Central California
Starting: Section H14 - Top of Selden Pass
Ending:  Section H15 - Vermillion Valley Resort

"Wait! Hold the ferry!" Just made the 4:45 boat to VVR, covering the last 1.5 miles in less than 20 minutes. Yes, you can run with a full pack. The day wasn't supposed to go this way…

We started hiking this morning at 8:00 am & planned on getting to the ferry landing 3 hours early to dry out our gear and do a little fishing. Pete & I had both used the last of our DEET after the sketchy Bear Creek crossing. It didn't last long and we were soon in mosquito hell.

Somehow, during our frantic slapping, swatting, weaving, & dodging we made a wrong turn and ended up 3 miles down the Bear Creek trail. Stopping for lunch, I tried to reconcile our position and asked Pete "where are we?". After several moments of silence, he replied with "uh-oh, this is disconcerting". We soon determined our position and realized the horrible consequences: not only did we have to climb back up through mosquito hell but we would also probably miss the ferry.

Double-timing it through the bugfest did no good. The only thing more amazing then the sheer number of mosquitoes is their agility. They can land on the leg of a fast moving hiker, draw blood, and get away in seconds. On the verge of a mental breakdown, I pulled out my only protection: rain jacket & headnet. I was quickly enveloped & I swear that the sky around me darkened slightly from the density of the blood-sucking bastards.

I went ahead of Pete after the switchbacks & broke into a slow run for the last mile. Reaching the ferry as the ropes were being untied to leave, I convinced the boat drive to wait for Pete.

I am currently eating a delicious seafood pasta and on my fourth beer. Not a bad ending to a long day...