July 6, 2012
Day 135 After 2 days of backpacking we decided to stay in Merced Lake and enjoy a lazy afternoon rather than continue along our journey.  We had hiked about 17 miles or so to get there and the break was welcome.  My feets were tired and I was excited to enjoy a day meandering around with no set destination!  Open Mike and I ended up being the only two left at camp, one of our friends had gone fishing and the other couple on a romantic adventure, so we decided to travel up the steam to a supposed cliff jumping spot that the crew had mentioned the night before at dinner!  We started up the trail gossiping away and climbing over fallen trees.  I think the total hike up was about 2 1/2 miles up.  About half way up the trail we saw a bear!  It was a brown bear rummaging through the foliage.  Its body was probably only 4 feet long when it was on all fours, so definitely not a huge bear.  But all week we were warned to watch for bears, so my adrenaline started pumping and I was scared!  I had been told that babies can be extra dangerous cause their mom’s are in super protection mode and will pretty much defend them if they feel a threat, which could just mean that you surprise them and they freak out.  Anyhow, I asked Mike what we were supposed to do…. he said to make noise, and started clanking his hiking sticks together.  I screamed the most blood curdling scream I could conjure up.  The bear looked up at us with his cute bewildered eyes and started running the other way!  Poor cute little creature!  It made me feel a little bad, it looked so frightened :-) We finally found the lake we were looking for and yet again, no one was around.  Just me and Mike and a huge private lake with cumulus clouds drifting gently overhead.  There were no cliffs for jumping but the huge lake sufficiently delighted us.  We crossed the  stream to a little cove of sand and Mike went off to meditate while I did yoga in the sand.  This was my first time doing yoga in the sand, it was so lovely!  Of course, I did almost fall a couple times, but I forgave myself :-)  After yoga time I meditated into the lake, which was super beautiful and I could see fish jumping and the clouds slowly moving over the horizon as I gazed at the grandeur before me.  Apparently Open Mike opened his eyes when he was meditating off on a rock which sat just inside the water and saw me running around naked.  I was trying to discreetly take my photos but he caught me :-)  

Day 135

After 2 days of backpacking we decided to stay in Merced Lake and enjoy a lazy afternoon rather than continue along our journey.  We had hiked about 17 miles or so to get there and the break was welcome.  My feets were tired and I was excited to enjoy a day meandering around with no set destination!  Open Mike and I ended up being the only two left at camp, one of our friends had gone fishing and the other couple on a romantic adventure, so we decided to travel up the steam to a supposed cliff jumping spot that the crew had mentioned the night before at dinner!  We started up the trail gossiping away and climbing over fallen trees.  I think the total hike up was about 2 1/2 miles up.  About half way up the trail we saw a bear!  It was a brown bear rummaging through the foliage.  Its body was probably only 4 feet long when it was on all fours, so definitely not a huge bear.  But all week we were warned to watch for bears, so my adrenaline started pumping and I was scared!  I had been told that babies can be extra dangerous cause their mom’s are in super protection mode and will pretty much defend them if they feel a threat, which could just mean that you surprise them and they freak out.  Anyhow, I asked Mike what we were supposed to do…. he said to make noise, and started clanking his hiking sticks together.  I screamed the most blood curdling scream I could conjure up.  The bear looked up at us with his cute bewildered eyes and started running the other way!  Poor cute little creature!  It made me feel a little bad, it looked so frightened :-)

We finally found the lake we were looking for and yet again, no one was around.  Just me and Mike and a huge private lake with cumulus clouds drifting gently overhead.  There were no cliffs for jumping but the huge lake sufficiently delighted us.  We crossed the  stream to a little cove of sand and Mike went off to meditate while I did yoga in the sand.  This was my first time doing yoga in the sand, it was so lovely!  Of course, I did almost fall a couple times, but I forgave myself :-)  After yoga time I meditated into the lake, which was super beautiful and I could see fish jumping and the clouds slowly moving over the horizon as I gazed at the grandeur before me.  Apparently Open Mike opened his eyes when he was meditating off on a rock which sat just inside the water and saw me running around naked.  I was trying to discreetly take my photos but he caught me :-)  

12:00am  |   URL: http://ayearwithoutclothes.tumblr.com/post/26884070775/day-135-after-2-days-of-backpacking-we-decided-to
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