Destination: Tuolumne Meadows
Starting Location: Marie Lakes Trail
Today’s Miles: 16.30
Trip Miles: 944.00
Marie Lakes Trail (926.4, 9200) to Tuolumne Meadows (942.7, 8595) ascent (1466) descent (2545)
Eleven thru hikers made it to Tuolumne Meadows today. In attendance: go-BIG, Sugar Daddy, Swiss Miss, Pang, M&M (formerly Rita), Mike Unger, Herman, Tadpole, Sunny, Rolling Thunder & Three Gallon.
We summitted the last PCT pass over 11,000 feet at 7:40 a.m. Donahue Pass was covered in snow (big surprise) & the basin was tricky as the mountain presented several potential pass options. We followed tracks for a ways & then they headed up one of the options. Pang & I compared notes & we checked the GPS to confirm our suspicion – you boys & girls went over the wrong pass. Looking at the route down I made a big mistake and proposed a route that looked less steep than the snow traverse that was close to the trail route. The team forgave me but I felt like a dope because while not overly dangerous the route was difficult & included a push through a willow scrub thicket that tore clothing & skin. Memo to self: the actual trail route is nearly always better – regardless of what it looks like from a distance.
When we hit Highway 102 we were surprised to see hiker/trail angel Alice (No Way Ray’s wife) sitting by the road with a sign reading “PCT hiker snacks”. Alice had hiked with Pang, Swiss Miss & Rita and she had come up to see them. As things on the trail do – it worked out perfectly.
I met a fly fisherman yesterday named Herb. Turns out his son is hiking & when I introduced myself he knew me from my journal. It was neat & odd. Here was a great guy who knew a lot about me & my trip & yet I knew nothing about him. That is a strange dynamic for a two way conversation.
Destination: Tuolumne Meadows
Starting Location: Marie Lakes Trail
Today’s Miles: 16.30
Trip Miles: 944.00
Marie Lakes Trail (926.4, 9200) to Tuolumne Meadows (942.7, 8595) ascent (1466) descent (2545)
Eleven thru hikers made it to Tuolumne Meadows today. In attendance: go-BIG, Sugar Daddy, Swiss Miss, Pang, M&M (formerly Rita), Mike Unger, Herman, Tadpole, Sunny, Rolling Thunder & Three Gallon.
We summitted the last PCT pass over 11,000 feet at 7:40 a.m. Donahue Pass was covered in snow (big surprise) & the basin was tricky as the mountain presented several potential pass options. We followed tracks for a ways & then they headed up one of the options. Pang & I compared notes & we checked the GPS to confirm our suspicion – you boys & girls went over the wrong pass. Looking at the route down I made a big mistake and proposed a route that looked less steep than the snow traverse that was close to the trail route. The team forgave me but I felt like a dope because while not overly dangerous the route was difficult & included a push through a willow scrub thicket that tore clothing & skin. Memo to self: the actual trail route is nearly always better – regardless of what it looks like from a distance.
When we hit Highway 102 we were surprised to see hiker/trail angel Alice (No Way Ray’s wife) sitting by the road with a sign reading “PCT hiker snacks”. Alice had hiked with Pang, Swiss Miss & Rita and she had come up to see them. As things on the trail do – it worked out perfectly.
I met a fly fisherman yesterday named Herb. Turns out his son is hiking & when I introduced myself he knew me from my journal. It was neat & odd. Here was a great guy who knew a lot about me & my trip & yet I knew nothing about him. That is a strange dynamic for a two way conversation.
Robert Francisco 