back. Over production of saliva and phlegm, restricting my ability to swallow and speak, and a locking of the jaw so my teeth cannot spread more then 2 finger heights apart. 2 nights ago was a most wonderful night, waking up every 45 to 60 mins, unable to sleep on my left side (gravity pulling down on the tonsil caused pain) and having sleep upright. It was nearly impossible to get comfortable again. Yesterday I got it in my head I was going to try and leave town that day, I don't know where I got such a stupid idea from, it was the worst day yet. By the 7pm all I had to eat was a pint of Ben and Jerry's and was unable to communicate effectively. I planned on going to see "Land of the Lost" instead I went back to the ER. After having a sonogram probe shoved down my throat and no evidence of an abscess, the physician gave me a dose of Percocet and a steroid. I left the ER with 12 Percocet tablets. Last night I slept wonderfully and this morning I didn't feel any need to take Percocet. I'm still taking Ibuprofen, going to cut back to 400mg from the 800mg I was taking, to help with the inflammation of the tonsil.

Here is where the days are going to be tougher. Now that I'm feeling better I will start to get antsy about getting back on the trail. I still have 4 days of antibiotic, Azithromycin, to complete before I will get back on the trail. I should also get my cell phone charger today :-). This is the second time I have regretted sending it ahead, at 1oz I guess I will start carrying it again. And now that talking is no longer a chore I might actually make some phone calls!

As always I miss everyone and wish you all a happy, wet :-), summer back east. Enjoy.

So close and yet soooo far!

I'm sitting in the Mammoth Lakes Library at mile 906. In the last couple of weeks I have nearly completed the John Muir Trail, been over the highest peak (14,505') in the contiguous US, and crossed 8 passes (10,900' - 13,100'). There are now 2 passes that stand between me and Yosemite.

It has been cold, every night has been between 27 degrees and 34 degrees f. And the weather has been the oddest I have ever seen. Normal weather for June is Sunny with slight chance of a 30 minute thunderstorm every afternoon. It is right now 10-15 degrees colder than average, I have been hiking in rain, sleet, hail, snow. Clouds will move over looking threatening and just sit there. Walked for 6 miles in snow, off of Muir Pass, while it snowed some more. Needless to say the weather could have been kinder. On the bright side, it was amazing.

I do have some bad news as well. I am beginning to have strep throat again. The last 2 weeks have been strenuous physically and mentally, not to mention the weather :-), that my immune system has weakened. I'm not sure how long I will be off the trail. I will be talking with my doctor tomorrow and will make arrangements afterwards. I will most likely be off the trail for at least 7 days. The throat started a couple days ago and I have been on antibiotics from day one.

My fourth memory card of images is complete and I will be mailing it home later on today. I hope everything is going well with everyone and miss you all.

Sierra Nevada Starts Today

I'm sitting up in Tehachapi CA, Mile 550. Heading out today I will be taking my first steps into the Sierra Mountains. I have no idea when my next computer access will be. I know that my next stop in 150 miles, Kennedy Meadows, doesn't have a computer and after that I'm up in the high peaks. My third camera memory card is nearly full and my Bear Canister is on its way. I'm so ready to stay above 8,000 feet, just 200 miles away.

I hope everyone had an eventful Memorial Day... I watched Terminator.

Enjoy.

Pictures!

As I sit at the beginning of the Mojave my family has started posting some pictures on picasa web albums here they are. When I fill up a memory card I send it home and ~40 photos from each will be posted. Enjoy.

http://picasaweb.google.com/earp.dn/

What up from Agua Dulce!

As I'm typing this they are putting the Matrix into the dvd player... I will be quick.

For the next few days I'm relaxing at a couple Trail Angel's houses. They did our laundry and are even mailing any packages we want for us. It's nice being pampered after 450 miles.

Yesterday it got up to 105 degrees at 10:30am. I'm getting tired of the desert, and here I sit only a day away from the Mojave Desert. We will probably night hike it.

Hope all is well with you guys. I'm getting psyched for the Sierras.

First 100 Miles in 5 Days

I'm now in Wrightwood, Mile 369. During this run I pulled two 28 mile days.

Three noteworthy events happened this run.

First, I now have a trail name... Man Down, M.D. for short. Two days after Big Bear we hit up Deep Creek Hot Spring. After hiking 28 miles to get there it felt great. It was on the river so there was a swimming hole and several hot spring pools in the area. Several of us were in the process of moving up from the river to a pool when my foot slipped on the wet rock. I fell down, ~3', and landed on a flat ridge that others were waiting behind me on. In the process I knocked one of my buddies into the water. I was waiting for a trail name to reflect something stupid I did, there it is.

Second, the day after the Hot Springs was an easy 22 miles. I shot off earlier than most just to take my time. I was the first to arrive at the Silverwood Lake Recreation Area. I approached the entrance station and asked how much to camp. Response was $2 but don't worry about that. I was directed to camp behind campsite 13. When I reached the destination my first and only thought was "Grass!!!!". I have not seen such green, soft and comfy grass in all 328 miles of the pct. I immediately sat in the shade of a huge tree and ate an apple. I relaxed the rest of the afternoon and evening. Around 7pm everyone else showed up, 15 hikers in all. Every single hiker had the exact same thought as I and found a patch for the night. At 12:50am I awoke to someone screaming "Oh Shit!" There were 5 sprinklers scattered across the lawn. While a few people were in tents the majority were sleeping under the stars. I sat up and started laughing at the situation. Hikers were jumping out of there sleeping bags and running for the picnic tables, all the tables and fire rings were surrounded by sand, we ignored them for the grass. Some were taking down their tents while others hopped to safety fully enclosed in their bivy sac. Suddenly, while I was laughing, I noticed one of the sprinklers was huge, and started rotating my way. Smile now gone from my face I joined in the chaos. I didn't make it. I got blasted down one arm and my bag got a nice dose of water as well. After we all found new locations, in the sand, and a couple hikers but in some choice words, we went back to sleep. at 1:50am there was a second volley but no one needed to pay heed. The next morning, sleeping bag soaked, I packed up and headed out. I made out of the situation well, a couple were caught in between two sprinklers at once and their bags lost the ability to insulate. We all have been laughing about it since. That grass was a "Venus Fly Trap for Hikers".

Third, there was a McDonalds less than .4 miles from the PCT at Cajon Pass. We all stopped there to get lunch and dry our bags from the sprinklers. What can only be described as disgusting I had

Large McFlurry with Oreos and M&Ms
Big Mac with double meat and cheese
Large Sprite
Large French Fries
Bacon and Ranch Salad with Grilled Chicken on top

Honestly I can say that all that fat, calories and sugar did not go to waste.

So I'm a few days from Agua Dulce, which is right before the Mojave Desert. Once I'm done with the desert I start to head up into the Sierras. I cannot wait.

Hope all is well, and Enjoy