Day 64, June 20: VVR/Mile 879 to 881
Start: Vermillion Valley Resort - Mile 878.7
End: Mile 880.6
Miles: 1.9
Ascent: 857 | Descent: 35
I woke up at VVR without an alarm, and was still awake by 6am, womp womp. I got up to brush my teeth and found a hula hoop leaning against one of the nearby cabins. I amused myself with it for a good 20 min before wandering towards the mess hall for breakfast.
I ordered French toast with eggs, hash browns and sausage and sat down with Lucky Charm, Zippo and Spin Cycle. They had coffee in an old timey tin pot that resembled a watering can, set on top of a small fireplace to keep warm. I poured myself a cup and topped it with whipped cream, yum. Other friends started to wander in for breakfast, and soon the place was bustling. Someone had left a comment on FarOut that VVR felt like adult summer camp, and I very much agreed with that. It was so fun!
After breakfast, the plan for the day was to resupply on food if I needed to, pack up my tent, charge electronics, relax, and hang out with friends. And that’s about what I did. Other hiker friends rolled in, including Erick and Manon, Hummingbird, the Germans (Choo Choo, Osita, Teddy Bear, Luisa, Constantine and Christina), and others. It was nice to chat with everyone and catch up. Everyone was interested to know where each other were during the storm that has passed over a few days before.
The day overall was very relaxing and I thoroughly enjoyed VVR. The staff were so friendly, it had everything we needed, and it felt like being in town without so many of the distractions that can make town sometimes feel overwhelming and stressful. I did not want to leave.
At 3:30, the group (Liz, Tikka, Sensei, Boop, Cathole and Squirrel Daddy) and I lined up for the shuttle ride to the ferry. VVR is situated next to Lake Edison, a manmade lake surrounded by beautiful mountains. We took the bumpy dirt road out towards the water and split the group of 7 into two small metal-sided boats. The ride across the lake took about 15 minutes, and I was so happy the whole time. I love being on boats- the feeling of gently bouncing on the water, the wind blowing in your face, the hum of the motor. I was all smiles.
Finally we reached the other end of the lake and started the 2ish mile hike to get back to the trail. After we rejoined the PCT, we only went two more miles before setting up camp. We all ate dinner together, and Spin Cycle showed up as well. Exhausted, I crawled into my tent at 7:30 and fell asleep shortly after.