Tag: California Section H

Wednesday, July 1. Mid-30s and clear going up to 60.

Up at 6:00. It was very cold again today with frost on our tents. My rain fly and ground sheet are very wet from condensation due to being so close to the river. We got moving at 7:00. My fingers were hurting from the damp cold.

We power hiked to Tuolumne Meadow and arrived at 11:00. We checked in with the rangers around 11:30. I confirmed that the backpacker’s campground opened today and that I can stay here instead of hiking 10 more miles to get outside the no camping zone. Yes! The others made arrangements to get down into the valley in preparation for Half Dome tomorrow.

I went and set up my tent and left things to dry from this morning. Met the others at the store/grill around 1:00. Had a double cheeseburger and fries and a few beers for lunch. Also charged all my electronics at the store. 

I said goodbye to Brad and Margarita as they caught the 2:15 bus down into Yosemite Valley. They scored Half Dome passes tomorrow. After that, Brad is taking 4 days off with friends and Margarita is taking one or two days off. We will catch up around Tahoe. 

I picked up my resupply box at the post office and had a few beers while hanging out with hikers at the store. I worked on route planning. Since I’m solo the next 8 days, I planned shorter days but still aimed to get to the road crossing late on July 8 or early on July 9 where Pitcrew will pick me up.

My Bear can is very full with enough food for the four days to Kennedy Meadows North plus  some hard-to-find snacks and breakfasts to get me to Tahoe. I picked up a six-pack and headed back to the campground around 2:30 and relaxed with some downloaded movies. Nice to have some downtime for a change. 

I have too much food, so I made dinner from some of the snacks and extras that I don’t want to carry for the next six days. I may grab breakfast at the grill in the morning. They open at 8:00. I need to do 17.6 miles tomorrow, but the terrain is mostly flat with only 3000 feet of elevation gain all day. I will see how I’m feeling in the morning on the breakfast vs hiking topic.

Good news on the weather. This cold snap ends tomorrow with morning temps in the 40s as opposed to the 30s. The only downside is some late afternoon showers. 

Overall a good day. Looking forward to hiking at my own pace and schedule for a few days. Really looking forward to seeing Pitcrew in 7 or 8 days.

Technical Notes:

• Quest bar – 210
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g Milky Way 240
• Milky Way 240
• Town food!
• Water liters: 1
• Miles: 11.5
• Time: 5:15
• Up: 495
• Down: 853
• Calories consumed: lots
• Calories burned: 1579
• iPhone battery used: 25%

Tuesday, June 30. Mid-30s and clear going up to 60.

Up at 6:15. Very cold this morning. Brad and Margarita arrived about 7:20.

We stopped at Thousand Islands Lake at 9:00 for a snack and a break. 

We summited Island Pass at 10:25. The campers up here woke up to 3 inches of new snow this morning. Great view of Thousand Islands Lake from up here.

Stopped for lunch one mile before the summit of Donohue Pass. Took a group nap after lunch. 

Summited Donohue Pass at 2:30. We are now in Yosemite National Park. Had cell service up here so I sent a photo to Pitcrew.

Nasty rocky descent for 5 miles after the pass. Knees and feet are not happy!

Made camp at 4:30. Early day but we are all beat. Decent campsite, but bad mosquitoes. We were all in our tents avoiding them at 6:00.

We have a flat 9.3 miles to get to Tuolumne Meadows tomorrow around 11:00. I’ll pick up my resupply package, have lunch, and see if I’m allowed to camp there.

