Its Like That...
And that's the way it is.
Ragnar Take 2: Trail Edition
About ~3.5 weeks post PCT backpack and Tahoe Adventures, I ran the Ragnar Rainier sprint team relay. You did a second Ragnar! Why? Probably what you're thinking.
In mid-June, my friend Jana (fellow woman in transportation and Evans school graduate) asked me to run the Ragnar trail race at Crystal Mountain. She and her friend, Janna (woefully I do not have a "J" name), signed up for the sprint team version (3 runners, one weekend day, no overnight running). Their third runner was injured and not able to run. My first thought - if you’re going to do one in Washington, might as well do both!
The race started at 7am on a Saturday. Each member of the team runs/hikes the same two sections of trail (the Crystal Mountain and Northway Trail). We had a 4am pickup to make the start, which is better than 3am wake up, on two hours of sleep, like my first Ragnar.
The first leg is ~2,700 feet of elevation gain over 4.7 miles. I was the first runner to tackle this section. Little running, mostly fast hiking with a final short and steep section to reach the Ragnar tent to hand off to Jana, to start down the Northway Trail. I trucked up the section in 1:50, finishing just before 9am. Beautiful views of Mount Rainier and thankfully you get to ride the gondola down after all that uphill.
Views from the Top of the Crystal Mountain and the final stretch of the hike up
I had a three-hour break before running the mostly downhill Northway Trail (~7.4 miles, losing ~2700 feet). I rode the gondola up, chatting with two fellow Ragnarians, discussing the challenge of the uphill trail. I met Janna around noon and began my run down. About two miles in, I took a tumble, due to a rock or root, but just a scraped knee. I moved a bit more intentionally (and slowly) after that. When in the final stretch to the Ragnar base camp (rudely uphill), I discovered I had to be at camp by 2pm for Jana to leave on her leg. It being 1:50pm and ~1 mile to go, that was not going to happen. The team went forward anyway, and ultimately finished the race, even with a little time assistance. Also got to catch up with my colleague and friend, Laura, who ran the eight person race (and who was on our Queue Jumpers team). Always great to see a friendly face!
My relationship with Mount Whitney: A Brief History
As you may know, I have been chasing Mount Whitney since 2020. My first adventures into California's Eastern Sierras for backpacking began in 2018 - with a trip from North Lake to South Lake through evolution basin. In 2019, we did the Rae Lakes loop - another classic trip.
Evolution Basin (2018) and Rae Lakes (2019)
In 2020, I set my sights set on a backpacking trip via Kersarge Pass, Forrester Pass on the John Muir Trail (JMT) to exit and hike up Mount Whitney. This would allow plenty of time to acclimate over a few days to be at 14,505 feet. To get permits for this trip, you need to secure them online ~six months in advance.
As we all know, 2020, as one might say, was unprecedented. Despite the pandemic, being outside provided solace. We planned a three week trip, including driving to California, staying at Lassen Volcanic National Park and our backpack. And then this happened...
All wilderness permits promptly cancelled. With most of northern California in a smoke plume, we headed back to Washington and made lemonade out of lemons with a lovely fall backpack via Angels Staircase loop, through Cooney and Eagle Lakes.
Cut to 2021 - have Whitney Permit, will travel. Fire strikes again and all permits cancelled. We pivot to a backpack in the Eagle Cap Wilderness/ Wallowas.
For 2022 and 2023, I decided to take a pause. We did a great trip to the Tetons with friends in 2022. In 2023, we did the North Loop at Mount Rainier.
Views from Table Mountain (Tetons) and on the North Loop at Mt. Rainier (2023)
We secured our permits for 2024. However, I injured myself during a trail race in July, and made the difficult call not to do the trip as September approached. I wasn't sure I was mentally prepared for the trip either. Hiking Whitney is difficult, 99 switchbacks, some narrow sections on steep terrain. Basically trip elements I didn’t think I had resilience for. Instead, we did two amazing three-day backpacks, one at Yosemite National Park and one near Mammoth Lakes last year.
View to Vogelsang Lake (Yosemite NP) and Deer Lakes (2024)
So for 2025, we had permits in hand, ready to go.
The Elusive Mount Whitney
This is the part where you want me to say that I conquered it. Well, remember that tumble I took at Ragnar? That ended up causing a bigger issue a few days later. Apparently, I tumbled hard enough to dislodge these tiny calcium carbonate crystals called otoconia. These help your brain understand your balance. Seems kinda important huh? About two days after the tumble, certain head movements resulted in dizzy spells when I stood up, or changed head positions. After a doctor's visit and exercises, dizzy spells went away, but my vestibular system (which functions to detect position and moment of one’s head) was still re-calibrating. Things like walking on uneven terrain or sudden head movements were more difficult as my system figured out the right cues for balance and head position.
We made the drive anyway, with hope I'd regain my footing in the five days we had until our permit. We stayed in Mammoth Lakes, checking out the sunset at the Minaret Vista and doing a short hike to Sherwin Lake, which is just over 4 miles and 900 feet of gain. This hike was the first sign that I may not recover in time. It took so much concentration to do this simple hike, the kind of concentration where your brain hurts. At this point, I knew chances were low that I’d be ready for Whitney.
Sunset views toward the Minarets and Sherwin Lake
We ended up rearranging our trip. Instead, we did short day hikes, including a beautiful hike to Reversed Peak, and enjoyed beach days at June Lake (always spectacular) and lunch at the Mobil in Lee Vining (IYKYK).
Reversed Peak Hike, June Lake and The Mobil in Lee Vining (always get the fish tacos!)
We made the most out of our trip home, camping at Eagle Lake (best pit toilets in the west), taking in our favorite spots in Bend (Pine Tavern, Good Life Brewing and Sparrow Bakery) and camping at Maryhill State Park before ending our trip a few days early.
Clean and nicely decorated pit toilet at Eagle Lake campground, view from Pine Tavern Patio and prepared for possible thunderstorm at Maryhill
This was my fourth attempt in six years. It was disappointing and surreal for it not to happen, and once again, under circumstances beyond my control. Mentally and physically I was ready until the dizzy spells. Right now, everyday is a bit better. I am hopeful that I can enjoy hikes on my Yellowstone trip next week and complete a half marathon I signed up for at the end of this month.
In my reflection about this trip, I realized that perhaps, my own backyard was meant to restore and reinforce me. That my PCT trip was meant for that purpose. Mount Whitney will be there. For me, for now, it's time to let it go. There are so many other places to explore.
