Day 127

I made it to Canada! After four months and three days my hike has come to an end. Last night it misted rain, a lot like my first night on trail. Around 10:00, the mist turned into fully fledged raindrops that lasted the rest of the day. I was initially planning on spending another night in the woods, but the rain motivated me to get all the way to the Manning Park Lodge in British Columbia. I got to the border around 2:00 and sat there digesting what just happened for half an hour. I still don't really know what to do next, but I'm sure it will work out.

Steps taken today/total: 54,456/5,458,703
Miles walked today/total: 28.39/2,658.91
Elevation gained today/total: 5,099/487,426
Elevation lost today/total: 7,132/461,644

Day 126

Today I crossed the last road in America, Hart's Pass. It's about thirty miles from the border and since the U.S. won't let people enter the country via the PCT, people who go south have to start here, go up to the border, then turn around and go south. Luckily tomorrow after I finish I can cross into Canada, where the nearest road is only nine miles away.

Steps taken today/total: 63,528/5,404,247
Miles walked today/total: 32.13/2,630.51
Elevation gained today/total: 6,137/482,327
Elevation lost today/total: 6,434/454,512

Day 125

I took off through the park this morning, starting a 25 mile stretch that was almost completely uphill. This is the last really long climb left, with one five miler tomorrow and pretty chill terrain after that. About twenty miles in, at Rainy Pass,  I hit trail magic courtesy of two hikers who finished yesterday. They came back down to see people hiked with and give out snacks and cold sodas.

Steps taken today/total: 56,689/5,340,719
Miles walked today/total: 28.97/2,598.39
Elevation gained today/total: 7,965/476,190
Elevation lost today/total: 3,335/448,078

Day 124

Since I was able to do bigger days than I was planning for this stretch I got to the shuttle stop in time to get to the Stehekin post office before it closed. That left me free to enjoy the stellar bakery in town and sit on a dock looking over Lake Chelan. This was the most relaxing day I've had in a while. I caught the last shuttle back to the trail, so I can start at a normal time tomorrow instead of waiting on town for the 9:00 bus. I camped just inside the border of North Cascades National Park, the seventh and last National Park on trail.

Steps taken today/total: 45,655/5,284,030
Miles walked today/total: 22.81/2,569.42
Elevation gained today/total: 3,295/468,225
Elevation lost today/total: 6,176/444,743

Day 123

Today was composed of just two really long climbs with an even longer descent in between. There were also a lot of blown down trees that I had to climb over or around. These blowdowns are trickier than the ones in Oregon since the mountains are steeper here so you can't just walk around them.

Steps taken today/total: 56,355/5,238,375
Miles walked today/total: 28.36/2,546.61
Elevation gained today/total: 8,238/464,930
Elevation lost today/total: 9,200/438,567

Day 122

I think today is the most elevation I've gained in a single day. It started this morning going into the Glacier Peak Wilderness and I just had climb after climb. They were also a lot steeper than most of the climbs I've been having, which slowed me down a lot. I used to average a little over three miles per hour when moving, but I hiked for almost thirteen hours today and only did thirty one and a half. I've heard this section is the toughest in Washington, and today showed me why. However, I did go farther than I was planning and now may be able to get into Stehekin early.

Steps taken today/total: 63,721/5,182,020
Miles walked today/total: 31.56/2,518.26
Elevation gained today/total: 9,243/456,692
Elevation lost today/total: 7,953/429,367

Day 121

I was able to hitch out of Skykomish and get back on trail around 9. Today was pretty boring, raining for ten minutes, but otherwise clear weather. I thought a lot about what it would take to finish on different days, and it boils down to when I can get into Stehekin, and therefore how much I can do tomorrow. I'm hoping to do around thirty to make up for the late start today which would set me up for a finish on the 17th.

Steps taken today/total: 48,357/5,118,299
Miles walked today/total: 25.09/2,486.70
Elevation gained today/total: 5,822/437,449
Elevation lost today/total: 5,711/421,414

Day 120

I got into Skykomish today where I met Jenny, the most hiker friendly postal worker known to man. She let me in to the post office after hours to get my food, then cooked dinner for me and some other hikers who she is letting camp in her lawn. It's a nice break from a tough, rocky section of trail.

Steps taken today/total: 47,786/5,069,942
Miles walked today/total: 24.35/2,461.62
Elevation gained today/total: 6,520/431,627
Elevation lost today/total: 7,056/423,703

Day 119

Today I finished the Goldmeyer alternate, going over the steep and rocky Dutch Miller Gap to get back to the PCT. When I got back on, I saw Lopsong, whom I haven't seen since Mather Pass in the Sierras. He got up to Mt. Shasta then came up to the Canadian border to do the rest southbound in order to beat the snow.

Steps taken today/total: 54,921/5,022,166
Miles walked today/total: 29.78/2,437.27
Elevation gained today/total: 7,643/415,107
Elevation lost today/total: 4,899/416,647

Day 118

I got to Snoqualmie Pass around 12:30 today after passing by mirror lake and going through the rocky descent to the pass. Snoqualmie is a ski area in winter, but now most of the people here are just stopping on their way to somewhere else on I-90. After picking up my food, I started off on an alternate route that passes by Goldmeyer hot springs. I went around beautiful Snow Lake then scrambled down a rocky section of trail that had been erased by a rock slide. After clearing that obstacle the trail entered a forest where just about everything except the trail and freshly fallen pine needles was covered in moss. I found a flat spot on an abandoned logging road and set my tarp up to dry since I think this will be my first rainless night since my first in Washington.

Steps taken today/total: 46,244/4,967,245
Miles walked today/total: 21.29/2,390.66
Elevation gained today/total: 5,420/407,464
Elevation lost today/total: 7,489/411,748

Day 117

Today I met Not Phil's Dad. His son, Not Phil, hiked the PCT in 2009 and every year since, his dad has come out to do trail magic the day after Labor Day until he runs out of food. He said it took four weeks in 2010 and eight days last year for his food to run out. Since I stayed there for quite a while I didn't get as far as I was hoping, but that means I avoided about 1,500 feet of climbing and I'm camped 700 feet lower, so I should have a warm night.

Steps taken today/total: 58,091/4,921,001
Miles walked today/total: 28.20/2,377.44
Elevation gained today/total: 5,621/402,044
Elevation lost today/total: 7,137/404,259

Day 116

It rained for a bit this morning, but it wasn't nearly as cold as last time. I also had the motivation of a cabin 21 miles away where I could dry off if I really needed to. The cabin is maintained by a snowmobile club who use it in the winter. It has a wood stove and a lot of hooks on the walls to hang gear up to dry. Luckily, the rain stopped and I was dry by the time I got there, so after warming up a bit I hiked on and got to camp early.

