In September 2023, I returned home from six months of traveling: hitchhiking across the US, hiking the AT and hitchhiking across Canada. I rested at home for a few weeks, trying to heal up from Lyme disease. I spent a lot of time in bed, and a lot of time editing my AT video. On the AT, I felt like I could always tell roughly how I was feeling because I was hiking everyday. I felt like I was in the dark on my health while I was visiting my parents because I was not testing myself.
“To rest is to rust” Bob told me on the AT “Motion is lotion”, so in that spirit Matt and I set out to the Sierra despite me still feeling acute symtoms of Lyme: aches and fatigue. I figured if I did not feel good, I could always catch a ride back with Matt.
And it worked! We had a great trip! It was tough at first, but I was able to keep up with Matt. My body started to feel better after a few days of altitude and exertion. We climbed five peaks and got a lot of catching up in. Overall it felt great to be back in the High Sierra.
I hitchhiked down to Mammoth and stayed with my friend Abraham at his campsite out on public land. I reveled in the Eastern Sierra fall and would not return to the Bay for almost a month.
For a more detailed trip report, see Matt’s website:
https://mattymorrison.com/pages/trips/routes/eastYose.html
Anthony Ottati 