Days 53-55: Towards the heart of the mountain ranges, 125 miles, 8 passes in 6 days, part 2 of 2

General Trail Thoughts:

I came to this section with the idea of ​​challenging myself by doing a long food haul and skipping Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR) on Lake Thomas Edison. In previous years, VVR had a ferry that transported hikers from one end of the lake to the resort, but not this year. I decided not to do the 6 mile each way hike to VVR and would instead push on to Mammoth. The last two nights of the tour I woke up with pain in my knee. Maybe I should have made the 98 mile shuttle to VVR and resupplied there. Now the limits are not so much the water as the vertical up and down and the weight of the food, the bear canister and the micro spikes.

Day 53: Selden Pass

24 miles or so

From mile marker 850 elev 9550

Two mile marker 874 student 9004

Approximate ascent 3730 Descent 4744

Camping: Solo

People I walked with: no one

The day towards Selden Pass started with a climb and I overtook a Japanese couple who were older than me and didn’t speak much English. We waved, smiled, and waved at each other several times as we passed during water and food breaks. This day took me to more mosquito infested terrain, but also took me to my favorite pass, Selden Pass. I don’t think I was the favorite because it was only 10,913′, but I think it was the lakes and the rocky terrain. On the way up there was a narrow stream that connected the Sallie Keyes Lakes and the amount of trout swimming there was incredible. The terrain was a narrow canyon that looked like something Walt Disney would have designed for a western. I loved it.

Access to Selden Pass.

On the way down there was the obligatory snow dragging. At least this summit had the courtesy of being able to see the road in the distance. Knowing where a partner is going allows for a straighter path.

The trail down from Selden Pass skirts Lake Marie.

Day 54: Silver Pass

20 miles or so

From mile marker 874 elev 9004

Two mile marker 894 student 9917

Approximate rise 5692 Fall 4865

Camping: Solo

People I walked with: Mother Duck

Silver Pass was probably the most strenuous of the passes as it was going up and down all day. The scenery was beautiful as expected and the Silver Creek waterfall was stunning. What was particularly “painful” about Silver Pass was getting to the pass, celebrating, and then discovering that the trail climbed another 200′ over a ridge. I saw a pika on the summit that looked at me and then ignored me.

Silver Creek Falls

A Pika hanging out

My view of lunch on the downhill side of Silver Pass

Day 55: Mammoth Pass / Horseshoe Lakes Trailhead

13.9 miles or so

From mile marker 894 elev 9917

Two mile marker 904 student 8990

Approximate rise 1749 Fall 2844

Camping: Solo

People I walked with: none

This day started early and it still wasn’t early enough to avoid the Purple Lake mosquitoes. It was another beautiful morning and the surface of the lake was covered with feeding trout.

Purple Lake before sunrise

The trail from Purple Lake to Mammoth Pass was easy with just a bit of uphill. Closer to the trailhead I passed McLeod Lake, an absolutely perfect lake. It was obviously popular with day hikers as I passed dozens of fresh-smelling people, some carrying fishing rods, some inflatable paddle boards, and others dragging or cajoling their children to walk uphill. At the trailhead I was back in civilization and ready to take a couple zeros to let my knee heal.

Next, head back to the Sierra snow with Island Pass, Donahue Pass, and Tuolumne Meadows.

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