Technical Notes:

• Protein Shake (10oz): 330 cal, 19g carb, 13.5g fat, 36g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein 
• Mango (3-4p, 30gy): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Mango (3-4p, 30gy): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Milky Way 240
• Snickers 240
• Tortilla: 140 kcal, 24g carb, 3g fat, 4g protein 
• Tuna: 90 kcal, 4-7g carb, 1g fat, 14-16g protein 
• Cheese slice 120
• Fritos 500
• Skittles 125
• Jerky (1 oz): 70 kcal, 6g carb, 0g fat, 11g protein 
• Cup noodles protein (8 oz water): 320 Kcal, 38g carb, 12g fat, 16g protein 
• Cup noodles protein (8 oz water): 320 Kcal, 38g carb, 12g fat, 16g protein 
• 3000
• Fritos 500
• Milky Way 240
• Water liters: 3
• Miles: 14.52
• Time: 9:08
• Up: 2963
• Down: 3648
• Calories consumed: 3740
• Calories burned: 2961
• iPhone battery used: 30%

Monday, June 29. Mid-40s and partly cloudy with a chance of rain in the late afternoon going up to mid-50s.

Up at 6:15. Worked on resupply planning. Finished packing. Chilled out while Margarita ran to the post office to ship to Yosemite. We left the hostel to catch the 9:30 bus to the Horseshoe Lake trailhead at 9:15.

Brad is getting off trail for a few days once we get to Yosemite. He is meeting some friends. Margarita is taking two days in Yosemite. We should catch back up in or after my 4 days off in Tahoe. I have not decided what I’m doing in Yosemite yet. It will depend on who else is around, what the crowds are like, and what the camping options are. I need to talk to a ranger once I get to Tuolumne Meadows to figure things out. 

On trail at 10:09. We have about 6 miles to get back to the PCT. The first .5 miles was wicked steep, but then it leveled off and then dropped downhill into Reds Meadow. We hiked all this way through the Ansel Adams Wilderness.

We passed a mule train on the way into Red’s.  Arrived at Red’s Meadow at 11:30. Grabbed a snack and chilled for half an hour. 

Hiked back to the PCT via Devil’s Postpile National Monument.

We hiked through the Ansel Adams Wilderness again in the afternoon and evening. Very striking views.

YouTube Video of Ansel Adams Wilderness

Got to camp at 6:45. It started to snow as I was settling up my tent. It was snowing pretty good by the time I finished. Then it turned to sleet, then rain with strong winds. That all finally stopped about 8:00. It’s supposed to get down to about 33 tonight with windchills around 27.

I have line of sight to the top of the ski area back in Mammoth, so I have really good cell service. I talked to Vicki, and it’s supposed to be over 100 back home with a real-feel of 108+ with the humidity. Talk about two opposite weather extremes!

I cooked dinner in my tent vestibule given the weather. Brad and Margarita are about 3 miles behind me. Somehow I passed them. They will meet me here around 7:15 tomorrow morning.

We cross over Donohue Pass and enter Yosemite tomorrow late afternoon. Very cool!

Technical Notes:

• Breaded chicken breast 220
• Coffee
• Potato Chips 900
• Root Beer 300
• Breaded chicken breast 220
• Mango (3-4p, 30gy): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Mango (3-4p, 30gy): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Skittles 125
• Milky Way 240
• Jerky (1 oz): 70 kcal, 6g carb, 0g fat, 11g protein 
• Cup noodles protein (8 oz water): 320 Kcal, 38g carb, 12g fat, 16g protein 
• Cup noodles protein (8 oz water): 320 Kcal, 38g carb, 12g fat, 16g protein 
• Skittles (2.17oz): 250 kcal, 56g carb, 2.5g fat, 0g protein 
• Snickers 240
• Water liters: 3
• Miles: 17.2
• Time: 8:48
• Up: 3527
• Down: 2841
• Calories consumed: 3445
• Calories burned: 3031
• iPhone battery used: 50%

Sunday, June 28. Mid-30s and sunny, going up to upper 50s.

Up at 5:30. IT WAS COLD!! On trail at 6:30.

This morning was the coldest day on trail, and it’s June 28! I had ice on my tent and my hands were frozen in 2 pairs of gloves. We hiked an hour before the sun peaked out from behind a mountain. We just stood there for 10 minutes soaking up the sun.

