Day 83 - 7/17/12 - Sierra City

Contents:  Creek After Long Ridge - Sierra City (16.1 miles)

Today was a good day.  Tourist and I cruised the 16 miles into Sierra City without any problems.  We were surprised by some awesome trail magic at a random dirt road about 12 miles from town.  A wonderful older gentleman named Bruce had driven out from Reno with Gatorades, delicious bars, and lawn chairs.  He was a really cool guy - a retired cab driver who enjoyed making the drive between Reno and the trail helping hikers.  Tourist and I really enjoyed the hour we spent with him and Mr. Pibbs who rolled up a little behind us.

I love all the trail magic. It is such a huge part of the PCT experience.  It is amazing what a difference it can make in one's day.  I am looking forward to paying it forward next year in Washington.  I already have lots of ideas.....I think I'm going to be busy next September!  The PCT community is pretty incredible, and I know I'm going to be involved in it forever.

Sierra City is great.  It's located about 1.5 miles from the trail along Highway 49.  There was a lot of road construction and traffic was flowing one direction at a time with a pilot car on the way into town.  Tourist and I didn't think we would get picked up but a truck pulled over when we were about half way to town and let us hop in the back.  Mr. Pipps was already on board.  We definitely appreciated the hitch.

The town is super compact....perfect for trail hikers.  The grocery, laundromat (even Maggie got a bath!), P.O., and lodge where we are camped in the back are all located within a tenth of a mile.  Such a nice change from SLT.  I was able to get my chores taken care of quickly.  I wound up switching back to the Adidas shoes but mailed the still relatively new Obozes home in case I changed my mind.  I also mailed off my dress for the second time.  I'd missed it and had my mom send it back to me, but this time it's gone for good!  I'm going UL (ultra light) the rest of the way!

We had a fabulous dinner at the general store of all places.  I went with the chicken sandwich after Itchy told me it was the best one she had ever had.  I was excited to compare it to the chicken sandwich at Latona Pub, my favorite item on the menu at my favorite restaurant in Seattle.  The general store sandwich was truly delicious and I had none of the dreaded burger envy!  However, I'd still have to go with Latona for the best chicken sandwich ever.  I'm actually kind of relieved about that.....I'd hate to have anything taint my view of the lovely Latona!

We're just hanging out at the lodge right now.  It's a nice place but a little strange.  It's sort of a hotel/cafe/trail angel place combined.  I haven't quite figured it out yet.  Tourist just showed us a highlights video of his Utah skiing from this past year, and it seriously has me longing for skiing.  Can someone please remind me why I am walking?  Skiing looks so much more fun!

Back to the trail tomorrow.  I just missed Smiles here in Sierra City, so she's less than a day ahead now.  She left a note in the register promising our posse beer and/or ice cream if we catch her by the next town.  She's on!

Day 82 - 7/16/12 - Windy Ridge Walking

Contents:  Donner Pass - Creek After Really Long Ridge (25.7 miles)

Today was a good day.  Scarlett was kind enough to give Tourist, Mellow, Nugs, and me a ride back to the trail head before work.  It was strange to be in a house with people doing their regular morning routines and getting ready for their jobs.....Definitely not bad, just different.  Trail life is another world!

Anyways, Action Pack decided to stay in Truckee for the day with her friends but the rest of us made it up to the trail a little before 7.  We ate a leisurely breakfast at the parking area and then started hiking.  Our first stop was a truck stop on the north side of I-80 which we hit 3 or 4 miles from the trail head.  Everyone but Nugs refilled water bottles and used the facilities.  Our next stop was the awesome Peter Grubb Hut about 7 miles in. This place was amazing.  It was situated in the middle of a huge bowl of epic ski lines.  It would be a fantastic place to visit in the winter.  Not a bad approach, either.

We did a lot of gradual up and down today but nothing too bad.  We eventually made our way to the top of a super long ridge which we followed for much of the day.  It was beautiful, but the winds were really high to the point where it was almost chilly at times.  Kind of felt like there was fall nip in the air today.  Also worth noting...we saw a dirt bike rider on the PCT today.....Not supposed to be there and he was tearing up the trail quite a bit. 

Tourist and I are camped about 16 downhill (hopefully easy!) miles out of Sierra City.  There we plan to resupply tomorrow.  Creep and Twisted who we met yesterday at the Donner Pass Ski Lodge are camped here as well.  Nugs and Mellow put in a few extra miles in hopes of an earlier arrival in town tomorrow.

Feet are continuing to feel better....I think I might stick with the Oboz shoes to avoid stressing my feet any more.  It'll have been close to 250 miles since I last wore the Adidases,  I think I might send them home and have my parents hold on to them for now.

Hasta manana!

P.S......I think I'll be rolling into Belden on Saturday, so I'm not sure I'll be able to mail out journal entries for a while.  Don't worry though....All is well!

Day 81 - 7/15/12 - Donner Pass Diversion

Contents: Whiskey Creek - Donner Pass (16.0 miles)

Today was a better day.  My feet felt pretty good when I woke up.  This is excellent news as it tells me there's probably nothing wrong.  I think they're getting tired more quickly than usual due to the stress of changing shoes.  My right ankle is still a bit sore in a different place from normal but I think that's from lacing my shoes too high.  I've taken the laces out of the top eyelets and that seems to be helping.  In any event, all systems are go at the moment.

The hiking today was awesome.  I left camp early and quickly knocked out the climb up to Squaw Creek where Tourist, Nugs, and Mellow had spent the night.  Their camp was pretty sweet....right in the middle of Squaw Valley Ski Resort.  Mellow and Nugs were still in camp when I showed up a little before 8 and we hiked out together after filling up on water.  We had a potential (though not actual) 15.5 miles dry stretch ahead.

We followed a long ridge much of the way down to Donner Pass.  The views were awesome.  I also met a ton of really great day hikers including a group of ladies who gave me some grapes and a father and his two grown sons who were all around flattering and even complimented my new earrings.  Definitely the best $4.99 I ever spent at KMart!

Once I hit the highway, I made a beeline for the Donner Pass Ski Lodge.  I was starving.  Tourist was already there hanging out with his friends from Tahoe and the rest of the gang (including Action Pack!) rolled in shortly after I did.  We had a great afternoon hanging out and eating....The burger definitely hit the spot!

Both Tourist and Action Pack were planning to spend the night in Truckee.  Mellow, Nugs, and I had been planning to do more miles after lunch but were talked into hitting town for live music on the beach.  Hard to pass up that kind of opportunity!

We crammed four smelly hikers and one large dog in the back of Tourist's friend Scarlett's car for the wild ride down to town.  The music was great...It was in Tahoe City.  Post music we all went out for dinner and are now crashed on Scarlett's porch.  She's giving us a lift back to the trail first thing in the morning.

Definitely a great day....Off to bed!  More manana.

