Our segment has many stories, ranging from the scatological to the transcendent.

Segment 6: Jim, Bruce Mary, and Annette. This was the most challenging and rewarding backpacking trip I’ve been on. Our segment has many stories, ranging from the scatological to the transcendent. One particularly strange experience on the trail I will share occurred at the “Bubbs” Creek campground, where the only tent-pitching flats were about 50 feet apart, with enough room for one tent each. At the end of the day we set up camp, explored the stream nearby, ate dinner, chatted and settled into our tents. This was somewhat early in our trip and I had yet to get a good night’s sleep. With the white noise of the nearby stream I was hopeful that this was going to be a good rest. I took this photo of my shoes from inside my tent before going to bed.
Bubbs Creek Campground
Around 11pm or midnight I awoke to the faint clanging of pots and pans far away. It was a zombie-like rhythm of clanging cookware—clang-cling—clang-cling—clang-cling…, and it was getting closer and closer and louder and louder. I couldn’t talk to Annette or Jim because their tents were too far away to be heard to over the sound of the rushing stream. I didn’t know what was making that noise. I thought maybe it was a nearby camper chasing a bear away. But this made no sense because why did they clang-cling so calmly? Why weren’t they screaming in shrill terror as a bear was tearing their food apart? Why were they slowly coming nearer to our campground? Bears = adrenaline. So I was totally juiced as the clanging came closer and closer. Then I felt an almost sub-acoustic seismic wave of a big animal stepping just outside my tent. I could actually feel its footsteps through the ground (it’s actually a tarp, not a tent, so I was totally vulnerable), and I was out of communication with my fellow hikers. I was a little freaked and was ready to ultramarathon it back down the 20 miles of JMT we had just hiked. I found my headlamp and shined it on the creature—It was a mule! Standing right over my tent was a major cutie-pie innocent mule with eyes glowing silver reflecting back my light. My light scared him and he bolted away fast toward Jim’s tent, leaving showers of sparks as his iron shoes ground into the granite rock face. Sleep for me was now a total impossibility. Soon dozens of mules wandered through the campground right next to our tents. At one point I shone my light out into the darkness and a sea of silver eyes gleamed back. They were both scary and adorable.
All the while the mysterious clanging continued and continued and continued on and on for hours and hours. All night long. Sometimes it grew louder, sometimes faint. It changed direction and tempo. There were flashes of light from it now and then. I realized it must have been somehow related to the mules. I reasoned it was some mountain “muleman” with an eye patch and clothes dating from the 1850s patiently and lovingly clanging his pots together to gather his trained hearties in the night. He was trolling the JMT gathering mules. Pretty simple. That made sense to me. Sometimes his clanging grew so faint it was covered by the stream’s rushing sound, but he always came back to our camp. He clanged for them all night long until dawn.
In the wilderness night plays tricks on your better judgement. I could have walked over to Jim or Annette and asked them what they thought of the situation. I could have gone to the muleman and politely asked him to go clang somewhere else for his mules. But I would have to cross through the mules to get to him. What happens when you walk among a group of mules in the dark of night? Do they nuzzle you? Do they stampede, throwing up sparks and starting a forest fire? Do you turn your light on or leave it off? I don’t know the walk-among-mule-herd-in-pitch-blackness protocol. What seemed to make most sense at the time (but makes no sense whatsoever now) was to just sit there all night long and lie awake and “yawing” at the mules to get away from my tent, which didn’t work anyway. In the morning I found out from Jim and Annette the clanging came from a mule with a bell tied to his neck. I guess they all stuck to the bell mule. Poor thing. No bear. No mountain muleman with an eye patch. Just a herd of nice mules hanging out in our campground all night long. It makes for a funny story, and I will always remember that night and those mules. All three of us laughed about it for the rest of the trip.
It turns out there’s a bit of controversy regarding pack mules and hikers. The High Sierra Hikers Association has brought the issue to the courts in order limit the number of mules in the wilderness areas. Go here to read the article: http://www.highsierrahikers.org/essay_tosue.html.
Also, here are a few other photos I think are nice that show the incredible high sierra landscapes. Thank you Annette for such a wonderful trip!
-Bruce G

Standing on Silver Pass and knowing that we were there because we climbed it. Being reminded that this disease is not the end of the story.

