Day #40 Forced Rest Day

John Muir Trail Part 9/11 – Rest Day – Lower Cathedral Lake

Today is Friday the 13th and maybe this is the reason why my plan to solo climb Cathedral Peak didn‘t work out.

I got up, motivated and anticipating the unknown adventure. When I started hiking back the 2.5 miles I came from yesterday, I felt good but that changed as soon as I got on the climber‘s approach trail. It wasn‘t that steep for the most part, but I had a hard time breathing properly – combined with a weird pressure in my head and the usual pain, it became a struggle to reach the ledge where the climbs start. The altitude really got to me. It was clear that in this condition, I wouldn‘t do a route in free solo style. When I saw some parties starting their way up, fully racked with gear, I felt disappointed – this would have been real fun!

Then my legs became heavy as if there was lead in them. I paused often and tried to figure out a more direct way down towards Cathedral Lake where I set up camp. I was too slow to navigate properly, using a map and compass. My brain was wrapped in a fog, so I gave up the attempt to half climb, half slide down a steep, rock-filled gully. I didn‘t want to end up in the hospital again. So I hiked all the way back on the original trail and despite the light backpack, it was really hard. So my climbing day became a rest day, if you call hiking 12 miles a rest day.

When I got back to my tent, I ate a big portion of spaghetti bolognese Carla gave to me, and rested the remaining day, taking notes and mental photographs of the majestic mountains surrounding me. I discovered old, gnarly trees and particularly smooth boulders next to my tent and touched their withered surfaces.

I reminded myself to be patient and accepting of these „obstacles“ as it’s all part of the trip, the good days and the difficult ones. Cathedral Peak is on my open project list from now on! 😼