*I also got to take a look at the PCT register in the hut, and it looks like Smiles is only about 2 days ahead.  I'm definitely gaining on her!  With any luck, she'll zero in Sierra City and I'll catch her in our next town stop, Belden, about 92 miles north.  I miss that girl like crazy!

Day 80 - 7/14/80 - Sore Feet

Contents:  Phipps Creek - Whiskey Creek (25.2 miles)

Today was a tough day.  I'm exhausted so I'm going to try to keep this short.  My feet are in rough shape.  I think I have some plantar fascitis going on but I'm not sure.  I'm definitely still adjusting to the new shoes.  

The terrain today was fairly gentle.....I guess everything feels easy compared to the High Sierra!  Tomorrow, we'll hit historic Highway 40 at Donner Pass where there is a restaurant.  First beer is on the house!  Nugs, Mellow, and Tourist knocked out a few more miles this evening in order to position themselves for an earlier arrival.  My feet were done at 25 miles, so I'm camped along Whiskey Creek with Fall Risk, Russ, and Night Watch who I just met today.  I usually wake up before my usual crew anyways, so I'll probably try to get up early tomorrow and catch them before they leave camp.

The restaurant is about 16 miles away.  I can't wait!  I've been starving today and just went on a major dinner binge - mac and cheese with tuna, and extra cheese, two candy bars, pop tarts (Oops! Those were for breakfast!), and a protein shake that Fall Risk insisted on giving me.  Thanks Fall Risk.  I'm hoping I can pick up an extra bar or two at Donner Pass to get me through to Sierra City.  Off to bed....Crossing my fingers that my feet feel better soon!

Day 79 - 7/13/12 - Chili Night

Contents:  Echo Lake/South Lake Tahoe - Phipps Creek (20.0 miles)

Today was a good day.  Cowboy hooked us up with rides to the trail head.  He dropped Mellow off at Highway 50 and then delivered Nugs, Fall Risk, and me to Echo Lake Resort where we got breakfast snacks and waited for Mellow to catch up.  He did a second trip later in the morning with Action Pack and Tourist who still had a few town chores to take care of.  Thanks, Cowboy!

The hiking went pretty well, but my feet were feeling it.  The new shoes are fairly stiff....I'm not sure what I think of them yet.  The gear shop only carried Oboz and one other brand which I wasn't familiar with, so I didn't have a lot of choices.  I went with a pair of Obozes.  I think they'll be better than the Cascadias. 

The terrain was fairly moderate today.  We started out hiking along Echo Lake where there were lots of day hikers.  We eventually made our way up to Aloha Lake which was really beautiful - huge with tons of islands, and surrounded by granite.  From Aloha Lake, we had a short climb up to Dicks Pass.  In the past 50 miles or so, we've been by Wet Meadow, The Nipple, Half Moon Lake, and Dicks Pass.  It's been kind of hilarious.  Naturally, these lovely landmarks have been the inspiration for countless crude comments.  (not that any extra inspiration is needed out here!)  The guys have decided that I have the mind of a 12 year old boy, because I laugh hysterically at pretty much all of their terrible jokes.  They love it!

Anyways, we're now stopped for the night at Phipps Creek.  Action Pack didn't make it in, but I'm guessing she's camped with Jackie Bean and Little Dipper who I passed just a few miles back.  We also picked up Russ who I met in San Diego but hadn't seen in a while.  He's back on the trail after taking a week off to spend time in Reno and Tuscon.

Nugs, Mellow, and I all made chili for dinner.  We all bought "Darn Good" chili mix at the grocery in SLT, and it was outstanding.  I've actually eaten this chili in the real world, but it tasted even better out here even without the tomato paste.  It takes a while to rehydrate, but I would definitely recommend it for camp food.  Add a little cheese?  'Da Bomb!

Off to bed!  Hasta manana!

Day 78 - 7/12/12 - Good Gravy, We're In Tahoe Baby!

Contents:  Creek by Benwood Meadow - Echo Lake/South Lake Tahoe (5.0 miles)

Today was awesome.  Nugs, Tourist and I woke up early and cruised the 3.5 miles to Highway 50 where we tried to get a hitch into South Lake Tahoe.  The passing motorists weren't showing us any love, so we eventually gave up and walked an additional 1.5 PCT miles to Echo Lake Resort where we are hoping to yogi for a ride.  When we arrived, the resort was pretty dead.  It was still early in the morning and there weren't many people leaving.  Our chances of yogi-ing a ride seemed small. Fortunately a thru-hiker named Cowboy had left his number on a bulletin board near the store.  He was taking a few days off to nurse an injury and was offering rides in his rental car.  We gave him a call and he was happy to pick us up.

Cowboy offered to drive us to the PO before dropping us off at the hotel where we planned to rendezvous with Action Pack and Mellow.  The PO was good and bad.  The first good part was mailing off my bear can!  So happy to get rid of that thing and shave 2.5 pounds off my pack weight!  Other goods were the great cards from Aunt Joe and Kirsten.  Thank you so much!  The bad news was my new shoes did not arrive.  I had an email from Fed Ex saying they couldn't send packages to a General Delivery address.  Totally untrue, but there was nothing I could do about it at that point.  Argh!!!

After we got dropped off at the hotel, Nugs and I set out to get chores done.  We hit the gear shop where I bought some new shoes, and resupplied at the grocery store.  Nugs grabbed McDonalds and we went to the laundromat.  In addition, I picked up a new pair of earrings at KMart (lost one a couple days ago) and got my eyebrows waxed!  Yes indeed, I'm trying to be a girl sometimes even out here!

Back at the hotel, I took a shower and relaxed.  I was pretty happy about getting so much done.  I'd forgotten to buy HEET and a new journal but Nugs and I managed to run pick those things up before dinner.  Definitely a successful afternoon!  Oh, I also called Fed Ex and am getting the shoes bounced to Sierra City, my next resupply town.

Dinner was a blast.  We hit the AYCE buffet at Harrah's, just across the state line in Nevada.  Tourist's grad school friend, Rachel, joined us for the evening.  Nugs and I took the bus but she was able to fit everyone else in her van to get to dinner.  The bus ride was fun.  It was neat to get off the main strip and see some other parts of town.   The casino area was cool, and we really felt like we were a long ways from the trail.  Dinner was epic......we were there for almost three hours.

Getting tired so going to try to wrap this up though I won't do it justice.  Post dinner we tried to go to this outdoor concert on the beach that the folks Mellow and Action Pack had gotten a hitch from had told them about.  Unfortunately, we got there just as it was wrapping up.  It seemed awesome though, and we were bummed to have missed it.  The good news was there was an after party with more live music at a bar called Rojo's right down the street.  Some peeps we'd met assured us that it would be worthy, so we decided to give it a shot.  To make a long story short, we had an absolute blast!  Possibly the best night yet!  The band was called Good Gravy and they were a bluegrass/jam band from Ft. Collins, CO.  SUPER fun music, and we danced the night away.  So, so glad we checked it out.

