Tag: Sierra Nevada
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Day 61 | Mile 805.3 – 804.6
(+12.6 miles up & over Sawmill Pass) I again awoke at 4 AM, after having slept very little for the second night in a row. Exhausted, I decided to backtrack and exit via Sawmill Pass, instead of pushing on for three more days as we had all planned. My tramily delayed their day to encourage…
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Day 60 | Mile 791.2 – 805.3
I awoke at 4 AM, and steeled myself for the tackling of the technical Glen Pass. We’d been able to camp 1.1 miles below the pass itself, so it wasn’t far to go. There were many, many other hikers camped as close to the pass as possible, but we were among some of the first…
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Day 59 | Mile 789-791.2
(+7.5 miles up and over Kearsarge Pass) We camped in the valley below Kearsarge Pass, where we added Lou to our tramily! Lou hiked with Ollie & Bianca earlier this year, and was returning from an achilles injury. Our jaunt up north to allow the snow to melt was successful – there was so much…
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Day 51 | Mile 775.9-789.7
(+7.5 miles up and over Kearsarge Pass) What a beautiful and challenging day, filled with literal highs and some lows, and the most wonderful day-changing surprise. Ollie, Bianca, and I planned to leave camp at 5 AM in order to climb up and over Forester Pass before the snow began to melt and become soft.…
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Day 50 | Mile 762 – 775.9
Ollie, Bianca & I were pleased with last night’s campsite we had chosen! The night hadn’t been too cold, our tents and bags were dry, and it was a beautiful day. We hiked through the woods, admiring beautiful wind-twisted trees and wondering how old some of them were. The ever-present lizards of the desert have…
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Day 49 | Mile 746.5 – 762
(+2 miles from Horseshoe Meadow) After picking up my ice axe and bear canister, I was ready to head back into the snowy mountains! Tom, ever the gentleman, escorted me for the first bit of trail through Horseshoe Meadow. We said our goodbyes, and I hiked on to catch up with Bianca & Ollie. I…
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Day 48 | Mile 733.3 – 746.5
(+2 miles to Horseshoe Meadow) I woke up, filled with excitement to end my day at the stunning Horseshoe Meadow (one of my favorite places in 2021) and to be reunited with Tom! The trail has been magical, with only occasional snow patches but filled with twisted trees and massive boulders. Ollie & Bianca met…
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Day 47 | Mile 717.7 – 733.3
It was so cold, I didn’t leave camp until almost 8:15 AM, but given the number of hikers that rolled in late, I was far from the last to leave! Other hikers said they had frost on their tent, and one unfortunately had their filter freeze. Tearing myself away from the swallows and their nests,…
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Day 46 | Mile 703.4 – 717.7
Successfully avoiding being sucked into the vortex of Kennedy Meadows, I headed out early into the high Sierra Nevada mountains. A PCTA representative checked and stamped my permit, and even remembered Ogre from the Southern Terminus, despite our being there eons ago (or so it feels). The weather was perfect – cool when hiking, but…
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Day 45 | Mile 682.3 – 703.4
The very last day in the desert, the day I passed 700 miles, and the day I arrived at Kennedy Meadows (again)! Kennedy Meadows is a huge milestone for PCT hikers, and there are two main hangouts – the General Store and Grumpy Bear’s and both offer fresh food, resupply options, charging for devices, showers,…