PCT SOBO DAY 89 – A change of plans

Day 89

Start: Glen Aulin Sierra Camp, mile 1706.4

Finish: Tuolumne Meadows/Yosemite Valley/Mammoth, mile 1712.1

Miles driven: 5.7 miles

I woke up this morning refreshed after arriving late last night. I slept surprisingly well while the cowboys camped and woke up before the sky turned light blue. I made breakfast sitting on my quilt and watched some of the other hikers getting ready around me. I only had a few miles left to go today, but I had to make sure I left early enough to catch the bus to Yosemite Valley.

While I was eating, another camper started a conversation with me. He was away for a few days, but he dreamed of hiking the John Muir Trail. We talked about hiking, running, and the demands of the Bay Area. He was very excited to hear about my hikes and appreciated the tips I shared with him about hiking the JMT. When I did, I headed north as it was easier to get permits that way, and I made sure to take my time with easy 11-13 mile days.

Soon it was time to hit the road. I said goodbye and headed towards Tuolumne Meadows. And it was so beautiful! As I passed Tuolumne Falls, the rising sun began to touch the tips of the surrounding rocks. I knew I had to get to Tuolumne Meadows, but I couldn’t help but stop every few feet and look around in awe. I loved this part of the park. The smooth rocks with swirling and cascading water mesmerized me. I was really in my happy zone.

As I walked, I tried to remember what it was like to walk this part of the trail for the first time 5 years ago. My perspective had been very different then because I had never seen anything like Yosemite before. I remember walking in awe as the trail crossed the bare, exposed granite. How cool was that?! I was walking on rock! Although my memories of the trail seemed a little different in retrospect, the area was more beautiful than I remembered.

Finally, I arrived at Tuolumne Meadows and hopped on the YARTS bus. Next stop: Yosemite Valley! I was surprised to see at least 10 other SOBOs on the bus and was happy to find that there was still a fairly large group of us here. As we walked down the mountain, I was glued to the window. Yosemite is so huge; Mind boggling! While in Washington, I thought the North Cascades could rival Yosemite, but I was wrong. Yosemite has them defeated, without a doubt.

Tuolumne

After oohing and aahing at El Capitan, we finally arrived at the resort. There weren’t as many people as I expected, so it was a pleasant surprise. Still, I had to wait in line for lunch and find an open place to eat. Since I finally had service, I checked the weather for the next leg. What I saw made me nervous: snow!

There was a chance of snow in a few days and I wasn’t sure how long the chance of snow would last. Wanting to avoid the snow as much as possible, I did some quick mental math, consulted with the concierge, and decided to head down to Cottonwood Pass to reach Whitney and the highest Sierra passes before the weather got too bad. It was probably a bit much, but I didn’t want to get stuck on the higher passes if the weather got even worse.

I only had about 2 hours in Yosemite Valley before boarding the bus to Mammoth. Tomorrow I would take the local bus to Lone Pine and it would take me to the Cottonwood Pass trailhead where I would hike north until I reached Yosemite again. The bus ride was long, but by 8pm I had replenished, bought dinner, and settled into my hotel room for the night. I wish I had made the right decision.

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

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