Post by RedDoug on Dec 12, 2015 18:26:38 GMT -8
Some days are going to blend together in this narrative. It can't be helped. I did not take notes along the way, but I remember the main passes and can put events together that happened between those passes.
Solo backpacking does have some very definite advantages over hiking with others. The first advantage is you only have to get along with yourself and by coincidence you and self stay on the same schedule. That makes life so easy. One of the main reasons for sharing a backpack trip is transportation. Katz and I were able to simplify our hike together by having a vehicle at each end of the trail. In practice and theory that sounds like a big advantage. But, what happens if the owner of one of the vehicles quits the trail early? And your vehicle is left back at the opposite end of the trail? Can't say that thought didn't cross my mind a few times. Could I hitch hike from Happy Isles back to Horseshoe Meadows and my van? I had no CA road map, and I was unfamiliar with roads in and around that part of CA.
The morning after The Storm, Katz and I looked at our trail map, selected a site to meet up at day's end. Katz picked up his pack and was off and I lingered behind to finish packing (I had more stuff to pack than Katz did) and attend to personal business. Radiation has complicated my life a bit. That is just how it is. It is what kept me from climbing Mt Whitney. The mileage for this day wasn't much- 10 miles or so and I had all day, and all day I would take. I never enjoyed rushing to the next campsite, getting there early and then just sitting around for hours. I like to spend my down time in many different places along the way in 10- 20 minute breaks. I am in no hurry.
Glenn Pass, to me, was steep, but getting to it didn't take as long as I had anticipated. So I spent the time gained sitting on the pass and enjoying the view. I had someone take my picture. I took theirs. I drank some Gatorade, ate a snack. I was up there at least 45 min. I work hard for every pass summit- I like to savor every one once I have reached it.
Below Glenn Pass is the Rae Lakes area, Dollar Lake, other lakes. It was 4th of July weekend and backpackers were moving in to enjoy the 4th. I sat by many of those lakes and enjoyed the breeze, the sounds, smells, sights- the scenery was fantastic. I took off my tee and scrubbed it hard in one stream connecting two lakes. I did that about every other day.
As the day progressed I moved on towards the rendezvous with Katz. I forget the name of the creek we were going to camp on. It looked nice on the map. Moving into that general area on my trail map I met a man sitting on the side of the trail. I sat down beside him. He was born a Russian Jew, in Russia before the Fall. A bit of good fortune enabled him to move to Italy, from there he moved on to California and had made a good life for himself in Silicon Valley. He wanted nothing to do with communism or socialism. He was a committed capitalist, as am I. We talked for at least an hour. He seemed to be in no hurry, neither was I. I was sure I was getting close to where Katz was located for the night. It had been a very fine day. I had enjoyed every moment of it.
Continuing on down the trail, about 40 min before dark I found Katz. He had spent the day worrying about me. He was certain something had happened to me. He had been in camp for over 2- 3 hrs waiting for me. I told Katz how I had spent my day. About the time spent on Glenn Pass, along the lakes, sitting with the Russian/Jew/American. This upset him somewhat, like it was a personal injury to him that he tried to hide.
No time for talk, I set up my tent, arranged my gear for the night, made a meal and gathered firewood. Katz never thought of firewood.
And as dark fell around us, I lit a fire and we sat by its glow and began to talk.
"How is this trip going for you, RD?" Katz asked.
"I am enjoying every moment of it," I replied. "This is a great trip. How is going for you?"
"Terrible," he responded. "I am depressed, and want to leave. And I worried about you all day long."
"Katz," I said, "in the South San Juan Wilderness who got us over ice bridges, cut steps in steep slopes covered with snow, and did all the route finding?" I think I was a bit annoyed with him at this time.
"You did," he said.
"Katz," I said, "in every way, I am more capable to take care of myself out here than you are. I have covered more trail, in more difficult circumstances. I assure you, you do not need to worry about me. I can take care of myself."
"Ok," he responded. "I will not worry about you again. But, I don't like this trip. I am unprepared." Honest admission.
We spent some time discussing his gear, what options were open to him. How to use his ground sheet for a pack cover in rain. And I assured him we could certainly finish the JMT together. And with that, Katz crawled into his tepee and sleeping bag and went to sleep. I made myself some tea, with cookies. I got out my bear canister and took stock of what was left. Still 7 days to Vermillion Valley Resort and Resupply. It would be close. It was black with a sky full of stars when I crawled into my tent.
So the day ended well. Since our drenching during the early morning it had not rained all day. And as far as I could tell, Katz hadn't lost anything. And he agreed to continue on the JMT. And he would not worry about me any more.
But, I did get an interesting insight into the personality of Katz. In our conversation he said to me, "RD, I am a people-pleaser, it's what I do. I just want to please people." How does that personality show itself? During our conversation I made some suggestions to Katz to which he would reply, "That's a good idea, I am going to do that." And then he would smile. He would answer this way in a rote manner, but I understood from him it was just a way to be polite, not to cause any friction, but it meant nothing to him. Katz' one goal in life was to avoid all conflict, at any cost. I didn't see that fully at this time, but I would. And he didn't stop worrying about me. It's what a people-pleaser does, they say what they think the one they are talking to wants to hear. But, it often means nothing. I would see this perfectly clear at Tuolumne Meadows at the end of our trip.
Long distance backpacking is challenging enough with just the miles. It is not unusual to talk with long distance backpackers and find out from them that they started with someone back long ago and made changes in partners or just decided to go solo. It happens.
Katz and I would go on.
End of chapter 4
