PCT 2018 Day 48, June 9, Saturday.
Start mile 1005.9 at campsite
End mile 1016.9, Sonora Pass (9.6k) and Highway 108, and accept ride to North Kennedy Meadows resort 10 miles away Miles walked: 11 Start climbing over snow, icy and slick in the morning. Is this how the day goes?
The trail goes high on the side of a ridge with a series of peaks. No more granite, the rock is dark, and crumbles like shale.
The snow fields are now perhaps 10 or 20% covering the trail, but so high and steep as to be more exciting than I want. The trail gusts suddenly in any direction, strong enough to move me and my backpack. The extreme conditions feel like 13k elevation, not 11k.
The path goes over the ridge summit and goes along the other side, repeating several times. The views are extraordinary.
Abruptly the path plunges down to the road and Sonora Pass.
Waiting at the highway is trail angel Chipmunk, who is giving rides to hikers in either direction, North Kennedy Resort or Bridgeport. He picked up 11 hikers today, and says we are early and the big surge will come in a couple of weeks. The resort has a nice package deal for hikers, but unfortunately does not have wifi. Chipmunk, who is also at the resort, says this year most hikers go to Bridgeport, but last year most went to Kennedy.
I am tickled by the bear looming over check-in. I am alone in my room of five beds.
Hiker roommates could share valuable intelligence, but alas… The resort caters mostly to trail rides, and dogs are in abundance.
Chipmunk and I share dinner and trade stories. He has hiked several sections of the PCT, and gives me some idea of what is to come.