Trail Angels?

We are back from a short trip to Yosemite, where we camped out of the van in Crane Flat and did a few day hikes, just to get our legs and lungs into shape.

On the first day we checked into our campsite and then decided to drive the Tioga Road. Right at the Crane Flat gas station we noticed two well-worn hikers looking for a ride. Once we had checked out the store (it was virtually empty--just the minimum number of items on the shelves) I went out and asked the two hikers where they were going.

They were PCT hikers who had taken a few days to get down into Yosemite Valley and hike the Half Dome trail. Now they were going to continue their through-hike in Tuolumne Meadows, while we were going to Olmsted Point. No worries, we took them the extra eight miles to the Meadows, and were able to check out the store there--which was even sparser. Sad.

On the drive, the male hiker (AKA Stretch) said about five words. Pretzel, on the other hand, gave us a full hours narration of what was running through her head.

We dropped them off and drove back to Olmsted point in silence. We'd had enough talking for one day. The lovely old junipers on the dome behind Olmsted Point were payment enough. That, and the views of Clouds Rest, Half Dome, and beyond.

It must get lonely out there on the Pacific Crest Trail...