August 27
We left Tahoe around at 7 AM and headed down to Hwy 395 southbound towards the town of independence and the onion valley trail head where I will start on Kearsarge pass.
We arrive to onion Valley Road and got 7 miles from the trail head where there were cones and a Road closed sign! Not how I wanted to start my reentry to this leg. I got out of the car and started the 7 mile uphill road walk on a road that truly had no reason to be closed
I made it a mile up the road and saw a car go around the road close sign and come up. Jacob and Alice stopped and cleared off their backseat to thankfully give me a ride to the trail head. There was zero reason for that road to be closed. They were at least 50 cars at the trail head parking lot. Jacob said they had talk to the Ranger at the local ranger station and they said it was “technically closed“ at cars have been driving around it, and it was not being enforced.
I start it up the Kearsarge Pass Trail, which will lead me back to the PCT. Off I go!
As I ascend the trail, there are rivers and lakes on both sides. As I got closer to the top, one of the lakes was almost completely frozen still.
I reached the top of Forrester pass. Very different from the last time I was here when everything was covered in snow. If you want to compare the pictures that was the post from May 28.
Once again, I have come across a flower that is new to me. It is the purple Sierra shooting star.
Today is a long day. It is 4:56 PM and I have just reached the actual PCT trail and I’m continuing my northbound track. It will leave me up and over Glenn Pass. It is an exposed Trail over mostly rocks.
I’m at the halfway mark from when the Glen pass uphill started. Soon, I will cross the top and drop back down to Rea Lakes where I will camp tonight.
Another high mountain snow melt lake that is partially frozen over still
Glenn pass is no joke. It is a very steep, rocky incline. The switch backs occur about every 30 feet. Looking down hill you may be able to see some of them. We head up over the past and rewarded with incredible views from both sides.
I spotted a herd of mountain goat below me, and as a descended I got pretty close to them they stay put for some pictures
More snowfields navigate as I continue on to my campsite
I am still a ways out from camp. The sun is coming down, definitely later than I like to be hiking, but the setting sun on the mountains and the moon after the side is absolutely beautiful.
Of course I’m a half mile from camp. I need to cross between the two lakes and there’s no dry Crossing. I had to stop take off my shoes put on my water shoes and continue on.
I arrived at my campsite which is alongside Rae lake. The reason I chose it I needed to push to hear was it has a bear box for food I have more food they can fit in my bear can which is what I will carry tomorrow. It needed to be stored in a bear box. Today I hiked 11.9 miles however most of those are non-PCT miles and I do not count in my total. I got here after 8 o’clock. I had to set up camp with my headlamp on eat dinner and climb in bed as I finish editing this post it is 915. Good night.
Today’s PCT miles hiked 5.3
Total PCT Miles hiked to date 2096.2
PCT mile marker 793.5
(Returned to complete 303.4 flipped over)
Miles left:
Kearsarge - Echo 298.1
Snoqualmie-Terminus 259.5
Total 557.6