I hiked a fast 5.5 miles to Reds Meadow to get breakfast at their café at 8:30. Very motivated as I basically ate the last of my food for dinner yesterday other than one pack of ramen and one packet of tuna and about 20 Skittles. I had the 20 Skittles for breakfast, once they thawed out! They were frozen solid.

Brad and Margarita took a side trail about .3 miles short of Reds to go visit a waterfall. We will take the bus into Mammoth once they get here. Unfortunately, the bus does not run tomorrow due to road construction, so we are going to have to ATTEMPT to hitch to a trailhead and then hike 4 miles back to where I am now. 

Had a great breakfast at Reds Meadow then took the bus into town. We were able to check in at the hostel early. Took a free trolley to the grocery store and resupplied for 2.5 days into Yosemite.

Back to hostel and repacked food and filled my Bear can. Showered and took ALL my clothes to the laundromat. Picked up new gloves and a new dry bag for my quilt. 

Finished laundry, back to hostel, dinner, and back to hostel to finish blogs.

Talked to Pitcrew and chilled out until 10:30.

We are back on trail starting at 9:00 tomorrow.

Technical Notes:

• Reds Meadows Huge Bkfst Burrito 
• OJ
• Coffee
• Water liters: 0
• Miles: 5.5
• Time: 2:00
• Up: 128
• Down: 1624
• Calories consumed: lots
• Calories burned: 602
• iPhone battery used: n/a

Saturday, June 27. Mid-30s with windchill in the upper 30s and going up to upper 40s. Welcome back to winter!

Up at 6:00. On trail at 7:00.

We climbed about 3 miles up and over Silver Pass. Not a bad ascent and wonderful views with the clouds adding a nice backdrop to the mountains and lakes. 

YouTube Video of Silver Pass and Onward 

Crossed the 1/3 marker. I’m 65 days in and only 1/3 of the way to Canada. I need to pick up the pace !

As we approached camp, we passed the 900-mile marker.

We got to camp at 5:15. We were the first ones here, but about 15 more arrived later. We only have 5.5 miles tomorrow morning to get to Reds Meadow for breakfast and a bus into Mammoth for a Nero and resupply. That’s a good thing as I am pretty much out of food once I finished dinner today.

Technical Notes:

• Mango (3-4p, 30gy): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Mango (3-4p, 30gy): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Milky Way 240
• Fig bar 300
• Fig bar 300
• Tortilla: 140 kcal, 24g carb, 3g fat, 4g protein 
• Tuna: 90 kcal, 4-7g carb, 1g fat, 14-16g protein 
• Fritos 100
• Jerky 100
• Skittles 125
• Fig bar 300
• Skittles 250
• Jerky (2 oz): 140 kcal, 12g carb, 0g fat, 22g protein 
• Knorr rice 780
• Jerky 50
• Doritos 320
• Fritos 320
• Water liters: 4
• Miles: 20
• Time: 10:05
• Up: 4124
• Down: 4613
• Calories consumed: 3660
• Calories burned: 3247
• iPhone battery used:  40%

Friday, June 26. Low 40s and cloudy going up to low 60s.

Up at 7:00. Nice VVR Breakfast.

Published 5 days worth of blogs and took care of some home chores. 

Resupplied. Not very good resupply, but it’s only 2 days or a hair less.

Running late, but wanted to have a real lunch at VVR. Got on trail at 1:30. Only 11 miles to go today. 

Got to camp at 6:15. Brad, Back Flip, Kellie, Kellie’s Husband, Brad, Margarita, and me. We had a campfire which was nice as we have a cold wave for the next several days.

The Pups stopped by for a while on the way to their campsite: North Side, Gramps, Salty Bones.

Good time around the campfire until almost 9:00. We want to get within 5 miles of Red’s Meadow tomorrow so we can have a long Nero the day after in Mammoth. 