Definitely a great town stop....back to the trail in the morning!

Day 77 - 7/11/12 - Call of Buffet

Contents:  Tamarack Lake - Creek Crossing Near Benwood Meadow (23.2 miles)

Today was a really good day.  It started with a gradual climb up to Nipple Saddle.  From there we had a great view of Nipple Peak which looked exactly like a gigantic boob.

About 8 miles after leaving camp, we stopped to get water and snack at a small creek.  While we were stopped a group of 23 horses and riders cruised up and splashed around in our water source.  So wonderful!  Regardless, they were super nice.  Action Pack chatted with them and found out they were a group of masters riders and sometimes had up to 100 participants.  I can't imagine seeing that parade!

Lunch was awesome today.  We hit Highway 88 at Carson Pass where there was a small visitor's center.  The volunteers working there gave us free fruit and refilled our water bottles.  I ate an apple, two peaches, and two plums.  So wonderful!  We had a great time talking with the day hikers hanging out there too.  Day hikers always give us perspective on what we're trying to do.

We had a refreshing swim in Shower Lake before cruising the final 5.5 miles to camp.  The terrain has definitely eased lately and we were able to cruise at 3+ mph.  We had some great views of Lake Tahoe this afternoon.  We have a fire going right now.  It is quite smokey, but I'm too lazy to move.

Less than 5 miles to the land of buffets....can't wait!  Going to try to movitate early so I can hit town ASAP.  I love getting to camp and knowing I don't have to walk again until morning and it feels even better thinking about the fact that I only have to walk 5 miles when I wake up.  Let the We Survived the Sierra Party begin!

Day 76 - 7/10/12 - Back to Radio

Contents:  Asa Lake's Outlet Creek - Tamarack Lake (23.1 miles)

Great day today, but I am super tired!  I rediscovered my radio at Ebbitt's Pass and listened to music most of the afternoon.  It was awesome!  I'm pretty tired of my limited iPhone selection and it was fun to catch up on the latest trashy pop.  It was the first time I'd had radio since the desert.

I am LOVING the group I've been hiking with lately!  They are so much fun and make me laugh constantly.  They're also really solid hikers.  We're definitely starting to shift our focus to miles.  It was nice kicking things back a notch in order to savor the High Sierra, but it's also satisfying to see the progress that comes from consistent days.  I think 25s will soon become the new 20s.

Huge news today......For the first time in my life, I think I'm sick of mac and cheese!!!!!  I tend to burn out on things quite suddenly out here, and tonight was the night for mac and cheese.  It is truly shocking......mac and cheese has been one of my all time favorite foods for as long as I can remember.  On the trail, I've done mac and cheese for  about 50% of my dinners.  I guess it is no surprise I'm burnt out, but I'm not someone who typically requires too much variety.  Anyways, I think I'm going to trade my last mac and cheese for some Ramein for tomorrow's night dinner, and then I'll mix things up a bit for the next stretch.  One of these days, I'll keep a food log so you'll get a sense of what I'm eating out here.

22 or 23 miles tomorrow and then a 5-ish mile nero into South Lake Tahoe the following morning.  Have a great night!  Hope all is well.

Day 75 - 7/09/12 - Welcome to the Love Nest

Contents:  Sonora Pass - Asa Lake's Outlet Creek (24.9 miles)

Great day today.  It was tough to leave the magic but we finally escaped after breakfast.  Breakfast was fantastic - the best eggs I've ever tasted (The secret?  Tons of cheese and bacon grease), bacon, fruit, pastries, yogurt, and juice.  So good!

We had a gradual climb out of Sonora Pass.  part way up we found this awsome rock nest.  We called it Mellow's Love Nest.  It was pretty sweet.  Action Packed and I had fun posing for some pics with Mellow.  From there, we continued climbing up to a saddle at 10,500 feet.  This was our last high point over 10,0000 feet for the entire PCT.  Crazy!  Exciting, but also a little sad.  I've love the high alpine and will miss it.  We probably won't be in that type of environment again until Washington.

The rest of the day was productive but uneventful.  There were times when I felt like was walking in circles, but the miles passed fairly quickly.  I took a great shower in a waterfall along the trail.  Getting excited for new shoes and AYCE buffets in South Lake Tahoe!  We should be there early Wednesday!

Day 74 - 7/08/12 - Sonora Pass Magic

Contents:  West Ford West Walker River Bridge - Sonora Pass (14.7 miles)

Today was awesome!  The scenery was absolutely gorgeous.  We were expecting a return to the desert but instead got some of the most beautiful scenery of the trip.  I haven't been to the Boat Rocks Wilderness yet, but today's terrain was similar to how I would picture it--very rocky, snowy, and lots of lakes.  I also saw my first skiers since starting my journal.  They were way off in the distance earning their July turns on what Tourist and I estimated to be a 600 feet shot.  There definitely isn't much snow now but we could tell there were a ton of great lines in the area.  So fun to dream of skiing for a bit!

We knew we would hit the highway at Sonora Pass today, and I floated the possibility of trail magic to the posse.  We all had doubts and I was definitely accused of jinxing us when I asked some day hikers if they'd noticed any unusual happenings at the trail head (they said no and appeared confused).  However, when we reached the pass, we found Pinky with the best trail magic EVER!!!!  Burgers, hot dogs, salad, fruit, pastries, drinks, you name it!  It seriously made my day and I'm now being thanked for willing it to occur.  We were planning to do a few more miles tonight but got lured in by the promise of eggs and bacon in the morning.  The miles can wait!

Mellow and Action Packed hitched into Northern Kennedy Meadows for a quick resupplly and are already back and camped here at the magic.  Huge thanks go to Action Packed who was able to call my parents and request that they overnight a new pair of Adidas Supernova Sequence shoes to South Lake Tahoe.  Thanks also to my parents for helping me out.  I can't deal with these Cascadias anymore - they make walking borderline miserable at times.  I definitely have a case of Desert foot - sore, tired feet all the time.

Off to bed - bigger miles tomorrow!

Day 73 - 7/07/12 - 1,000 Miles

Contents:  Lower Kerrick Canyon, Bear Valley Trail Junction - West Fork West Walker River Bridge (23.4 miles)

Today was a great day.....so much better than yesterday!  The PCT magic is back, and I am loving life!  My day started with an 800 foot climb.  I turned on some music and felt really strong.  After topping out at a shallow gap, I descended about 1,000 feet to Stubblefield Canyon Creek where I met Lightweight for the first time.  After the easy ford, the two of us walked a few miles together up to Macomb Ridge Pass where Tourist was taking a break.  We all hung out for a bit before dropping another 1000 feet from the pass.  From there, we knocked out a super gradual 10-ish mile ascent up to Dorothy Lake Pass with a fantastic swim/lunch to break things up.  

