This could be the day that we make up those lost miles from yesterday. We chugged up the hill and arrived at Lake Virginia, took a short break, and then chugged up and over the hump to Purple Lake. Why is it called Purple Lake? I really don’t know. I wonder about it every time I pass it. I checked my paper map before we left Purple Lake and I think there was a misprint – it showed a mild uphill but in reality, it was a looooong uphill in the sun for miles. We played leap-frog with a group of four young men and a gal. They kept stopping and we kept passing. After a total uphill of 2,592 ft, we finally crested and descended 4,462 feet (that’s a lotta downhill) to Reds Meadow where delicious cheeseburgers awaited us. They were very expensive, like $18.00, but oh so worth every mouthful. It’s always a shock to walk into a popular area and discover numerous cars and people walking about. We looked at our mileage for the day and we had walked 20.56 miles! We made up our miles and are now back on schedule. We found the 2/10’s mile shortcut trail to the backpackers’ campsites and found a place for our three tents. The host lady came buzzing around in her golf cart and announced that we had to gather six people and pay the fee of $25.00. What a weird number. Most of us who were already established were pretty confused with what she was saying, so she suddenly announced that the group of nine of us could pay the $25 but that the next set of six must pay the $25. Whatever. We all threw in $3 and called it good. There were wonderful outhouses and a potable pump faucet at our disposal. Bonus – there were bear proof garbage containers that we could get rid of our accumulating garbage too! We watched a group of young adult backpackers arrive with a five gallon bucket filled with beer and ice and proceeded to be jolly. I was so glad I had my earplugs. Oh, Seasoned Strider’s airpad has developed a hole somewhere and she had to add air four times last night. Bummer.