PCT SOBO DAY 101 – Last day in the Alta Sierra

Day 101

Start: Tentsite, mile 1853.1

End: Onion Valley Trailhead/Lone Pine, off mile marker 1865.5

Miles Traveled: 19.9 miles, 12.4 miles of trail

City day! I couldn’t wait to get to the city when I woke up. Despite loving the scenery, a 6-day stretch without resupply options was a little long for me. Plus, I couldn’t take the time I wanted to fully enjoy being here. The only thing standing between me and a meal in town was Glen Pass and Kearsarge Pass.

I started at the usual time, eager to see what the Rae Lakes area looked like from the northern access. I was a little slow this morning, crossing the wobbly suspension bridge and slowly climbing the hill. I stopped and started too many times, sitting and wondering how I was going to make another pass.

While contemplating my life options, I saw a raptor sitting on the bare branches of a tree. Surprisingly, it didn’t fly away as I approached to take a photo. When it plummeted and rose into the air, I took it as a sign to keep moving.

It was another impressive day in the Sierra. There were no clouds in the blue sky and the temperature was perfect. As he remembered, the Rae Lakes were beautiful. Deer stomped here and there among the trees and the clear water glistened in the sun. There were enough fish to keep a fisherman busy. I had a snack by the water and enjoyed the sun.

Just as I finished, a hiker I’d seen earlier passed me. I was hoping to get to Kearsarge in time to get a fix. I assured him that we had plenty of time and that we would find some way to get to the city before dark.

Once snack time was over, all that was left was to start facing the pass. As I climbed, I met a lot of weekend backpackers, more people than I had seen in the last 2 days. I soon rose above the trees and found myself on a rocky expanse. It was amazing.

As I climbed, I turned around and looked down, seeing the shrinking lakes behind me. My breathing became easier than before; I guess I was finally getting acclimated now that my time in the Sierra was almost over. There was no significant snow left at the top of Glen Pass, where I stopped and took it all in. My last important step in the Sierra.

Part of me was sad to be done with the Sierra while another part was dancing happily. I couldn’t wait to get back here on a quieter trip through the countryside. Another place for the list.

I went down and attacked Kearsarge in no time. I still huffed and puffed a little going over the pass, but at least I knew what to expect going over it. I turned to say a final goodbye to this beautiful part of the country.

On the way down, I couldn’t go a mile without seeing another hiker I knew. It was a stark contrast to the last 48 hours. I stopped to chat so many times that I probably added an extra 30-45 minutes to my descent time. Zee and John, Sora and Brian, and others he had met even in Yosemite Valley. Everyone was surprised to see me and I had to explain the whole flip flop idea more than once. Still, seeing them all again made me so happy that I took this unexpected detour.

When I got downstairs, it was almost 5pm and the parking lot seemed a little empty. Fortunately, the hiker I had spoken to earlier that day saw me descending and asked his hitch to wait for me. Sweet!

Before long I was back in Independence and devouring a plate of delicious street tacos. I managed to travel to Lone Pine and settled into a hotel for the night. My plan for tomorrow was to get back on track and hit Kennedy Meadows South for a well-deserved zero.

And that’s a day in the life of a PCT SOBO hiker!

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