Mountain passes, spooky deer and mysterious audiobooks: PCT Days 73 to 76

I wanted my firm snow with the maximum, so I started the rise of Mathher Pass around 7. It was an easier pass than the previously fortunately, and I reached the top around 8. The main challenge in this was that several curves were completely covered by snow, so a certain rock figure was required. In retrospect, I could have made this pass last night. The way down was a bit snowy but not so bad. I made a glissade near the bottom, but I regretted it a lot. The area was still shaded, so the snow was mainly ice and my poor butt was a bit worn out by experience.

Subsequently, it was a great descent beyond several very beautiful lakes. He became quite steep and was almost completely rocky. Given the work he had taken to go to the pass to 12,000 feet, he felt a bit disappointing to return to 8,000 and give up all that hard work. At least I could see some lizards near the bottom, including a species that I had not seen before, and a very fear deer. I also met a Forest Ranger who questioned me briefly to make sure I was following all the desert rules.

Lizard of the northern crocodile giving me the side eye.

The meadows at the bottom were also quite beautiful. However, the furious Middle Fork Kings river made the experience quite strong. I achieved part of the ascent until Muir Pass, but I had to leave a little for tomorrow due to exhaustion. It was a very hard day and I would get up early tomorrow to do it again.

However, good valley walking at the end of the day.

Day 74: Muir Pass

After reading comments about the long snowfields, I was walking again at 4:15 am, however, I had a strange experience when you pack my team. While folding my rain from the rain, I heard a big crunch in the nearby forest and when I turned my lighthouse to look, I saw a couple of bright eyes that looked at me. My first thought was «Bear!» And my heart rate accelerated and my body tensed. Would I have to scare a hungry animal 4 times my size?

However, turning my lighthouse to his brightest environment revealed the truth; It was just some deer. I reviewed them periodically as I packed the rest of my team, but they barely moved, looking at me in the dark every time my light shone on them.

I could not get a good photo of the spooky night deer, so please enjoy this photo of a deer from the previous day.

The rest of the morning was the expected uphill. At first I struggled a little, but lifting some music helped me move. A few water crossings, including one that was practically a maze, then an rise of snowfield later and arrived at the iconic memorial refuge John Muir at the top of his homonym pass. I met another Ranger here unexpectedly and talked to him and some other hikers here called Noonie and Tripod. There were some Pika wandering here too, clearly accustomed and without fear of people. I saw in the path of the path that my hiking friends had passed here today; I must have been only a few hours behind them!

I also wove there, I have to commit to the part.

The descent was less fun unfortunately. The melted snow became hell after the hole. I also lost my new soft bottle 2l playpus, which was super annoying. I returned and looked, but left. Forgive me John Muir; I have left a trail.

In case you are wondering, yes, this is really unpleasant to pass.

I finally cleared the snow and settled for lunch and a long nap in Evolution Lake. I felt much better afterwards, the snow losing my team had committed my mood a bit.

So many lakes here, all fed by the thaw.

The final 4 miles were relatively easy and camped near a ranger station. Unfortunately, there were tons of mosquitoes, so I could not enjoy the beautiful views of the river and the meadow and I had to quickly jump into my store. Tomorrow would be a shorter day that hopefully would bring a very necessary break.

As beautiful as Buggy was.

Day 75: I should choose my audiobooks with more care

I slept until 7 that was deeply necessary. I had been having a soft stomach stomach last week and during breakfast it occurred to me suddenly, it could be the chocolate granola that I had obtained from the soup. Indeed, omitting it this morning meant that for the first time in 6 days, I did not have to penetrate an hour later. Success!

A successful half -river selfie!

It was downward for almost all morning. There were several bridges’ crossings but very few people. I would go to Vermillion Valley Resort tomorrow or the day after, where I could recharge the electronics, so I began to listen to the aniquilation audiobook. This turned out to be a fairly significant mistake. Jeff Vandermer writes about a pristine desert with a so oppressive and mysterious atmosphere that bleed the real world and made the family path in which I was feeling unknown and strange. He did not help the beautiful pine forest mentioned several times in the book reflects the true pine forest for which he was now walking. The final result was that I felt strangely dissociated from the present and more than a bit uncomfortable.

So many bridges, so few people.

There was another long descent after my now traditional lunch and nap. I met a hiker named orphan, I surprised some kind of big bird; Possibly a urogallo, and a huge fallen pine passed. I camped by a beautiful lake that unfortunately came with a truly massive presence of mosquitoes.

I counted 300 rings before the external layers became too difficult.

Day 76: Selden Pass

This pass was surprisingly easy and ended in less than an hour! The walk went through even more alpine lakes. As yesterday, I met very few people, so I trusted audiobooks to get company. I descended from the pass, I climbed a little again, then descended even more. The almost endless descent was quite arduous for my ankles and knees and slowed my rhythm.

Perfectly lakes are excellent reflexes.

Around mile 12 My Garmin watch ran out of energy and automatically kept the activity. I had been tracking all my miles so far and really wanted to keep my statistics, so I was forced to sit in a rock and weave while the clock was recharged for almost half an hour. When he had enough energy during the last miles, I resumed and finally arrived at the ferry site. Unfortunately, it was approximately 2 hours in the night of the night, but it was a fairly pleasant place to camp, so it was not too annoying.

Even in a bad mood, the desert is very, very beautiful.

I will be honest; I was thinking of leaving the PCT all day. My body was relentlessly tired, pushed to its limits for the passes every day and behind a good dream due to how early I had risen. However, I really didn’t want to leave the PCT, so I promised at least 2 zeros in gigantic lakes to keep motivated.

Path Statistics:

Cathols: 26

It stops to filter water: 102

Results: 12

Hitches: 15

Ceros: 13

Crys on the path: 12

Ampoules: 12

Gear repairs: 16

Miles jumped: 212.3

Significant water crosses: 63

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