Wednesday, June 17. Clear and mid-30s going up to 67.
Up at 5:50. I have to be at the Onion Valley trailhead by 11:00 to meet our shuttle to Independence and then at the bus stop by noon to go to Bishop. Steep 1.2 miles to summit Kearsarge Pass. Then 5.5 miles very downhill to Onion Valley. Brad and Margarita have to add about 4 miles to that including the nasty climb I did yesterday late afternoon. On trail at 6:45.
The ascent up to Kearsarge Pass was steep, but not bad.
Summited Kearsarge Pass at 7:20 and 1.2 miles.
There is a cool lake just over the summit on the south side of the pass.
The 4.5-mile hike down is easy, but I’m not looking forward to hiking back up it in 2 days to get back on the PCT.
I took a break at 8:30, had a snack, and enjoyed a little cell service. Sent Pitcrew some pictures and sent Brad a status in the shuttle and bus.
I got my first view of civilization as I neared the bottom coming into Onion Valley campground and trailhead.
Got to the parking lot at 9:30. Shuttle arrived at 10:45. Thankfully, we saw Brad and Margarita descending the last part of the mountain. Shuttled down another 5,000 feet into 90-degree desert heat in Independence.
Got the bus loaded with about 25 PCT Hikers at 12:25. A bit of a cluster f@&k.
Drive an hour to Bishop and got dropped off 1.5 hot miles away from my hotel.
We walked to our hotels, after a stop for lunch at the bowling alley. I got to my hotel at 4:00 and had to wait for my room. I got checked in, unpacked, and talked to Pitcrew for an hour. Then I jumped on the Kile family Zoom call for an hour. Finally, I showered and went out for a big celebratory dinner at 7:00.
Tell me I don’t look like a homeless person!
I have a ton of chores tomorrow, including planning the rest of the Sierras hike!
Technical Notes:
- Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
- Fatty: 210 kcal, 8g carb, 14g fat, 12g protein
- Fatty: 210 kcal, 8g carb, 14g fat, 12g protein
- Lots of town food
- Water liters: 1
- Miles: 6
- Time: 2:55
- Up: 748
- Down: 2664
- Calories consumed: 500
- Calories burned: 936
- iPhone battery used: 13%
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