The prodigal Mule has returned.

“Wow.

That's about all I can say about my High Sierra Trail trip right now.

Pure hell experience with United Airlines and the Orlando Airport.
Arriving 12 hours late after being awake for over 24 hours straight.
Rental car incompetence and getting a sweet free four level upgrade out of it.
Seeing the awesome size and beauty of some of the largest trees on the planet.
Meeting two Princes among men, WindWalker and Hikin Mike.
KNOWING FOR A FACT that TTer's are more reliable than United Airlines.
Groovy lizards
131 miles over 14 days.
Massive elevation gain and loss.
Blisters that silver dollars couldn't cover.
Ear infection at high altitude.
Serious gear failure.
Ballsy Marmots
Even ballsier Chipmunks.
Severe dehydration.
Knee pounding descents.
Jaw dropping vistas.
Mosquitos like I have never seen.
Meeting two guys who climbed with Ed Viesters and an Argentine family with two 11 year old boys who could out hike anyone.
A 3+ foot rattlesnake.
Getting kicked off a meadow by the smoothest talking ranger and liking it.
Summiting Mt. Whitney in a cloud only to have to clear off when we reached the top.
Getting resupplied by mule like Christmas on the trail.
A bad crosscountry decision.
A blown knee.
Route finding on a barely maintained trail.
More mosquitos worse than I have just seen.
Seeing the milky way clearly at night.
A two hour grind to the top of Colby pass.
Lightining storm at eye level.
A string of 12+ mile days.
Thinking you've found gold in a stream.
Getting a ride back to the truck.
Smoothing a campsite out of a ranger at Lodgepole when the campground is completely full.
Getting stuffed at the Wolverton BBQ.

Just an incredible trip all around. There will be a detailed trip report in another thread.

Photos too!”

“Oh yes,
Spreading the gospel of Backpackingdeals.com”

“Totally Awesome sounding! I can know all about knee pain although I didn't have any this weekend. Looking foward to buy the book when it comes out, packmule!”

“Didn't mean the "can" in the first sentence there.”

“Sounds like a great trip HPM. Look forward to the details.”

“HPM, it was nice to meet some "right coast" TTers! Sounds like you had an exciting two weeks and I can't wait to see the pictures and read the whole trip report!”

“Groovy Lizards... good name for a retro band.


For good or ill, TrailTalk is just the same as you left it, <G>....”

“you suck! that sounds like the trip i had planned but had to bail out on due to extreme homesickness. did you go all the way over to Whitney & back? damn, i'm jealous. congratulations!”

“Cool!

I loved the Sierras too. Looking forward to details and pics.”

“Psycho missed ya, big guy!”

“Glad you made it back safely!!! Can't wait for the pics and detailed trip report!!”

“Tilt, I was afraid of that. I was kinda hoping far some kind of spontanious group epiphinany but I guess no dice huh?

Yes Tarbubble, all the way to Whitney summit and back.”

“Can't wait for the photos and the full report!

Did you score any brownies at Bearpaw? Did you like Precipice Lake? How long did that little bottle of Repel, that you bought at Lodgepole last? Inquiring minds want to know :)”

“No brownies at Bearpaw.
Precipice was the bomb
It lasted all the way baby!”

“WOW! Nice going. Hope that knee heals.”

“The knee was Madmans and he's doing ok.”

“"Group epiphany" -- Ha!

LOL


It's good to hear everyone made it through in one piece, more or less. You really have to draw a little blood to make these Expedition-type outings authentic.”

“You should see HPM's legs-he went cross country without gaiters in thorny brush. I think he left behind wuite a bit of blood, and fed the biting flies and mosquitos.”

“Actually, HPM needs to change his name to "Deathmarch Tour Director." THat should give you an idea of what his trip was like.”

“What some people do for fun --- Sheesh! <G>”

“Yeah, you should hear what my mother has to say on the subject.”

“Wow - I hope that in all of the Drama you were able to have some serious fun.

Welcome back - I'm looking forward to the slide show.”

“Anyone else see the dotted line down the left side of this page?”

“Are you seeing spots too?”

“Horizontal or vertical treebait?










It's best to humor them WW!

;-)”

“Welcome back HPM!

Well, everything one could expect and more. You'll never forget this one. That is classic Sierra. You plunged in head first and came up breathing. The toil you went through makes you a better man. Maybe even softens the character.

What did you think of the descent into Kern Canyon? That'll make a flat-footer out of anyone. Yelp! Yelp!”

“Trip report in case ya missed it.”