Day 8 September 5th

Start - Helen Lake
End –  Deer Meadows                                       
Mile – 13.3

I again left camp at my usual time at 6:45 AM. I normally am a early riser.  It seems impossible for me to sleep in. Just can’t do it. No matter how had I try.

While hiking down the trail from Le Conte Canyon towards the Kings River Confluence I noticed a beautiful meadow with a small stream winding through it. 
There was a sandy beach and large granite rock next to the stream where I can lay out my laundry and even take a nap. After lunch and washing up I dosed away for about 30 minutes when I hear the sounds of a horse breathing and snorting very close to me.  I open my eyes to see 4 horses just 20 feet away from me grazing in this meadow.  It was great to be a part of this scene.  The horses were ok with me being so close that I just closed my eyes and went back to sleep.  What a day!

I ended up camping in a small spot very close to Dear Meadows.  I know tomorrow is a big climbing day so I want to get lots of rest so I make camp at 4:30 PM.

Are you Bob Davies?????????

Please let me explain.

I met Bob Davies through trailfourm.com. Bob would post a few questions about the JMT and I would respond to a few of his post. Turns out that Bob plans to hike SOLO SOBO around the same time as me.   Except that he plans to start 4-5 days before me may be hiking smaller daily mileage than me.

Anyway, I offered to Bob that if we summited Whitney together and the next day  climbed down to the portal, I had a prearranged ride with a friend from the portal back to my truck in Yosemite.  Bob can be part of that shuttle and from Yosemite, I would drive him all the way to San Francisco where I live to catch his flight back home to New York.

Bob says in his email. “Great! I'm 6'1", buzzed head, and glasses. Usually wear nylon green soccer shorts and have a Lime Green Stephenson warmlite tent I should be easy to find”

So since I haven’t run in to Bob yet, I start asking hikers “Are you Bob Davies?”
I got a feeling he is 1 or 2 day ahead of me. I give Bob’s description to a few hikers hiking in the opposite direction and ask if they have seen Bob Davies.  Most would say they saw 3 older hikers a few miles back and one of them might be Bob. Another couple said I saw 3 older guys ahead of you a few miles just resting on a log. One of those guys might be Bob!

How hard is it to try to catch up to 3 older guys hiking just a few miles ahead of you? Hard, Damn Hard let me tell you.  I tried, couldn’t do it.  I gave up.  Anyway, I’m supposed to be taking my time and not chasing down somebody.

I went to sleep thinking, I will catch you tomorrow Bob Davies.

1 made 4 time entries in my log today.