Three Step Challenge: The Walk

I slept in today compared to yesterday. My alarm went off at 5am with plans to hit the trail at 6. This morning we were heading up and over Forester Pass.

Forester Pass is the highest point on the Pacific Crest Trail. Located at 13,200 feet, it is known to be a potentially dangerous icy and snowy pass. This year we were warned about some things that will happen today. First we had to cross a snow slide. Secondly there was a huge cornice at the top. Thirdly there was a set of boot prints that fell into a cliff on the way down. Of course, all of these things worried me a little.

We approached a huge ice field as we began our ascent quite early in the morning. We wanted to get to the snow sections of the pass as soon as possible, before the sun started melting the snow and ice and making it slippery or slushy and pockmarked. Although it seemed like snow gear wasn’t absolutely necessary with the current conditions of the climb, I was happy to have microspikes and snow baskets on my trekking poles. Some people didn’t use any snow gear and one hiker was completing this section in his Teva sandals. Personally, having spikes made me feel much more stable in my steps.

We climbed a series of curves until we reached challenge number one, the snow slide. I put on my microspikes and prepared to cross. Jug and Straight Up very kindly calmed my growing nerves and we crossed. Yes, crossing the slide is high risk and a fall could be very serious. However, so many hikers have left distinct footprints along the slide that I felt safe with every step. In the end I looked at them and asked if they were sure that was the incomplete part they had warned us about. Challenge one, done.

Shortly after came warning number two, the summit ledge. With this warm year the ice must have melted quickly because not a single ledge could be seen. All the turns were clear of snow and the summit had a clear path to the descent. Challenge two, done.

At the top we had a snack and studied our distant map to try to see where the boot prints end. Looking straight down the descent, we could see a clear path. One way to avoid getting stuck is to simply glide to the next set of starting tracks, so that’s exactly what we did! I put on my waterproof pants, secured everything in my backpack, put my ice ax in position, and started sliding. Glissading is so much fun, I felt like a kid again playing in the snow! Challenge three, done.

The next step was walking through a mud field. It wasn’t difficult or dangerous, but I think this is where I realized that there is no doubt that I am a San Diego native. He was not a fan of walking through slushy snow. We were all drilling and sliding. It’s not my favorite stretch on the trail. Fortunately the views made up for it. Everywhere you looked there was a glistening snowy peak or a crystal blue iceberg lake. This area is so impressive.

And the beauty continued for the rest of the day! After the snow section was (finally) over, the trees returned. We stopped for lunch in the shade around noon and only had 6 more miles to go until we reached our goal campsite. I stretched those six miles as much as I could. Not because I was tired, not because it was a challenge, but simply because it was so beautiful. We were walking along a flowing river all day with pine trees and amazing smelling wildflowers everywhere. If it weren’t for the mosquitoes, I would have gone to bed whenever I could to soak it all up.

Jug crossed Kearsarge Pass to catch a train and spend a few days off the road. He sent me a Garmin message with a camping recommendation with some of the craziest views. He was absolutely right. I followed his suggestion and pitched my tent with the mosquito net open and the door facing Forester Pass. The sunrise here tomorrow will be impressive.

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