The backpacker resupply station where we based from is in close proximity to the 211 mile John Muir Trail (JMT) and brought us in contact with backpackers who spend a couple of weeks hiking the Sierras from Yosemite to Mt. Whitney…
The JMT is part of the longer 2650 mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) which runs from Mexico to Canada…these more hard core backpackers spend months in the wild…
As we ate dinner with groups of hobbling backpackers in need of a hot shower and a cold beer (let alone a washing machine…;-) each night, we observed that there was a stratification between JMT and PCT hikers…remarkably, most of the discusssions that we overheard revolved around the latest backpacker gizmos…however, the camp cook, Joshua, was different…the stories he told us were of bears and lightning strikes…incredible vistas and high mountain lakes…instead of feeling compelled to make 20 – 30 miles each day, he often took a “zero day”…just to stop and smell the roses…that’s how he ended up as the camp cook at this backpacker resupply station…while hiking the PCT, he ended up spending an extra day, just chilling like us…because he liked it so much…he’s planning on hiking over to Tahoe next month, once the trail traffic slows down…then, onto Idaho to visit his brothers…
In the mean time, he expressed an interest to learn to standup paddle…which we were stoked to facilitate…PAY IT FORWARD…
STOKED!
Joshua really loved SUP…and, will be buying a board and paddle to share this new stoke with his brothers…
Joshua’s paddle technique improved dramatically with Deb’s coaching…
Deb paddling emerald glass…
Deb and her beloved 11’2″ Starboard Blend…perfect combo of glide, stability, and lightweight maneuverability…
Destination : High Sierra SUP…;-)
We wish to thank Jim Clement and his staff…Ben, Olive, Joshua (& others) up at the Vermilion Valley Resort for their mountain hospitality…see you next year…or sooner…;-)
High Sierra lake IMAGE GALLERY…
