Merced man ‘touches stars’ on 23-day John Muir Trail hike

Richard Rasmussen of Merced has a high-stress job as a general contractor specializing in commercial tenant improvement. It keeps him running throughout the state most of the week.

Rasmussen, 52, and his 64-year-old cousin Eric Rasmussen of Phoenix recently completed the ultimate getaway: a 23-day trek along the John Muir Trail, a stark departure from everyday life to the remote natural wonders of the Sierra Nevada.

“All you have to worry about is breathing and movement,” Rasmussen said. “The only stress is moving forward and feeding yourself at the end of the day. It (trail hiking) takes you away from the stresses of life.”

The whole idea is to get out there and smell the roses a little bit, Rasmussen said. There’s the beautiful deep-blue color of the mountain lakes, and the calmness of the water in itself is spellbinding.

“You feel like you can touch the stars at night,” Rasmussen said. “It’s something you don’t get in everyday life. The wonderful fresh air feels cleaner.”

Born in Modesto, Rasmussen has lived in Merced since he was 5 years old. His trek began Aug. 19 at Mono Meadows and concluded Sept. 11, a 236-mile journey culminating with the ascent of Mount Whitney at about 14,500 feet.

Risks? The Rasmussens encountered a black bear and her two cubs as he was leaving Ilhouette Meadow. He videotaped the encounter as the bears climbed a tree while they quickly retreated.

“An hour later I was thinking, ‘What else are we going to see out here?’” Rasmussen said. “Something caught my eye and I almost stepped on a 41/2-foot rattler on the trail. Spontaneity is what makes life interesting.”

Sights during the three-week hike brought back memories of when Rasmussen, his brother and his father, the late Dick Rasmussen, hiked in the mountains when he was 10 years old. He figures he saw fewer than 100 people during his hike.

“I never crossed a road or saw a vehicle in three weeks’ time,” Rasmussen said. “It’s timeless out there. Your senses are more acute. It seems like you’re out in the middle of nowhere. It takes three or four days to rid yourself of the trappings of civilization.”

At one point, while gazing at the surrounding mountains, Rasmussen thought to himself that he was in God’s cathedral.

Rasmussen said they were never lower than 8,000 feet; at that elevation there was no indication of drought, but an abundance of water fed by glacial springs.

Rasmussen started out at 182 pounds and came back 11 pounds lighter. Previously, he had done several five- or six-day hikes of the John Muir Trail but not the entire length.

Eric Rasmussen, an economist and urban planner in Arizona, cherishes his experiences on the John Muir Trail. He previously had done a 10-day hike in the Trinity Mountains while a college student.

“Oh, gosh, it was terrific,” Eric Rasmussen said. “I was a little apprehensive going into it. Would I manage the physical challenge, and was I prepared for the daunting task? As it turned out, I could, and it was great validation being able.”

While going through the Cascade Valley, Richard and Eric found the all-natural Iva Bell hot springs and soaked in its clear 96-degree water for several hours. Richard reported an eerie calm while in the pool, which was about 5 feet deep.

Wearing backpacks weighing about 55 pounds, the two men resupplied their food on four occasions, at Tuolumne Meadow, Reds Meadow, the Muir Trail Ranch and Kearsarge Pass. They mailed their provisions, which included dehydrated meals, meal replacement bars and jerky, to the resupply stations ahead of time.

Eric Rasmussen said there were many scenic highlights, which came early and often. He was especially moved by Sapphire Lake, at the base of Mount Huxley, as sunset was falling on the water.

Along the way, Richard Rasmussen said, they encountered a number of deer, including two eight-point bucks. There were marmots at the top of Mount Whitney.

The exhaustive trip didn’t satiate Rasmussen’s desire for outdoor adventure. He is already planning a 180-mile hike from Yosemite to Lake Tahoe next year.

This story was originally published November 13, 2014 at 4:21 PM with the headline "Merced man ‘touches stars’ on 23-day John Muir Trail hike."