Hello friends, I hope all is well with you. The trail is certainly trailing…

-the notes in italics are (some of) my thoughts from each day.  

-Note the second person “you” is addressed to me, I am not lecturing my readers.

Day 57 [1018-1033.2]

I woke up in the bushes at Kennedy Meadows North, where I had “stealth camped” the night before, covered in dew from the adjacent stream. I spent the morning drying out my gear (and brain) from the dew and conversations of the night before. Then I got a hitch with a nice “Dave” who wears driving gloves and a cap, back to the trailhead. 

I made it 15 miles through some absolutely stunning wildflowers and had a beautiful campsite. 

Sometimes the sun will start to set before you reach camp and you will have to decide whether to stop and watch it or race ahead to catch the end of it. You will be satisfied with neither…or both—if you decide to

Day 58 [1033.2-1062.1]

Today was a long and pretty day. In the afternoon the trail crossed a highway where a group of newly retired dads were doing “trail magic”. They had beer, hotdogs, and PB&Js. Life was a dream…

-I ate 9 hot dogs and hiked slightly slowly afterwards. 

At the end of the day I got cell service and was able to have a 2 hour long talk with one of my oldest and closest friends. —It was a highlight of this entire hike. Friendship is truly everything. 

Satan means “scatterer” and Devil means “divider”. Sauron in the Lord of The Rings works and profits from the division of the Dwarves, Elves and Men who each are fighting against the forces of Mordor alone. I cannot help but think about the divided host of Christendom who, equaling the elf and dwarf kindreds, likewise have a long and painful history rightfully justifying their division. 

Carpentry is certainly a morally good profession, it was the profession of Christ. And yet he was killed with a wooden creation. 

Day 59 (1062-1091)

I woke up to a doe (a deer, a female deer) sniffing around my camp, that felt really cool. 

With the same service from the night before, I woke up to a call from 2 college roommates. What a gift!

Then I pushed the long day into South Lake Tahoe. Tired and dehydrated, I made it to my hostel in time to shower and hobble over to the beach to watch a beautiful sunset. 

The sunset was beautiful, but the people were better. Kids were playing and splashing in the water, old people were sitting in beach chairs, a group of friends on vacation were enjoying themselves at the bar, and at least 3 young couples were making out in the sand.  

There truly is something about a sunset which brings people so visibly and emotionally together. 

This romanticized visualization of society brought me so much joy, but also a coldness—because unlike everyone else on the beach I was very much alone. And although I have seen dozens of magnificent sunsets on the trail, I would have by far preferred the sunset in company which they were having. 

(See meme below as proof I know I sound dramatic)

Anyways…

Day 60 [1091-1096]

I woke up at the hostel feeling sore and went back to that same nearby beach bar. I sat down to watch and maybe write, and not wanting their mediocre expensive food I just ordered a beer. 

Today was Saturday and even in the morning the small beach was already filling with tents and games and people playing and drinking. 

Maybe it’s the fact that I haven’t spoken to a normally shaven/showered woman in 2 months but my waitress was unbelievably attractive. I talked to her about the town and asked for another lunch spot and she asked me about the trail. 

-“I’m glad we hit it off, maybe this trail beard isn’t so scary” I thought

/-Then I retorted: “it’s literally her job to talk to you moron”

—anyways, when I left my check had written on it “have a blessed day” so maybe I’ve still got it?

~it’s absurd how easy it is to lift my spirits sky high

I discovered an all you can eat Mexican Hibachi where you choose the meats and seasonings and they grill them for you. Upon revealing my Spanish skills the chefs became my friends. I had 4 rounds of food.

Then, stuffed, I went to a nice park overlooking the lake, then I went to a Saturday evening church service (the Indian Priest was not great, but he offered confession to me which I declined as a non Roman catholic)

Then someone from the church gave me a ride 25 minutes back to trail and I didn’t even have to hitch!

I only had 4 miles to go and so it was fine that I didn’t start till 7. On my 4 miles I had another great phone call with a friend. The sunset was beautiful as I walked.

My “campsite” was a public dock by a lake. At about 10pm I, terrified, saw a spotlight approaching me through the woods. Then “Peter” came out and sat down next to me. Peter is 82, lives in Hawaii and is the 4th generation in his family to take up the forest service lease for their cabin on this lake.  He talked to me late into the night about his life, family, and the history of the lake.   There are lots of strange friends on the trail…

Day 61 [1096-1126]

It started pouring rain at 3:00 am.  I grabbed all my stuff and hid under the ferry’s phone booth…the consequences of cowboy camping.   Peter did not offer to let me sleep on his covered porch, though I saw him come outside when the rain started.  However,  he did come check on me in the morning before I left and his wife even gave me some banana bread.  

I heard a dear running and crying trying to escape something chasing it, that was cool but I could not discover more.  

This ended up being a very long day and my spirits, and body, were very low by the end of it.  Sometimes I get so angry/sad/tired that I hate all of my music, podcasts, and audiobooks…but even moreso hate my thoughts.  This was one of those afternoons.  

-I found myself furious at myself for doing the trail, blaming anyone and everything for my misery.  I was blindly torturing myself for some goal that I could not remember why I cared about or commuted to in the first place.  “The person who promised to do this isn’t me anymore, I’m me so I should decide what I do” I thought.  (I am amazed how quickly my mind devolves into being such a horrible enemy)

The demon in your head convinces you that your past decisions, commitments, or promises are made invalid by new knowledge or feelings—this is a LIE.  The only way to persevere in such cases is not through intellect or emotion but blind allegiance to your word.  Personal integrity may feel like foolishness in the moment, in many cases it may actually be so—but it is integrity nonetheless—such is the nature of a strong charecter.  

—-In the Bible, David’s kingly dynasty (the line even of of our LORD Christ) is only established as true because he does not kill king Saul.  His lineage is redeemed despite its many sins because of the mercy in its beginning.  ———So too in The Lord of The Rings is Bilbo’s lineage able to be redeemed despite its failing because of his mercy to Sméagol in the cave in the beginning.  

(Also see, telephone booth, twisted deer, twisted tree, and moss rings)

Day 62 [1126-1154.5]

Today I woke up and the dark clouds (literal and spiritual) of the night before had passed.  I always move well on the days towards food and today was no different.  Today I left the Tahoe Rim Trail section and all the hikers on it and hiked more often alone and in silence.  I hiked through Palisades and several other ski resorts which was cool to see.  I wondered what they would look like in snow and it was clear from all the signs 20 feet in the air that their base layer is really deep.  This also meant that I had cell service so I had a long phone call with a buddy which is a new treat which I am loving.  

Finally I made it to Donner Ski ranch and got a boatload of food and a bed and the package I sent to myself from Mammoth.  New shoes!!!!!

I enjoyed some time with Jared the very sharp engineer/consultant, armpit the somaliet, and Evan the old guy with the biggest backpack i have ever seen.  

Today I thought a lot about samwise Gamgee, but you will have to read this afternoons essay to learn what…

Day 63 [1154.5-

I had a good breakfast and talked to the bartender while I ate, then I iced my knee and wrote to you guys.  I hope to do about 15 miles when I leave this afternoon although it looks like rain.  

My cardio is doing very well, my weight is stabilizing (25 lbs down), and I think/hope my knee is improving.  Spiritually I am maturing and my prayer life is growing daily.  I am lonely, but rarely cripplingly so.  The trail is getting easier but it will be getting hotter.  Everyone says the next month/600 miles are the worst of the trail.  I guess we will find out!

The poems of the week have been Death Be Not Proud, and Love iii.  Let me know if you have any more good poems to memorize.  

Love,

Treebeard