PCT Day 61: Yosemite Wilderness to Benson Lake

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 finally reaching the turnoff to Benson Lake. The mosquitos had been annoying all day – couldn’t hike fast enough to avoid them. But by Benson Lake they were really thick. 20 mozzies landed on my exposed wrist – I broke out the head net for the first time.

At a lakeside campsite, I was later joined by Lightning Bolt and Soul Shine. Haven’t seen these two since Kennedy Meadows.