Several years ago I hiked from Agnew Meadow at Mammoth to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite. At the time I was pretty proud of myself in that I completed the hike in five days with one day spent base camping, so really it was only four days. Yesterday and today I completed the same hike, although on a slightly different trail for part of it, in a day and a half. I guess I'm in somewhat better shape now than I was then. Of course 900 miles of walking will do that to you.
This morning I left the area of Thousand Island Pass (not much of a pass BTW) to hike up Donahue Pass. There was a little snow at the top but otherwise it was a relatively easy pass to climb. Donahue is the southeast entrance to Yosemite and holds special meaning for those going south on the John Muir Trail as its their first real pass.
The trail down from Donahue years ago was a nightmare of baseball, softball, and bowling ball sized rocks strewn down the narrow V-shaped trail surface. That year I remember the rangers hauling out an injured hiker who had broken a leg on the poor trail. Since then a trail crew has visited, and while the trail is still rough and very steep in places it's remarkably safer and better constructed so as to minimize the possibility of injury. I applaud the trail crew that did the extensive rock work to repair almost four miles of trail.
I got into Tuolumne Meadows later in the day to find the grill about to close and Trail Angel Legend about to get started cooking a free spaghetti dinner. Betsybgave Legend and his sidekick Raven a ride back in June from Kennedy Meadows Campground to the KM store. Legend didn't remember the ride until I mentioned that Sissy the cat was in the Jeep. Then he not only remembered but said how nice Betsy had been to him and Raven and to the other hikers she took down to Ridgecrest. He even invited her to participate with him at one of his next venues, Donner Pass or Belden State Park.
Legend travels along the PCT bringing trail magic to each stop, sometimes for a week at a time. This year he's spent $4500 on food and accepted $4300 in donations not counting food or supplies. Today someone gave him a case of water to give away. He also has a notebook with pages on how to become a traveling trail angel. Definitely a committed individual Legend has been at this since 1991.
Lyle Canyon's beauty.
Hikers outside Tuolumne Meadows Store.
Legend and his notebook of things to do and say as a trail angel.
Raven. Legends helper.
Legend cooking Spaghetti.
Leaving Ansel Adams Wilderness and entering Yosemite. Lots of rocks!
Lyle Creek.
Hikingsolo
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