On the JMT at Devil's Postpile

Found a great campsite at Red’s and  met up with Irene who was dropped off there by a friend who made an incredible pasta dinner for us that night.  She and I spent the next two days camped at Red’s Meadow, great campground.  It was here we first encountered the “Eddie Bauer” backpackers.  At first I thought I was in an episode of the Twiglight Zone.  They were dressed in matching outfits, nothing out of place.  At first I thought they were park rangers, the colors would be correct.  Then I noticed their backpacks matched perfectly. Down to the “kitchen Sink” .

Not sure what that was for, have never needed a kitchen sink in the backcountry.  Everything tied to their packs was new and expensive and right out of a catalog.  They even had a large can of bear spray on their waist bands.  I think my Mylar space blanket was a lighter, cheaper and better solution.  I didn’t want to be that close to a bear that I could spray it in the face with peppers. 

The Eddie Bauer packers were nice enough ut they were the strangest site.

We also ran into Ken and Theo at one of the cabins at Red’s.  Unfortunately Ken severely sprained his ankle crossing a creek and trying to save his camera from the water.  Their trip was over.  He was on crutches.  It was so sad; they had so looked forward to this trip.

We took a day hike down to Rainbow Falls, a mini Niagara.  I couldn’t believe how much water there was.  There was also a herd of people.  I felt a little out of place, having gotten used to smaller groups only.  It was a hot day and I couldn’t believe how many would make the 5 mile round trip journey with no water, little kids and flip flops.  I can’t seem to get away from those. 

Rosalie Lake

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It was then on to Rosalie Lake.  I found a great campsite below the trail. 

I had the great vantage point of being able to see people walk by again and they couldn’t even tell I was there.  Unfortunately a bear did find my campsite and once again I was awakened in the middle of the night by a very pissed off furry friend.  This time I wedged my bear can among some large boulders.  This only added to his/her frustration because the can couldn’t be rolled around at all.  My main concern was the can rolling into the lake, and it didn’t.  I did end up with a couple of incredible claw grooves in the aluminum top as mementos. 

Donahue to Thousand Island Lake

I started out about 5 am and ran into Ken and Theo again, they had a great campsite just on the other side of the bridge at McClure, will have to take note of that area for future trips.  The trail up to Donahue was easy except for the one deep water crossing before the top.  There were several people ahead of me who seemed to make a bigger deal out of this and I should have gotten my camera out and done a video of their various methods and difficulties.  It was some of the best entertainment.  I am not sure why they struggled but each did.  The water was thigh high due to all the snow fall we had had during the winter. I am ever so grateful I purchased a pair of Merrell Trail Gloves.  I simply changed shoes and walked across, it was nothing and they would come in handy many times over. It was amusing to watch all those who thought flip flops would somehow work. Donahue pass was easy and I encountered my first snowfield at the top making route finding a little interesting as there were many paths carved out by previous hikers. 

There was a strange box at the top of the pass for wilderness surveys which no one up there had and of which there were none in the box.  Not sure what that was for but it was worth a photo.

The other side of Donahue Pass opens up to a different kind of beauty.  Open spaces and incredible peaks.  It was a great place for lunch…. And a swim.

After about a 14 mile day and having completed both Donahue Pass and Island Pass I reached Thousand Island Lake.  It was the most picturesque place I had seen since leaving Colorado many years ago.  It must have been about 4:30 and finding a campsite was very difficult.  I managed to find a very small ledge which offered some privacy due to the large rock on the trail side. 

Unfortunately the lake itself was a bit of a tourist trap because it is accessible from other trails and not far enough from civilization.  Many groups were camped here and some had no clue as to how to behave in the backcountry. 

I was quickly advised by a mother of three kids who was camped above me on the other side of the trail about 100 yards (not feet but yards) that where I was camped was in front of “her” swimming spot and “her” water and that she and her kids would be there.  And… they were.  They spent the next couple of hours right in front of my tent in the water despite the lake being very large and the shoreline having many places for swimming.  It was the strangest thing I had ever encountered.  I have to say I truly had the feeling I was in LA on some crowded beach.