I'm Rich!

Ten of us assembled at White Wolf off of Tioga Pass in Yosemite National Park to start our birthday journey with an ambitious feast. Ambitious enough that we offered up the mega extras to neighboring campers while we laughed through some fun introductions. For what would prove to be an epic journey, I had brought together some of my most favorite friends—triathletes, ultra runners, adventure racers, hikers and all around quality folks—several of whom go back 15-20 years in my lifetime.

While two would drive up to Tuolumne Meadows and hike the several miles to meet us at Glen Aulin High Camp, eight of us would take off the next morning from White Wolf for 25 miles of a pretty serious ass kicking.

"Ass kicked gang", morning of Day 1.

Our route took us up and over Ten Lakes Pass where due to lingering snow conditions route finding became tenuous at best.Closing in on Ten Lakes Pass.Including some significant climbing, a bear and several marmot sightings, about 2 hours of trying to stay found, and a few folks surely wondering why they had signed up, we ended up at Glen Aulin 11 hours later just in time for a dinner which we devoured.

approaching the pass

Looking down on Ten Lakes

Four of our group would sleep in the tent cabins in camp while the rest of us ‘dirt chicks’ slept out on small sleeping pads with light bags. Our minimal gear hauling and ability to eat dinner and breakfast at the camp allowed us to run/hike light and quick over some of the toughest terrain in CA.

For the gear freaks out there and those aspiring to fast packing – below was our gear list for two days (my choices are in parenthesis). Total pack weight at beginning approx. 12-15 lbs:
Clothes on our backs:
- Shorts (Patagonia)
- Shirt (Mountain Hardwear)
- Socks (Sole)
- Hat (Montrail)
– sunglasses (Smith)
- Trail running shoes (Montrail Streaks)
- Buff
- Watch w/ altimeter (HighGear)

Camp clothes:
- Thermal top and bottoms (Patagonia wool 2)
- Ultra light windbreaker (Montbell UL)
- Insulating Layer – (Montbell UL Down inner jacket – 6.9 oz, packs ridiculously small, one of my favorite pieces of insulation)
- fleece hat (Outdoor Research)
- fleece gloves (Outdoor Research)
- light camp shoes (cheezy flip flops I got at a pedicure place)

Pack – approx. 1500 cu in with room for a bladder and/or bottles and easy-to-grab-food pockets. (Gregory ISO – I use this pack for my desert races as well)

Sleeping bag with compression sack – 20-30 degree or lighter (Montbell UL. SS Down Hugger #3, 30 degree/1 lb. 7 oz. Packs ridiculously small. Outdoor Research compression sack helps that process)

Sleeping pad – Ultra light ¾ length Thermarest

Misc.
- Tooth brush (chopped in half)
- lip stuff
- Camera (optional)
- Earplugs (optional)
- Ibuprophen (optional)
- Electrolyte tabs (optional)
- space blanket
- whistle
- toilet paper
- cheesy drug store purchased plastic poncho

Food:
- 2 bottles and/or bladder
- Sports drink powder or other powders if desired
- Running/hiking food – approx. 1600 cal/day give or take

Team Gear:
- Toothpaste
- 2 water filters
- sunscreen
- bug spray
- a few good jokes

"run" crew for Day 2

On day two, four hiked back out to Tuolumne while the main group which had dwindled to six carried on through one of the most impressive canyons I’ve experienced to date—Tuolumne Canyon which follows the Tuolumne River toward Hetch Hetchy. We’d follow the torrents down through several eco-systems, water falls, and narrow gorges all the while being flanked by the ever famous Yosemite granite walls.

the canyon

We then earned our finish-line for the day with a 3500 foot gut wrenching climb out of the canyon and back to White Wolf. This second day would prove to be the toughest foot section a few of our group had ever encountered—character building stuff.Tuolumne CanyonI came away with a couple less toe nails, 79 mosquito bites, some smoke inhalation from the many Nor CA fires, a deep hunger that left me marginally comatose prior to dinner that night, and an increase of a couple of notches in fitness. All in all—satisfaction.

One of the several eco-systems we moved through

A few of us continued the birthday celebration the next day in the Valley with drinks, dinner at the Ahwahnee and enough laughter to land a few more wrinkles on my cheeks. What a lucky gal I am for having such a diverse and hearty array of friends willing to take on an intellectually, emotionally and physically paramount experience with such grace. I am rich indeed. I'll see what I can do next year to up the ante.
Terri