PCT: High in the mountains

I was finally in Kennedy Meadows. Originally, I had planned to take a zero, but vibrated with nervous energy. I decided to organize my team and leave early the next morning. I stayed in the general store where I could camp for free and shower and wash for a small rate. I waited in the row for the outdoor shower and hung my small load of clothes on the line to dry. I picked up all my packages and then tried to discover how to pack microspikes, an ice ax and a bear boat in my package. I took time to kill everything and then horror about how heavy it was. I was planning a six -day transport for 116 miles. But after trying the package and feeling the weight that worried me, I might not be able to make my planned miles. I could not imagine carrying this bulky package in an incomplete snow traver or crossing a furious river.

I could feel my heart rate. I had to calm down: Ben and Jerry’s thick monkey to the rescue. I concentrated on enjoying the creamy delight until my breathing slowed.

You will be fine, I told myself.

I entered the Sierras on June 6, which was within four days of my initial target date. The objective date was the only factor I considered choosing my start date of April 28. He knew that a subsequent start date meant higher temperatures in the desert and possibly closed the path due to forest fires. But I didn’t want to ignore passes in the mountains in extreme snowy conditions. Presenting does not always have to be fun, but I prefer not to be scary. For me it is a very fine line (but I can see) between expanding my abilities and challenging my assumptions about my abilities when embarking on adventures I have zero experience in.

By the time my herd and I entered the Sierra Nevada, the melting of the snow had already begun. The big passes were securely feasible with the appropriate equipment and the greatest threat were water crosses due to snow melting. The first section presents hikers to the Sierra Nevada and high elevation. It has two notable reference points that can be outside the limits for inexperienced hikers at the beginning of the season: Mt Whitney and Forester pass.

Snowy Picos in the Sierra Nevada

The first three days in the mountains were lovely. After 700 miles of deserts, the path crossed pine pine forests and green meadows. Water and shadow were in abundance. The path rose more than 10,000 feet and snow -covered peaks dominated the horizon. Until now, the Sierra Nevada was up to advertising.

Mt Whitney – Top of the World

At the end of the third day, I installed the base camp in Whitney Creek eight miles from Mt Whitney. At 14,505 feet, Mt Whitney is the highest point in the 48 lower states. Mt Whitney is not on the PCT; It is a secondary search that many PCT hikers do because the climb is very accessible. I established my alarm for midnight and planned to start walking at 1245 am I slept? You are welcome.

I left below a crescent, it was cold but quickly warmed up. They were eight miles from the summit and expected to get to dawn. I hit snowfields three miles inside. The snow shone under the moonlight; The path disappeared and was climbing through rocks and around the streams. In the distance I saw the front headlights moving the curves. I arrived at the curves eventually and the path was mostly snow -free from there. I felt strong; After fighting with acute mountain disease in the CDT, I had prepared for the PCT upon receiving Diamox from my doctor. I was on the approach path when the sun risen.

I was almost at the top when the sun risen

I love a good secondary mission

The Valley below came to life under pink skies. An steep climb on snow and finally I was at the summit. It was beautiful and cold. I couldn’t stop smiling at the achievement.

My euphoria faded on the way back to Basecamp. I was tired and hot. The snowfields had begun to turn to Aguanieve under the sun. I staggered the camp 10 hours after I left; I took a fast nap and packed. I walked seven miles, I prepared the camp and put my alarm for 3:30 am Mt Whitney finished, but Forester was the following.

Guitar Lake view at Whitney Descent

Forester pass: nightmare things?

Forester Pass (13,153 feet) is the highest point on the PCT. The pass has been in my nightmares since I received my permission in January. He is known for his snowy tours, cornices and snowcase in steep slopes. I knew that the recent heat wave had melted a lot of snow on the south side, but without knowing what to expect, it was nervous anyway. I wanted to hit the pass early before the snow on the north side became too muddy.

I was walking at 4 am. First it was the very cold water crossing that left knees. My feet were painful ice blocks for half an hour before finally heating. The four -mile approach was gentle and did not hit the snow for two miles.

Snow fields on their way to Forester

More sailing around rocks and snow and then was in the curves. Unlike Whitney mountain, there was snow in these changes, but my microSpikes kept me safe. I arrived at the infamous snow ramp. The snow covered the path and partiality by the steep slope. I grabbed my ax, breathed deeply and made my way through the ramp. And then I passed it through him and on the other side.

A happy oz after crossing the snow ramp

From there it was a handful of steps to the top of the pass. I blow a breath and smile, savoring the liberation of long voltage. There is no time to celebrate; The north side of the pass was covered with snow. The descent was a journey through the snow to one crest and more in a valley. I lost a trekking post testing a mini glissade, my glissading needs some work.

Crossing the pass was the easy part: the snow in the descent was by miles

That night I slept deeply in a bed in Bishop. Whitney and Forester were behind me; I had six high passes for the end, but that was a problem for the next day.

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