Marilyn Koolstra
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Julia was no stranger to long hikes. She had through-hiked the Appalachian Trail a few years earlier. That's a walk from Georgia to Maine, through the dense forests of the eastern U.S. Julia had spent a year in Japan afterward, but was now back stateside with no commitments.
Julia was no stranger to long hikes. She had through-hiked the Appalachian Trail a few years earlier. That's a walk from Georgia to Maine, through the dense forests of the eastern U.S. Julia had spent a year in Japan afterward, but was now back stateside with no commitments.
In fact, Eric was 59 and Alan was 48. Julia took an immediate liking to Eric.
In fact, Eric was 59 and Alan was 48. Julia took an immediate liking to Eric.
The first stretch of the JMT carried them up past Half Dome, one of Yosemite's iconic landmarks. Julia marveled, seeing rock climbers clinging to the sheer granite walls. Eric compared it to Patagonia, where he'd hiked with Alan a few years earlier.
The first stretch of the JMT carried them up past Half Dome, one of Yosemite's iconic landmarks. Julia marveled, seeing rock climbers clinging to the sheer granite walls. Eric compared it to Patagonia, where he'd hiked with Alan a few years earlier.
Eric was a trekker or bushwalker, someone who travels on trails. Alan was a mountaineer. That's more specialized, a combination of hiking, scrambling, and climbing, often without a trail, sometimes over snow and ice. You don't have to be a mountaineer to hike the JMT, but keep this difference in mind because it will matter later in our story.
Eric was a trekker or bushwalker, someone who travels on trails. Alan was a mountaineer. That's more specialized, a combination of hiking, scrambling, and climbing, often without a trail, sometimes over snow and ice. You don't have to be a mountaineer to hike the JMT, but keep this difference in mind because it will matter later in our story.
From the Yosemite Valley, the JMT travels to a place called Tuolumne Meadows. The trail turns south there and breaks out of the trees before crossing Donahue Pass. They were in the alpine, above timberline, where no trees grow. A very different environment from the places Julie had hiked before.
From the Yosemite Valley, the JMT travels to a place called Tuolumne Meadows. The trail turns south there and breaks out of the trees before crossing Donahue Pass. They were in the alpine, above timberline, where no trees grow. A very different environment from the places Julie had hiked before.
But the tall mountains of the Sierra are prone to bouts of bad weather. Bursts of wind and rain can lash hikers. Eric and Alan both came prepared.
But the tall mountains of the Sierra are prone to bouts of bad weather. Bursts of wind and rain can lash hikers. Eric and Alan both came prepared.
Getting soaked in the mountains can put a hiker at risk for hypothermia. Eric and Alan put up tents each night, attaching rainflies to make sure they stayed dry.
Getting soaked in the mountains can put a hiker at risk for hypothermia. Eric and Alan put up tents each night, attaching rainflies to make sure they stayed dry.
Hanging a tarp with no trees takes ingenuity. It worked okay for Julia on this trip, mostly because the weather remained calm. Could have been a different story in a storm.
Hanging a tarp with no trees takes ingenuity. It worked okay for Julia on this trip, mostly because the weather remained calm. Could have been a different story in a storm.
But that's part of the fun of this kind of camping. Testing your skills, equipment, and spirit against challenging conditions. Sometimes scraping by with just the bare essentials. Julia could see her new friend Eric didn't compromise when it came to safety. But his ambitions in the outdoors were growing, along with the potential dangers.
But that's part of the fun of this kind of camping. Testing your skills, equipment, and spirit against challenging conditions. Sometimes scraping by with just the bare essentials. Julia could see her new friend Eric didn't compromise when it came to safety. But his ambitions in the outdoors were growing, along with the potential dangers.