Spring 2010 - I was reading the MPD Foundation newsletter and there was an article about a women with PV who was going to do a fundraiser and hike the John Muir trail in California. The fact that I also have PV and love hiking made this jump out at me. I knew instantly that if there was any way possible, I wanted to join Annette on the hike so I emailed her and asked. Her response was that she was looking for people to join in on the different segments, so yes, I would be welcome. That was it, I was going. It did not matter that it had been a very hard year, that I was so fatigued, I was in bed before my kids and that my bones and joints were hurting so much, that I had taken time off from coaching gymnastics and was trying to get on a new med for my PV that would possibly help. I had no idea how I was going to do it, just that I was.I did some Trek for a Cure fundraising up here, bought and borrowed the supplies I would need and thought about the fact that I would have to get into some semblance of shape if I was really going to do this, but I did not have the energy to.

May 2010 - I went off of the Chemo meds that I had been on in preparation for going on Pegasy's. Two weeks after being off, I began to notice that I had much more energy and wasn't going to bed at 7:00. I began to walk and bike and get excited that maybe, just maybe I really could do this hike. June, I started the Pegasy's and by the time it came time to head on the hike, I had much more energy and much less pain.

July 20, 2010 I flew with my two youngest kids to BC to leave them at their grandma's and then flew to San Francisco. From there, I caught the BART to Annette's mom and thus began the start of meeting many amazing wonderful people. Her mom and family were so welcoming and made me feel right at home, from there I had a ride with Ashlyn, another great person, to Sacramento. I stayed overnight with Andrew, Ronit and their kids. They too were welcoming and made me feel very comfortable. The next day, I climbed in Dianne's car (she trusted a stranger to drive it) and picked up Kara near Auburn. I knew immediately that with Kara on the segment, it was going to be a fun hike.Devil's Postpile and meeting Annette was the highlight, it was really happening.

Kara's post is so well written about our actual hike that I do not want to repeat it. I am just going to share my highlights. 1) The absolute beauty of everything was probably one of the most memorable highlights. Every time I took a picture of what I thought was the most beautiful thing I had seen,, 5 minutes later, I would be taking another picture and another. It never stopped.2)Being in the company of two amazing women was another. I have been blessed by the people I met on this trip and especially Annette and Kara. 3) The last thing was just the actual doing of the hike and making it, standing on Silver Pass and knowing that we were there because we climbed it. Being reminded that this disease is not the end of the story.

I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to have been able to be a part of such a special event. Thank you Annette. Congratulations on completing the hike. I wish I could have been there to see the end.

Audrey Hicks Boissevain, MB Canada

Home again, home again!

I am back at sea level (or about 10 feet) as of this weekend! Marc picked me, Bruce and Jim up from Lone Pine on Saturday afternoon. We summited Mt Whitney a day early on Friday the 13th and what an amazing morning of climbing and then 5,000 feet down to Whitney Portal! As I was working my way down the mountain, now officially off of the John Muir Trail, I could not help but reflect about what an amazing trek I had over the last month. Each week was new adventure with a excited, strong and supportive team- we set off into the wilderness ready for what was coming our way! It is fun to read the stories of our adventures on the trail and narrow it down to just a couple of highlights for the sake of going on and on (but I guess that is the whole point of a blog, right?).

