Distance: 2 miles (approx. 3.2 km) + Ferry Ride
I decided to change my plans today and stay at VVR (Vermilion Valley Resort). When I arrived at the Lake Edison ferry landing, I found Soman and Ram, the mother and son from yesterday, already there. Around 9:30 a.m., we boarded the ferry that carries hikers to the resort on the south side of the lake. While walking would have taken 7 miles, today I chose to let the ferry do the work.
Upon arrival, I found that VVR, much like Reds Meadow, is a comfortable spot equipped with the essentials hikers need. I restocked on AAA batteries for my headlamp and picked up a fuel canister at the store. Right next to the store, I set up my “home” for the night at the hiker campsite.
I took this opportunity to wash away the grime of the trail. I used the paid shower service and did a quick bit of laundry while I was at it. I also took some time for yoga, and I could feel my body recovering remarkably. With a cold beer in hand, I savored the “blessings of civilization” in a truly relaxed atmosphere.
However, while my body was resting, I noticed my mental state had started to dip since yesterday. I had heard that many JMT hikers experience a slump around the midpoint of the trail, and I felt I was beginning to understand why.
In my case, it wasn’t just physical exhaustion. I’m still enjoying the thru-hiking itself and I don’t feel tired yet. Instead, it felt as though the deeper issues of my life and long-held complexes were bubbling up to the surface like sediment. Even though other hikers were around, I simply didn’t feel like talking. I saw a PCT couple who seemed to be enjoying their journey immensely, but I also recalled other solo PCT hikers I’d seen who seemed more introverted—perhaps, like me, they were walking while carrying the weight of their own life’s struggles. The trail is truly a crossroads of diverse lives.
I feel most at peace when I am in nature—that is an undeniable truth. Yet, I wonder if that is enough.
“If I stay hidden away in the mountains alone, I’ll simply become a hermit.”
I don’t think that’s what I want. I want friends, I want a partner, and I feel I need to get used to socializing with others. Ultimately, my usual complexes are reflected here on the trail. For me, this journey is becoming more than a series of beautiful vistas; it is a mirror reflecting my own way of living.
Tonight, I will stay quiet and continue this dialogue with myself.
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