JMT - Day 14 - VVR to Purple Lake

August 31, 2016
Day 14
18 miles / 182.6 total
Steps: 43,454
Purple Lake
Days without shower 1


I can't believe I've been out here for 2 weeks already. It's been going by pretty fast. Today started out much later than I wanted. We all got up and kinda packed up before heading to breakfast. I had 2 eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast! The guys had the same but 2 meals...and beer. Lol
We enjoyed our meal and I cut out early to pay my tab and enjoy running warm water for the last time for a couple days. My total was just under $200! Kind of crazy but totally worth it!

We got all packed up and waited for them to be ready to ferry us across the lake. They said they could only take 3 of us so I jumped on the first one with Luke and Dylan. Brian is the fastest so we figured he would catch up. We said we would camp at Purple Lake so at least we had a plan. The ferry took about 30 minutes to get across but is so much better than walking. By the way - the "ferry" is a tiny boat that can sit 5.

Once across the lake, we started walking and it was hard to get warmed up. The boys are so much quicker than me and I couldn't see them once we got back on the JMT which was about a mile in. I hiked by myself most of the day and listened to music and then my a book... I wasn't feeling great and just needed to zone out. Too much bread and funky food and my stomach wasn't happy. I took a few breaks and had to get water a couple times. About 4:30 Brian caught up to me and I let him by after talking for a minute. It wasn't long before I couldn't see him. I was really hoping they were going to camp at Lake Virginia but I didn't see them there so I continued to Purple Lake. The lake did not look purple but it was a pretty cool lake. A lady asked me how much longer I was going because it was starting to get dark and I explain I was looking for my friends or the next campsite. She suggested a place and said she hadn’t seen who I was describing. So I set up camp, cooked a quick dinner, and am now in my bag. I wish I was camping with them but hopefully I will see them in the morning. I got used to being with the boys and it is a little odd being on my own again at night. I need to go into mammoth to get my box and kinda want to see the town. It's only about 13 miles tomorrow so shouldn’t be too bad. Almost 9pm now and I'm starting to get warm in my bag and gonna try to get some rest. Good night!