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That one perfect week on the John Muir Trail I still think about
Last summer I planned a 7-day solo hike on the JMT and honestly it felt cursed from the start. I got to the trailhead and realized I forgot my cooking pot back at the hostel in Mammoth. So I'm eating cold oatmeal and instant coffee for two days and I'm already in a bad mood. Then on day 3 I hit this stretch near Evolution Valley and everything just clicked. The weather was perfect, like 70s and sunny with no bugs. I found this spot by a creek where the water was so clear I could see trout swimming right past my feet. I sat there for an hour just watching and forgot I was even frustrated about the pot. That week ended up being the best hiking I've ever done even with the rough start. Has anyone else had a trip that started terrible but turned into something magical?
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patricia_wells14d ago
That duct tape story is gold, it's like the universe knew you needed that bear cub moment to remind you why you go out there.
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I had a trip that flipped on me like that once... drove six hours to a trail in the Sierra Nevadas, got there and realized my hiking boots had a giant crack in the sole from being left in the trunk all winter. Wrapped them in duct tape and hoped for the best. First two days were just misery, slipping on every wet rock and cursing my own forgetfulness. Then on day three I stumbled into this meadow at sunset with the light hitting the grass just right and saw a bear cub playing by a fallen log. Stayed completely still for maybe twenty minutes just watching it tumble around while its mom grazed nearby. Forgot all about the stupid boots and the duct tape. Sometimes the bad starts are just the universe setting you up for the good moments.
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