Author: Jim, Sagebrush

PCT 2018 Day 46, June 7, Thursday.

Start mile 960.5, bivy site

End mile 980.0, campsites after stream crossing

Miles walked: 19.5

Climbing to Benson Pass, snow starts at 50% coverage, goes to 80%. Unlike many recent passes, no bare rock is at the top of the pass to climb..

Going down

Though the trail seems extra rugged today, the vistas are inspiring.

The trail climbs up again to 9k elevation, so more hide-and-seek with snow and trail.

I break a trekking bole on the steep way down, but do a field repair to get me a few more days of use, perhaps until a replacement arrives. Usually by this point in a long hike, I have already broken a pole. Sigh. Down to Benson Lake and old growth forest

And small lake Yet again to 9k and snow.

At Kerrick Canyon is a particularly challenging spot, where the trail is buried underneath steep slanted crusty snow, between rock cliff and whitewater, and no footprints.

I met no PCT hikers today, but did see three backpackers where I camped.

Finished audiobook The Master of Ballantrae, by Robert Louis Stevenson.

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.