After Dorothy Lake Pass, we had a couple chill miles to PCT Mile 1000!  It was a huge milestone and I am so proud to have made it this far.  It has been an amazing journey, and I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

We had an awesome dinner celebration at Mile 1000.  Virgo, Wolverine, Lightweight, Sidhartha, Shake 'N Bake, Mellow, Nugs, and Action Packed, and I cranked out a few more easy miles before making camp.  We're currently about 15 miles from Sonora Pass where Mellow and Action Packed will be getting off to resupply.  The rest of us will press on toward South Lake Tahoe.

I am so happy to be here and am thankful to have made it 1,000 miles.  I did a lot of introspection today and came to the realization that hiking the PCT is one of the top 5 life altering decisions/events I have encountered in my 30 years.  I feel like there will always be a "before the PCT" and "after the PCT" division.  I was able to come up with only four other decisions or events that changed the course of my life so dramatically.  Here they are:

1.  Going out for cross-country running freshman year in high school.  My freshman season of cross-country set me on the path to becoming the athlete I am today.  I'd been really on the fence about whether to join the team and I'm so glad I did.  Special credit goes to the assistant coach, Mary Kempel who talked me into going out for the Nordic team as well.  The rest is history!  

2.  Moving to Seattle (and the Cascades!)

3.  ACL tear - This probably isn't a life-changing injury for most people but it had a huge impact on my life.  It made me less reliant on my car, altered my eating habits, changed my work out strategy, and so much more.  I can say with confidence that I wouldn't be on the PCT right now if it weren't for my ACL.

4.  Break-up with Joe.....After 5 great years together, it was sink or swim for Peels.  Thank you to all my amazing friends who helped me pick up the pieces and build an awesome new life for myself.

5.  The PCT!  I am truly having the time of my life.  I loved my life before the PCT but I feel so fortunate to have this opportunity to hit the reset button.  No firm post trail plans yet, but lots of ideas!

Off to bed now!  Have a great night!

Day 72 - 7/06/12 - Mosquito Hell!

Contents:  Miller Lake - Lower Kerrick Canyon, Bear Valley Trail Junction (19.9 miles)

Today was one of those days where no mile came easily.  It was definitely one of my tougher days on the trail.  I was low on energy and motivation.  Life is better now though.  I'm currently cozied up around a fire with Mellow, Nips, Tourist, and Action Pack who caught up to us late last night.

We crossed two passes today. We did a lot of up and down, and the footing was tedious.  The mosquitoes have also been relentless.  Even when walking, I'd usually have many on me and biting all at once.  Thank God for DEET!

I'm definitely feeling better and am ready to give 'er another shot tomorrow.  Sometimes it feels like we have so far to go.  I felt a little overwhelmed and homesick.  I was walking with Tourist and told him that I needed my Mom to tell me to "snap out of it!" as she does from time to time.  He was kind enough to tell me for her, and it actually helped.  I started thinking about the fact that I'll be back in Seattle in less than three months, and I know I'll be longing for the trail.  This really is an awesome life.  Good friends, no work, heaps of food, what more can I ask for?

Day 71 - 7/05/12 - Forward Progress

Contents:  Tuolumne Meadows - Miller Lake (18.7 miles)

After five days off from the PCT including three zeros, I finally headed north out of TM with Tourist.  Nugs and Mellow were right behind and caught up while we were taking our first break at Glen Aulin Camp.  It felt good to be back on the trail and return my focus to hiking.  It was also fun to hang with Nugs and Mellow again.

The terrain was fairly moderate and we made good time.  This was fortunate, as we didn't escape town until after 10.  We ate an early dinner in Virginia Canyon and are now camped at Miller Lake.  The boys made a fire which I'm now enjoying.  My feet were a little sore today.....I'm not sure about these new shoes!  Maybe I should have done a little research before spontaneously switching things up.  The Cascadias are super light (which is why they're so popular), but they definitely lack some of the support my former shoes had.  We'll see how it goes!

More hiking tomorrow....getting back in the groove!

Day 70 - 7/04/12 - Happy 4th!

Contents:  0.0 miles

Today was a good day of relaxing outside the general store.  Imagine the laziest day you've ever had, and then make it 10 times lazier.  That's about what I'm dealing with here.....It is pretty magical.  Loitering outside grocery stores, gas stations, community centers, and other public places is definitely one of my favorite aspects of the PCT.  The people you meet are pretty interesting, and there's nothing like a day of undistracted hanging out with friends.  I love it!  I somehow need to incorporate this kind of leisure in my regular life.  It really is fulfilling.

Anyway, like I said, I spent the day chilling hard.  Lots of eating, Rummy and reading occurred.  I found a Carl Hiasson book in the hiker box at the store which occupied me for much of the day.  Later we enjoyed a BBQ dinner provided by another hiker's folks who are also staying at the campground.  Then a real fire and s'mores at our camp.

Another big hiker box find today:  A pair of Brooks Cascadias in my size!  They feel great, and I'm going to try them out on the next stretch to South Lake Tahoe.  I wound up talking with Itchy, the girl who left them, and they have about 500 miles on them.  Not a lot of life left, but they should get me through the next 150 miles, and they felt so good that I asked my Mom to order me a new pair to be sent to SLT.  I'll send those back if I wind up having problems in the meantime and go back to Addidases.  I'm excited to try out the Cascadias though!

Can't wait to get back on the trail tomorrow!  Have a great night!

Day 69 - 7/03/12 - TM Basin

Contents:  0.0 miles

Today was a good day.  Tourist and I caught an 8 AM bus back to TM.  We'd expected an ordinary bus ride, but we were actually on a tour bus and the driver talked for every second of the 2.5 hour ride (including stops).  She was quite informative (and entertaining!) and we definitely got our money's worth in between naps.

Wash Out had emailed me when he got back to TM late last night to say that my long lost buddies Nugs and Mellow Yellow were in town.  He was right!  Nugs and Mellow were hanging out on some picnic tables outside the general store when the bus pulled up.  I was so HAPPY to see those guys!!!  It was pretty awesome.  They quickly eliminated any motivation to hike.  Mellow has been helping me through my mild case of GLS (Guilty Lounge Syndrome), and I plan to spend the 4th with them in TM and then hike out on the 5th.  I've been missing these guys a lot, and it doesn't make sense to hike out tomorrow and be just one day ahead.  So all is well and I'm enjoying my 4th day of vacation away from the PCT.

I spent the afternoon napping and playing Rummy outside the general store and then made a salad and s'mores over Nugs' alcohol stove for dinner.  We were too lazy to build a fire.  More lazing tomorrow.  Off to bed now!

