JMT Day 4

Reds Meadow to Virginia Lake

Today was a great day on the trail. I had 16ish miles to get to Virginia Lake and I wanted to use today to gauge how long it’ll take me to do the same distance tomorrow since I gotta catch the VVR ferry by 4:45. 

The whole day was just one long panorama of mountains. I hiked along one side of a gully and the continuous mountainscape was on the other for most of the day’s hike. 

While beautiful it got a bit monotonous until I ran across Flash Floods, celebrating her 900 mile milestone on the PCT. Getting to witness her excitement was pretty special. 

Before I had to do a bunch of climbing up to Purple Lake, I made a point to stop and soak my legs and feet in a stream. I did this the day before during a lunch break and noticed my aching calves and hot, tired feet felt way better after. It helped me finish the day. This is now my new thing. It’s like a cold plunge after a workout. 15 minutes in a mountain stream and it’s like I got a whole new set of legs. Soaking while enjoying an electrolyte cocktail, shooooot. It makes it feel like a little spa moment. I’m serious! Don’t knock it til you try it. 

After my mini retreat, it was time to slap my dirt laden shoes back on and tackle a bit of climbing before I hit Purple Lake which I would pass to then head on to Virginia Lake. 

After the disappointment of missing out on what is now built up in my head as the most epic effing campsite that has ever existed that I missed out on at Garnet Lake, I  sure as hell was gonna get me a great spot at Virginia Lake. 

When I get my mind set on something, it’s on. 

The climb from Purple to Virginia was an ass kicker. But I was not gonna lose  my perfect lakeside campsite to someone else tonight. And so I turned my peace, love and granola thru-hiker mindset off and turned into a switchback beast. Those switchbacks became a race to land the perfect site even if I was gonna smoke everyone on them to get it. 

Four super friendly dudes, see ya. A kind old soul, byeeee. A teenage boy on his first ever thru-hike, no time to hear about it. Two separate couples with adorable dogs, I don’t have time to pet your cute ass dog right now! One person even commented as I hauled ass past them as they took a break in the shade “you’re trucking”. Hell yeah I am. Honk honk get out of the fast lane, I got the perfect campaign to snag. 

Maybe this is why I haven’t made trail friends yet? More on that in a minute. 

After smoking the switchbacks, I stomping my way through two consecutive water fords at Virginia Lake at lightning speeds where I am pretty sure I looked like Godzilla emerging from the sea. My short little arms flailing about to get as much speed as I could through the water. 

I landed my amazing campsite at Virginia Lake. 

Found myself a spot up high overlooking the lake with a short walk down to the water complete with my  own private beach and rock on the water for soaking my angry legs. Private, with only a couple dads with their teenage sons on the other side of a tree where they respectfully gave me my privacy as a solo lady on the trail. My only reminder they were there was an occasional fart or two with a “nice one” here and there.  

Worthwhile tangent, altitoots are def a thing in the mountains. If altitoots as a term for having gas caused by being at higher altitudes doesn’t exist yet, it should. because its way funnier to say than the actual term HAFE (High Altitude Flatus Expulsion).

Back to my perfect campsite where I sat on my rock overlooking Virginia Lake. Reflecting on my trip so far, I realized I’m bummed I haven’t met my tramly yet. Saying goodbyes to Amazon and Rainbow this am as they continue northbound and I southbound really is what did it. Having people to share the thru-hiking experience with is truly what makes it special for me.

I am enjoying hiking solo at my own pace and everything. But I want that group of people you bump into at the end of the day at camp to share some stories or reunite at your next resupply and share a beer. 

It was something that made the Colorado trail most memorable. Maria and I bumping into Spam, Blaze and Dave as we leapfrog along the trail, or shared camp for a night or grabbed a beer and dinner in town. Even hauling ass to wave down the steam train to Silverton happened with an added trail pal. They are a huge part of some of my favorite memories from the CT. And I want that again on the JMT. 

Except for that part of the day today where I probably left some new best trail friends in the dust on the switchbacks chasing the perfect campsite, I need to make an effort to slow down and make friends. Fingers crossed I’ll make a few at VVR.