Steps taken today/total: 54,231/4,862,910
Miles walked today/total: 26.06/2,349.23
Elevation gained today/total: 3,679/396,423
Elevation lost today/total: 4,378/397,122

Day 115

I went into Mt. Rainier National Park today, but the trail just barely goes in as if only to say that it does. After going "through" the park, I got to Dewey Lake, a beautiful fishing spot nestled in the mountains. I went up around the park entrance and camped at Sheep Lake.

Steps taken today/total: 61,755/4,808,679
Miles walked today/total: 30.79/2,323.17
Elevation gained today/total: 5,612/392,797
Elevation lost today/total: 4,222/392,744

Day 114

I woke up above the clouds today which finally let me get a good look at Mt. Adams. As I went around the mountain a came up over a ridge and saw Rainier above the clouds. I then traversed one of the sketchier snow fields I've seen and got to the Knife's Edge, a long ridgewalk towards Rainier. I then dropped down to White Pass where I got some hot food and a resupply box.

Steps taken today/total: 43,375/4,746,924
Miles walked today/total: 22.51/2,292.38
Elevation gained today/total: 4,266/387,145
Elevation lost today/total: 5,826/388,522

Day 113

I slept in today to stay warm as long as I could and left around 8:30. My timing worked out really well for me because eight miles in I got trail magic! A couple and their son were out camping for the long weekend and were making pancakes, bacon, and hash browns for hikers. This definitely turned me around after having a tough day yesterday. Later, I entered the Goat Rocks Wilderness which I had heard good things about. Going up over Cispus Pass, I saw why. The mountains were surrounded by fog that made them look haunting.

Steps taken today/total: 52,866/4,703,549
Miles walked today/total: 28.04/2,269.87
Elevation gained today/total: 3,930/382,879
Elevation lost today/total: 3,926/382,696

Day 112

Today I learned that hiking in the rain sucks. The rain started last night and lasted until around 6 this evening. Being out in it with no respite while the temperature is in the forties killed the circulation in my hands and feet. Luckily, I found a group of guys on an annual backpacking trip who had a nice base camp set up with a fire under a tarp. They let me dry my shoes and socks and warm myself up.

Steps taken today/total: 47,127/4,650,683
Miles walked today/total: 20.51/2,241.83
Elevation gained today/total: 4,508/378,949
Elevation lost today/total: 1,674/378,770

Day 111

I met someone from Nebraska today! Mystery just graduated from UNL also and started the PCT about a week before I did. It was really cool to be able to talk about home with somebody who agreed that the best pizza in the world is Valentino's, but only when it's served in Memorial Stadium.

Steps taken today/total: 59,954/4,603,556
Miles walked today/total: 30.77/2,221.32
Elevation gained today/total: 3,655/374,441
Elevation lost today/total: 4,003/377,096

Day 110

The forest in Washington is different from what I've seen so far. It gets more rain here and a lot of what I walked through today has never been logged so the trees are huge and there is a lot of undergrowth. I also saw some slugs today as long as the space between the tips of my thumb and forefinger. It was more overcast than I've seen all trip but it hasn't started raining yet. However, I did put up my tarp for the first time since before Etna.

Steps taken today/total: 50,798/4,543,602
Miles walked today/total: 26.90/2,190.55
Elevation gained today/total: 6,905/370,786
Elevation lost today/total: 4,740/373,093

Day 109

Around noon we left Cascade Locks and crossed the Bridge of the Gods over the Columbia River to get into Washington. As soon as you get on trail there's a sign saying that it's 507.2 miles to Canada. Now it's under 500 and I can't help but think about how little that is. I think back to the first 500 miles and how much it seemed at the time. It took me four weeks to get that far in terrain that is reportedly easier than what's coming up in Washington, but I plan on finishing in less than three weeks. With this said, I can't get ahead of myself. It's still a lot of hiking and I can only get there one step at a time.

Steps taken today/total: 36,167/4,492,804
Miles walked today/total: 19.29/2,163.65
Elevation gained today/total: 5,129/363,881
Elevation lost today/total: 3,870/368,353

Day 108

Today I hiked another scenic alternate and finished Oregon! The Eagle Creek had formed a steep canyon on its way to the Columbia River and has dozens of spectacular waterfalls, including tunnel falls where the trail goes behind a huge waterfall. The trail down to the falls is wide and smooth, going through a forest that is carpeted with ferns and moss. The falls themselves have created pools which are great for swimming in the clear blue water. After Eagle Creek, I followed a bike trail by the river into Cascade Locks and to the Bridge of the Gods that will take us into Washington.

Steps taken today/total: 52,355/4,456,637
Miles walked today/total: 28.24/2,144.36
Elevation gained today/total: 4,882/358,752
Elevation lost today/total: 8,143/364,483

Day 107

Buffets are a wonderful thing, especially when they offer a hiker discount. Today we got to Timberline Lodge, a ski resort on Mt. Hood that is recognizable as the Overlook Hotel from Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. They provide an acclaimed buffet with many gourmet options, many using local products like the fresh huckleberry tarts. This was definitely the best meal I've had on trail, living up to the hype the southbound hikers were giving it. After eating (and some digesting) I got started hiking again, going around the west side of Mt. Hood and getting some spectacular views in the process. I completed the last two real climbs in Oregon and I'm looking forward to the Eagle Creek alternate tomorrow.

Steps taken today/total: 55,776/4,404,282
Miles walked today/total: 28.05/2,112.12
Elevation gained today/total: 5,555/353,870
Elevation lost today/total: 5,588/356,340

Day 106

The definite highlight of today was sinew excellent trail magic we received this afternoon. Whitewalker, a section hiker who did Oregon last year and northern California this year, brought a grill to a trailhead to celebrate finishing his section and to try to meet people he hiked with. He said he saw eight people he knew, which exceeded his expectations. Since he had been on the receiving end of trail magic before, he knew what people wanted and he put together a great setup of food and other things, like a phone charging station. Because of the allure of the magic, we had to hike past dark to get to our campsite at Wampanitia Pass.

Steps taken today/total: 59,742/4,348,506
Miles walked today/total: 31.61/2,084.07
Elevation gained today/total: 3,022/348,315
Elevation lost today/total: 4,273/350,752

Day 105

We continued around Mt. Jefferson through beautiful Jefferson Park. We were only there for a few miles, but there are dozens of side trails that would be fun to come back and explore. We then went up the biggest climb in Oregon and got a fantastic view of Mt. Hood. We dropped down into the forest and camped by a calm spring.

