I noted in earlier posts that yesterday was the day Pam was scheduled to meet up with Paige, Jacob & friends for a resupply.  Muir Trail Ranch was her last resupply stop and it was not possible for Pam to fit 14 days of food into her bear canister.  As a result, we had to make plan for someone to meet her on the trail this weekend to bring her enough food to get her home.

As fortune would have it, Paige was scheduled to go on her own adventure this weekend–kayak camping along a river on the Northern California coast with her friends Katie, Josh and Alicia.  There was a hiccup in their plans and everyone kindly agreed to rearrange their adventure to help Pam.  We are very grateful for good friends.

It was a logistical challenge to get the group to a trail that would intersect with the JMT at the right place and at the right time.  Fortunately, Paige came up with a brilliant plan that could not have worked out much better.

The group set out early Saturday morning with the intention of driving to Kings Canyon Nat’l Park, then hiking in about 9 miles.  Sunday they hiked the remaining 7 or so miles to the Woods Creek Crossing of the John Muir Trail.  That trail intersection was already on Pams’ schedule for a camping spot on Sunday night.  Here’s a picture of Paige hiking thru the aptly named Paradise Valley where the group camped their first night.

The Woods Creek Crossing of the JMT is notable for the suspended footbridge that spans Woods Creek.  It is a marvel of engineering, particularly considering its remote location, and is a bit of a wobbly experience.  The resupply team reached Woods Creek before Pam did and managed to capture this picture of Pam crossing the bridge, with Paige and Jacob ready to greet her on the other side.

They had a wonderful reunion and a great time together, camping at Woods Creek Sunday night.  Pam reported she “had such a great day with the kids.  It really bolstered my spirits.”

The next morning, resupplied and reinvigorated, Pam said goodbye to the group and headed down the trail.  While she would have loved to have spent more time with them, it was back to the business at hand of completing her journey on the JMT.

Pam had another full day today, hiking roughly 7 miles to the stunning Rae Lake, where she is making her camp.  According to Jacob, she is doing amazing.  He and Paige also commented that Pam has made a number of friends along the trail and she is camping with them tonight.

As for the resupply expedition, they hiked out 16 miles today, for a total of 32, and are driving home all the way from Kings Canyon tonight.  They are about 40 minutes away from home as of this typing.  They will drop some items here, then Paige & Alicia will continue on to San Francisco.

It feels like Pam is in the home stretch, although she has plenty of challenges ahead, including a 14 mile day that includes summiting Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in North America.  She faces these last tests with a full canister of food and a full heart for all those who have supported her and made this adventure possible.

Special shout out to Alicia, Katie, Josh, Jacob & Paige.  You guys are awesome.