Into the Sierras - Days 76 - 84

Day 76

Mile 1081.9 to mile 1055.1 ~ 26.8 Miles

Today was my first full day back in the Sierras and boy did it feel like it. I woke up at 6am and it was near 32 degrees. It crept up to about 45 degrees in the middle of the day but there were nasty winds. Let’s just say I had almost all my clothes on and I was still cold throughout the hike. There was also some light rain and snow around 2pm. Hopefully tomorrow the weather will be better!

I am also very sore tonight. Because of my bear can and 8 days worth of food, my pack weight is about as heavy as it has been throughout my trip and my body can feel it. The more I eat the lighter my pack gets so I have been making a conservative effort to try and knock out some of my heavier foods in the first couple days.

Day 77

Mile 1055.1 to mile 1030.7 ~ 24.4 Miles

Today was my dads birthday and yesterday was Father’s Day. Both days I was on trail. When these type of events come up while I’m out here it makes me sad that I don’t get to be there to celebrate. Luckily I found a spot on top of a hill with a bit of cell reception. I got to call my dad and talk to him for a bit and wish him a happy birthday. It made me feel a lot better!

At the end of a very tough day of hiking a familiar face showed up to camp. As we were cooking dinner, Jeremy aka nightingale, who I hiked with in the very beginning arrived at our camp spot. It was so awesome to see him and hear about his journey on and off the trail. While we were sitting around the campfire sharing stories I was trying to dry out my socks, sock liners and shoes. I didn’t notice but I ended up burning my sock liners. So looks like I will be without those for bit... oops.

As I write this journal at the end of the night the brightness from the moon illuminates my tent and the sound of a running creek soothes me. I so much enjoy sleeping on the ground in the outdoors under the stars. There is nothing like it!

Day 78

Mile 1030.7 to mile 1007.1 ~ 23.6 Miles

Today may have been the most difficult day of hiking yet. In total I climbed about 5,400ft in elevation. There was lots of snow and a ton of obstacles to overcome (some self inflicted).

The start of the morning included a 6 mile, fairly steep climb. Once we had “reached the top” the four of us took a deep sigh of relief and sat at the summit. We knew once we were at the top there was a steep decent down the other side. So after a quick break we started down the mountain. There was a faint trail and as we followed it down we lost it. So we took out our maps and saw that we were WAY off trail. After studying the map we saw a way that we could cut down and intercept the trail. Little did we know that our little break “at the top” was not actually the top of the summit. So now we had hiked miles downhill to find out we needed to hike back up to get back to the trail. So the four of us rock climbed, bushwhacked and scaled the side of a cliff to climb back up to the trail. This mishap probably cost an hour or so and a ton of exerted energy.

Later in the afternoon we got to Sonora Pass. This is a pass with a lot of snow and lots of traversing and scaling the side of snow faces. We were told this was one of the more difficult passes through the Sierras. So we climbed and battled snow for hours and finally at around 6pm we found ourself to the top of the pass. We had a couple mile decent and made it to camp around 7pm.

Now we are all cowboy camping and the mosquitos are insane! We were told they were bad after Sonora Pass, so it looks like we will be battling the skeeters for the next couple days.

Day 79

Mile 1007.1 to mile 982.3 ~ 24.7 Miles

Mosquito hell... that’s what today was. From the moment I woke up to the moment I set up my tent there were tons of mosquitos. This section of trail was relatively flat and had a bunch of standing water. That combined with the warm stagnant air is just a recipe for disaster. During my hike I wore my head net and my bug pants, which just make me look ridiculous but it’s so worth it. Once I arrived at camp it was a race to set up my tent and jump in as fast as I could. Now as I’m writing my journal there are 50 or so mosquitos sitting on the outside of my tent.

Day 80

Mile 982.3 to mile 962.4 ~ 19.9 Miles

What a tough day of hiking! I did Seavey Pass and Benson Pass. These were two big climbs that took a lot out of me, especially Benson Pass. Both did not have much snow but did have a lot of loose rock. These rocks makes footing difficult while driving uphill and sketchy while going down. It takes a lot more time and effort than hiking on regular dirt.

The Sierras have been a lot of work but so beautiful this far. I am so excited to be getting into Yosemite tomorrow!

Day 81

Mile 962.4 to Tuolumne Meadows ~ 20.1 Miles

I woke up many times last night because of the frigid temperature. I bet it was around freezing. When I woke up around 5:30 it took so much will power to get out of my sleeping bag. Once I was up, I rushed and packed up because I knew I had to walk to get warm. Little did I know, that wasn’t going to be the case... about .2 miles into my hike I came across a river. I looked and looked for a way to cross, maybe a log or a collection of rocks, but there was nothing. I had to walk through. Ughhh it was sooooo cold. I had sharp, needle like pain running through my feet. After crossing the knee high river I hiked so fast to try and warm up and sure enough about 30 minutes in I finally started to warm.

After my cold morning the day turned into one of my favorites on trial. I hiked into the incredible Yosemite National Park. I sat and ate lunch 100ft or so from an amazing waterfall. I hiked through stunning granite rock with water flowing everywhere. There was so much beauty around me and I felt so blessed!

I then got to Tuolumne Meadows, which is a huge tent that has a small grill and a general store in the middle of Yosemite. This is a really special place for me because about 8-9 years ago, while vacationing with my family, this spot is where I first heard about the PCT. Back on the summer day I ran across 3 guys who looked like they had been rolling around in dirt and forgotten to shave for months. I asked where they were hiking in the valley and they said they were hiking the PCT. That is where this dream started and to be back in Tuolumne Meadows but this time actually hiking the PCT was something special.

Day 82

Tuolumne Meadows to Mile 923.7 ~ 18.8 Miles

Today was such an easy enjoyable day. There was a beautiful river that I walked along for about 10 miles then I climbed Donahue Pass. I enjoyed a long lunch break at the top of the pass and enjoyed the company of the other 4 guys I’m hiking with. I only hiked about 19 miles because I am going into Mammoth tomorrow morning and left about 9 miles to do. Skipper, one of the guys in the group, has his parents going into Mammoth and offered to allow us to stay with them at the RV Park. So myself and the other 4 guys will all be spending a zero day in Mammoth on Monday.

Day 83

Mile 923.7 to Mammoth ~ 8.7 Miles

I had an easy walk into the bus stop where I was able to get a ride into Mammoth. I have been to Mammoth so many times growing up that it was nice to know the ins and outs of town. Once in town the group of us went and hung out at the Mammoth Mountain Brewery. They had amazing food and tasty beer.

At about 2pm Skippers parents came into town and we were able to go to the RV Park they were staying at. I took a shower and did laundry for the first time in about 8 days. It felt soooooo good! Skippers parents made us a great dinner of salmon and salad and we had a great relaxing afternoon. Tomorrow I will do all my errands!

Day 84

Zero Day

First errand on the docket was going to the post office. I sent home my microspikes and my rain pants. I figured I would hit some more snow in the next seven days but not enough to warrant carrying my spikes. After the post office the group of us went to a couple gear stores. Then we went to Vons and I did my resupply for the next 7 day section.

Later in the evening I went to the movies and saw Jurassic World. I usually love going to the movies, but seeing a movie on trail is soooo awesome! My senses seem to be heightened and it makes the experience so fun!

In the afternoon Skippers parents made a wonderful bbq feast for us and we all sat around the fire and hung out. I am relaxed and ready for a very difficult 7 day stretch into the High Sierra Mountains!