JMT | DAYS 7-8 NEAR MONO PASS JUNCTION TO VVR | VVR TO MARIE LAKES
DAY 7 Miles Hiked: 3.4 miles
Elevation: 116 ft ascent | 1,114 ft descent
DAY 8 Miles Hiked: 13.2 miles (mm 92.6-101.0 + 4.8 Bear Ridge)
Elevation: 3,949 ft ascent | 1,038 ft descent
* I never ended up writing a journal entry for today. Most days I wrote only bullet points. Turns out, it is more difficult to write a post when all you have is bullet points. Note to self for future hikes: write more in the moment!
Highlights of the day:
The day prior we stopped approximately three miles short of the VVR ferry. Instead of paying for a private shuttle, the group decided it was best to stop a couple of miles early and get the first shuttle the next morning, giving us an entire day at VVR. We made it to the shuttle with time to spare, exploring the area until we spotted the ferry in the distance. Masks on, we loaded up our packs and went on our way—the only people at the shuttle that morning. The driver told us that it was the last day before ferry service ended, as Lake Edison was at only 35% of normal. So low that we had a long and dry beach walk from the drop off point.
There ended up being a tent cabin available, the perfect size for our group. We later laughed at the fact that we were sharing a tent after only knowing each other for two nights prior. Proof that trail families grow quickly! We ate brunch while waiting for the tent cabin to be cleaned and took note of what was available in the store. After that: showers, laundry, and route planning for the days ahead.
It turns out, I quite liked having a tramily. Even though we didn’t hike together for most of the day, there was always someone to talk to at camp. Aside from zero days, our plans were pretty similar. With a little adjusting (and omission of zero days for me), we planned to be together until the end, most of us, that is. Route planning, trail name discussion, and rest moved us into BBQ night, pie, and ice cream! If you have the chance to show up on BBQ night at Vermillion Valley, make it happen. Tessa and Jeff already had trail names: Baldy and Bear. I received mine from Jeff: Macgyver. And we came up with Speedy Gonzales for Edwin.
