PACIFIC COAST TRAIL

Daily Miles: 25.9, Total Miles: 1092.9 The skeeters were ravenous this morning, so I made a quick getaway. Th most prominent feature of this morning’s hike was a granite mountain named The Nipple for obvious reasons. I suspect it may have been named by a thru-hiker. The wildflowers, yellow and purple most prevalent, were again a highlight of the day. I cruised through the Mokelumne Wilderness with possibly my last snow on the trail for a long while? Before crossing…

Daily Miles: 30.2, Total Miles: 1067.0 I had pain and swelling on the bottom of my right foot yesterday. Upon further inspection this morning, it looked like a splinter. Got my needle and tweezers and pulled that baby out – not sure how or where I picked that one up. A soggy and wet trail for most of the morning, still a few snowdrifts but will melt fast with warming temperatures. I had heard rumors there may be trail magic…

Daily Miles: 18.3, Total Miles: 1036.8 A crystal-clear morning so good to go from Bridgeport. I thought the hitch back to Sonora Pass would be difficult and it was. I walked to the other end of town and was joined by Wild Child, also looking for a lift. We were then joined by two more hikers. After three hours, Tyler and his mother squeezed us and gear in the car and got us to Highway 108. Tyler’s grandmother owns the…

Daily Miles: 19.2, Total Miles: 1016.5 I wanted an early start for today’s destination of Sonora Pass so up at 4:30am and instantly attacked my mozzies. So much for that theory. A good cruise today through relatively flat terrain with plentiful lakes and ponds. That all changed at Kennedy Canyon where the climb started up an 11,000 ft high ridge above Sonora Pass. The trail bounced on both sides of the ridge crest with long traverses across snowbanks and chutes….

Daily Miles: 25.8, Total Miles: 999.3 I decided on an early start while the mosquitos were still asleep. The mountain passes aren’t as high in this part of the Sierras but the canyons are deeper so plenty of vertical today. I got over Seavy Pass and down into Kerrick Canyon with lots of ponds and standing water from the snowmelt. As the day warmed up, so did the skeeters. I finally had to put on my head net again and…

Daily Miles: 25.1, Total Miles: 973.5 Quietly as I could, I left Glen Aulin Camp and continued through the Yosemite Wilderness. I first ran into Sundog and Giggles, whom I hadn’t seen since near Warner Springs. The trail headed north across a few canyons, passed Miller Lake and twice crossed Wilson Creek. I climbed up to Benson Pass at 10,140′, meeting sheer-faced granite canyon walls on the other side of the canyon. A seemingly never-ending drop into the canyon and…

Daily Miles: 25.1, Total Miles: 948.4 I woke up just after 5am and it was cold, then heard this crackling noise and it was ice on top of my sleeping bag breaking up. Water bottles were also frozen up. But what a drop dead, gorgeous day! The sunrise over Thousand Island Lake and Banner Peak took my mind off the cold. Continuously changing colors, lighting and reflections. I was brought back to reality while heating water for my coffee. I…

Daily Miles: 16.6, Total Miles: 923.3 I hit the bakery across the street from Motel 6 with 5-Star, James and Claire. The biggest cherry bear claw I have ever seen and eaten. We took the free trolley and shuttle bus to the Mammoth ski lodge and then got a quick hitch to the TH at Red Meadows. Thanks Scott and Kayley from Biloxi, Mississippi! I hiked along the edge of Devil’s Postpile and into the Ansel Adams Wilderness. I then…