I really had no idea how exhilarating is was going to be hiking up all those passes- there were six passes over 11,000 feet. And that is not counting the point at which I set my pack down at 13,500 to finish the last 1.9 miles to the summit of Whitney without my ouzo green companion. I did enjoy a little game at the beginning of many of those high passes, which I liked to call "Did I really need to bring that?" This was a game which took place about 15-20 minutes into the climb when my backpack felt as if one of my backpacking buddies might have slipped 30 lbs of granite into my bag. As I got closer to apex of those passes many of those mind games fall away and the most important thing becomes getting to the top where the vista are blindingly beautiful. There is a definite feeling of accomplishment which is indescribable.

While deciding which photos to share on the post I am struck by the beauty of the Sierras again and again. How fortunate I am to have had the privilege of spending a month in the company of such wonderful folks -and not to mention-supreme hikers (if you weren't sure if you were a backpacker when you started... you are now!) in a more dramatic and intense setting. There is one thing that I can safely say is that we all experienced- in the words of a hiker passing me on the trail near Donahue pass, is that "These mountains will make you work."

I can't forget to mention all of the other folks who were there in different ways to make the Trek a seamless adventure for people coming off and on the trail!!! The large camping contingency at Devils Postpile was a welcome and fun party- I think we need to make that an annual event! PICTURES??? What a great way to head off on segment 4 (from Devils Postpile to Vermilion Vlly Resort with Kara and Audrey), with full belly and a ton of support.

Another fun adventure was watching all those women head down the trail from Bishop Pass for the transition to segment six with Ginger and a surprise birthday party, it was so great to have yet another party in the wilds of the Sierras.

I cannot thank everyone enough for making this the most incredible and wonderful experience- I most certainly could not have done this without the support I had from the Trek team! I can't wait to hear more stories and see more pictures and see everyone on the 19th of September (???) for a Trail Mixer- the reunion.


The Beginning!










Double Rainbow Falls!












Is That Hail??

A simple hut.

Hi there trekkers and trek support,
I just wanted to pass along our group photo at the Hut at the John Muir Pass. Of course we have so many other stunning photos and memories! - But this was a pretty exciting peak to summit!
Yay to Annette!
Love to all,
-Lisa and gang

To rise to our personal challenges, to behold beautiful, pristine landscape, and to take part in such an inspiring journey.

Happy Birthday Annette!
Dianne, Ginger and I hiked from the South Lake trail head to Dusy Basin to meet Annette and her gang of trekkers on her birthday. Being new to backpacking and backcountry trails, I (mostly) enjoyed the physical challenge of hiking the trail with my not so light pack and I absolutely felt privileged to view the amazing landscape. Ginger, an experienced backpacker trekked along at a steady and confident pace, smiling most of the way. Dianne, after experiencing altitude sickness on a previous leg of the journey, started the ascent a bit nervously, worried about the climb but moving steadily forward toward the eventual 11, 972 foot peak.

After a steady, then steep, then craggy and switchbakcy climb (we did it!), we descended into Dusy Basin. During our ascent, we ran into Lori, Ms. Yosemite Ranger Extraordinaire (aka The Permit Connection) and her friend Debbie, who quickly surpassed us and were waiting for us, sketching and soaking in the scenery, on the other side of the pass. After a brief rest and rehydration, the five of us set off to find Annette and the crew.

It was getting late in the afternoon, my tummy was getting grumbly and my mood was getting grumpy, as we continued to hike way past what my anticipated achieved destination was. Then a cowboy on a horse appeared, asking if we were Annette's friends, and if so, "Stop lollygagging and hurry up!" Not long after that, we saw Annette herself, who seemed to suddenly appear from the brush, as if she were an apparition.

Annette looked utterly happy and in her element. We all greeted each other with hugs and set off to take a dip in the lake and find a campsite for the night. We soon met Jack, Lisa, Sierra, Denali and Peter. Peter was especially happy to see us all as he and Annette had just run out of food and we brought bear cans stuffed with dehydrated yumminess. After a perfectly perfect meal of rice, beans and veggies, we presented Annette with her birthday "cake:" a tower of chocolate bars, complete with sparkly candle on top. We all enjoyed the chocolaty treats and soon after, I retired to my tent, tired from the day's adventure. I drifted off to sleep that night, listening to coyotes in the distance, thinking to myself what a gift Annette has given all of us: to rise to our personal challenges, to behold beautiful, pristine landscape, and to take part in such an inspiring journey.

