Ok, so first and foremost I would like to thank everyone that replied. All your advice made me the envy of the group when it came to hiking, eating, etc. I went on the trip this past weekend and I absolutely positively will be going back into the backcountry again! I have realized how much fun you can have by being exhausted and hungry. I made a few rookie mistakes but I lived and learned.
Just think how much you'll enjoy it when you get to the point that you don't end up exhausted and hungry!
Glad you had a good trip.
Lessons learned:
1.) leave you backpack unzipped when you hang it on bear cables b/c the mice will eat a hole in your pack top get the food...now I have to patch it.
Take a bear bag and hang the pack without the food in it.
2.) Don't be so pre-occupied with scaring off a bear that comes into the campground that you don't get a good picture of it. I'm really kicking myself about this. It was so close and so big that I would loved to have gotten a picture.
3.) Pick your partners carefully
I'm sure there's a story behind the partner one. I have a few of those too.
Don't kick yourself too hard about the bear - seeing a bear up close makes for a lot of adrenalin, especially the first time. There will be other bears.
4.) Don't underestimate the temperature difference between 2500 ft and 5500 ft. I woke up at 4:30 am to 40 degree temps in my 40 degree bag...It was chilly but not unbearable.
At least you took the bag. Someone who started a trip with my group at lower elevation decided it wouldn't be cold and left his bag in the car - he ended up in a mylar blanket in 30F temps.
5.) My left knee doesn't like going downhill.
Using poles on the uphill and the downhill will do a lot to help a trick knee. My left knee has a similar issue.
6.) Goretex does not mean water proof.
Did you perhaps sweat and get damp from inside? I have a waterproof rain shell and sweat too much to wear it while hiking.
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