Trip of a Lifetime
- Community
- Annuitants & Former ExPats
Author: Anneliese Tedeschi
Released 25 January 2007
Picture from left to right: Jon Foster, Jim Perry, Janak Desai, Bill Ives, Anneliese Tedeschi (seated) and Half Dome in the left background
Some Aramcons like to keep active and "young" in retirement. It was Jon Foster's brainchild to take a hike in the High Sierra in Yosemite National Park.
Jon applied for a permit for August 2005 that was granted through a lottery system. Unfortunately, that summer all guided hikes had to be postponed a year due to a late snow melt. When August 2006 rolled around Jon Foster, Bill Ives, Janak Desai, Jim Perry and Anneliese Tedeschi met at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, a tented camp, with personal supplies for five days on our back.
Weather forecast was a blue cloudless sky; we could not have asked for more. Ranger Dave, our guide, prepared our group of 14 very well, with humorous stories. We took it easy on the first day to Vogelsang camp at 10,300 feet with many stops to gasp for air and listen to lectures. Every plant, tree, mountain, lake and river had a name and a description. We learned a lot and wished to have the memory to store it for ever.
After sundown the temperatures dropped to an unpleasant cold but the pot belly stove kept us warm in our tent. All meals were served to us in huts; therefore, we only had to carry our favorite snacks and water.
The next day we descended on a steep stony trail, "the stairway to hell" named by Ranger Dave, to Merced Lake camp. That evening a few of us had to treat blisters on toes with duck tape. We sat around a warm camp fire to listen to bear stories while ignoring our aching body. We knew the next morning we could take it easy on a day of leisure if chose to do so, though some would not miss exploring the scenic environs of lakes and waterfalls. Lying on our back on a warm smooth rock slab we watched the night sky presenting all the cosmic activities.
Being trained by now, we managed the hike to Sunrise camp with flying colors while enjoying magnificent vistas and flower filled meadows bathed in sunshine. We all completed the loop on the 5th day having hiked just under 40 miles at an elevation between 7,000 feet - 10,300 feet. We were proud of our achievement, but the finale was still awaiting us at Mammoth Lakes. We tackled trails on mountain bikes that were meant for people half our age. "We are too old for this", Bill Ives kept repeating.