HST: Day 0
I would say this day zero (official hiking term, cuz we’re pros) is a great summary of how our little hiking clan rolls; behind schedule, unexpected hurdles, eye-rolling-are-you-kidding-me-moments, indecisions, and shenanigans.
First, let’s meet the clan.
Ah, baby backpackers! Our first backpacking trip we did on the Superior Hiking Trail.
There’s Adam, aka Target. The level-headed guy with the quiet, hilarious running commentary on trail we fondly call Nature, by Adam. (Soon to be a youtube channel, or at least it should be). If Jake and I were the opposite ends of a balance scale, Target would be the base on which we balance between.
Then there’s Jake (from State Farm, hehe). Actually he works at a roof rack company currently and has never been in insurance. He does wear kacky pants though. He is the pack mule, hobbit-resembling, pack-everything-and-the-kitchen-sink-cuz-we-might-need-it guy of the group. He is also our food garbage disposal and makes sure no one has extra food to haul out from a hike.
Lastly, your’s truly, me, Sandra. Despite my comfort with talking about gross bodily functions, I am the femine counterbalance to the bro-ness of the group. It’s not much of a counterbalance, but it’s there. If there are ragey, ugly tears on any trip, it’s likely mine. I’m also the one swearing all the way up a high point and hauling out the booze to celebrate at the end of the day, so I’m basically a pirate on the trail.
Back to day zero.
Behind schedule. We were supposed to leave the apartment at 9am. We left at 10. Pretty on par with the way our group rolls. There was last minute laundry, cleaning, packing, moving cars, moving cars back to their original locations since I can’t park appropriately. But we were finally off, heading to Sequoia National Park with Jake driving, Target navigating, my mom and I in the back with Leinie in tow.
Unexpected hurdles. Apparently the world is on fire, because the whole western part of the US is in an unprecedented heat wave. 110 while driving to Sequoia. It was suffocating leaving the car trying to find the elusive Subway for three exits in a row. Even climbing elevation in Sequoia we were celebrating the temperature dropping by 1-2 degrees. It was 95 at 6,000ft by the way. At least it wasn’t the midwest humidity-ridden heat we all grew up with, but I’m pretty sure my innards were cooking.
Eye-rolling-are-you-kidding-me-moments. Attempting to get a permit for the HST (High Sierra Trail for all y’all not in the know) is one of the most frustrating things I have ever had to deal with. Long story short. It’s a first come, first served reservation system that opens at a very specific time. After that you need to show up for a small allotment of walk in permits the day of. In Feb, I logged on 10 minutes after the window opened to find all the permits taken.
A week ago someone posted in the Facebook group that they were releasing most of the permits that they had reserved for our desired start date. So I sprinted my outa shape ass back to the apartment (and we live on a steep hill) to snipe up those permits (success!).
We are allowed to pick up our permits starting 1pm the day prior. Wanting an early start for our first day we planned on arriving between 1pm and 4pm (the stated time on the website) to pick up our precious reserved permits. We got there at 3:40pm only to learn that they had in fact just closed the permit office and no, they couldn’t just go and get our permits even though they just closed (20 minutes early!!)
After a walk to the bathroom and back to cool off the karen-esque rage (it had been a long, hot drive ok). I talked to a supervisor who stated that the entry rangers were actually supposed to inform people that the permit office closes at 3pm, not 4pm. The permit office would open again tomorrow at 7am and we can be in the park at anytime since they don’t actually close the park.
Indecisions. We end up in our hotel rooms in 110+ degree Visalia facing our next hurdle. Deciding on where to eat for dinner. If you know a certain member of our group you know how debilitating a choice like this can be. (Spoiler - almost as bad as choosing a campsite). First it was Chinese. Then it was Italian since no one wants the MSG to turn on you while hiking in the backcountry. After driving to the apparently closed Italian place, it was pizza. Then while filling up on gas it was maybe Chinese? Nope, Applebees. Maybe pizza...nope, definitely Applebees.
Pre-hike beverages.
Shenanigans. We needed to pick up last minute provisions for the trip (whiskey) and made a pit stop at a supermarket. Another certain member of the group had enjoyed a certain recreational enjoyment on the way to the store. He randomly disappeared in the store only to reappear with a pound bag of saltwater taffy and giggling like a middle schooler. I swear this youtube channel would be a raging success.
So, our trip was off to a great start.
See all High Sierra Trail posts
Our heroes are re-entering civilization and contemplating the journey they just completed. They ponder life, cleanliness, and what the future holds…