Day 68 - Yosemite Valley

Contents:  Side Trip - 0.0 miles

I spent today in Yosemite Valley hanging out with Tourist, Maya, Tal, and Wash Out.  I had a lazy morning in camp before I headed back to Curry Village for more pizza.  I proceeded to spend most of the afternoon on the porch of the community building, leaving only to buy a new pencil at the nearby grocery store and take a shower at the swimming pool.  I thought about doing some laundry but quickly lost motivation.

A little before 5, Tourist and I caught a shuttle to Yosemite Village to see the rest of the crew off.  Maya and Wash Out caught an evening bus back to Tuolumne.  Tourist and I decided to spend another night in the valley and plan to return to Tuolumne on a morning bus.

After parting ways with the others, Tourist and I hit the Yosemite Village supermarket for our resupply and then caught a film put on by the Yosemite Conservancy.  Post movie, we made our way back to Curry Village for more pizza.  Yes, I might be actually a little tired of pizza!

While I've enjoyed the side trip to the Yosemite Valley, I'm excited to get back on the PCT tomorrow.  Tourist and I are planning a 7 day, 150 mile leg to our next resupply in South Lake Tahoe.  It's going to be a tough one, but I know we can handle it!

Day 67 - Cloud's Rest and Half Dome

Contents:  Side trip:  Cloud's Rest Bivy - Yosemite Valley

I woke up around 5:00, ate a quick snack, and took for the summit of Cloud's Rest.  The final push was much easier in the morning light.  I left my bivy at 5:13 and was on the summit at 5:18.  Can't beat that!  I found Tourist and Clark Kent just waking up.  They were definitely surprised to see me.  No Wash Out, so I assumed I had passed him the night before.

The three of us hung out on the summit for several hours.  It was beautiful.  Tourist played his harmonica and I ate some more food.  Around 9:00, we motivated to head toward Half Dome.  We didn't have to backtrack but instead descended the "front" side of Cloud's Rest.

I didn't have a permit for Half Dome and stuck to the trail system in hope of scalping a permit from someone coming down, but Tourist and Clark Kent were all set and did a back country traverse over to the base of the route.  We planned to rendezvous there and ascend the cables to the summit together.  The hiking was quick.  I got back on the JMT for a short distance and then ditched most of the contents of my pack at the Half Dome turn-off.

Once on the Half Dome trail, I ran into a ton of day hikers heading both directions.  Unfortunately, they informed me that there was a ranger at the base of the route checking permits electronically.  The trip leader's picture ID was also required.  Not wanting to risk getting fined, I turned back after asking some other hikers to let Tourist know he could find me in Yo Valley.

On my way down, I thought to ask the hikers I met heading up whether they had space on their permits.  I was in luck!  I met a super nice family of three with a permit for four, and they were more than willing to let me jump on board.  Yay!  I turned around and started up again and got to the base of the route just as Tourist and Clark Kent were arriving.  Perfect timing.

Tourist and Clark Kent checked in with the ranger, and then we ate lunch while we waited for my "family" to arrive.  I was desperate for some chocolate and traded Clark Kent a beer for a Snickers bar.  The climb was great.  The cables were definitely a little chaotic, but we made it up and down without problems.

I met Wash Out on the way down and was quite glad to see he made it.  He didn't have a permit either, but the ranger made a thru-hiker exception and let him by.  I waited for him at the first water I passed on the way down, and we hiked the rest of the way into Yo Valley together.

We took a free shuttle into Curry Village for pizza and beer and spent most of the night parked on the deck of the community building.  We finally stumbled to the backpackers' campground around 1:00.

Off to bed now!

Day 66 - Cloud's Rest Bivy

Contents:  Side trip:  Tuolumne Meadows - Cloud's Rest Bivy

Today was not a great day.  However, it could have been much worse, and I have no significant injuries to report.

I'd been thinking of taking a zero in TM as my right ankle has been acting up a bit, but Wash Out talked me into hiking out so that we could climb Cloud's Rest and Half Dome in addition to completing the JMT.  After procrastinating as long as possible, we headed out of town around 2, hoping to walk about 16 miles to the base of Cloud's Rest.  Unfortunately, not far from town, we had a falling out. We both needed some space, so Wash Out took off while I chilled for a bit before continuing on.  While I always carry maps for the PCT, Wash Out had the map we'd gotten from one of our friends for this special non-PCT segment.  I'd taken a peek at it before he left, but I didn't have a lot of beta.  I was pretty sure I could figure it out though.

Anyway, I took off and did the best I could.  I wasted a lot of time on the trails around Sunrise Camp which were super confusing, though a map probably wouldn't have been that helpful.  I was a bit annoyed that Wash Out hadn't waited since he did have all the info, but that's the way it goes.  I asked a few people I met if they had seen him, but none had, so perhaps I even passed him somewhere along the way without noticing.

It got dark, but trail was pretty easy to follow and a few people coming out confirmed directions to Cloud's Rest.  By this time, I wasn't convinced Wash Out was ahead, so my new plan was to make it to the summit where I thought Tourist and our friend Clark Kent might be camped.

To make a long story short, I got shut down just shy of the summit.  It was really hard to follow the route to the summit in the dark, and I was doing a bit of scrambling that seemed unnecessarily exposed.  Nothing too serious, but I decided to backtrack to the last spot I knew was on route, bivy for the night, and then cruise up to the summit first thing in the morning.

It's a bit lonely up here, but I'm hanging in there.  I'm glad to be stopped for the night.  I'm also glad I'm a climber, as this feels like a very normal situation.  However, I could definitely use a big hug from my mom right now.  Hasta manana.  Peels is signing off for the night!

Day 65 - 6/29/12 - The Good Life In Tuolumne Meadows

Contents:  Camp Before Donohue Pass - Tuolumne Meadows (14.1 miles)

Today was another pretty good day for me.  I'd slept well on the rock but woke up to find Smiles feeling really sick with stomach problems.  I was feeling fine but hoped it wasn't due to the wild green onion I'd shared with her yesterday.  Anyways, we all hung out in camp for a while hoping she would start feeling better and eventually took off bound for Donohue Pass at 11,056 ft.  Donohue Pass is also the Yosemite boundary line.

Tourist and I cruised the 2.5ish miles to Donohue Pass and then waited for close to an hour for poor Smiles who wasn't doing too well.  Fire Pit had  passed her and caught up to us at the pass and said she was struggling, so I actually started back down without my pack to see if I could take hers.  However, by then, she was almost at the pass.

We hung out a few minutes longer, and Smiles assured us that she would make it and that we should go ahead.  Tourist and I started down the pass, checked on her one more time, and then cruised on.

We had about four miles of down before a long flat stretch into Tuolumne.  We were walking through a wide valley with lovely meadows.  We passed a huge avy swath.  Tourist and I stopped for lunch at a great swimming hole.  As we were finishing lunch, Smiles showed up feeling way better!  We were so happy to see her.