Cold snap rolling in. Could get down to 35 tonight with windchills in the 20’s. Highs in the upper 40s the next few days. 

Technical Notes:

• VVR breakfast 800
• OJ 300
• Cheeseburger 450
• Fries 500
• Milky Way 240
• Skittles 125
• Top Ramen Hot Pot Infusion; Japanese Garlic (12 oz water): 620 kcal, 85g carbs, 24g fat, 14g protein
• Tuna w Oil: 140 kcal, 0g carb, 8g fat, 17g protein 
• Jerky (2 oz): 140 kcal, 12g carb, 0g fat, 22g protein 
• Milky Way 240
• Water liters: 3
• Miles: 10.75
• Time: 4:40
• Up: 3005
• Down: 1004
• Calories consumed: 3800
• Calories burned: 1852
• iPhone battery used:  22%

Thursday, June 25. Upper 30s and clear going up to mid-70s.

Up at 5:30. Cold and damp this morning with no sun due to the steep valley. On trail at 6:40.

Summited Selden Pass at 7:06. Next stop Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR).

Forded a stream.

Forded another stream.

The mosquitoes are terrible. I finally broke down and applied some bug repellent. The only thing that works is 100% DEET. 

I reached the VVR junction at 11:30 and 10.37 miles. The side trail to VVR is about 7 miles downhill.

I reached VVR at 2:15 with a hitch the last mile. $10 for a 10-minute shower and $20 for WiFi access for 24 hours. Civilization is wonderful but expensive. 

I weighed myself at 191 lbs. I’m down about 29 lbs, which I am happy with.

Brad and Margarita arrived about 4:15. 

I had a long video call with Pitcrew and generally relaxed. I’ll do blogs and other chores tomorrow. 

The last 6 days in the wilderness of the High Sierras were wonderful but draining. I’m ecstatic to be in civilization for the next 22 hours before getting back on trail. We have a half day tomorrow (10-12 miles), a big day the day after, then a 6-mile Nero into Red’s Meadow and Mammoth, CA. We made hostel reservations for Mammoth as there is a big bubble headed that way.

I’m counting down the days until Pitcrew picks me up on trail and we take 4 days off in Lake Tahoe. 14 days and counting!

Technical Notes:

• Protein Shake (10oz): 330 cal, 19g carb, 13.5g fat, 36g protein 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Skittles (2.17oz): 250 kcal, 56g carb, 2.5g fat, 0g
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per up
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Town food
• Water liters: 4
• Miles: 17.8
• Time: 7:47
• Up: 1903
• Down: 4760
• Calories consumed: lots
• Calories burned: 2322
• iPhone battery used: 25%

Wednesday, June 24. Low 40s and clear going up to mid-70s.

Up at 5:30. On trail at 6:40.

This is our first day in a while with no mountain pass to cross. We just have to crush miles and meet Margarita this afternoon. 

We made good progress most of the morning even with my back bothering me. We had one big water crossing.

Stopped for lunch at 12:30 by the first junction for Muir Trail Ranch. Chilled for an hour.

We met Margarita at 3:00. Very good to see her as we weren’t sure we would be able to hook up after her 4-day health break.

We made camp by a lake just below Selden Pass about 5:00.

Tomorrow we get to civilization at VVR. I’ve been looking forward to this for 6 days! Can’t wait!

Technical Notes:

• Protein Shake (10oz): 330 cal, 19g carb, 13.5g fat, 36g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Skittles (2.17oz): 250 kcal, 56g carb, 2.5g fat, 0g
• Tortilla: 140 kcal, 24g carb, 3g fat, 4g protein
• Tuna w Oil: 140 kcal, 0g carb, 8g fat, 17g protein 
• Fritos 100
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Skittles (2.17oz): 250 kcal, 56g carb, 2.5g fat, 0g
• Cup noodles protein (8 oz water): 320 Kcal, 38g carb, 12g fat, 16g protein 
• Cup noodles protein (8 oz water): 320 Kcal, 38g carb, 12g fat, 16g protein 
• Jerky 70
• Fritos: 320
• Water liters: 6
• Miles: 20
• Time: 10:30
• Up: 3422
• Down: 3245
• Calories consumed: 3200
• Calories burned: 3357
• iPhone battery used:  25%

Tuesday, June 23. Low 40s and clear going up to mid-70s.

