So much has happened last we wrote that it would be hard to give our adventures an adequate oration. So I will not butcher that attempt and instead give it an aggrandized summary, if there is such a thing.
Wolf Paw and Prometheus caught up and after kisses and slaps on the cheek we were off again together into the Sierras. Our first night out we returned to a spot that Drama Queen and I had been able to go a few days before to catch fish. Drama Queen speared one right out of the water on his first try while the rest of us reached into the banks pulling out the fish with our bare hands. Everyone feasted that night.
Our next days were spent climbing higher into the Sierra region climbing our first pass (Cottonwood) and camping at Chicken Spring Lake. The views only grew better, more sheer, and prominent. When we rounded the corner into Crabtree Meadow and first spotted Mt. Whitney we were floored, dropped to our knees. The clouds paced across the mountain tops, making the light shine more vibrant against the white granite slabs. The meadow opened up with a winding creek clearing our view from the obstruction of the tree tops. We took of our shoes, stood in the creek and admired the splendor of the mighty peaks ahead of us. We camped at the foot of Mt. Whitney that night at Guitar Lake, which sits at the elevation of the top of Mt. Timpanogos above our home in Lindon. We woke up at 1AM to summit Mt. Whitney (14,505 ft. the highest in the lower 48) for sunrise. The sunrise was greater than any we'd seen as the clouds rolled in below us and at eye level covering our view of the surrounding peak at one point becoming totally engulfed in the fog. It was freezing but it was worth the wait for the view that opened up as the sun rose and enlightened the surrounding range and splashed color on all the clouds that danced around us. Pictures would not do it justice.
The next day we climbed Forrester Pass at 13,200 is the highest point on the PCT (Whitney was a side trip). We jumped in multiple alpine lakes the likes of which looked like infinity pools which only gave way to jagged peaks which erupted from the ends of their glassy waters. Caught more fish with our hands and then decided to top it off at a 21 mile day going over Kearsarge Pass into Bishop to resupply. An epic! I arrived at the top Kearsarge right as the sun was about to set pulling out my speaker(luxury item crucial for group sanity) I turned on Glosoli by Sigur Ros as the rest of the crew ascended the pass. Elation, shouts, sporadic movement disguised as dancing followed leading to one of the greatest rushes of physical and emotional outbursts at the grandeur that surrounded us. Sigur Ros wrote music for the Sierras.
Bishop marked the beginning of our 19 plus member group entitled Team Vortex. We all crammed into a tiny motel room, took over the pool and then the town. Hikers when they meet up after a long distance of hiking have enough energy to plow over anyone's barriers. People become absorbed into the pure goodness and love which each person offers the group. Laughter reaches higher volumes than teen girls at their first Junior High School dance and at times we act like such. We've had Park Rangers tell us to stop yelling, that we are ruining others nature experience(namely his as there was no one else around) and that he usually only has to tell boy scout groups this. Our group members, listed simply for flavor are as follows: Moist, Girly Girl, Rufio, Captain, Indy, Marmaque(Marmot Bbq), Bedazzle, Appa, Storytime, Rainbow Brite, Safari, Puff, Kelso, Sharkrider, Rock It Llama, & our crew.
The next days truly turned into a Vortex as we hiked very few miles but had too much fun. Camping at Rae Lakes setting up a slackline, fishing, grilling, smores, swimming, bouldering, and cliff jumping to top it off. We didn't think that day could be beat but it was as we crossed the John Muir suspension brige(Nepal-esque) and climbed only a half mile we found what appeared to be a near impossible natural waterslide that the river had created smoothing out and polishing the granite. We began timid at first crashing into the pool below but began going higher and higher as adrenaline and testosterone require. We had to start using our sleeping mats as cushion from the impact of drops and bumps as we were tossed around on the drops like a pinball. Everyone walked away from it with sore tailbones, road-rashed asses, and the biggest smiles on our faces as we had created a 75yd natural waterslide. Hopefully pictures will be posted.
The scenery has unfolded some of the most amazing views that any of us have seen. Lush meadows, cascades dosing cliff faces at every turn, high mountain passes, and an array of wildflowers that a botanical garden would remain jealous of for years. We no longer filter our water simply getting it right from the source of springs that flow frequently along our paths (our desert days behind us maybe we are growing weak). We've stopped at hot springs in the middle of Shooting Star Meadow and as the name suggests watched the heavens show their display.
I(Simba) am now in Mammoth Lakes the others are an unknown distance behind enjoying their time.
PS our spot is not working, the company is sending us a new one. Hopefully you can track us in a week or so. We are at mile 906.
