Day 2 : Lyell Creek Footbridge

Monday June 30, 2014
25 Miles Today
50 Total Miles

Today is the is first that I can ever remember where I woke up with no thoughts. My mind was clear and not thinking about anything I had to do or remember. I lay there I the pre-dawn darkness completely comfortable, rested,  and content. I gave a brief effort to try to think and gave up, simply content to enjoy existing and being alive.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", someone said. The day is stunning and the beauty of this place takes my breath away. Yet where is the beauty really? Is it intrinsic to the landscape? I think not, beauty requires a beholder. The Bible says that God created the heavens and the earth and then he "saw everything that he had made, and it was very good." Genesis 1:31. I obviously am not the first to gaze on these vistas, but as I gaze I am moved something within rejoices and agrees with the Psalmist , "Oh Lord, our Lord, How excellent is your name in all the earth" the heavens declares, the seas  cry out, the mountains bow before the majesty of the creator. Extravagant and overwhelming is the splendor of God's grace to us.

I experienced my first taste of what the hikers call 'trail magic'. I think it is more correctly termed 'trail grace', I know the pagans won't like that name because of the connections that the term 'grace' has to Christianity. I was hiking along the JMT behind the Toulumne Meadows Campground when this couple waved to me from their campsite. They said are you hungry. It just so happened that it was lunch time and I was looking for the white tent that is used for a cafeteria. Sam and Debbie invited me down and let  me have a sandwich with fresh cold cuts and cheese. They gave me an ice cold bottle of water and a banana. That's pretty cool, and the only way to describe it is unmerited favor, grace! Thanks Sam and Debbie!

Twenty something miles again today. My feet got to feeling pretty flat by the end of the day. The last mile to this footbridge is all up switchbacks. It was pretty warm too. There were a lot of people resting on the climb. A light pack makes all the difference. I was able to make it here without stopping for a break.

I heard a little thunder while I was setting up camp but no rain or lightning. The views again today were spectacular. 

My shoes at the end of day two

Ummm... Burrito with cheese!

Here's the creek I get to listen to all night.