Steps taken today/total: 46,615/4,288,764
Miles walked today/total: 27.27/2,054.12
Elevation gained today/total: 5,260/345,293
Elevation lost today/total: 5,352/346,479

Day 104

We finally got out of Bend and back to the trailhead around 10. Today was spent hiking toward Mt. Jefferson, a snowcapped peak in central Oregon. I met three people today who are gunning for the PCT record books. First I met Daniel Boone, who is trying to become the youngest thru hiker ever on the PCT. A few miles later I ran into Flowers and Poptart who are going south in an effort to break Anish's fastest known time for an unsupported hike of 60 days.

Steps taken today/total: 50,122/4,242,149
Miles walked today/total: 26.45/2,024.85
Elevation gained today/total: 4,453/340,033
Elevation lost today/total: 4,598/341,127

Day 103

I don't know how, but we're still in Bend.

Steps taken today/total: 0/4,192,027
Miles walked today/total: 0/1,998.36
Elevation gained today/total: 0/335,580
Elevation lost today/total: 0/341,127

Day 102

After camping by the highway we hitched into Bend for a resupply and zero. We relaxed and got some great food at some of Bend's many great restaurants.

Steps taken today/total: 0/4,192,027
Miles walked today/total: 0/1,998.36
Elevation gained today/total: 0/335,580
Elevation lost today/total: 0/341,127

Day 101

This morning we went around the Sisters and through an area that was scattered with obsidian. The volcanic glass made the trail glitter all around. The trail was reminiscent of the Sierras including a sort of mini-pass up some more volcanic rocks. Around mile 22 for the day the trail hit a lava field. This is the roughest trail I've seen since it was composed entirely of fist-sized, sharp volcanic rocks. It was like this for about four miles until it got smoother which helped us go for the highway and our biggest day of 40 miles.

Steps taken today/total: 78,211/4,192,027
Miles walked today/total: 40.61/1,998.36
Elevation gained today/total: 4,961/335,580
Elevation lost today/total: 6,060/341,127

Day 100

Since today was pretty flat we had a pretty good day. We went up in forest for a while and when we came out of the trees we had a great view of The Three Sisters. We slept with a great view of the South Sister.

Steps taken today/total: 64,770/4,113,816
Miles walked today/total: 35.07/1,957.75
Elevation gained today/total: 3,676/330,619
Elevation lost today/total: 3,337/341,127

Day 99

I finished the Oregon Skyline trail today into Shelter Cove by Odell Lake. The end of the trail follows a gorgeous stream through a forest. After a short climb the trail passed by a series of small lakes where we stopped to swim. After the lakes we hit a 100k ultramarathon that was on the PCT for a bit. This meant that there were aid stations for the runners who were eager to help out hikers as well. We got fruit and other snacks. We camped by a lake where there was a troop of boy scouts camping who offered us even more food.

Steps taken today/total: 58,733/4,049,076
Miles walked today/total: 30.46/1,922.68
Elevation gained today/total: 4,638/326,943
Elevation lost today/total: 4,109/331,730

Day 98

The PCT hit the highest altitude in Oregon or Washington today at 7,572 feet. A little bit later the trail joined the Oregon Skyline trail, another alternate that passes more lakes than the PCT. The OST goes by Crescent Lake which has beautiful sand beaches.

Steps taken today/total: 62,986/3,990,343
Miles walked today/total: 30.33/1,875.76
Elevation gained today/total: 2,424/322,305
Elevation lost today/total: 3,819/327,621

Day 97

I finished the rim today and rejoined the PCT. The trail flattened out as we left the park but the forest had more dead trees so there was less shade. I had a climb up around Mount Thielsen which has beautiful sculpted peaks.

Steps taken today/total: 50,262/3,927,357
Miles walked today/total: 26.92/1,855.94
Elevation gained today/total: 2,829/319,881
Elevation lost today/total: 2,496/323,802

Day 96

Today we got to the fifth National Park on trail, Crater Lake. After stopping at Mazama Village for a burger, I hiked on. The official PCT doesn't actually go close enough to the lake to see it, but there is a practically compulsory alternate that goes around the west side of the rim. The view after climbing up the side of the now dormant volcano is astounding. Over the years rainwater has filled the crater and since there are no other ways for water to enter, the water has very little particulate matter. Another reason it's so stunning is that the lake is the deepest in America which makes the water almost unbelievably blue due to the scattering of light. I got to the rim as the sun was setting, so the water that was in shade already took my breath away because of how blue it was. Seriously, I can't get over the blueness. If aliens came and I were tasked with defining the color blue to them I would just show them Crater Lake. As the sun set more, the opposite walls became pink and the reflection in the lake had an iridescent effect like an oil spill. As I rounded a corner, all of a sudden the full moon was visible above the peak opposite the lake.

Steps taken today/total: 51,727/3,878,095
Miles walked today/total: 27.83/1,820.53
Elevation gained today/total: 3,457/317,052
Elevation lost today/total: 3,160/321,306

Day 95

Today didn't have the volcanic rocks yesterday did, but it presented a new problem. We have encountered blown down trees before but today was on another level with trees across the trail every 50 feet. My long legs helped in stepping over some, but there were some trees other hikers could duck under that forced me to take off my pack so I didn't have to crawl. We climbed at the end of the day and I got potentially my last view of Mt. Shasta, which was first visible almost 500 miles ago.

Steps taken today/total: 46,193/3,826,368
Miles walked today/total: 27.31/1,798.20
Elevation gained today/total: 3,957/313,595
Elevation lost today/total: 2,674/320,996

Day 94

Today ruined the idea that Oregon was perfectly flat with the level, spongy trail we were promised. We actually had to walk uphill today and there were patches of volcanic rock that bit into your feet. On a positive note, we had two instances of trail magic today. Around lunch time we stopped at an old cabin for water and just as we were about to leave, a couple and their dogs came in with coolers full of soda and snacks. As we walked into our planned campsite there was a woman there with a grill making chili dogs. We talked with her for a while about how hiker season helps her restaurant out so this is her way of paying it forward.

Steps taken today/total: 54,942/3,780,175
Miles walked today/total: 29.10/1,770.89
Elevation gained today/total: 3,287/309,638
Elevation lost today/total: 3,410/318,322

Day 93

Today was relatively uneventful until we got to a road where we were able to hitch into Hyatt Lake Resort and get milkshakes. The trail was smooth and flat, so at least today Oregon is living up to the hype.

Steps taken today/total: 46,776/3,725,233
Miles walked today/total: 24.25/1,741.79
Elevation gained today/total: 4,620/306,351
Elevation lost today/total: 3,659/314,912

Day 92

Today was spent doing chores around town and eating as much as we could before getting back on trail. We did a couple miles and camped at the last spot on the map that looked like it would be big enough for all of us.

