Month: June 2018

PCT 2018 Day 45, June 6, Wednesday.

Start mile 933.6 at campsite

End 960.5, bivy site

Miles walked: 26.9

The day begins along a series of meadows along Lyell Canyon.

Entering Yosemite National Park, Lembert Dome is a good example of the mountains of solid rock, favored by climbers.

A sign explains how glaciers smoothed over the rock, except the very highest peaks, such as Cathedral Peak.

(Tuolumne campground store is closed, due to open in a couple of days.) A park ranger hikes by and does check my permit and asks about my recent hike. After a waterfall, the trail gradually climbs.

I camp among 50% snow cover at 9.5k elevation, about six miles from Benson Pass, 10.1k.

Finished audiobook The Laughing Cavalier (Ancestor of the Scarlet Pimpernel), by Baroness Orczy.

PCT 2018 Day 44, June 5, Tuesday.

Start campsite at mile 915.9, 8.7 miles from Island Pass

End mile 933.6 at campsite

Miles walked: 17.7

I was not able to camp very close to Island Pass (10.2k), so a mid-morning climb would mean soft snow and post-holing. The ascent was not too bad, with enough land exposed that you could find bits of trail and walk around snow often.

Same situation coming down.

In the afternoon, near Donohue Pass, this ridge reminded me of a Ginsu knife.

Donohue Pass (11.1k) had much more snow on the trail-south side compared to previous passes.

Near the summit of other passes is often clear of snow, but not this pass.

Coming down meant even more snow and post-holing.

Finally past the snow, the path lowers to a lovely meadow at 8.9k.

I did not see PCT hikers all day, but did see a group of south-bound section hikers after the last pass.

PCT 2018 Day 43, June 4, Monday.

Start town of Mammoth Lakes, and take a free bus to Horseshoe Lake trailhead, then hike 3.2 miles to PCT mile 903.2

End campsite at mile 915.9, 8.7 miles from Island Pass

Miles walked: 15.9

Bible joins me for breakfast in the “Village”, a ski resort area of town.

We take the earliest shuttle up to Horseshoe Lake, arriving at 9:30AM.

Bible is not leaving today, just making a practice run.

The day is very warm and sunny, with mosquitos and gnats present in places, and many deer wandering around. How different from the cold snowy trail of two days ago. The Devil’s Postpile shows an unusual geologic formation that looks like a huge pile of wooden posts. The trail goes as low as 7.4k elevation, climbing to 8.8k on the way to the next pass tomorrow at 10.2k.