Section H is 175.5 miles long and runs from Crabtree Meadows to Tuolomne Meadows. This is too gorgeous of a stretch to fit in a single post so I broke it into three. Part 1 is 43.5 miles from Crabtree Meadows to Lake Marjorie. June 20th - 25th.
Day 45, 7.8 miles to Tyndall Creek.
After summiting Mount Whitney, returning to camp, and taking a much needed nap, we returned to the PCT to begin section H. It was a relatively uneventful hike because we were just on top of the tallest peak in the lower 48 but there were some pretty flowers, dragonflies, and a nifty pond off to the side.
Fairy Primrose.
Day 46, 14.4 miles over Forrester Pass to Kearsarge Pass + 7.5 miles down to Onion Valley Campgrounds.
We came out of the creek valley and began to approach Forrester Pass, the highest point on trail at 13,200 feet. It was almost menacing hiking towards it because massive cliffs surround you on all sides and you can't imagine how a walkable trail can wind up the vertical walls. The approach also was our first exposure to large snow patches that we had to cross so we had a British snowball fight. We passed the lakes with floating ice chunks and up the switch backs to the notch and on the north side...people were sledding! I've seen videos of it but thought it was too late in the season, so I was estatic that we'd get to join the fun.
Sea Lion crossing over the Crux of the pass.
Sledding down Forrester Pass!!!
We continued down Kings Canyon and I was blown away by the jagged ridgelines, rolling waterfalls, and green meadows. It was the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. As the elevation dropped, it warmed up enough that I could partake in Hike Naked day! Nothing as crazy as last year but it was fun seeing all the confused faces. We clothed back up to cross over Kearsarge Pass and head down to Onion Valley Campgrounds. The sun was setting and, upon arrival, we were discouraged to see that all the campsites were full.
Junction Peak.
Junction Peak again...but from 2500 feet lower, and taken from a small ledge above a river after climbing down an eight foot wall. One of my favorite photos I've ever taken!
Kearsarge Pass.
One group said they had a free tent site since their friends wouldn't be arriving until tomorrow, so we thanked them and set up. Then, as we we're cooking dinner, the magic began. Anna offered some grapes then invited us to roast marshmallows at their campfire a few campsites away. Once there, they gave us rum and cokes, then some sloppy joe's and cucumber salad. The hospitality didn't end there as the next morning they cooked pancakes, eggs, bacon, and coffee for brekkie before we departed to hitch to Bishop. Huge thank you to Kathy, Anna, Rand, Kimmie, Cristy, Greg, Karl, and the kids Lily, Lucia, Roman, and Keeton. Thanks so much for the site, food, drinks, and great conversations.
Day 47 + 48, double 0-Day in Bishop.
Also a huge thanks to John who shuttles hikers from the campgrounds all the way to Bishop, a lengthy 55 miles away. He told us of his hikes on the PCT and recommended a few places we should camp or at least take a break at to enjoy. We checked into The Hostel California and immediately got to work with town chores; laundry, town food, clean packs, pick up packages, and borrow from their fleet of bicycles to ride to the store for a food resupply. We got lunch at the Mountain Rambler Brewery, dinner at Denny's, and then returned to the hostel to drink with fellow hikers. The next day we split up to do some more chores; she went to get new shoes at an outfitter while Squirrel and I rode to the post office to send stuff home. I scored the chopper bicycle and got one last use from my sun umbrella on the way there. We then decided to take another zero day and go tubing on the Owens River. It was the first test run of my new GoPro Session and things were going great; we had beers, music, and a couple small cliffs for me to jump off of but then some bad news hit...the river claimed my brand new GoPro so there won't be first-person videos for this section :( I'm so sorry. I failed you.
The Hostel California.
Sea Lion found a zebra print town dress and then matching loaner bike!
Day 49, 7.5 miles back over Kearsarge Pass and 4.4 PCT miles over Glen Pass to Rae Lakes.
We went to the bakery and were blown away with its old Bavarian atmosphere. We got some pastries and overpriced OJ, then rode to the other side of town to get some breakfast sandwiches. Back at the hostel, we packed up and decided to go try our luck with the 40-mile hitchhike to Independence. We ran into Sunshine and Tuna Roll and all squeezed into a CR-V for the ride. Once in Independence, we just split an Uber. Miss Janice is the only Uber driver in town and the Savior to hikers getting to and from the Onion Valley Campgrounds. We moved very slow getting back up to the trail but it was great going over familiar territory since I knew there was plenty of water sources and didn't have to carry any. The double zero day seemed to have made us weak, or maybe it was the full packs with five days of food...but we trudged along over Glen's Pass and dropped down into Rae Lakes as the Sun was setting. They were stunning and had some islands in the middle that seemed to have superb cliffs to jump off of. But at 11,000 feet as night fell, it was just too cold. So I never went for a swim.
Dropping down to Rae Lakes after Glen's Pass.
The sun setting behind Fin Dome and Rae Lakes.
Day 50, 15 miles over Pinchot Pass to Marjorie Lake.
We decided to sleep in since this is the Sierras, the place to not hurry. The sun beautifully illuminated the mountains on the left, including Fin Dome. Sea Lion pulled ahead as I kept stopping to take pictures and then as the trail dropped down alongside the South Fork of Woods Creek, I saw a mama bear and her two cubs. I quickly switched to to my zoom lens and walked on the trail parallel to them as they bounded along the creek and I kept my distance. It was amazing. At the bottom of the river crossing I giddily told Sea Lion what I had seen. We finished the descent, crossed a wobbly suspension bridge over Woods Creek, then started the grueling seven mile ascent up 3,500 feet to Pinchot Pass. It took a good bit of the day as the grade was steep, the temperature was hot, and the shade was lacking, but we crossed the 800 mile marker! We soon found a stunning campsite on the other side. On the cliffs just above Lake Marjorie was a cutout seemed to have been specifically made for a tent with a view looking down on the lake below.
Fin Dome.
Bears!!! Mamma bear and her cubs.
Heading down the South Fork Woods Creek.
Bridge over Woods Creek.
Three 800 mile markers.
What up? This is Space Jam and on this episode of CRIBS I'll show you my 28sq-ft mansion up at 11,200 feet with a lake view!
Space Jam and Sea Lion hanging out on our front porch.