Steps taken today/total: 11,344/3,768,457
Miles walked today/total: 2.27/1,717.54
Elevation gained today/total: 253/301,731
Elevation lost today/total: 76/311,253

Day 91

I had a short day today into Ashland which was nice after pulling my longest day yet. When we got to town we immediately went to the Indian buffet which Ultralight had been looking forward to since Tehachapi. After filling up on curry and masala we spent the rest of the day in our hotel room relaxing and getting caught up on the Olympics.

Steps taken today/total: 29,512/3,667,113
Miles walked today/total: 12.93/1,715.17
Elevation gained today/total: 1,580/301,478
Elevation lost today/total: 3,567/311,177

Day 90

I'm finally in Oregon! Around 3:00 I hit mile 1,689, the border between California and Oregon. If you look at a map and draw a straight line between the southern terminus and the border crossing it would show you that there are only 740 miles between them. You can drive along the coast the length of the state and finish in 840 miles. It took me three months to get through, while Oregon will take less than three weeks. Right before the border there is a run-down cabin in a meadow where farmers used to stay when sorting cattle. Nowadays, it's being repaired and the people working on it bring out snacks and drinks for PCT hikers.

Steps taken today/total: 72,518/3,637,601
Miles walked today/total: 37.05/1,702.24
Elevation gained today/total: 6,989/299,898
Elevation lost today/total: 5,878/307,610

Day 89

Seiad Valley has a cafe where we ate breakfast this morning with some great seasonal dishes with locally picked blackberries. After breakfast the others I'm hiking with headed out to the trail and I stuck back to wait for the package with my new shoes. I'm happy to replace my old pair which have over 1,000 miles of hiking in them. Once my shoes got in I hit one of the toughest climbs of the trail coming out of the valley. It's the steepest sustained climb so far and it slowed me down quite a bit. This is the last night I plan on spending in California, with the border just 24 miles away.

Steps taken today/total: 26,669/3,565,083
Miles walked today/total: 11.26/1,665.19
Elevation gained today/total: 4,964/292,909
Elevation lost today/total: 743/301,732

Day 88

Remember after Agua Dulce when I said I hoped there weren't any more road walks? Well, that turned out to be wishful thinking. After dropping down 5,000 feet, the last six miles into Seiad Valley were on a road, with the last four on pavement. The frustrating thing about it is that you can see the town across the Klamath river  before the last four miles but there isn't a bridge until you walk all the way around to the highway. However, when I got into town things turned around. We heard about taco Tuesday at Indigo's Kitchen and when we got there Indigo was nice enough to let us camp in her yard and charge phones overnight.

Steps taken today/total: 62,351/3,538,414
Miles walked today/total: 30.95/1,653.93
Elevation gained today/total: 4,103/287,945
Elevation lost today/total: 8,694/300,989

Day 87

This morning we got off to a pretty lazy start, getting in trail around 7:00. This carried over to the day, as it seemed like none of us were as motivated as usual. The Marble Mountain Wilderness offered great scenery and a couple of good views of Mt. Shasta, which we have seen every day since we did the Hat Creek Rim. Today the peak was shrouded by clouds that gave it a very Olympian feel which is a little ironic because I'm unable to watch the Olympics due to being out in the middle of the wilderness.

Steps taken today/total: 50,240/3,476,063
Miles walked today/total: 23.55/1,622.98
Elevation gained today/total: 4,206/283,932
Elevation lost today/total: 4,731/292,295

Day 86

I did the last few miles into Etna this morning and waited about an hour for a hitch. When one finally came we were surprised to see dogs in the bed of the truck. For the ten miles down to town the dogs were running around between people to be petted. We then  found a nice restaurant with all day breakfast which is one of my favorite things to get in town. On the way back to the trailhead our second hitch also had dogs in the car, so we got to cuddle with them all the way back up. We did a few more miles to camp, where we were joined by Woodchuck.

Steps taken today/total: 27,982/3,425,823
Miles walked today/total: 11.10/1599.43
Elevation gained today/total: 1,899/279,730
Elevation lost today/total: 2,311/287,564

Day 85

Today was a pretty long day with a decent amount of climbing so it was pretty tough. We started off in the Trinity Wilderness for a while then entered the Russian Wilderness, which had beautiful sculpted mountains that we walked through. As I went to bed I could hear a thunderstorm rolling in the distance.

Steps taken today/total: 63,672/3,397,841
Miles walked today/total: 30.58/1,588.32
Elevation gained today/total: 6,616/277,831
Elevation lost today/total: 5,100/285,253

Day 84

It rained today! This was the first rain I've been in for eighty days on trail, so it was a nice change from the dry heat we've been having. Right before the rain started I met Purple Rain and her five week old son, Sunny. Purple Rain hiked the AT a few years ago and was out doing trail magic while taking Sunny on his first hike. At the end of the day we camped at a highway with even more trail magic, this time in the form of five coolers filled with all sorts of snacks and cold drinks.

Steps taken today/total: 62,940/3,397,841
Miles walked today/total: 28.93/1,557.74
Elevation gained today/total: 2,054/271,215
Elevation lost today/total: 3,651/280,153

Day 83

Today we walked through some cool scenery to get to Porcupine Lake for camp. The lake reminded me of the lakes in the Sierras because of the granite mountains around it and how still it was. We got to camp pretty early so when we were sitting around someone had the idea to have a rock skipping contest on the lake. The rocks we found were not ideal, but Steve and I tied for first with eight skips each.

Steps taken today/total: 52,061/3,334,901
Miles walked today/total: 24.12/1,528.81
Elevation gained today/total: 6,171/269,161
Elevation lost today/total: 1,886/276,502

Day 82

We spent the first half of the day in town making the most of the hotel room we had. After getting a hot meal we started hitching back to the trailhead and met Rob, who took us to his house and gave us some home brewed root beer. After a few hours of conversation and playing with his dog he drove us to the trail to start going. We walked by Castle Crags, a large granite formation.

Steps taken today/total: 14,823/3,282,840
Miles walked today/total: 6.01/1,504.71
Elevation gained today/total: 1,467/262,990
Elevation lost today/total: 912/274,616

Day 81

This morning we woke up in Dunsmuir and learned that some hikers we knew were in Shasta City so we hitched up there. The city is right under Mt. Shasta so we had a nice view from our hotel room. We relaxed and watched TV in air conditioning, a welcome respite from the heat.

Steps taken today/total: 0/3,268,017
Miles walked today/total: 0/1,498.70
Elevation gained today/total: 0/261,523
Elevation lost today/total: 0/273,704

Day 80

This morning we planned on stopping short of interstate 5 and going into town tomorrow, but today went more easily than anticipated, even with a couple of tough climbs. We got to the interstate and got a hitch into Dunsmuir, where we plan on zeroing tomorrow.

