I’ve been super sick this past week-ish. It started with migraines, then just absolutely no energy, then sneezing and cold sweats and fever and absolute hell. But I’m starting to get better. This is my first time being sick living in the van, and it’s a little rough(especially in the heat of summer).
I generally try to avoid being inside this metal box when the sun is up. It doesn’t get that bad in there- but still, I don’t really have a ton of interest in being shut in the thing all day. At least until I do some renovations.
So what does a spontaneous person with a questionable decision making history do when they’re stick af? Go for a 14 mile hike, obviously.
I didn’t really intend to set out on this much of an excursion when I got sick of pacing around the campsite and set off to scamper across the four lane highway towards Mirror Lake. But by the time I got through the wide, crowded, unchallenging three miles up to the lake, I was feeling unexpectedly energetic, considering the state of my sinuses. The hike was somehow making me feel better, I was telling myself. So I continued on to the much less popular(and therefore less crowded) hike up Tom, Dick and Harry mountain.
I’ve heard various stories as to the origins of the odd name for the ridgeline. The most common one is that some guy with two of the three names first established the trail, and they changed the name for the pun(of which I am not aware). Anyways, it’s a really interesting looking looming ridgeline above the lake, formed by glacial decay.
It was a great hike. I am surprised(and a little upset) that I hadn’t done it before. The way up was a little long and bland, but the entirety of the ridgeline was spectacular. I even climbed around on the rocks a little bit, just to get some adrenaline going. Afterwards, there’s a cool, casual dismount down a ski resort on the other side to complete the loop. I discovered an unlocked ski patrol hut and hung out for a little bit and to see if I could find a tissue to blow my snotty ass nose. I did not
I went the long, and wrong, way down the resort. It was still super fun though. I came across a “historic warming hut”, but it was padlocked and seems to have turned into more of a wedding venue. This is the point where I made some mistakes about my route down. About half an hour later, I found myself on an overgrown path that I was almost blinded by. As the tall weeds and thorny ass stalks poked and prodded every part of me, I wanted to turn around about 10 times. I didn’t, and I have no idea why.
I did finally come out on an old mountain bike trail that was in serious need of maintenance, however. It was wholesome and pleasant from that point forward. I made some Paneer the night before borrowing my friend’s camping stove, and curled up with that in bed following the little outing that somehow turned into a 14 mile hike.
Life can be alright sometimes I guess :) Even though I feel like complete ass and in my illness my brain is telling me I want to be home, I am so so SO happy I got my ass out of my own head today and went for a walk :)
