Me 2007-06-21 Hike Naked Day! (a.k.a. Summer Solstice)
June 21st, 2007Today is the longest day of the year here in the northern hemisphere and boy do my feet feel it. My socks have suddenly started wearing out all over and it means a lot more rubbing on my skin, which hurts.
Getting up to Muir Pass was tough. Not that there was any snow worth mentioning, it was just a long way up. Helen Lake, just before the top, was still mostly frozen. Standing on the rocky edge and looking at my feet it was so clear it was hard to tell where the water started.
On the way down, when I could see miles of the trail in front of me, and I knew anyone coming from the south would stop at the hut for a while, I was able to partake in the days festivities until stopping for lunch meant I could be surprised at any second.
Once again the descent from the pass was what wore me out. I trundled on past the deep blue Evolution Lake, snapping only a few pictures of its far granite wall. Crossing Evolution Creek was a simple affair. This and Bear Creek are often talked of as the big crossings but with this year’s low snow it hardly even splashed above my knees.
Now I’m camped much further down the valley, exhausted and sore, debating whether or not to go to the hot springs tomorrow. They sound great but can I add 4 miles and soaking time to my day?
More photos of this day’s journey can be found at Muir Pass to Reds Meadow
Distance today: 21 miles. Total distance: 850.9 miles
June 26th, 2007 at 1:29 am
Ha ha! Good on you for getting into the spirit of the day!
Did you do it all on your own? What happened to all the people you were with the day before?
June 26th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
“sore” – chaffing?
Hiking naked sounds unpleasant.
June 27th, 2007 at 1:01 am
The other problem with hiking naked is it tends to alarm the locals
July 5th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
Hahaha… how on earth did you manage to keep a straight face, filming yourself hiking naked!?!