This day had the potential to be a bad one and if we had had this day two years ago I’m not sure any of us would be talking. I’m ridiculously proud of us. It was a tough day, but we rocked it.
We woke up super early for some reason, I think because we haven’t yet adjusted to Pacific time zone, and went back to Kerouac’s for muffins, scones, and the best coffee I’ve had of the trip. Zak and I even kicked the girls out of the restaurant once they had finished their baked goods so we could enjoy a cup of coffee together. A perfect start to the day!
After breakfast we loaded up the car and drove to the Visitor’s Center at Great Basin National Park. Our plans to cancel and rework our original plan was confirmed by the ranger. There is just too much snow here. Instead we pieced together another hike from a few different trails. We ended up repeating a portion of the hike that we did two years ago when we fell in love with this park and are actually camping in nearly the same location.
In the Visitor’s Center I learned about The Great Basin itself. I hadn’t realized how huge it is, partially or completely covering seven states. Seven western states, so the big ones! All precipitation that falls in the basin does not end up in an ocean. Instead, it stays right here in the basin. I had always been taught and, therefore, believed, and, therefore probably taught students, that precipitation that falls on the east side of the Continental Divide ends up in the Atlantic Ocean and precipitation that falls on the west side of the Continental Divide ends up in the Pacific Ocean. I didn’t know about this magical area called The Great Basin.
After finalizing our hiking plans we drove to the trailhead and began going through the essentials and repacking supplies. Zoe realized that her bladder was leaking. (The kind that holds water while hiking, not the other one.) It took us time and patience to transfer the water to a different one. Zak also misplaced his sunglasses and is pretty sure they’re in the back of the car, but couldn’t find them. Zak also broke one of his shoelaces, with no spares with us. Ellie, who had mastered all sorts of knots in Scouts, came to the rescue and told Zak that a square knot would work too repair it and to get showed him how to do to it. It was almost an hour before we were ready to take off down the trailhead.
Within a few hundred yards of the start Ellie asked Zak why his backpack was all wet. He took off the pack and started emptying it, only to find a teeny tiny hole in his bladder that won’t leak if set in the pack the correct way and some condensation from his can of Coors Light. He rearranged and we were back on track.
We hiked downhill by 1,200 feet over a couple of miles through some campgrounds and then started heading up the, side of a mountain. The incline was fairly intense, but nothing too horrible. It was about that time I realized that Ellie had packed, and then chosen to wear, a pair of leggings that were too small. She was spending a good portion of the time yanking the leggings up, only to have them slip back down several inches over the next few steps.
We hiked for a few miles uphill, knowing we were approaching a super steep, long section. We took a longer than normal lunch break, enjoying the butterflies, the aspen grove, the rumbling stream, the same old pbj&c, and each other’s laughs. Eventually, we lugged our packs onto our backs and within seconds my whole back, pants, and underwear were drenched. I quickly threw off the pack and went through the contents that I had so gingerly packed. I discovered that my bladder had just developed a huge hole. Oye! We removed it and distributed the little bit of savaged water among the remaining bladders.
The hiking began again after lunch and it was crazy steep. I believe we went about two thousand feet in elevation gain in about two miles. It was tough for sure, but the views made each step worth it. After a slew of steep switchbacks, we came upon that snow everyone in the area has been talking about. Fortunately, there were little red flag high in the trees to make the trail, because it was impossible to see much land, let alone a trail, below our feet. It was a challenge to hike in the snow. Some steps would have my foot drop a foot it two into the snow. Other steps allowed me to stay on top, walking right over the huge piles. Some steps had me slipping and sliding all over the place. But it was fun! At one point we came upon a bank of snow that was twenty feet high. The girls and I wished we had sleds, then decided our tushes would work well enough. What a blast to be sledding in Nevada in June.
As we neared the end of the hike, my hip bones were raw from my pack hitting them. Same thing with my collar bones. My legs were definitely sore. my watch says that I burned more calories during the hike than I eat on an average day at home. My steps for the day are just shy of 30,000 and I’m at 766% of my daily workout goal. I hurt quite a bit as we wrapped the hike up. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
After more than 10 miles of hiking today, and nearly 3,000 feet in elevation gain, we approached the meadow which is completely snow free. We relaxed, hung out, and munched on beef jerky and trail mix. Unfortunately, Zak isn’t feeling all that well, so the kids and I are sharing our little two person tent tonight. Cozy.
I realized how much of this is a mind game. When we did this hike two years ago it was our first ever backpacking hike and I was scared, stressed, and had no confidence in myself. It was so very hard and my negative energy must have been really hard for the rest of the family to cope with. Today, was tough, but it really wasn’t all that bad. In fact, it was great. My abs hurt more than any other muscle and that’s from all the laughing we did. My heart is bursting with pride as I think about what the girls accomplished today. My arms are full as I get to snuggle both Zoe and Ellie. So much had changed in the past two years, and I could not be more proud of myself and my family.