Steps taken today/total: 60,596/3,268,017
Miles walked today/total: 30.28/1,498.70
Elevation gained today/total: 8,484/261,523
Elevation lost today/total: 8,873/273,704

Day 78

Early this morning we crossed a bridge over a bone dry, rocky creek bed. A mile later, that creek bed turned into a huge waterfall 129 feet tall and nearly as wide. Burney Falls is a spring-fed waterfall that has hundreds of thousands of gallons of water flow over it every day, even when the creek upstream is completely dry. After the falls we walked over the Lake Britton Dam and then had a 2,500 foot climb. It was hot again today so we took our first siesta in 800 miles to avoid the sun.

Steps taken today/total: 52,272/3,144,491
Miles walked today/total: 25.52/1,437.95
Elevation gained today/total: 4,611/248,176
Elevation lost today/total: 3,680/257,456

Day 77

Last night on the rim was the hottest I've had all trip. Due to this heat wave we got up early to try to get to Burney before the heat of the day started. We had 17 miles to town that we wanted to do by noon. However, just before the highway we needed to hitch on we ran into trail magic! The daughter of a hiker named Phantom was there to surprise him so she and some friends brought pulled pork sandwiches, chips, and homemade desserts out for hikers. The pulled pork blew the McDonald's I was anticipating out of the water. When Phantom for there he and his daughter embraced, crying. I'm lucky I got to share such a special moment (and food) with him.
After the trail magic we went into Burney for food and to beat the heat. Coming out of town, we didn't even have to walk a mile before running into more trail magic in the form of a shaded picnic table and cooler full of drinks and snacks. The couple who stocks it was there, so we were able to thank them personally and sign in to their register.

Steps taken today/total: 43,452/3,092,219
Miles walked today/total: 21.40/1,412.43
Elevation gained today/total: 679/243,565
Elevation lost today/total: 2,316/254,076

Day 75

After a short climb we entered Lassen Volcanic National Park. One of the first trail junctions took us to Terminal Geyser, which isn't really a geyser, but a steam vent. We could smell the sulfur from a mile away, but couldn't see it until we came around a corner. The vent heated up the water so much it was still steaming 500 yards downstream. After the geyser, we came across Boiling Springs Lake, a noxious looking green lake with mudpots around the edge. The mudpots were bubbling fiercely from the volcanic gasses escaping the ground. After the lake the hike was pretty standard, if not a bit easier than normal. It was mostly level for the rest of the day, with one small climb and descent. Tomorrow we will enter the dreaded Hat Creek Rim, the second longest dry stretch of the PCT.

Steps taken today/total: 55,749/2,996,961
Miles walked today/total: 29.02/1,367.18
Elevation gained today/total: 3,531/241,300
Elevation lost today/total: 3,768/250,017

Day 73

I am finally closer to Canada than Mexico! I hit the halfway point this morning on my way to Chester to resupply. When we got to town we went to a pizza buffet where I met Steve, who had hiked with the other guys before he had to go home for a week. The six of us, Sam, Babu, Ultralight, Brian, Steve, and I, got a hotel room for the night and we had a relaxing evening including huge one-quart milkshakes from a burger stand. When I went out to get snacks I ran into French Fry and he came back to our room.

Steps taken today/total: 32,389/2,921,193
Miles walked today/total: 13.72/1,328.80
Elevation gained today/total: 2,543/236,553
Elevation lost today/total: 3,975/245,017

Day 79

We started off with a small climb this morning but after that it was level and downhill the rest of the day. The trail went down into a beautiful canyon that had dense trees which provided nice shade from the heatwave we're in now. We got to the bottom of the canyon and camped by the river.

Steps taken today/total: 62,930/3,207,421
Miles walked today/total: 30.47/1,468.42
Elevation gained today/total: 4,863/253,039
Elevation lost today/total: 7,375/264,831

Day 76

Before we got to the waterless stretch today, we ran into some caves left by volcanic activity. One was a collapsed lava tube that the trail goes over, so we scrambled down into it for some impromptu spelunking. A mile later, we went off trail to see Subway Cave, a large lava tube left when the surface of a river of lava solidified and the inside didn't. It kept flowing until the source ran out, leaving a tube that can be walked through. The trailhead at the tube was the last reliable water source for 30 miles, so we came away with heavy packs. Once we got up on Hat Creek Rim we had a great view of Mt. Lassen behind us and Mt. Shasta in front. It was about 95 degrees today and the lack of trees on the rim made the hiking feel a lot like the desert. After six hours and plenty of breaks under bushes, we found a water cache that will make tomorrow much more comfortable since we were carrying the bare minimum amount of water we need to close out the last dry miles.

Steps taken today/total: 51,806/3,048,767
Miles walked today/total: 24.35/1,391.03
Elevation gained today/total: 1,586/242,886
Elevation lost today/total: 1,743/251,760

Day 74

We took a chill day today and didn't get back on trail for awhile so we only did 9 miles. French Fry decided to zero, so hopefully he catches up and we can see him again. We camped by the north fork of the Feather River, the river we swam in a few days ago. Tomorrow we will enter the fourth National Park on trail, Lassen Volcanic.

Steps taken today/total: 20,019/2,941,212
Miles walked today/total: 9.36/1,338.16
Elevation gained today/total: 1,216/237,769
Elevation lost today/total: 1,232/246,249

Day 71

There was a steep descent into Belden today where we happened upon an electronic music festival happening literally on trail. The town had been rented out for the festival and hundreds of people were camped there for the weekend to go to shows and hang out in the river. The cacophony of the festival was the biggest culture shock I've had since coming out here. We sat in the shade for a few hours to avoid the midday heat and had the most interesting people watching session. In the evening I hiked out a few miles and left Plumas National Forest for Lassen.

Steps taken today/total: 44,573/2,838,702
Miles walked today/total: 22.35/1,290.16
Elevation gained today/total: 2,667/227,030
Elevation lost today/total: 5,665/238,093

Day 72

I woke up early this morning with the intent of going at least 30 miles to have a short day into Chester tomorrow, but around noon I hit a good piece of trail magic. Some professors from the University in Chico, CA were camped at a trailhead for the weekend and had a table laid out filled with all sorts of fruit and sandwiches. Since it hasn't been this hot since the desert I justified sitting there until 4:00 before heading on. One of the professors is coming to Lincoln in October for a conference so hopefully I'll be able to meet up with him then.

