PCT Day 75-80: Yosemite Wilderness

75 and 76 days – Explore the Yosemite Valley

We decided to take two days outside the path to explore Yosemite National Park. Yosemite is not only known for his incredible nature and wildlife, but also offers a surprising number of friendly comforts for hikers.

We said goodbye to the friendly car campers that had let us launch our stores and hang out with them, then they walked to Curry Village. There, we had breakfast in the food court and charge our electronic products. Then, we wandered towards the town of Yosemite, home of the Visitors Center and a full service grocery store.

Just outside the town, a parade of pride was being carried out. We stopped to look and we were excited to see the only one Pattiegonia—A Drag Queen and Environmental activist. We asked for a photo, and they were incredibly friendly and friendly while we would muddle.

To make the most of our time in the valley, we rent bicycles for the day (the store even let us leave our packages there, score!). We ask to see the most prominent aspects: under Yosemite Falls and the Captain. It was wild to see the climbers climb the Cap in real time. We took lunch nearby, and they got enthusiastic to get a resident -free meat sandwich on gluten -free bread!

Then, we visited the iconic Ahwahnee hotel. We deal with a cocktail at the bar and wandering around the halls, admiring the works of art and the views of Half Dome. After returning our bicycles, we got into the free transportation service to the backpack camping, we launched our tents and headed to the pizza deck. Had low expectations, but ended up being the best Pizza we have had on the way!

We went to bed full and happy, deciding to stay one more day. Two people in our family of trails had obtained half -dome permissions, and Chowder and I still needed to replenish.

The next day was discreet. Chowder and I spent time in the food court, loading electronics, showering and resisting in the grocery store. After knocking out our tasks, we relax by the river, immersing ourselves in the views. As fun as Yosemite was, the crowds took a bit on us: we both had itching to return to the quiet rhythm of the path. Even so, it was a small memorable and rewarding secondary search.

Day 77 – Return to the road and a thunderstorm

We were sad to leave the Yosemite valley, but ready to say goodbye to the crowds and return to the path. We caught the hiker bus back to the Tuolumne Meadows general store. Our driver was deliciously peculiar and narrated the two and a half hours trip with his own personal stories about the park.

Back along the way, we walk through the flat and wooded terrain next to a river, pleasant and peaceful. But the weather changed quickly. Thunder rolled and the rain began to fall. As we were in low height and near a camp, we made the call to establish the early camp. We hoped to push a few more miles, but a friend’s Garmin report confirmed that the storms would continue during the night.

Storm clouds begin to prepare

We take it to the fullest, the curved and I saw Star WarsHe had dinner with PDF and stretch, and called him early at night.

Day 78 – Mosquitoes

We were awake from the camp at 6 in the morning, eager to compensate for the short day yesterday. The morning took us through a meadow with mountains in the distance, absolutely beautiful. We faced a decent climb, and snorted and swelled. I still think that the climbs will become easier, but honestly … they are still very difficult. As much as I loved the mountains, I am starting to wait for the flattest ground.

We decided to take a break next to a lake, but that turned out to be a mistake: swarm mosquitoes as soon as we stopped. We quickly put on mosquito nets, rainy pants and jackets, but even then, lunch was not everything except.

We keep moving after that. Another climb, then we arrive at the camp through a beautiful waterfall. Unfortunately, errors were implacable, which makes it almost impossible to enjoy the view. I had dinner at the store and went to bed early.

Day 79 – More mosquitoes!

We had another great day ahead: 26 miles, a pass and two ups of 1,000 feet. It ended up being one of the most challenging days we have recently had. The pass was beautiful but felt like a blur; We could not take breaks to absorb it thanks to the endless mosquitoes.

The last six miles were through the swampy terrain, crying with insects. I really wanted to stop early, but we advanced, aiming at a camp just before Dorothy Lake Pass. To distract myself, I heard an audiobook and a couple of podcasts.

Finally we arrived at the camp, which had an impressive view of Lake Dorothy. We settled quickly and faint.

Day 80 – 1,000 miles, leaving Yosemite Wilderness and Sonora Pass

We slept until 6 in the morning, a luxury! It was a slow morning, and we did not leave the camp until 7:30. Not long in the day, we reach an important milestone: 1,000 miles! It feels incredible to have gone so far. After some difficult days and with Buggy, this gave us a very necessary moral impulse. In addition, today there was a breeze, which kept insects at bay.

Once we leave Yosemite’s desert, the landscape changed dramatically. As we climbed to Sonora Pass, the terrain changed to the volcanic rock with fewer trees, absolutely impressive. The descent to highway 108 included some snow navigation, but it was not so bad.

Along the way, we expected to hook Pinecrest to keep an angel of trails. Unfortunately, we could only make a trip to Kennedy Meadows North due to a serious car accident on the road. We decided to have dinner at the KMN Resort Denter, then we closed nearby in a camp of the forest service with PDF and stretching. Tomorrow, we will try again to Pinecrest.

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