Yesterday was delightful. I was irritated at first because I hiked 4 miles trying to find some waterfalls where I'd planned on bathing and washing my hair. After this unsuccessful attempt, I decided to explore the forest road on which I've been camping. It's the road that leads to Big Meadows, a free campground in Sequoia National Forest, but I've been doing dispersed camping, which is where you just choose any spot off the road. I knew the road went on for a while, but I didn't know what I'd find.
It was amazing. I passed a big meadow (imagine that!) and eventually the road opened up to a view of the High Sierras. I am longing to go there, but no roads will take you there. It's all backpacking. Hopefully someday soon.
Then I happened upon the most perfect swimming hole ever. Small cascades flowed into a pool about three feet deep and crystal clear. The rocks surrounding it were perfectly sculpted for lounging.
This is my new favorite spot in the world.
I washed my hair in the stream. This was my first time doing this, and it made me feel like a wild mountain woman. I hung out and read my book and worked on my tan, and it was perfectly lovely.
I had dinner at Lodgepole, talked to Bernie for about an hour, and went to find a campsite. I made sure there were people on one side of me, maybe about 100 yards away. I didn't want to be too isolated. Since I finished Wild, I started rereading The Princess Bride. (The book is, of course, even better than the movie. The author also wrote Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.) I fell asleep maybe a little after 10.
I woke to a loud sound. I told myself it was probably the people camping next to me. Then I realized there was no one on that side of me.
I grabbed my phone and saw that it was 4 a.m. If it was campers, they would need a flashlight or something; it was SO dark.
The noise continued. It was definitely BIG, and it was on four feet. I heard kind of a growly snuffly sound and realized that OMG, there was a BEAR approaching my car.
I sat up and turned on the light, then immediately realized that made it worse because then I couldn't see ANYTHING outside my car. I switched that off and tried to think of what to do. It was like a horror movie; I could hear this thing getting closer. Finally, in desperation, I turned my car on. I just wanted the bear to know I was awake, which I know makes no sense. Then it occurred to me to roll up my windows. So I did that, and turned off my car, and sat there shaking, clutching my can of bear spray. I faintly heard the footsteps heading away from my campsite.
I wasn't sure what to do. Of course, I wanted to get out of there, but it was 4 a.m. and I was in the middle of nowhere. What else could I do but go back to sleep? Which, surprisingly, I was able to do...
Funny how I think it would be cool to run into a bear while hiking, but the thought of one investigating my campsite terrifies me.
It was amazing. I passed a big meadow (imagine that!) and eventually the road opened up to a view of the High Sierras. I am longing to go there, but no roads will take you there. It's all backpacking. Hopefully someday soon.
Then I happened upon the most perfect swimming hole ever. Small cascades flowed into a pool about three feet deep and crystal clear. The rocks surrounding it were perfectly sculpted for lounging.
This is my new favorite spot in the world.
I washed my hair in the stream. This was my first time doing this, and it made me feel like a wild mountain woman. I hung out and read my book and worked on my tan, and it was perfectly lovely.
I had dinner at Lodgepole, talked to Bernie for about an hour, and went to find a campsite. I made sure there were people on one side of me, maybe about 100 yards away. I didn't want to be too isolated. Since I finished Wild, I started rereading The Princess Bride. (The book is, of course, even better than the movie. The author also wrote Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.) I fell asleep maybe a little after 10.
I woke to a loud sound. I told myself it was probably the people camping next to me. Then I realized there was no one on that side of me.
I grabbed my phone and saw that it was 4 a.m. If it was campers, they would need a flashlight or something; it was SO dark.
The noise continued. It was definitely BIG, and it was on four feet. I heard kind of a growly snuffly sound and realized that OMG, there was a BEAR approaching my car.
I sat up and turned on the light, then immediately realized that made it worse because then I couldn't see ANYTHING outside my car. I switched that off and tried to think of what to do. It was like a horror movie; I could hear this thing getting closer. Finally, in desperation, I turned my car on. I just wanted the bear to know I was awake, which I know makes no sense. Then it occurred to me to roll up my windows. So I did that, and turned off my car, and sat there shaking, clutching my can of bear spray. I faintly heard the footsteps heading away from my campsite.
I wasn't sure what to do. Of course, I wanted to get out of there, but it was 4 a.m. and I was in the middle of nowhere. What else could I do but go back to sleep? Which, surprisingly, I was able to do...
Funny how I think it would be cool to run into a bear while hiking, but the thought of one investigating my campsite terrifies me.
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