Steps taken today/total: 50,102/2,888,804
Miles walked today/total: 24.92/1315.08
Elevation gained today/total: 6,980/234,010
Elevation lost today/total: 2,949/241,042

Day 70

We moved quickly this morning to get to Quincy and pick up food. While we were packing up our pickings a man offered us a ride to the trailhead so we took him up on it right away. While we finished we started talking with him and I learned that his ex wife coached basketball at Nebraska for a few years in the seventies and he was friends with Bob Devaney. He told us stories of when he coached football for a small college in California and talked about his good friend, Dick Vermeil. As he drove us up I noticed a Husker tire cover on a trailer and he said there are about ten families who moved here from Nebraska who he watches the games with. He said he'll always root for Nebraska unless they play his alma mater, Stanford.

Steps taken today/total: 42,408/2,794,129
Miles walked today/total: 20.56/1,267.81
Elevation gained today/total: 7,001/224,363
Elevation lost today/total: 2,699/232,428

Day 69

The plan this morning was to go about 28 miles, but we happened across a  campsite that was too good to pass up. After coming down to only 3,000 feet above sea level we were in a canyon formed by the Feather River. As we crossed the bridge high above the water we could see rapids upstream but a large pool downstream with hikers swimming. We stopped here and swam for an hour before getting a big campfire going to warm up and dry clothes. There was a grate by the fire ring do Ultralight grilled some of his salami for us and I made quesadillas. Tonight was definitely the best cuisine I've had on trail. Later, we were joined by Peter Pan, from Poland.

Steps taken today/total: 53,516/2,751,721
Miles walked today/total: 25.78/1,247.25
Elevation gained today/total: 3,986/217,362
Elevation lost today/total: 7,305/229,729

Day 68

We were all dreading the climb we knew we had coming after descending yesterday, but it didn't end up being too bad. After the big climb we hovered around 7,000 feet all day, so it wasn't too hard of hiking. At camp we met French Fries, a hiker from Japan. He works for Montbell, an outdoor gear company, but surprisingly wears mostly Patagonia clothing.

Steps taken today/total: 51,456/2,698,205
Miles walked today/total: 26.07/1,221.47
Elevation gained today/total: 5,554/213,376
Elevation lost today/total: 4,230/222,424

Day 67

We hustled today to get to Sierra City, an old gold town a mile and a half off trail. We had heard about the burgers they served and that proved to be an excellent motivator. We got to town around 2:30 and put in our orders. Sam and Babu got veggie burgers and Ultralight and I got the one pound "gutbuster" burgers. The patties were a couple of inches thick and were too big to take a bite out of, but somehow I managed. I don't think I'll ever get tired of non-hikers reactions to someone downing a burger that big with a tall milkshake and fries.

Steps taken today/total: 47,378/2,646,749
Miles walked today/total: 23.17/1,195.4
Elevation gained today/total: 2,696/206,822
Elevation lost today/total: 5,721/218,194

Day 66

This morning I got to Donner Pass and went down to Truckee for food. When I got back I saw Ultralight, a hiker I haven't seen since before Tehachapi. We hiked together until we caught up with Sam and Babu at a rest stop on I-80. We hiked together for the rest of the day, a welcome change of pace from hiking alone. We met a hiker who jumped the Sierras while they were still snowy and he told us that Lassen Volcanic National Park in a couple hundred miles had great hiking despite the long water carries.
We also hit mile 1,154 today which wasn't very special itself, but that's the straight line distance between the southern terminus and northern terminus of the PCT.

Steps taken today/total: 50,746/2,599,371
Miles walked today/total: 22.20/1,172.23
Elevation gained today/total: 3,463/204,126
Elevation lost today/total: 3,655/212,473

Day 65

Today was fairly uneventful until I ran into Sam and Babu whom I haven't seen since Mt. Whitney. I've been hiking alone since Tuolumne, so it's nice to have caught up with people I know. Hopefully our mileages line up so we can keep hiking together.

Steps taken today/total: 69,620/2,548,625
Miles walked today/total: 31.45/1,150.03
Elevation gained today/total: 5,737/200,663
Elevation lost today/total: 5,478/208,818

Day 64

This morning Phil and Mel dropped me off at the trail and I assumed I would never see them again, but I was wrong. They drove down to Echo Lake and started doing a little hiking themselves so I was quite surprised when I caught up to them. We talked for a bit more and they let me go on my way around the lake, which I think is the biggest I've hiked beside yet. After Echo, the trail got pretty rocky for a few miles which slowed me down a bit and made my feet sore. I had one pass today, but it was only 9,400 feet, which seems like nothing after what I've done.

Steps taken today/total: 65,809/2,479,005
Miles walked today/total: 27.78/1118.58
Elevation gained today/total: 3,848/194,926
Elevation lost today/total: 3,734/203,340

Day 64

This morning Phil and Mel dropped me off at the trail and I assumed I would never see them again, but I was wrong. They drove down to Echo Lake and started doing a little hiking themselves so I was quite surprised when I caught up to them. We talked for a bit more and they let me go on my way around the lake, which I think is the biggest I've hiked beside yet. After Echo, the trail got pretty rocky for a few miles which slowed me down a bit and made my feet sore. I had one pass today, but it was only 9,400 feet, which seems like nothing after what I've done.

Steps taken today/total: 65,809/2,479,005
Miles walked today/total: 27.78/1118.58
Elevation gained today/total: 3,848/194,926
Elevation lost today/total: 3,734/203,340

Day 63

Today was my first true zero since Hiker Heaven at mile 454. Phil and Mel made it an easy decision to rest today because of their almost gratuitous hospitality. They helped me get around town to do chores and dropped me off at an all you can eat sushi bar so I could gorge myself for over an hour. They took me down to see the lake and we went to the amphitheater to listen to Sting and Peter Gabriel. At the concert they introduced me to their friend Mike who is a trail angel and has hiked the JMT. We talked about our experiences in the Sierras and how gear has gotten so much lighter than even ten years ago, when he did his hike. When I got back I realized that this is the first bed I'll have slept in twice on the entire trip.

Steps taken today/total: 0/2,413,196
Miles walked today/total: 0/1,090.80
Elevation gained today/total: 0/191,078
Elevation lost today/total: 0/199,606

Day 63

Today was my first true zero since Hiker Heaven at mile 454. Phil and Mel made it an easy decision to rest today because of their almost gratuitous hospitality. They helped me get around town to do chores and dropped me off at an all you can eat sushi bar so I could gorge myself for over an hour. They took me down to see the lake and we went to the amphitheater to listen to Sting and Peter Gabriel. At the concert they introduced me to their friend Mike who is a trail angel and has hiked the JMT. We talked about our experiences in the Sierras and how gear has gotten so much lighter than even ten years ago, when he did his hike. When I got back I realized that this is the first bed I'll have slept in twice on the entire trip.

