Lakes and Mountain Passes 🥰

Wow so the Sierras continue to be absolutely incredible. So many stunning peaks. So many beautiful alpine lakes. There’s water everywhere and so turquoise blue and clear. It’s been neat to climb over passes everyday by walking through basins filled with lakes and mountain views the whole way.

I feel like I’m remembering what normal backpacking is like 😁 being in more remote wilderness with these beautiful views and a slightly slower pace. It really has been a blast. It’s been a change from the concept of thru-hiking and being near or going into towns often. Both are good and I’ve been really appreciating how there’s different sections of the pct to keep it interesting and to get to enjoy all the different aspects.

The tramily has split up a bit. Neon and Tiny Dancer have boosted ahead, Lorax has gone off from plantar fasciitis, Shisty has gone home to his wife, and Hoodie is on and off visiting Skittles in the hospital. Wolverine was gone for 5 days for a wedding but is now back whew! So heading back on trail I’m with Wolverine, Sunshine, Arc, Superfeet, and Pancake. As there are more of the original tramily than the cousins they have now been incorporated into our tramily “Shangri-la”. Shangri-la is the dominant force.

Skittles is awake and aware and even walking with the help of a nurse as of two days ago! It will be multiple months long recovery but the nurses say he is starting recovery well. Thanks for your prayers.

In terms of personal trail hardships there’s been longer food carries in the sierras because of the remoteness so my back has been bothering me a bit and general aches, soreness and tiredness of walking for so long. But it’s been so beautiful that even the mosquitoes can’t take away my joy. And boy have they tried.

Highlights:

Got charged by a grouse after almost tripping over her baby on the trail. Not sure what basically a wild chicken would have done to me but her intimidation tactic definitely worked.

Arc included 5 containers of frosting in his resupply. “What? They have a lot of calories”

In the Sierras (and later Yosemite) there’s lots of backpackers (and later day hikers) not doing the pct. So it’s been fun to chat with them and answer questions about the pct and just be hyped about this adventure I’m on.

Have jumped in almost a lake a day with Sunshine!! She’s become an incredible swim buddy who loves swimming even more than me (I know hard to believe). Pure bliss

Been so many water crossings we charge in shoes and all (also safer with shoes in faster flowing streams). Because of that having dry shoes in the morning quickly became a highlight when it happened. Only had to shove my feet into frozen shoes once! Oooh and as I’m carrying two pairs of socks, whichever morning I switch into my clean socks has been an absolute delight.

Speaking of water crossings, Bear Creek was large enough that Superfeet and Shisty crossed upstream to dampen the force of water then Pancake, Sunshine, and I linked up downstream. It was actually a very high highlight to cross the river together as a team.

Muir was my favorite pass. Lots of snow felt like a true alpine pass! Beautiful

Got our permits checked by a ranger in the John Muir Wilderness. First time so far, we’re legit out here.

Creamed Pancake in Matrix cribbage one evening. Worth carrying cards for that.

Came down to Yosemite Valley and hiked up Half Dome for sunrise then relaxed in a meadow by El Capitan the next day. Yosemite is so neat! And I love the side quests for a fun change of pace.

Asked a lady my age if she wanted to share a washing machine with me and split the cost. After smelling my laundry she said I could have my own washer.

Ooh I also have sized up to (drum roll please) size 7 shoes!! Pretty huge I know