6-12 Above 10,000 and Some Questions Answered

I fear altitude sickness.  A couple of times I've experienced mild symptoms,  mostly headache and lightheadedness.  Hitting the Sierras on this trail has had me worried.  But, today's climb allayed this trepidation somewhat.  Having camped around 8000', my body adjusted well, and I was only mildly panting up past Olancha Pass and over the 10,300' crossing.  Pit Stop and Navigator were great motivators, and it was nice to chat while gasping for air.  At a small trickle of water, Navigator noticed a small family of grouse which we stalked with our cameras.  Mother clucked calmly at her several children while we clicked away only a few feet from them.

After getting water at Death Canyon (naw, I'm not kidding,  and it it a fairly tasty water source), though, I started to drag on the climb and pulled off a bit earlier than the other two.  I don't like letting my damned neuroma run the show, but I was tired anyway, so I made camp and vowed to catch them in the morning.

 

Question: What do you eat?

I almost always eat the same stuff.

 

Breakfast

"Shart" is a mixture thst I've created consisting of:

1/2 scoop electrolyte drink mix

3/4 cup dried instant oatmeal

1 scoop protein powder

2 VIA coffee packets

1 cup cold water

It is shaken, left to sit for a few minutes, then drunk cold

 

Also a package of pop tarts

 

Snack

One of the following:

Protein bar

Package of corn nuts

Handful of Trader Joe's trail mix

 

Lunch

6 water crackers

6 big slices of dry salami

6 big slices of parmesan or mozzarella

 

Also lunch "shart" consisting of electrolyte drink powder and a coffee packet in a cup and a half of water

 

Snack (as above)

 

Dinner

Two handfuls of potato/stuffing/gravy mixture

One packet tuna

Mixed together cold with a couple cups of water

Also a half tortilla slathered in Nutella

 

Occasionally potatoes are substituted with a tortilla and mayo

 

Question: Do you always sleep in a bivy?

Nope, I usually cowboy camp.  Nothing has crawled into my sleeping bag yet.

 

Question: How far ahead do you plan?

 In general terms, I plan the rough number of days to the next town.  Nothing elaborate here.  When I know there is no good resupply coming, I will mail food to the next place that receives hiker packages.  But really, I can resupply at a gas station if I have to.  It really doesn't have to be a huge ordeal.

Daily, I figure out my water options and give myself a minimum goal.  If I go over it, I'm happy.  But I always know where the next water is.