There is more we haven't seen
Logged by Roo · 1983
A friend at church told me about the great fishing at a place just south of mammoth up highway 395. I borrowed a tent and some other gear and headed north. We saw a road sign pointing to the west "Convict Lake". This old two-lane road led us to a mountain view I have never forgotten. At its base was convict lake. We got a camp site for the week. We set up camp, fished the lake and just hung out but I couldn't get that mountain out of my mind. Finally, after looking at it for three or four days I couldn't take it any longer and had to go up and see what was up there. It was like the mountain was calling me and at the same time defying me. It was then some recurring themes took root in the backpack and stay constant all these years that follow. First one, is rangers are not much help...I went to the general store to ask about the possibility of ascending the granite wall in front us. The ranger I chatted with told me it was an easy hike that would take only a few hours to go up and come back down. If you have ever done this hike two things are very clear. One, it is a very difficult hike and two she had never hiked it!!! After grabbing the rustic, metal framed back rack I borrowed, packed a couple of sandwiches and a canteen (yes one). And at 11:00 am, this little group of four hit the trail head in the middle of the day in our shorts and T-shirts to conquer the great adventure awaiting. (Hey, backpack brothers any common themes jump out at you? How about midday, full sun, unprepared, under dressed, no map and not enough water to hydrate.) Undeterred, stubborn or just not smart off we went. After surviving a very difficult hike, forging a river that had the power to destroy an army engineered bridge earlier in the spring's snow melt, we made it to the top. Absolutely exhausted, soaking wet with sweat, thirsty and hungry we collapsed at the shoreline of Mildred Lake. Greg found relief by stripping down buck naked and diving into the icy, snow melt lake. (Any common themes here?) While the hot sierras turned into a cool, if not cold evening it was frightening to realize I had to get my family back to camp. As you know hiking down is faster but at times not any easier on the knees and quads. We encountered a snake crossing the middle of the trail right in front of my wife, Tricia, and my young son, we had no outer wear, we had no water, no food and I swear I kept seeing bears all along the trail licking the lips and saying prayers of thanks and blessing for the meals they were about to enjoy. We made it back to our camp site in the dark without headlamps. Tucking my 9 and 5 year old into their K-mart, flannel sleeping bags, I remember telling them of how proud I was of them. I also told them we did it! We did something not many have done. But I also told them the next time there is no way I'll make a hike like that without taking a tent, fishing gear and staying a few days and nights, going higher than we did today... BECAUSE THERE IS MORE WE HAVEN'T SEEN!!!