6/16/20, mile: 803, elevation: 10,279 ft.
While I was in my tent last evening, a new hiker showed up named Terminator. He just got back on trail from Kearsage Pass, and is flying down the trail. Once he’s up he’s gone. Not too long later, I’m packed up and hiking. No need for a pre-sunrise assault on this one, since reports I heard that the snow isn’t horrible. Soon after leaving my site, I see another body a bit off the trail, still packing. We acknowledge each other, and then I realize it’s Pied Piper, the guy I met at Kennedy Meadows and saw last the first night back on trail after resuppling. Turns out, he got into this camp just before after his Kearsage Pass resupply.
This climb is unique to many of the others in that it twists and turns a bit and it’s narrow and there are small lakes scattered about. Soon enough, Pied Piper passes me. I’m just horribly slow on climbs….
The view back from where I came isn’t that impressive due to the curve of the valley we walked up, but the other side is amazing. The Rae Lakes Basin lies before us. The only thing in the way is the snow covered switchbacks to descend.
At least it’s downhill, so I make decent time. The Rae Lakes Basin is a series of connected lakes that are very popular because they are quite beautiful and fishing is easy peasy. We take a lakeside break, making sure to stay in the sun to keep the mosquitoes at bay. I discover that he hails from Sonoma County where my parents live, what a small world. Again, he leaves before me leaving me some solo time to enjoy the lake view. The nice thing about this stretch is that it’s all downhill. Of course it is….until it isn’t. Several miles later, I catch him one more time at the suspension bridge over Woods Creek. Thank Dog we don’t have to ford that one. When I cross the bridge, it’s my first meeting with Joshua and Ya. He’s from Hong Kong, she’s from Taiwan.
After the bridge, we now follow Woods Creek upstream to set up for the next pass. And thus, we go uphill. Oh my Dog, this is painful. This coming pass is called Pinchot, with Mather Pass only 10 miles beyond that. This is one opportunity to bag two passes in one day.
But I can’t do it. I mean, I can’t get close enough. I’m too exhausted. Apparently Pied Piper felt the same way, he’s already camped early, too. We’re four miles from the pass. Tomorrow is going to be a long day if I can pull this off. Right before I go to bed, Joshua and Ya show up and camp with us.
Savior out.
Hey Ron ,just checkin in thanks for sharing those great pics wish I was there, really really miss the mountains a lot. all is good down here in the flat lands except for the heat, stay safe my friend.
Pete