The Wonderland Journal

Miles hiked: 22.9 Mile marker: 988 “Where’s my toothbrush?” Rafiki wanders around. “I put it right here.” He points to a rock. “Tails, did you steal my toothbrush?” “No,” I say as I pack my bag.  “Something stole my toothbrush! Well. I guess the marmot with the whitest teeth is…

Miles hiked: 21.3 Mile marker: 965.1 It’s still morning when we reach a giant slab of rock where we can see mountains behind large chunks of trees. We’re all still wearing our fleeces — except Luxy — as we gaze at the iceberg of rock we stand on.  This giant…

Luxy and Voyager walk ahead to get a hit hitch, and Rafiki and I are right behind them. We stand outside for two hours trying to grab a hitch. It’s cold and I’ve put on all my rain gear.  We heard it was an easy hitch from here to Yosemite!…

Miles hiked: 12.9 Mile Marker: 944.3 It’s absolutely freezing this morning. Luxy again holds up her frozen underwear. We pull ice sheets off of our tents. It’s a gray morning and my hands sting with the cold of the ice. My tent is frozen. A sheet of ice is on…

Miles hiked: 19.3 Mile marker: 927.2 We grab breakfast at the restaurant again. This time I get a coffee, burrito, and French toast. Delicious. I’m packing out half of my food. We spend an hour looking at photos and showing them with one another.  The time comes too soon to…

Miles hiked: 3.7 Mile marker: 907.8 My hands are absolutely freezing. I’m rushing to get ready — I pressed the snooze a time or two — and now I’m in a frenzy trying to be ready at 6:15.  Fortunately the girls are running late too.  I wear my new gloves…

Miles hiked: 22.3 Mile marker: 904.1 It’s 5:30 AM when we get moving. We have another long day ahead of us, and it’s quite cold.  Darn it. I should have pulled out my new gloves for this day.  The group passes another stream that rushes over flat rock and resembles…

Miles hiked: 21.8 Mile marker: 881.8 It’s another cold morning as I pack up all my things. I’m a little slow today, maybe due to sleeping in a bit.  As promised, Luxy and I head over to Jan’s tent before we leave. We slowly unzip his tent. He’s mumbling something…

Miles hiked: 23.1 Mile marker: 860 The day begins with a starry night sky (I couldn’t sleep) with a shooting star and a cold that bites my fingers.  Rafiki, Luxy, and I scramble to get ready with frozen hands. We’re meeting the others up the hill, which is only about…

Miles hiked: 21.9 Mile marker: 836.9 Why is everything wet this morning? The foot of my sleeping bag, my tent walls. I’m going to have to dry this out this afternoon.  I’m ready to go and quite cold. We’ll warm up soon enough. Dad points to the left and a…

Miles hiked: 14 Mile marker: 815 I do not want to wake up. My air mattress is still inflated — thanks to Rafiki and Voyager (Savannah). My sleeping quilt is magic. So roomy to move around! I am so glad I upsized! Ultralight may be the way for some people,…

Miles hiked: 20 Mile marker: 801 The morning comes far too early. I’m awake before my alarm, laying down in my comfy hotel bed. The blankets are off of Savannah. Whoops. I seriously need to figure out this blanket hog problem that I have. My alarm goes off and I’m…