I think, for me, the best of the Sierras was this next section. Muir Pass was my favorite so far, even though it had the most snow of any before. We'd camped within a couple miles of the summit and gotten up early enough so that the snow was hard and so much easier to …
After the dramatic rescue of the day before, we had paused before the following creek and waited for morning to continue. The water crossings are easier in the morning because they're snowmelt streams. Overnight, the flow of melting snow gets slower as it freezes again and the level of the streams goes down a bit. …
We caught a bus from Bishop towards trail and then got a hitch back to the mountains. I remembered that on the way down the Kearsarge Pass trail, I had been thinking how unpleasant or would be to walk back up it again, with a fully loaded bear can. I wasn't wrong, but I was …
Coming down from Mount Whitney, you'd think that after climbing the highest mountain of the lower 48 states, that we'd celebrate with a little rest. You'd be wrong. In the Sierra, many of the mountain passes are covered in snow. You make your life easier if you climb them when the snow is hard. Slushy …
Continue reading PCT Update 10: Bloodsucking Agents of Satan
The next section is hard to describe. When reading my daily notes, I just kept saying "beautiful." It was that, but also difficult, stunning, terrible, and amazing, depending on the moment. It started at the General Store in Kennedy Meadows, where we received a round of applause and cheers from the hikers outside. This is …
Continue reading PCT Update 9: “All Shall Love Me and Despair” – The Sierra Nevada
After our long break (I hadn't taken two rest days together yet), it was very difficult to adjust back to trail life. The trail didn't take it easy on us the first day. We had our full resupply, plus four liters of water to carry up a big hill. It was already hot and sunny …
Continue reading PCT Update 8: Ice, Ice, Baby- The Desert’s Cruel Farewell
We've been hitting some big milestones on the trail! We crossed the 500 mile marker, obviously while singing The Proclaimers. Later that day, we walked up and down and around these hills, all while in view of the highway that we were eventually to end our day. They have a saying that on the PCT, …
We're getting close to the last of the desert! What a weird and cool section this has been. After the frog closure day, we pushed to make our longest day yet, about 24 miles. What else could motivate hikers to such efforts, but cold soda? I rewarded myself with root beer and Mountain Dew that …
When I woke up, the day after the last post left off, I woke up to ice coating the inside of my tent. The desert has not been as I expected. In the first week or two, it was necessary to take a long break in the heat of the day. Now, it's very difficult …
Since where I'd left off, the PCT has been very good to us. It's possible that it only seems that way because it feels as though I'm really getting into the groove. More likely, it's the good weather and more frequent availability of ice cream and beer. The day after were the last post left …
Continue reading PCT Update 4: Earthquakes are a Good Alarm Clock
MountainMaddy 