Tuolumne Meadows to Carson Pass: “Mary Poppins”
Trail names and their origins are an endless fascination to me. I’ve encountered lots of unusual ones over the years (see https://pcttrailsidereader.com/post/173610726127/ugliest-cheerleader as an example). My daughter, Chisa, earned hers when she wore a tank top and short shorts on the first day heading south from Crater Lake. These woods, like most Oregon forests, were infested with mosquitoes who found Chisa very delicious. Her exposed skin had precipitated a feeding frenzy and within a couple of hours, she looked like she had lost a twelve round prize fight. She became, ‘Trail Bait’.
Dave Baugher tells the story here of how his wife, Luann, came upon her trail name.
After hiking from Tuolumne Meadows to Sonora Pass in the summer of 2016, my wife, Luann, and friend JP Santos drove from Arnold to Kennedy Meadows near Sonora Pass on Monday, July 3, where I had arrived the night before. Receiving my resupply, a wonderful kiss, and a shuttle from Kennedy Meadows back to the PCT, JP and I started northwards. We planned to hike from Sonora Pass to Ebbetts Pass over the next four days where Luann would pick us up at Hwy 4 where the PCT crosses. On this adventure, trail names became a focus of the trip and the desire for designation of a trail name highlighted the journey discussions. Getting a trail name can be a highpoint or irritation for the person so designated. This is the hopefully instructive saga of a summer Pacific Crest Trail hike involving trail names, that turned out all right in the end.
This adventure was the first backpacking trip JP had taken in years. Jean-Pierre Santos (JP) had talked about hiking with me on the PCT for several years and this was going to be the one. So with childlike enthusiasm, JP skipped up the trail, marveling at the views, spring flowers and the freedom of the trail as we turned our backs to Sonora Pass. JP a retired firefighter from San Jose, CA, had moved into our neighborhood in Arnold, CA several years back. Over a glass of wine one evening, JP and I talked about backpacking, fishing in the Sierras, and his desire to join me on the PCT. The days whizzed by, then weeks and months.
Finally, today was here and we were a couple of guys having a great time in the majestic Sierra Nevada. However, the four days and 40 miles passed way too quickly and we arrived at Ebbetts Pass on time Friday, a smiling Luann was right there waiting for us in the parking area along Highway 4. The three of us drove to our rustic town of Arnold, then later that evening we sat down to nice dinner of juicy steaks, a ruby red bottle of cabernet and tons of stories about the hike. We discussed our experience and specific plans for the next morning; JP would drive us back up to the PCT, then Luann and I would hike the next 33 miles from Ebbetts Pass to Carson Pass together. Another Trail Angel, local hiking legend and photographer, Tom O’Neil was to pick us up three days later.
Over dinner that night, the subject of trail names was discussed; Tail-Wind, Frodo, Hard Times, Rain Man, Shroomer and Semper-Fi. These are trail names of people that I’ve met – just a fraction. Recently Luann, my daughter Katherine, son Jacob, and son-in-law Patrick had a conversation about trail names over an earlier meal. On the trail, these names represent a new identity, a new beginning and a chance to escape everyday life. My family’s conversation centered on friends and family; what Disney characters name would be applicable to those they knew? It seems fitting that Luann and the family finally decided that her character should be “Mary Poppins.” With that specific trail name in mind, she approached the 33 miles coming up on the section between Ebbetts Pass and Carson Pass of the trail with the character and spirit of Mary Poppins.
Dinner over, we said goodnight to JP and called it a night. As always, morning came too soon and before I knew it, the three of us were in JP’s truck heading back up through the verdant green forests of Highway 4 to the PCT and back to the same parking area where we arrived off the trail just 24 hours earlier. Luann and I bid JP farewell and hit the rocky volcanic trail northwards into the El Dorado National Forest with smiles and songs in our hearts.