Steps taken today/total: 0/2,413,196
Miles walked today/total: 0/1,090.80
Elevation gained today/total: 0/191,078
Elevation lost today/total: 0/199,606

Day 62

I think I got more trail magic today than I've gotten any other day. It started at Carson Pass where volunteers had lunch for PCT hikers including fresh fruit and cold cheese, something usually reserved for town stops. When I got to the highway I got a hitch into South Lake Tahoe and the girl who gave me a ride let me into her gym so I could shower. When I got out, I was sitting there looking up places to stay when two older couples, Phil and Mel and Laura and Charlie, asked if I was hiking the PCT. When I told them I was they asked where I was staying and after I responded that I didn't have a place yet they invited me to their home. They let me do laundry and traded me a root beer float for trail stories. I can't say enough about what their kindness meant to me.

Steps taken today/total: 63,916/2,413,196
Miles walked today/total: 26.98/1,090.80
Elevation gained today/total: 5,870/191,078
Elevation lost today/total: 5,062/199,606

Day 61

he landscape has slowly been changing since I got out of Yosemite and today was the best example of this. It's becoming more and more dessert-like but there are still elements of the Sierras. I go in and out of forests throughout the day and there is still plenty of water and snow about. The Desolation Wilderness has plenty of lakes and wildflowers are in bloom.

Steps taken today/total: 62,003/2,349,280
Miles walked today/total: 25.53/1,063.82
Elevation gained today/total: 4,889/185,280
Elevation lost today/total: 5,690/194,544

Day 60

I left North Kennedy Meadows this morning after a hot breakfast of biscuits and gravy  and sending the bear canister home so I was feeling pretty good. The mountains are turning into foothills so after a rocky descent it was smooth sailing. I stopped earlier than normal and met Eric, John and Terrence, three section hikers going from Sonora Pass to Echo Lake. We talked about our hikes and traded stories and food.

Steps taken today/total: 49,721/2,287,277
Miles walked today/total: 21.36/1,038.29
Elevation gained today/total: 4,094/180,391
Elevation lost today/total: 5,270/188,854

Day 59

After stopping short of my goal yesterday, my plan was to take it easy today and stop at the last camp before Sonora Pass, around mile 1,006. However, when I got there around 3:00 I just couldn't convince myself to stop. I had 11 miles to the pass and the highway to hitch into Northern Kennedy Meadows, so I decided to go for it. Along the way I went down the steepest and most fun glissade I've done and crossed more snow than the rest of the passes combined. I got close to the road around 7:00 and was prepared to camp at the trailhead but there was a car there picking up some other hikers that I ran to and caught just in time. Tomorrow I'll be able to ship my bear canister home with some other equipment I don't need anymore so my base weight will be around 3 pounds lighter.  

Steps taken today/total: 68,918/2,237,556
Miles walked today/total: 30.07/1016.93
Elevation gained today/total: 4,993/176,297
Elevation lost today/total: 3,358/183,584

Day 58

I think today was my toughest day yet. The terrain is still as steep and rocky as the JMT was, but instead of having passes separated by long flat meadows, the ups and downs come back to back. In addition to the constant elevation change, there are no natural barriers like the passes, so I have no reason to stop early like we did before. The length of today wore me out so much I settled for an earlier campsite than I was shooting for.

Steps taken today/total: 65,034/2,168,638
Miles walked today/total: 24.47/986.86
Elevation gained today/total: 6,182/171,304
Elevation lost today/total: 6,257/180,226

Day 57

I left Tuolumne around eleven after the post office opened and I could get my food and I soon saw one of the more curious things on the trail. Soda Springs is a naturally occurring, carbonated spring in Yosemite that bubbles up about a mile from the post office. Scientists are still unsure exactly how the water becomes carbonated underground, but the water comes up tasting just like mineral water.
The landscape here is like a more subdued version of what we were just in, but it offers views that are just as beautiful. At one point I came around a corner and the rocks on either side framed a landscape with rounded granite faces in the foreground and spires of peaks in the back. I had heard reports of the snow and mosquitoes being bad in this section, but I ran into neither today, so hopefully those reports are outdated.

Steps taken today/total: 46,648/2,103,604
Miles walked today/total: 19.38/962.39
Elevation gained today/total: 3,193/165,121
Elevation lost today/total: 3,289/180,226

Day 56

I'm now officially a thru hiker! Today I finished the JMT by hiking into Yosemite Valley from Tuolumne Meadows. Along the way I hiked up Half Dome and by waterfalls and rivers that formed the valley. Yosemite is different from the other national parks I've been in do far due to the sheer number of people who are in the park. Due to its beauty and accessibility, Yosemite is much more of a tourist destination, with a veritable town in the valley. At this point it's so developed it's practically nature's Disneyland. While it's great that people want to appreciate it, it makes me wonder what it was like before the development, when John Muir was just discovering it.
When I got back to Tuolumne, I found Cowboy who is ending his hike in the Valley tomorrow. It was nice to share one last campfire with someone I've been hiking with for 600 miles.

Steps taken today/total: 65,418/2,056,956
Miles walked today/total: 28.10/943.01
Elevation gained today/total: 1,040/161,928
Elevation lost today/total: 6,542/176,937

Day 55

I finished the JMT alternate and rejoined the PCT this morning just before the last pass of the high Sierras . After the pass the terrain leveled out and followed a slow, peaceful river into Yosemite National Park and Tuolumne Meadows where I saw Legend again who was throwing a spaghetti feed for hikers. I'm camped with Sugar and Matt and we are going to finish the JMT tomorrow into Yosemite Valley.

Steps taken today/total: 63,595/1,991,538
Miles walked today/total: 24.79/943.01
Elevation gained today/total: 2,976/160,888
Elevation lost today/total: 3,255/170,395

Day 54

I got back on trail around 3:00 and quickly saw some really cool geology. Red's Meadow is close to the Devil's Postpile, a columnar basalt formation formed by cooling magma and exposed by glacial activity. The hexagonal columns stretch up and around and the top looks like a tiled floor with regular cracks beneath the tiles.
After the Postpile, the PCT and JMT diverge for about 14 miles. I took the JMT branch since the maps made it look more interesting, going through some steeper terrain and passing by more lakes. The section I'm through has delivered beautiful views of the minaret peaks and some beautiful glassy lakes.

Steps taken today/total: 27,951/1,927,943
Miles walked today/total: 11.51/918.22
Elevation gained today/total: 2,542/157,912
Elevation lost today/total: 1,331/167,140

Day 53

Today was one of the easier days since I got into the Sierras as I got to Red's Meadow today by 1:30 after starting 20 miles out. We went into Mammoth Lakes to spend the night where we met up with Sugar and Matt, two hikers from Virginia.