Happy Birthday, Annette.

Nancy G

Inspirational Stories as Trekker Kara reports in.

How to describe it? I can’t. Pictures won’t do it justice, my vocabulary certainly falls short, and even if I give you a glimpse into my soul…it is slowly being culture-shocked back into life’s distractions barely hanging on to the Ahhhh.

We left from Devil’s Post Pile and it didn’t take long to earn my trail name…Caboose. Annette and Audrey were strong, fast, and feeling good. I was anxious, but excited, and looking forward to being with two fantastic women in a very special place. Everything seemed in tune. Just as we began to heat up from hiking, a delightful afternoon sprinkle helped to refresh as we continued on our way with very distant sounds of thunder. The sky continued to darken and we eventually found ourselves engulfed by a downpour that turned to hail. It was initially exhilarating. Laughter, wows of amazement, and whoops of joy emitted as we felt as though we and nature were one. We had done it…we were one with the wilderness. Not as a bystander viewing it from a book, a window, or structure. Not as a temporary hiker that can return to shelter from the storm to await a better time or with the knowledge and convenience of dry clothes, but completely immersed into the moment of nature’s plan. We had our map and plan of how far to go and approximately where to set up camp, but thunder boomed and cracked at rare intensity being amplified by the surrounding granite walls and we knew that our plan was being over-ridden by the whim of wild weather.

Unlike the initial exhilaration of feeling alive with the hail, after about 1 ½ hours of pounding cold rain and heavy wet gear, fatigued legs, and cold hands I related more to the soggy trodden wildflowers that had once vibrantly stood tall and now were beaten-down, limp, and breaking. We made it to Deer Creek but we did not cross it. Through our wet blurry vision we back-tracked slightly and went up hill to find a potential campsite. The rain was relentless. We attempted to make a shelter from tying ponchos to tree-limbs, removed our soggy packs hoping to save some dry gear and crouched down shivering and brainstorming what to do. The sky was filled with dark clouds, flashes of lightening and blasts of thunder. The rain started to slow down and we raced the weather to set up the tents. Finally inside the tents we stripped off the soggy clothes and tried to dry off and warm up. Chronic shivering beneath the covers EVENTUALLY paid off. It was obvious by that time that the great vision of a warm meal was no longer possible. We ate tomorrow’s lunch and hoped for clear skies in the morning. We remained in our bags listening to the rain and commented on Evan’s accurate description and the irony of how the cold droplets on the tent sounded like “crackling fire.”

Rain continued through the night. In the morning when it seemed to slow down, we looked outside and saw mostly clouds continuing to build. We quickly packed up, took turns trying to filter water with mosquitoes and a SLOW water filter until Audrey finished the job and Annette quickly heated some water for coffee and tea to find some warmth in the predicament. We hoped to get going and reach drier ground and bluer skies. We had a snack for breakfast and warm delicious oatmeal beside a stream, and under a rain-fly, for lunch. My wet clothes hung off my pack soggier than before.

That evening we set up at Virginia Lake…it was worth every bit of the storm. The rain had finally let up. We had a campsite with a view, a warm meal, and dry rocks and branches to hang our wet clothes and gear. Life is good!