Leaving JP behind, Luann and I once again broached the subject of trail names. Explaining that trail names usually are not chosen, but given along the way with the adventure, I tried to temper her resolve to call herself Mary Poppins. Hikers depart contemporary society, and the trail name forms a new character, a new viewpoint and way of approaching this adventure we were on; Luann would get her trail name on this adventure, but not in the fashion she hoped and desired.
As mentioned, we planned to cover the 33 miles over two nights and three days. My trip preparation had us spending the first night on the shores of Raymond Lake, and the second night on the ridge above the distant Carson Pass. Spring snow was still covering the trail on the north-facing slopes, and I wanted to be careful crossing notorious sections of snowpack and gullies. On the other hand, it was colors, colors, colors. Greens, blues flaming reds, and brilliant yellows. The tinted ivory of bleached wood, smoldering scarlet of mountain heather, and the dragon skin glint of volcanic rock dotted the bare vistas along the trail. It was truly a magical Sierra spring hike and the Pacific Crest Trail put on quite a show.
However, when we reached the Raymond Lake spur trail at 3:00 p.m., Luann looked questioningly at me and asked “You’re thinking we are going to stop at this time? There is lots of daylight left! And besides, what are we going to do the rest of this afternoon?” So we kept going. That first day we covered nearly 16 miles – halfway along the planned hike. By now you should know or have figured out that my wife is a strong hiker and romantic lady. While walking around home or hiking along a trail, she can smoke past me when she gets up to her cruising speed and today she had done great, so changed plans had us watching the sun beginning to set as we made camp on the ridge overlooking the Carson Basin.
A dehydrated meal, celebrated with a golden California chardonnay hidden in my pack for tonight’s meal ended her first day on the Pacific Crest Trail. Luann still protested as the tranquil night closed in that her trail name should be Mary Poppins, but tomorrow was another day.
The next morning, I woke up at molten-rose sunup and crawled from the warmth of my sleeping bag. The morning sun crested the southern ridge, warming our tranquil camp with golden rays and Luann stayed snuggled in her sleeping bag while I prepped breakfast. We discussed our plan for the day. A mere 17 miles lay between us and the PCT/Carson Pass junction. Luann proposed we go for the highway, and then get a ride back to Arnold. How could I argue? So we broke camp and continued on.
We cruised along the trail, passing the sapphire colors of the Blue Lakes and emerald green meadows on the slopes below them. The day was another beautiful adventure; snacks and lunch were enjoyed during several stops. Granite boulders served as tables and chairs, overlooking majestic views of the volcanic landscape. Trail names were forgotten, and in their place, the names of spring flowers were talked about. On one twisting section of trail, I broke out ahead of Luann, and my lovely wife hurried to catch up with me.
Hiking blindly along I was lost in my thoughts about the trip when suddenly my revelry was broken by a scream from far behind me. I turned and ran back down the trail. Turning a corner I found Luann sprawled on the path. Rushing to her side I found Luann had tripped and fallen forward in the decomposed granite of the trail. Her face was scratched and bruised, sunglasses damaged and askew on her face, and most of all, ego bruised. A quick assessment of her condition indicated she had survived the fall ok, but then I began to grin, and then laugh, and there I blurted out “Face Plant!” Oh my goodness I really could not help it, but the name just erupted out and Luann had a real trail name.
Chagrinned, Luann did not protest, because she suddenly realized what a real name was and what it signified, so squaring her shoulders we both continued on smiling and laughing along the trail. The remainder of the day worked out beautifully for us.
We encountered trail magic at Highway 88, and three hitches later got us to our doorstep in Arnold. The family soon heard the story of the hike and Luann getting her PCT trail name. 33 miles really is not that long of a hike in PCT terms. However, those miles, that hike was the beginning of a good understanding of the PCT for my wife; Luann would join me for subsequent sections of the PCT. However, that first couple of days in 2016 were memorable. The subject of trail names is still a topic of conversation in the family; everybody gets a smile when Luann tells her story about getting her trail name. However, there’s always hope for a second/new trail name. Right?
Luann hoping for a new trail name