Steps taken today/total: 48,100/1,899,992
Miles walked today/total: 20.3/906.70
Elevation gained today/total: 2,670/155,370
Elevation lost today/total: 5,252/165,809

Day 52

Today I went over Silver Pass, the second to last pass of the JMT. This pass was a little frustrating because to get there you climb a steep thousand feet, then lose two thousand, then gain three back. Then once you get to the pass, there is another quarter mile of climbing until you start descending again. Once I started down, I found a good campsite by a lake that I took a cold bath in. This leaves about 20 miles into Mammoth tomorrow for a resupply.

Steps taken today/total: 39,560/1,851,892
Miles walked today/total: 15.52/886.44
Elevation gained today/total: 4,191/152,700
Elevation lost today/total: 3,007/160,557

Day 51

When I woke up this morning Cowboy pointed over my shoulder where there was a deer about ten feet away. The deer in the park are much less timid than those at home and I've been able to get close to many of them since they have never been threatened by people.
A few miles in today we crossed the border out of King's Canyon National Park and into the John Muir Wilderness. The the climb up Selden Pass is shorter than those we have had, but it has some pretty steep switchbacks. Going up those switchbacks I met Dave from North Bend, Nebraska. He lives in L.A. now, but he said he was at the UCLA game in Lincoln, which means we technically watched a game together. Selden Pass is the first pass I've gone over that is under the treeline so it was quite a different experience. While I ate lunch at the top three marmots were constantly eyeing my food waiting for an opportunity to move in for a snack.

Steps taken today/total: 43,600/1,812,332
Miles walked today/total: 17.86/870.92
Elevation gained today/total: 3,403/148,509
Elevation lost today/total: 2,667/157,480

Day 50

Today we went over Muir Pass which is my favorite pass so far. The climb up had us traversing snow fields and scrambling over talus beside beautiful frozen lakes. It culminated in a steep climb up a snowy mountainside to the summit and Muir Hut. The hut was built in 1930 and has been an icon of the Sierras ever since. The descent started off gently so there were no opportunities to glissade, but the snow led to some interesting route finding when the trail was covered.
This evening Cowboy and I crossed Evolution Creek, the most dangerous river crossing on the PCT. The river was very swollen from the day's snowmelt, so we crossed higher than normal where the it was a bit wider and shallower. Even at the alternate site the water was up to my thighs and the force was concerning. We made it across and down into a canyon to cap off our longest day since starting the John Muir Trail section of the PCT.

Steps taken today/total: 51,427/1,768,732
Miles walked today/total: 20.41/853.06
Elevation gained today/total: 3,453/145,106
Elevation lost today/total: 3,785/154,813

Day 49

We woke up dry at the base of Mather Pass this morning after sleeping in to allow the snow on the backside to soften up a little bit. We got over the pass much more easily than Pinchot and glissaded down the back. We began the long descent into the canyon, stopping along the way to swim in the freezing snowmelt of Palisade Lake. The canyon was formed by the largest river we've seen yet, a raging torrent that tore through the air beside us. We then went down the steepest switchbacks I've seen and felt bad for the southbound hikers who had to struggle up them. We camped a few miles up the ten mile ascent of Muir Pass, but we'll have a steep climb tomorrow to get over the last of the 12,000 foot passes.

Steps taken today/total: 40,023/1,717,305
Miles walked today/total: 17.31/832.65
Elevation gained today/total: 2,002/141,653
Elevation lost today/total: 4,314/151,055

Day 48

This morning we were shooting for two passes again when Pinchot Pass got in the way. There was a 3,500 foot gain in the first seven miles out of camp to take us over the 12,000 foot pass. The brutal climb and uninspiring landscape left us wiped out and the prospect of another pass was too unappealing. When we set up camp there were a few dark clouds rolling in and some brisk wind so I set up my tarp in the cramped spot and Woodsmoke, Cowboy, Lopsong, and I managed to get under it in case of rain.

Steps taken today/total: 40,713/1,677,282
Miles walked today/total: 15.66/815.34
Elevation gained today/total: 5,010/139,651
Elevation lost today/total: 2,237/146,741

Day 47

Today was the first time we've done two passes in one day, starting with Kearsarge in the morning and doing Glenn in the afternoon. Glenn gave us our first good opportunity to glissade down, essentially sledding without a sled. It was a fun, if cold, experience that I hope to do again. We camped in a popular spot just before Pinchot Pass and met two hikers, Andrew and Elijah, who are hiking the Southern Sierra High Route. This route has very little trail walking and a lot of route finding so it is much more intense than the PCT or JMT.

Steps taken today/total: 42,673/1,636,569
Miles walked today/total: 16.60/799.68
Elevation gained today/total: 3,089/134,641
Elevation lost today/total: 4,901/144,464

Day 46

When we got back to Independence there was a thunderstorm at the pass, so we decided to wait it out. After a few hours the storm cleared and we were able to get a ride up to the trailhead. It was still threatening rain, so I put up my tarp for the first time since Big Bear. Hopefully the weather is nice tomorrow so we can get over Kearsarge and Glenn Passes and to Rae Lakes.

Steps taken today/total: 9,631/1,596,896
Miles walked today/total: 2.06/788.50
Elevation gained today/total: 1,303/131,552
Elevation lost today/total: 0/139,563

Day 45

We went over Kearsarge Pass today and hitched a ride to Independence for a food resupply. From there we hitched 40 miles to Bishop since they have more to offer to replace any lost or broken equipment.

Steps taken today/total: 24,208/1,587,265
Miles walked today/total: 6.3/788.50
Elevation gained today/total: 1,246/130,249
Elevation lost today/total: 2,575/139,563

Day 44

Somehow today managed to top climbing Mt. Whitney yesterday. Shimmy, Cowboy, and I went over Forester Pass, the highest point on the PCT and the border between Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks. The climb up to 13,200 feet included passing dozens of lakes, walking across snow with a river flowing under it, and traversing a treacherous chute on a snow ledge formed by hiker's footsteps.

The descent into King's Canyon took us across streams and through forest where we saw plenty of deer. This is probably the most beautiful area I've ever seen and it seems like everywhere you look could be a postcard. The sculpted mountain faces contrast the mellow lakes and rivers that litter the valley floor and the sunlight glitters off the snow like a million diamonds on the cliffsides.

We started the side trail over Kearsarge Pass to drop down to Independence for a food resupply and walked around a few more lakes with beautiful views.

Steps taken today/total: 46,937/1,563,057
Miles walked today/total: 19.60/788.50
Elevation gained today/total: 4,514/129,003
Elevation lost today/total: 4,332/136,988