Annette took a dip in the lake early the next morning before the sun could reach our campsite over the trees. Audrey helped me filter water with an improved pace and conveniently enough, by the time we could dare to splash into the lake, the sun had reached the shore and begun to warm the rocks. Annette still thinks we planned it that way. I think we were just plain LUCKY! It was COLD! What a difference it was to be able to dry off and feel the warmth of the sun! Planning for mileage and looking toward the climb ahead, the departure time becomes more important especially with a Caboose! It was getting to be a bit of a late start considering the need to get over Silver Pass…the late dip in the lake sort of set things back a bit :-/

Packs were finally going on after a final walk through and as I looked down I saw another rock…this time obsidian. One of my great challenges is to be able to walk along a rocky, stone-ridden path and not pick up various types and shapes of rocks that catch my eye. I’d like to say that that’s why I was the “Caboose,” but there were other factors contributing to that. The pull was too strong and I had to pick it up. To my great delight I became more connected to the land and it’s history at that moment as I held a small, black, intricately carved arrowhead. How amazing to stand there in the moment and realize over a hundred years ago, a fellow human, probably Mono Indian, sat somewhere nearby, after having a dip in the same lake, and carving a tool for survival. How amazing that it withstood all that time and survived! That is how pristine this place is. Although there are some signs of present day influences with dynamite sphincter scares in rocks and some bridges across rivers, for the most part, you can be in the moment and parallel a fragment of civilization from the past. We all wondered if the JMT route had been greatly influenced by the worn paths established by the Native Americans living here with the land. We set off for the day and I had new energy in my step- not moving much faster, but with a new connection with the land and respect for whoever last used that arrowhead so many years ago. The land is now mostly what is was back then because of the respect they had given the land and it’s fellow inhabitants.

We crossed streams, paralleled meadows, and winded our way up to Squaw Lake for lunch and then on to Silver Pass. On the trail we would pass and then be re-passed by through-hikers. Some were doing the PCT and others the JMT. We were all touched by Baboo. He had lost his wife 5 years ago to cancer and has been on the go ever since. Never staying in a place longer than 3 months, in his 70s he has completed the AT, several bike tours and the JMT. Wow! The inspiration tales and views were endless…and the green sludge for lunch was better than it looked!

We side-stomped our way through snow up Silver Pass. We almost renamed the Summit Weepy Pass. We had tears in our eyes as we inhaled the 360 degree view and the realization of our individual trials that we had each faced to be there. Annette and Audrey continue to be such an inspiration. They are both very driven, focused, and compassionate women that in the face of adversity had joined together to do something positive instead of being beaten down by circumstances or submitting to denial. I felt grateful to be a small part of the grand Trek for a Cure! We were at the top of the world!

We searched for a campsite at Silver Lake that would be somewhat sheltered from the wind and above the mosquitoes that we had so far been lucky enough to avoid. Annette made another delicious meal, we filtered water, and the realization that this was my last night started to weigh on my soul. I deeply missed my family and looked forward to seeing them. I wished I could share this time with them as well. I wanted to cling on to the peaceful submersion. The morning’s alpine glow greeted us and after some hot beverages and a yummy breakfast, we were off to Vermillion Valley.

Waterfalls, forging rivers, and wildflowers defined our path. We made it to the boat dock with time to spare. The warm shower and hot served food were quite a lure despite the culture shock of the sounds of motors, people, and the smell of exhaust. Annette paced with anticipation to get to see her family and the embrace upon their arrival was similar to the intensity at Silver Pass…It is all about connections, to our loved ones, to our environment, to the insight from the past. To remain present and connected and avoid the chaos of distractions…To remain in tune with the beauty of love, the tranquility and intensity of nature, and to learn from those that inspire…that’s what I bring back with me and hope to cling on to. I am glad to be back with my family and I’m missing my time on the Trek with Annette! I can’t wait to hear more stories of inspiration.

Kara

Note: Kara sent this to me with lots of photos imbedded in a word document and the photos did not transfer. Check back soon as Kara and I sort this out. -- Marc

Generosity in every step.

I spend a lot of time thinking about Annette as she moves through the beauty of the high sierras. I also consider what a physical and psychological challenge this trek is for everyone that participates. And that is not considering the weeks and months of planning that have gone into each journey for each trekker.

