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 3 is 76.3 miles from Marie Lake to Tuolomne Meadows. June 29th - July 4th.
Day 54, 20.3 miles over Silver Pass to Squaw Lake.
I was up earlier than usual and cooked a delicious egg, ham, and cheese dehydrated breakfast that I scored from a hiker box. It was probably the coldest morning yet, aside from the top of Mount Whitney, and the mosquitoes returned the second that sunlight touched down. The day started off with another easy descent then followed Bear Creek for awhile. We had a relatively easy ford but the water was extremely cold and Sea Lion made funny airplane noises as she walked across. Cold water is her kryptonite. We started the climb up to Bear Ridge and had service so I caught up on some emails and had my new GoPro sent out. More on that later. We stopped for lunch at the top and she took off before me as I called Amazon and had a very difficult time sorting out shipping details. I had to stay put where there was service so after the calls, I took off running to catch up. I flew down the ridge, past the Vermillion Valley Resort junction, since we planned to go straight to Red's Meadow, and caught up at a stream crossing. We had a long climb up and over Silver Pass but there was a sweet set of waterfalls on the way that I grabbed some photos of. Then, towards the top, I planned to go for a swim in Silver Pass Lake but it was already in the shadow of a mountain so I stopped for a swim in an unnamed lake next to it that was still in the warm sunshine. On the other side we picked our way down to Squaw Lake, dined with the myriad of mosquitoes, saw a decent sunset, and we were in bed around dark. It was a full-ish moon that illuminated the lake pretty well so I grabbed some night shots.
A simple Lily that grows upside down.
Up we go!
Waterfalls at Silver Pass Creek.
Sunset at Squaw Lake.
Squaw Lake at night.
Day 55, 20.1 miles to Red's Meadow Resort.
As is tradition, the day started off with a chilly descent. We planned to hustle so we could get to the Mule House Cafe, the restaurant at Red's, before it closed. We blasted up the only big ascent of the day, and then a smaller one, and then stopped for lunch at the Duck Lake outlet. We were about empty on food and cooked a big bag of macaroni that Sea Lion plucked from a hiker box...only there was no cheese. So we dumped olive oil and any other seasonings we had to make it taste like something. From there we marched 11 miles straight to Red's without stopping for anything. After a short climb it was all downhill and we talked about what our dream burger would be. We went down into the smoke filled valley from recent fires as helicopters shuttled supplies back and forth. Once at Red's, we went straight to the cafe where we split a salad, each smashed a double cheeseburger with fries, and shared a strawberry rhubarb pie à la mode. We camped nearby at the campground and the backpackers section was jam packed but we were early enough to land a semi-secluded spot.
Fish Creek.
Lake Virginia.
En route to fight the fires.
Day 56, 0-Day in Mammoth Lakes.
We returned to the main resort area to wait for a bus to town when we ran into our old buddy Fireballs (aka Mike) who was just returning to trail after a double zero day in Mammoth. We caught up and he recommended we go get brekkie at the Breakfast Club, it is worth the wait of skipping the mediocre Mule House Cafe. We hopped on the lodge bus with Chainsaw, Winters, and Vons and then transferred to the Village bus, and finally to the town trolley to arrive at our destination. Fireballs was right, the brekkie was amazing. From there, Sea Lion and I split off to check in at the luxurious Travelodge but our room wasn't ready so we went to take care our food resupply. Afterwards, our room still was not ready but at least they let us into the rec room in the basement where we sorted our food on the pool table. It seemed like good times used to be had down there but both the pool table and foosball table were in disrepair and the old jacuzzi room was boarded up. Once we got to our room we did not leave. We took showers, cleaned our packs, then watched movies while sipping beers and scarfing down Domino's Pizza.
Day 57, back up to Red's Meadow and 13.3 miles to camp.