Up at 5:30. On trail at 6:40.

Lots of water crossings and magnificent waterfalls. We followed the river for the first 8 miles.

We started the summit ascent of Muir Pass at about 11:30 and reached the summit of Muir Pass (11,970) at 1:20. Spectacular views and a hard ascent up here. River crossings, multiple snow fields, a sketchy snow bridge, more big snow fields, and lots of frozen lakes.

YouTube Video of Muir Pass Ascent

Started down the backside of Muir Pass at 2:00. More amazing lakes and some snow, but a long, annoying descent across snow fields and boulder fields.

Hard hiking in snow fields and boulder fields for 3 miles down off Muir Pass. Then another 7 beautiful but hard miles to our campsite.

YouTube Video of Muir Pass Descent 

Camp at 5:30. Awesome views.

We made it halfway through CA today!

Technical Notes:

• Protein Shake (10oz): 330 cal, 19g carb, 13.5g fat, 36g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Cup noodles stir fry (8 oz water): 370 Kcal, 54g carb, 13g fat, 8g protein x 2
• Jerky 50
• Skittles (2.17oz): 250 kcal, 56g carb, 2.5g fat, 0g
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein 
• Cup noodles protein (8 oz water): 320 Kcal, 38g carb, 12g fat, 16g protein 
• Cup noodles protein (8 oz water): 320 Kcal, 38g carb, 12g fat, 16g protein 
• Jerky 75
• Skittles (2.17oz): 250 kcal, 56g carb, 2.5g fat, 0g
• Fritos: 320
• Water liters: 6
• Miles: 18.2
• Time: 11:00
• Up: 4613
• Down: 2454
• Calories consumed: 3035
• Calories burned: 3759
• iPhone battery used: 25%

Monday, June 22. Low 40s and clear going up to upper 60s

Up at 5:30. Used up my first battery last night. Not sure why im getting so little recharge out of these batteries lately.

Made 2 water crossings just barely staying on rocks. Some people forded the stream. 

The ascent up Mather Pass was beautiful but very challenging. 

YouTube Video of Mather Pass Ascent

Summited Mather Pass (12,068) at 11:20. Had lunch at the summit.

It took 30 minutes to descend the first sketchy and slippery mile in the snow and rocks. It was a little nerve wracking.

YouTube Video of Mather Pass Descent 

Brad went for a very cold swim.

Descent into Kings Canyon was amazing and very steep.

We made camp at 6:00 by a bog. Worst mosquitos of the trip by far! Quick dinner and in our tents by 7:00.

Technical Notes:

• Protein Shake (10oz): 330 cal, 19g carb, 13.5g fat, 36g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Ben’s Rice Cold Soak: 250 kcal, 54g carb, 1g fat, 6g protein 
• Fritos 160
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein 
• Skittles (2.17oz): 250 kcal, 56g carb, 2.5g fat, 0g
• Cup noodles protein (8 oz water): 320 Kcal, 38g carb, 12g fat, 16g protein 
• Cup noodles protein (8 oz water): 320 Kcal, 38g carb, 12g fat, 16g protein 
• Jerky 50
• Fritos: 320
• Jerky (2 oz): 140 kcal, 12g carb, 0g fat, 22g protein 
• Water liters: 6
• Miles: 21
• Time: 11:20
• Up: 2818
• Down: 5738
• Calories consumed: 
• Calories burned: 3886
• iPhone battery used: 38%