At mile 936. Hiked 23.8 miles today. I met 2 thru-hikers heading southbound. Their trail names were David and Z. David’s real name is Mike. Nobody seemed to be able to remember his real name, Mike, so they named him David since it was presumably easier to remember. Z got her name because she hiked with Chacos which leaves a Z tanned onto each foot. David and Z and I had never met before but we knew all the same PCT hikers. It was fun talking to them and catching up on all of our in-common friends. They had hiked with Ridge Route and Shortcut in Washington. I told them that RR and Shortcut were in the Sierras now. Z had met Cache 22 at the Oregon border where they were both starting their hikes. There were many others that we both knew or met such as Bear, Flying Amaneta, Hummingbird, Rifle, etc. Here is a small lake where I ate lunch, soaked my feet, and napped. Banner Peak in Ansel Adams Wilderness. Banner Peak with Thousand Islands Lake. The trail.

At mile 912.2. Hiked 16.2 miles today. Today I had easy trail the entire day. The trail surface was smooth and the slope gradual. After 10 miles I was in Reds Meadow where I went directly to the General Store to buy a beer, then to the cafe to order a double cheeseburger to have with my Sierra Pale Ale.  Needing only one breakfast and one dinner, I resupplied from the hiker box. I just finished eating the chicken and rice dinner that I had chosen and it turned out...

At mile 896. Hiked 17.3 miles today plus 1.5 miles to return to PCT via Edison Ferry trail. Everyone exiting the Edison Ferry after a good time at VVR. Now, Hike! The trail toward Silver Pass. A lot of vertical from VVR. Clouds, but no rain. View from Silver Pass. I think that might be Ritter Peak in Ansel Adams Wilderness. Lake and clouds. I don’t want a weather repeat. My down vest is stuffed in dry sack this time. My campsite for the night. Big day tomorrow at Reds Meadow. Hot meal, resupply and hike out...

At mile 878.7. Hiked 21 PCT miles plus 1.5 miles back to PCT from Muir Trail Ranch (MTR) plus 1.5 miles from PCT to Edison Boat Ferry to Vermillon Valley Ranch (VVR). Here is just a few people tenting at MTR AS I left at 6:20 am.  One of several lakes leading up to Selden Pass. Another lake. I met a large group from South Korea here. One of them had hiked the SO CAL portion of the PCT last year.  Another view of the same lake. The first lake north of Selden...