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Onward and Upward

Onion Valley Campground was the launching point for my six-day trip over Labor Day into the High Sierras.
My friend Christina and my two other trailmates kept talking about something called "a pass." That didn't mean much to me at first.
But it would. Oh yes, it would.

Onion Valley Campground is in the Inyo Wilderness, and the trail starts at elevation 9,200 feet, according to GORPaway.com.
Our goal the first day was to climb Kearsage Pass -- 11,823 feet, according to GORP.
We got a relatively early start and spent a few hours hiking until lunch at a beautiful lake. Fishermen were floating on the water, and plenty of other hikers were on the trail. The sun shone, and the view was idyllic.
I was completely miserable.
For all the working out I had done, it was plain that my body wasn't prepared for the assault of life -- not to mention exercise -- at high altitude. I had started wheezing by the third step up the trail. By lunch, I truly didn't think I could take another step.
I sat down with crackers and tuna -- or something. The memories of that first day are somewhat spotty in places, no doubt because of my oxygen-starved brain.
Storing memories wasn't my first priority. Breathing was.
My trailmates, on the other hand, seemed to be taking it all in stride. In fact, they strode right by me -- with my blessing -- and were about 45 minutes ahead of me until lunch.
But here's where they showed true character. They waited for me before digging into our rations.
Yes, waited.
I barely knew two of the three -- and they waited.
Those are true trailmates.

Posted by at 11:34 AM | Permalink