We checked out and went to the main shopping center where we split up; I went to ship a food drop ahead to Kennedy Meadows North while Sea Lion went to the outfitters to get new tips put on her trekking poles. Then we grabbed a beer at Roberto's Cafe and discussed the next section. Unfortunately, her Achilles had been acting up and she made a game time decision to stay in Mammoth to rest and let me hike 36 miles ahead to Tuolomne Meadows. Then I would hitchhike back so we could spend the 4th of July in town together before skipping back up to Tuolomne and hitting the trail.
We parted ways on the trolley, I took the two buses back up the mountain, and I was back at Red's. I hung out with some hiker friends for a bit but escaped before getting caught in the vortex. As soon as I was back on the trail it started to drizzle which was weird since I have not been rained on at all in over two months. I took a snack break at the Devil's Postpile overlook and got some good shots of the bizarre geological feature. The trail just followed a creek and then up a ridge for the rest of the day. I set camp, ate dinner, and was pretty happy with my mileage considering I didn't get on trail until 3pm.
Pretty bridge over the Middle Fork Dan Jaoquin River.
Devil's Postpile.
Scarlett Gilia.
Day 58, 22.6 miles over Donahue Pass to Tuolomne Meadows.
It was another pretty cold morning as I ate and packed up. I even wore my gloves for the first section of the day. There were some small up and downs before I reached 1,000 Island Lake which seemed to have no more than 100 islands...and that is if you count every small rock protruding through the surface of the water. After that I crossed over Island Pass which was so small and insignificant you didn't even realize you went over a pass. There were some cool streams for a bit and I realized my sunglasses fell off my collar. Luckily, I passed a mother/daughter sobo team and I asked them to keep an eye out for my shades. They found them and sent them along with the next nobo they crossed and I was reunited! I wound my way up Donahue Pass which marks the boundary of the legendary Yosemite National Park. I took a quick break at the top, got some shots of a lake just below the pass, and then bounded down to the long, flat, and almost boring 10 mile stretch along Lyell Fork. I stopped halfway for a quick swim in the crystal waters, had a nap on the river bank, then continued on through the growing number of daywalkers. I hung out at the grill with some fellow hikers then bought a beer and a snack to take to the backpackers camp. I was expecting to see at least a couple familiar faces but I seemed to be the only PCT'er so I set camp, ate a dinner for one, and was asleep early.
1,000 Island Lake.
Donahue Pass.
This section had tons of these ramps, or terribly built stairs, or sinking stairs...either way there was a layer of sand on them which made them slippery and a pain to walk on.
Lyell Fork.
Day 59, the 4th of July, 0-Day in Mammoth Lakes.
I was up bright and early and went back to the General Store to get some cardboard to make a hitchhike sign. I got a tri-fold piece and wrote PCT HIKER - LEE VINING - MAMMOTH with the Mammoth being written on the opposite side so I could flip it up to get my second hitch. The first went quickly when Andy gave me a ride down Tioga Pass to Lee Vining. I popped into the market, got my package, then went back out and flipped my sign up for hitch number two. It again was easy hitch when Maureen pulled over in her Prius to scoop me up. She was taking her daughters to Mammoth Lakes to enjoy the 4th of July parade. Their father was a firefighter so they were going to get to ride in the fire truck with Smokey the Bear. I was kind of jealous. She dropped me off at the hostel where Sea Lion and I reunited and had second breakfast while catching up. I did some bucket laundry and then we left to go watch the parade but the trolley service stopped temporarily since the parade route blocked it. So instead we went to a brewery and then got lunch at the Pita Pit where I had the Awakin' with Bacon wrap for third breakfast! When the trolley service resumed we went to pick up burger supplies and beer to celebrate 'Murica's birthday back at the hostel. I was glad that a lot of other guests had the same idea so we all tossed meats on the grill and chilled on the porch for the rest of the day. We may have missed out on fireworks and/or a parade, but meat and beer is a great way to celebrate the 4th of July!
Tons of meat grilling up at Davinson Street Hostel!