Racing the Sun

Stayed at a bunkhouse in Truckee to get an early start the next morning.  Had four fitful hours in and out of one of the top bunks in a room for four, between restless leg syndrome and low glucose alarming twice on my monitor. I sat out in the truck until sports beans and glucose tabs brought my sugar back up.  Midnight. Rolled out of the truck and accidentally hit the alarm button instead of the lock button – twice. All of old Truckee must be mad except those in the club a couple of blocks away.  Resisted the temptation to set my alarm. I had bothered everyone enough already. Woke a couple minutes before 2 am and quietly lowered my 180-pound frame down the creaky bunk ladder. Grabbed my things from the piles of hiking gear by the light of my half-charged phone. Dressed in the shared bathroom and headed back up to Donner Pass. Somehow didn’t have my daypack ready until 3:15.  No poles, no bear spray. Promptly headed up the wrong dirt path. Made a correction 20 minutes later and walked by headlamp to the saddle. Turned the right way up the ridge towards the peak. Barely stopped and was rewarded by a beautiful sunrise. Finally drank water, took selfies, and headed down through scree, forest, and beautiful wildflowers. Back to the truck with two sore feet and one big smile. One more step in fighting against this life-altering disease called diabetes.