June 21st
Today we were on the trail by 5:45pm in order to hike the 8 miles up and over Bear Ridge to the edge of Lake Edison by the 9:45 pick up time for the ferry (or as the Carrot called it “the Cheeseburger Boat”). We watch for the namesake bears, but see none. Aside from some occasional scat we have seen no sign of bears in the Sierras and are starting to believe that Crazy John may be right; that bears may just be mythical creatures.
Crazy John, Frank and some fishermen were already waiting at the ferry landing when we arrived at 9am. The ferry arrives at 10am, a small boat overloaded and moving slow. It can only carry 7 passengers, so the Carrot and I had to wait for it to make a second run. Hurry up and wait. We finally leave the dock at 11am, wishing we had slept in.
While we were waiting for the ferry we watched a death struggle between a small black ant and a Wood Tick. The ant attacked the much larger and fiercer looking tick. The ant subdued and dragged the tick off, the hunter returning home with great success.
The ferry whisks us away to the comforts of Vermillion Valley resort where showers, laundry, supplies, burgers and beer await.
The lake’s calm waters quietly lapped against the boat as we crossed to the fishing resort on the west end. A mighty damn creates this lake, by holding back the raging waters of wild Mono Creek, taming them in much the same way that a zoo’s cage holds back and tames ferocious beasts both creating an illusion of tranquility of a natural savageness whose character has changed.
There are a large number of thru hikers at Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR). Strut has caught up with the other dozen hikers known as the “Unit” and they are all in residence, as well as several others including Jimbo. We finally catch up to and meet the couple known as “Start Off Slow and Taper Off,” and see “Ukele Nate and Brit” for the first time since right after Warner Hot Springs. Most everyone is getting ready to leave on the afternoon ferry
VVR was not quite geared up for so many hikers and is short on food, enough to eat, but selections are limited. Everything is expensive here due to the high costs of operating such a remote outpost, and because they know that the hikers are a captive audience in need of all basic necessities such as showers, laundry, food and beer.
After sharing multiple six packs of Budweiser, the King of Beers, with Crazy John, the Carrot and I name her new found teddy bear mascot “Bud” for he came from a bar and is the King of Bears……