The rest of the journey into Tuolumne Meadows was uneventful.  TM is right on the trail.  Our first stops were the P.O. (thanks for the goodies, Mandie!) and grocery store.  I also stopped at the Chevron Station/gear shop where I tried on some Solomon trail runners....I've been thinking about transitioning into some trail runners, but want to try on more than just Solomons.  The Brooks Cascadias are by far the most popular shoes on the trail, and I was hoping to try some on and possibly join the club.  

After hitting the store and P.O., Smiles and I caught a free bus to the ranger station.  We wanted to investigate Half Dome permits for Sunday.  Unfortunately, there was only one left.  We were feeling indecisive and didn't take it, but maybe this was a poor decision.  We did try to pick it up for Wash Out, but he had to be present.

Chores done, Tourist, Smiles, and I set up camp at the campground behind the store and P.O.  We then caught a bus to the lodge for our 7:30 dinner reservation at the restaurant.  Dinner was pretty epic.  The seating was family style, and needless to say, this was a high-end establishment.  I could write 10 pages about dinner.  We were hiker trash and they were high society but I think we all had a blast.  

We dined with a couple who splits their time between Lake Tahoe and New Zealand and an awesome family and their former nanny who now lives in Brazil. The father was an executive for some logistics company that works with Toyota and other huge corporations.  The major highlights were: Peels' uncontrollable laughing fit that also set off Smiles and Tourist when the server asked if we'd like the meals charged to our rooms, Tourist removing his shoes and holding them up at the table to show the kind of footwear we use, and the Kiwi woman with the British accent and painted eyebrows who insisted that South Lake Tahoe is "quite trashy" and that we should go to North Lake Tahoe to resupply instead.  In spite of all the differences, I think high society enjoyed our stories and got a kick out of us, and we had fun meeting them.  Since buses weren't running, we were fortunate to catch a ride back to the campground with some folks leaving the restaurant at the same time.  Turns out, they were from Redmond, WA and had mutual friends with the Tourist.  What a crazy, small world!

Thanks for the new shirt, Mom.  I just burned my old one in a ceremony at the campground.  It was a good shirt, and we enjoyed many adventures together both on and off the PCT.  Off to bed now!

Day 64 - 6/28/12 - Got A Devil's Postpile On My Mind

Contents:  Red's Meadow Campground - Camp before Donohue Pass (approx. 20.8 miles)

Smiles, Tourist, and I had another successful day today.  We kicked off the morning with a tour of Devil's Postpile National Monument.  We had a great time wandering around the monument and seeing the basalt columns which are somewhat similar to the columns at Vantage or Tieton.  According to Tourist, our professional ecologist, the columns were formed when 400 feet deep lava flows filled the valley and then cooled slowly causing cracks to form in hexagonal shapes.  I'll probably forget most of these details, but I'll definitely remember the fun Smiles and I had posing for Tourist's photos.

After making our way back to the PCT/JMT, we meandered up toward Agnew Meadow where I stopped for a snack before continuing on toward Thousand Island Lake.  The terrain was fairly gentle but trended uphill while traversing huge open slopes.  It was beautiful.  I could see parts of the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and had more great views of the Minaret Mountains.  I was so sad I couldn't take pictures, not that they would do the scenery justice.  I mostly walked alone but eventually came across Maya and Tal, two Israelies I met recently, and stopped to eat and siesta with them.  After lunch, we hiked together for a bit, and they picked some wild green onion which was delicous!

I took another break and soaked my legs at Thousand Island Lake with Tourist, Smiles and others before pushing on to Island Pass.  The plan was to camp about four miles beyond the lake.  About 3 miles later, we came across the junction with the Rush Creek Trail.  I was walking with Smiles and we debated stopping for dinner but decided to push on to camp since it is only another mile.  About .5 mile later, I realized I was starving and needed to eat ASAP, so I stopped at the first water I found.  Smiles had dropped back, but she was so relieved to see me sitting in the trail ready to eat.  She was definitely in the same boat as me.  It always feels funny stopping less than a mile short of camp but I think we've all learned that you just have to eat when you're hungry out here.  We both felt way stronger after dinner.

I'm now camped on top of a slabby granite boulder with Tourist and Smiles.  We are in a large open basin filled with granite, meadows and tarns, and we are surrounded by mountains.  It's pretty awesome and fortunately not too buggy.

We'll hit Donohue Pass first thing in the morning, and then it'll be a downhill/flat coast into Tuolumne.  Yosemite, here we come!

Day 63 - 6//27/12 - Feelin' Like A Million Bucks at Red's

Contents:  Purple Lake - Red's Meadow Campground (13.7 miles)

Great day today!  We all left camp around 7:30.  Tourist, Smiles, Shutterbug and I cruised the 14 miles to Red's Meadow by 1:00 while Wash Out, Sleeping Bag, and Amigo cut out about 2 miles from camp to head into Mammoth via Duck Pass.  The hiking was mellow with the exception of numerous downed trees which we had to climb over or skirt around.  There was a major wind event on November 30th with sustained 180 mph winds that wreaked havoc on the area.  Trail crews have been working overtime to get the PCT cleared between VVR and Red's Meadow.  As of kick-off, we had no idea what we'd be dealing with in this area and many people thought it would be impassable.  Not the case, and we are so grateful!

Great views of the Minaret Mountains today.  Also, I had a really nice time walking with Tourist.

We're currently stopped at Red's Meadow.  The hot springs are wonderful.  We had a great soak this afternoon and are heading back for seconds soon.  The store just opened for the season (late due to the wind damage) and is a bit limited, but I picked up enough grub to get me to Tuolomne.  We hit the cafe for burgers as soon as we arrived and I got a small salad and malt (thinking of you, Kevin!) for dinner.  Gonna have to get back on the budget after Yosemite....it's just so hard to do another night of Pasta Roni or mac and cheese when there are other options.  I'd give a lot for a stove with a couple burners right now.

More tomorrow....have a great night!

Day 62 - 6/26/12 - Powered by Pancakes

Contents:  VVR- Purple Lake (1.5 miles back to PCT plus 15.8 PCT miles)

$170.00 in the hole and stuffed with pancakes, I managed to escape VVR on the 9:00 ferry.  AS soon as the ferry docked, Smiles, Tourist, and I passed out on the beach in some serious food comas.  Meanwhile Wash Out and two Israelies, Sleeping Bag and Amigo took off hoping to put in a bigger day to allow time for their Mammoth stop.  The plan was to reconnect with Wash Out in Tuolumne on Friday.

Around 10:30 or 11:00 Smiles, Tourist, and I motivated to start walking.  The hiking felt great.  I will certainly miss Wash Out.  However, Smiles and I definitely place a high value on our independence out here. 

