Hypothermic Circles

This is me starting to freeze.

As planned, Tuolumne again this past weekend. Hitched a ride with Matt & Susan's Eurovan Friday night - promptly passed out from work-week exhaustion. Hit up some knob routes at Medlicott, which nearly turned into a crag. Needed to get further away so I convinced Mandi to go up West Crack in spite of the clouds, but not crowds. I was smart to pack headlamps and water. Didn't really think to bring a jacket. But things went just fine, until I started us down-climbing another crack. Into the second pitch from above, Mandi had enough and tied in to rap. I made it another pitch and a half down until I encountered an expanse of that orange granite glass. No biggie. Made it down in time for fish tacos at the Mobile. So good.

Sunday woke with warm sunshine. Hot sunshine, actually. I was more into being in the shade, and Mandi was psyched on DNW Face of Lembert, so we went. It was a mellow climb with a few short considerations near the top. Then back to N. Whizz Dome. Charged out there hoping to use my camera. Didn't think I'd get a chance until the thunder started clapping.

When the rain started, people quickly packed up to bail. I wanted to watch the storm from out there a while more, so I kept my camera out and started taking random shots. I've got a waterproof bag, so I wasn't worried about the mechanical gear. Didn't have a waterproof jacket though (shorts & a t-shirt), so I should've been a bit more worried about the organic gear. As the storm intensified, I over-corrected my path southward. The hail was intense and the rope bag didn't quite cover the pelts of pain. A bright white ball of lightning exploded seemingly 50 feet away - the thunder cracked through my body.

I had been sprinting between groups of trees - ice chunks now blanketed the ground - the ground gave way to my heel - my weight hammered on top of my knee - checked it out, not an injury. But valuable in that my steps became much more calculated - I shifted into a continual jog, knowing now I was lost - now ignoring the pennies from heaven, to step through the newly created rivers and to generate heat through movement. This was war. No longer contracted to fight for society, this event was directly personal.

Remembering Sun Tzu, I maneuvered to higher ground. An unnamed granite outcropping. Nothing but clouds. Not even a sun. A small lake in the distance below. Another ridge peeking out across the way. A wash of bleak frustration. Alternatively known as hypothermia. Kept moving.

Unfortunately pushing south-westerly behind the Polly Dome. Further from the road. Running. Carefully. Aware. Waiting for the clouds to lift higher. Time slowly replaced by the sound of my breathing & the impact of my feet. The thunder no longer rattled me. I ran in a circle. Finally, turning to see Medlicott rising above a closer ridge, I reversed and ran to the road. Ranger Fred saved me. Whiskey too.