Mostly, to be honest, I think about Annette; because I miss her. Still, as she shoulders her pack through another mile, she must carry thoughts of all the people who have so generously and unhesitatingly supported her in this quest. Roughly, she has raised the equivalent of about one hundred dollars per mile. And that money represents love and support for her vision, her passion, her tenacity and her grace. All your love and support has got to be in her heart as she walks the John Muir Trail. Better than bio fuel.

Tonight my mother handed me almost $40 in change. Seems the women she plays mahjong with, her “mahj girls” as she calls them put a quarter in a can every time they play a game in which (and forgive me here for I am not a true follower of the game) nobody mahjes. If no one can achieve a mahjong then they all put a quarter in the can. This the donate to charity and they have decided to give it to support Trek for a Cure. So our heart-felt thanks to the Mahj Girls, Lily Reenes, Bev Schpell, Terri Stern, Susan Rosenson, Lenny Lancet.

A similar source for donation comes from a very competitive dominos game played by Annette’s mom Pat and her lifelong friend Sally. They play cash for points and since the Trek for a Cure was conceived, Pat and Sally have both donated their winnings to the Trek.

These are just two stories that I felt I had to tell tonight as my mom handed me a sack of quarters. A question Annette and I ask often is “How did we get so lucky?” I know that as I write this the Trek is still on, entering its last third. So it is not time yet for great synthesizing thoughts of what it all means. Still tonight or should I say this morning, I am moved to thank the hundreds of people who have been so loving and supportive of this effort. There is so much to be done, so much more to accomplish and yet it is vital to me that I take moments like this to rejoice in the support and love that has come our way. Just as Annette must be almost constantly in a state of awe in the presence of those magnificent mountain range profiles and glacier fed lakes, waterfalls and rivers; so too she must feel her heart fill with awe and joy at the community of support that has embraced her efforts from day one.

Thank you does not seem sufficient.
Gambaro
Marc
P.S. Here is a video from a day of deluge on the third segment when Kara, Audrey and Annette hiked all day in a down pour and then had to set up camp in a brief lull and then hunker down without cooking that night. Still they had time for Kara to make a little video. It is about ten seconds.

Where would you like to be on your Birthday?

Where would you like to be on your Birthday?
Happy Birthday Annette! Today Annette is high in the Sierras. Surrounded by beautiful vistas of high mountain peaks, glacier fed lakes and the ever present absence of bear, reminding her to keep her food locked up in her bear can. She is with friends, Jack, Lisa, Sierra, Denali, and Peter who have been trekking with her for a week. Soon the next section will begin, and as the current crew hikes out, new friends hike in. Sounds like the ideal birthday to me.

News flash: just received the best birthday present ever from the birthday girl. (For those who do not know, Annette and I share the same birthday.) My phone rings and Annette says hello from the high Sierra. So I can give you all the update from our short conversation. The segment 5 trekkers have met with Annette and the segment four crew of Jack, Lisa, Sierra, Denali and Peter, who trekked in fine form and are preparing to hike out and head home tomorrow. I expect to get an extensive description of their experience by phone once they are within range of a cell phone. May take some time as it appears that AT&T has little interest in highway 395. Still Annette said they all did very well and that they rendezvoused successfully with Nancy, Diane and Ginger. Who hiked in Annette’s next food drop over Bishop pass. Thanks to Ginger for hiking in the satellite phone that made the birthday call possible. Also joining the trekkers are Lori and her friend Debbie, (I think that was the name.) This was a bit of a surprise visit and I do not know if Lori and Debbie will join Annette and Ginger for Segment 5.
Well it is late and my Birthday ends in 10 minutes so I will finish this entry and just give you some pics to look at from Evan and my last rendezvous with the Trekkers at Vermillion Valley Resort. What is it that Annette says? Keep it green and muddy!
Gambaro and Goodnight
Marc