We kicked things off with a 7+ mile climb up to Silver Pass at 10,900 ft.  The scenery was beautiful, and I was sad my camera wasn't working well. The terrain was very rocky and almost made me miss my climbing gear!  I enjoyed hiking by myself and just stopped to refill water once and for one snack.  Unfortunately, I broke my headphones when putting them back in my ears after my water break.  Argh!  I've been listening to music on my iphone more lately as Wash Out really likes to hike with tunes.  I don't like to have music envy and it does make the miles fly by.  Side note while I'm thinking about it....I've switched to almost exclusively using bleach for water treatment.  It is just so much simpler.  If I want water right away, I'll filter, but otherwise I'm a dip and drop girl now.

Back to the hike......Surprisingly, I caught up to Wash Out and the Israelies at Silver Pass and wound up leaving with them and a guy named Shtterbug after hanging out for quite a while.  Smiles and Tourist hadn't made it up yet, but I knew they would be close behind.  After leaving the pass, we descended to Fish Creek in the Cascade Valley before cranking out a huge climb up to Purple Lake where we all set up camp for the night.

Purple Lake is wonderful.  We are camped below 10,000 ft. and have a great fire going.  I actually cooked over the fire in order to conserve fuel.  Since I'm not planning to stop in Mammoth, I had to leave VVR with enough fuel to make it 217 miles to South Lake Tahoe.  I'm carrying about 20 ounces of alcohol which should be plenty, but I'm happy to conserve whenever possible.

Tourist, Smiles, and I are off to Red's Meadow tomorrow.  We may or may not spend the night there but are looking forward to hitting the hot springs.  we've also heard there is free camping so my money is on a night at Red's.

Day 61 - 6/25/12 - VVR

Contents:  0.0 miles

Today was a good, albeit pricey "town" day at VVR.  They use a tab system here, and it's easy to spend way too much money.  I'm not looking forward to hearing the final damage tomorrow.  Nevertheless, I am well fed, rested, and resupplied on all items except for fuel which I'll get first thing in the morning.  VVR has been overwhelmed by hikers and was supposed to get its own resupply tonight.  the store and restaurant are low on just about everything including all-important denatured alcohol AND ice cream!

I'm planning to catch the 9:00 ferry tomorrow with Wash Out and Smiles.  There are a couple of resupply possibilities for the upcoming section, and I'm tentatively planning to hit Red's Meadow with Tourist and Smiles.  The options will be pretty limited there, but it is only two days away and right on the trail....hard to pass by.   Wash Out is planning to head into Mammoth which will have more options but is several miles hiking and a hitch out of the way.  The current plan is to reconvene in Tuolumne in four days and possibly do a side trip into the Yosemite Valley.  I'll keep you posted!

Day 60 - 6/24/12 - The Downhill Vortex - Destination: Center of the Earth

Contents:  Sallie Keyes Lake - Vermilion Valley Resort (14.5 PCT miles + 1.5 miles to VVR)

There is a lake very deep within the core of the Earth called Lake Thomas Edison.  On this lake is a mysterious place called Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR) which can only be reached by a never ending descent of thousands of switchbacks followed by a boat ride.  Once VVR is achieved, exit seems improbable.  VVR is a place of steaks, burritos, seafood, and pie, as well as laundry, showers, and bonfires.  For those who survive the journey, it is a happy land.

Our legs are hammered, but Tourist, Smiles, Wash Out and I are here!

I had a good day today.  I walked with Smiles and Wash Out, and we finally caught up to Tourist at the ferry dock.  We left camp around 7 and quickly knocked out the climb up to Selden Pass at 10,900 ft.  From Selden Pass, we had a lovely descent past a huge lake and Bear Creek.  We stopped for lunch along Bear Creek where I cooked my last Pasta Roni dinner, banking on making the 4:45 ferry to VVR.  After lunch, we cranked out a steep climb before beginning the tortuous descent to the VVR turnoff.  It was another beautiful day, and scenery reminded me of the eastern slopes of the Cascades.  We're not in the alpine anymore, but it's still gorgeous.  unfortunately, my camera is still acting up, so I wasn't able to get many pics.

VVR seems great.  The ferry ride was fun.  Wash Out and I were waiting in the wrong place and would have missed the boat if it weren't for Smiles who came running for us.  Thank you, Smiles!  it would have been a long hike around the lake or a brutal night without food.  We're currently camped outside the resort and tentatively planning to zero tomorrow.  My parents sent a box with four days worth of food to the resort.  The original plan was to make it to Tuolumne (Yosemite!) with this food, but I think I'm going to split it with Wash Out, and then we'll both resupply at a small store right off the trail in Reds Meadow in two days.  It's hard to turn down a chance to leave town with only two days of food!

Sitting in front of a fire now....life is good!  Have a great evening!

Day 59 - 6/23/12 - 'Do we pass any crosses today?" - Peels to Smiles

Contents:  Evolution Lake - Sallie Keyes Lakes (approx. 20 miles)

We had another gorgeous day today with some slightly gentler terrain.  We woke up to a cold morning and got motivated for an earlier start than we've had the past few days.  The first 7.5ish miles were a gradual downhill and they went really fast. We then crossed Evolution Creek, a notoriously difficult ford.  However, it was a breeze this year, and I don't think the water was even a foot deep.  After Evolution Creek, we enjoyed some gradual downhill and got quite low (under 8,000 ft.).  We were in a canyon with tress and the creek.  Eventually we started climbing out of the canyon toward Selden Pass which we'll hit tomorrow (no passes today!).  I'm currently camped between the two Sallie Keyes Lakes with Wash Out, Smiles, and Pounce.  We think Tourist is just ahead at the next lake.

Wash Out and I are super low on food, and we're going to try to make it to VVR tomorrow.  We're both hungry all the time.  Smiles had a couple of extra Ramen packets which she was kind enough to give us, so we were each able to eat two dinners.  YAY!  I think we're about 13 PCT miles plus 1.5 non-PCT miles out of the VVR dock, so we're planning to get an early start tomorrow in order to make the final 4:45 crossing.  Looking forward to a boat ride!

VVR is known for being a bit of a racket, but we're all excited for a break.  While we haven't been making big miles this stretch, the difficult terrain and altitude has been exhausting.

Day 58 - 6/22/12 - Muir Pass Slog

Contents:  Pine Cone Ditch - Evolution Lake (Approx. 18 miles)

Wash Out and I had another amazing day in the mountains and finally managed to catch up with Smiles and Tourist in camp this evening.  With the exception of the untouchable (in my eyes) North Cascades, the High Sierra are turning out to be as beautiful as any place I've ever visited.  Today we walked through alpine meadows below huge granite buttresses, and we passed many enticing tarns.  We stopped for an ice cold swim at a lake below Muir Pass which we hit late in the afternoon after a 10 miles climb and about 4,000 feet of elevation gain.  I thought Muir Pass (11,955 ft.) was probably the most spectacular pass we've crossed so far, perhaps due to all the water and more snow than usual on the surrounding peaks.  There was also a great hut at the pass. 

