At mile 745.3. Hiked 14.4 PCT miles today plus 2.2 miles from Trail Pass to parking lot at Cottonwood Pass trailhead. Here is an opening to the broad desert thousands of feet below. It is also where I had cell service. The day started cold, but by mid-day I was sweating my way on a long climb in the blazing sun. Walking faster and not stopping was the only way to make  it end. Starting yesterday afternoon, I have been hiking around and above 10,000 feet elevation. It should...

At mile 750.8. Advanced 5.5 miles on PCT by completing alternate route began on Day 126. Total alternate route distance was 5.9 miles. Returned to PCT via the Cottonwood Pass Trail.  August 26th Today was a Near Zero day called by hikers a “NERO”. I spent most of the day in Lone Pine doing laundry, eating pizza buffet (8 slices plus large salad and 3 refills of root beer).  I also worked on reducing pack weight by getting rid of rope and underwear. I reduced fuel carried by leaving full can...

At mile 766.3. Hiked 15.5 miles today plus 1.2 miles on Crabtree Meadows trail. August 27, 2018 I’m seeing a lot more people now. Most of the hikers are out to climb Mt Whitney. Some are hiking the John Muir Trail. I met one hiker who told me he was giving up. He had started at Cottonwood Pass with intent to hike the JMT northbound. After 20 miles he is hiking back to Cottonwood Pass. He told me that he had gotten dehydrated.  The heat is real. It is bothering...

At mile 772.7. Hiked 6.4 PCT miles today plus 15 miles to Mt Whitney summit and back plus 0.8 miles to return to the PCT. Total distance hiked today was 22.2 miles. I was cold in the sleeping bag when I awoke to see that the ground had frozen. I was up at 3:35 am and on the trail to Mt Whitney just after 4 am. There was a nearly full moon so I left my headlamp turned off most of the time. Without the headlamp beam, I could actually see...

At mile 788.5. Hiked 15.8 PCT miles plus 7 miles on Kearsage Pass Trail to Onion Valley parking lot. Today I climbed 2 passes including Forester Pass at over 13,000 feet, the highest point on the PCT. I came across many families of Marmots. This is an adult. The babies are cuter.  Here is the climb up Forester Pass. You can see the notch that is the pass. Here is the view looking back (south) from Forester Pass. A lake after the initial descent from Forester Pass. Just one of the countless views, all...

At mile 788.5. Here is a view of Mt Whitney from a booth at McDonald's in Lone Pine. Whitney is the peak just to the left of the lamppost. Because it is set back, it isn’t prominent on the skyline above Lone Pine. I stayed at the Dolly Villa again and the big excitement of the day was a purchase of a new Montbell down parka. The post office lost my bounce box with my warm clothing and the nights are getting colder.  (Note: Months later I received my bounce box...