Dave’s PCT & Other Adventures: 08/29/23

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Day 166 Mather Pass

August 29

Last night at about midnight I woke up, looked outside, and actually thought it was about 6 AM because it was so bright. Turns out it was just the moon. I rolled over and went back to sleep. I woke up, packed up and headed out at 6:30 this morning. The sun was hitting the mountains across from me and reflecting in the lake. I’m at about 1169 foot elevation and it is cold this morning. I wore my puffy jacket while packing up for the first time in a long while, and I actually started hiking with my gloves on.

Almost immediately, I was challenged with a number of smaller stream crossings, mildly technical rock hops, and some flooded Trail.

I reached a beautiful meadow with another stream crossing. There is also another ranger station. There’s not a clear path up to it and I do not believe it is staffed. I did not go to it, but there is this interesting bear warning note taped to the sign post. I also saw a couple of deer in the meadow.

I reached my first significant large stream Crossing. The stream splits into three separate fingers. I was unable to find a dry location to cross. I put on my water shoes and I’m going to cross to the other side.

I came up to another deer who was kind enough to stand still for a picture.

As I head towards Mather Pass, I stop to admire the view. There are mountains all around me. You can see it in this series of nine pictures.

I decided to stop at this stream at the base of Mather Pass for a little second breakfast before heading up and over.

As I climb, Mather Pass the views as always are extraordinary. I negotiated a small snow field on the way up. As I reach the top, I can see both north and south into the two valleys.

I stopped for a water and a snack break while coming down the backside of Mather Pass. It’s a beautiful little stream with imposing mountains all around me. Not sure what’s going on but I’m not feeling super great have a mild headache and my stomach is a little unsettled. I hope I am not coming down with something. It may just be the altitude, lack of caffeine, or diet change from last week; time will tell.

Words aren’t able to describe the beauty as I hike down the trail. I look all around me and find astonishing beauty everywhere. If you look closely at the lake, you can see the outline of the stream feeding it when the water is lower. The trail dropped me down to the lake level and brought me by a beautiful waterfall.

As I continue down the valley, I pass more waterfalls, cascades, and small streams.

I’ve come to a big rock outcropping that has excellent views of up and down the valley.

I’ve stopped for lunch halfway down the long descent into the valley. The views are very nice, actually spectacular.

If you look closely at the cliff face, you’ll see a dark area that is from water. the top of that area the water is coming out of the side of the mountain.

I dropped down into the valley which now has lots of green foliage, grasses trees, and ferns.

The trail follows alongside palisade creek for a few miles. It winds back-and-forth next to it, and away from it. There are a lot of areas with avalanche damage to trees. Most of them are just flat on the ground but these aspens show the power as they are snapped off halfway up.

I’m now walking along the middle Fork of the kings river. I’ve got steep mountains on either side of me, but the views are still gorgeous. I cross the river on this damaged but usable Bridge just before arriving at my campsite.

I’ve arrived where I chose to camp tonight at 7:05 pm. It sits just off of the Kings River. It was a push, and I did not know if I was gonna make it but I did. The Sierras are beautiful, but much of the trail is very rocky and that slows down the pace.