Day #17 Sunburn & Success

High Sierra Trail Part 6/8 – from Junction Meadow to Guitar Lake (11 Miles)

I made it to Guitar Lake – an alpine lake shaped like a guitar above the treeline. The view is incredible! But as it was a long hike in full sunshine and I got sunburnt. Feeling woozy now, laying in camp, unable to move. I’m proud that I pushed myself again to achieve my set goal – ascending to the lake was hard but I was successful!

I crave a shower and a clean environment, but guess what, it won‘t be another week before that happens! Guitar Lake is veeeeeery cold but I was able to wash myself.

The other people camping here are weird (or maybe it’s just my sunburnt perception?) There are older guys wearing their tents as skirts fishing and a few hiker bros. The kind of hikers that only recognize other bros as true hikers and also never ask you a question back (apart from the set phrase „howsitgoin?“) but are eager to brag about their speed, mileage, gear, connections…whatever, just leave me alone.

There‘s also a big marmite living under a rock next to my tent. It already eyed my food. I wedged my toiletries and the bear canister between rocks a few meters away from the tent. When it got dark, I heard a sound like my skillet clanging and I knew there was an animal trying to get to my food. When I went out, it was the marmite – it snitched the toiletry bag put it next to its‘ rock. What is worse – when something eats your remaining (clean) toilet paper or your food? I chased the marmite away and retrieved my stuff – sure enough there was a hole chewed into the plastic 😅