I've been trying to take a lot of pictures, but I've been having a few issues with my camera.  The flash has never worked, and now the lens won't open and close properly.  I think this problem is my fault, as I tried to put the camera back in its case before the lens was fully closed.  Argh!  On top of all this, I'm having trouble with the focus....not sure if this issue is related to the lens or not.  I might call my parents from my next stop at Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR) to see if they can send my old camera to Tuolumne Meadows.

Wash Out and I got some GORP from Ron, a friendly JMT hiker from Atlanta today.  Thanks Ron!  it was nice meeting you.  We proceeded to go on a GORP binge to the point where I felt quite ill.  I've gotta say.....I think I'm done with raisins and nuts.  My GI tract can't take any more.  I'm really low on food this stretch and can't wait to resupply.

Off to bed!  Hasta manana!

Day 57 - 6/21/12 - What's the Mather?

Contents:  Lake Marjorie - Pine Cone Ditch (approximately 16.4 miles)

I am super tired today and feeling a bit ill after pounding most of a large box of instant chocolate pudding for dessert.  Wash Out and I were hoping to put in an extra four miles or so after dinner but only did a mile and a half or two before collapsing next to the trail in a ditch full of pine cones.  We're both beat.  Tourist and Smiles left camp before us this morning and we never caught up with them, but I'm sure they aren't far ahead.

We had another gorgeous day in the High Sierras, perhaps our best yet.  From camp this morning, we had an easy 2.5 mile descent down to about 10,800 feet before we began the 5.2 mile climb up to Mather Pass at 12,100 feet.  We're definitely on the pass a day plan.  I love the passes.  They are usually good slogs (my area of expertise!) and it's a thrill to get to the top and peer over the other side.  It's always exciting to see what new is in store.

After an awesome break at Mather Pass where we ran into Liberty, a southbound JMT hiker, who did some sweet headstand poses for us, Wash Out and I started a long and sometimes steep and rocky descent.  We're quite low now, probably somewhere around 8,500 feet and we're below tree line for the first time in a while.  Tomorrow, we'll have a couple more miles of down before we start the climb up to Muir Pass.  I am falling asleep, so off to bed.  Happy Solstice!

Day 56 - 6/20/12 - Livin' It Up In The High Sierra

Contents:  Middle Rae Lake - Lake Marjorie (16.6 miles)

I'm loving our slightly slower, less miles focused pace here in the High Sierra.  I feel like I'm actually on a backpacking trip for a change!  We're all about long breaks, swimming holes, and sweet camps.  It's such a welcome change from desert survival mode.

We had another spectacular day of hiking.  It was certainly strenuous though, and I'm feeling pretty beat tonight.  This afternoon we climbed over 3500 feet up to Pinchot Pass at 12,130 feet before dropping down to our camp at Lake Marjorie at 11,160 feet.  We're all well acclimatized, but it's still a lot of work.

Camp is amazing.  it is one of my best campsites ever (though it doesn't quite compete with the excellent Dodwell-Rixon Camp!)  I'm off to bed now.....We'll hit Mather Pass tomorrow.  We're definitely on the pass a day schedule for now.

Day 55 - 6/19/12 - Mountain Passes and Fine Dining

Contents:  Independence-Middle Rae Lake
7.5 miles over Kearsarge Pass + 3.3 PCT miles

Had another great day on the trail!  We got up early this morning and enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the Alabama Hills Diner in Lone Pine before catching an 8:30 bus back to Independence.  In Independence, Wash Out and I, along with Pounce and Pop Star, were able to score a ride back to the Kearsarge Pass Trail Head from an angel who had just dropped off some hikers in town.  Smiles and Tourist were fortunate to get a hitch right behind us.  We cruised the 7.5 miles back over Kearsarge Pass to the PCT.  Side note....we're actually on the John Muir Trail right now.  The PCT joined the JMT near Crabtree Meadows near Mt. Whitney.  Anyways, once back to the trail, we headed over Glen Pass at 11,978 feet.  The route up the pass was steep and negotiated cliff bands.  We definitely felt fortunate for the snow-free conditions as it would have been a nightmare in the snow.  From the pass, we had spectacular views of the Rae Lakes.  It was really lovely and Tourist was also kind enough to entertain us with some harmonica music.

I'm currently camped at Middle Rae Lake with Wash Out, Smiles, and Tourist.  Wash Out and I just made a fabulous dinner for the whole group.  We packed in tons of fresh veggies, potatoes, and pasta.  It was definitely a feast and my best trail dinner yet.  And made on alcohol stoves to boot!

Super tired so off to sleep in my clean sleeping bag! Hasta manana!

Day 54 - 6/18/12 - Three Towns - One Day

Contents:  0.0 miles

Today was another great town day.  Wash Out and I slept in and then met Smiles and Sean for breakfast.  Smiles and Sean had caught an early bus from Independence to Bishop in order to hit the larger grocery stores.  After breakfast, Wash Out and I headed back to our room, and I went through the box of food I'd picked up yesterday.  Needless to say, I'm getting pretty tired of the food in my resupply boxes even though I've only received three.  I'm definitely preferring the buy as I go method.  While a diet of pop tarts and gummy worms didn't seem like a good idea when I was preparing my contents lists from the comfort of home, I'm definitely finding they are the way to go out here.  I'm still planning to do some food drops going forward, but I've asked my parents to hold off on sending a few so that I can do more shopping on my own.  I'm finding that hitching and getting around the towns is easier than I expected so grocery shopping is typically low stress.

Once I was organized and packed up, Wash Out and I wandered around town and hit up the Gear Exchange (sort of like Second Ascent in Seattle) and a coffee shop for drinks and pastries.  Around 1:15, we caught a bus to a town called Lone Pine with Smiles.  Sean was also with us, but he got off at the Independence stop in order to head back to the trail.  Smiles and I were planning to accompany Wash Out to Lone Pine where he needed to pick up his bounce box.  Tourist also hopped on the bus in Independence.  We had chatted as soon as he'd gotten off the trail this morning, and he wanted to join in on the Lone Pine fun.

I'm currently splitting a room in Lone Pine with Smiles, Wash Out, and Tourist.  The afternoon was spent on chores like mailing my totally unnecessary ice axe home and laundry.  I even washed my sleeping bag for the first time ever!  Smiles, Tourist, Wash Out and I hit up a pizza joint for dinner and then stopped by a supermarket for a few extra goodies.  We're now back at our hotel.  Sam and Hot Wing, two of Wash Out's buddies showed up this evening, and I think they're going out for drinks soon.  I may join in or just call it a night....haven't decided yet.