Dave’s PCT & Other Adventures: 08/30/23

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Day 167 Muir Pass

August 30

I was able to walk out of camp at 6:30 in the morning. It’s amazing how quickly the sun comes up. I woke up about 5 am and stars were still out. I slowly started getting dressed and packing stuff up, before I knew it the sun was out and it was bright on the mountaintops around me. I was a little behind schedule.

Last night I camped this beautiful bowl alongside the river. It is .2 after the Bishop pass turn off. If you remember my dilemma on the San Joaquin River bridge, this should tell you I’ve made my decision to continue onward. My first day hiking, I bumped into a number of South bounders who told me they did the up and over route. I saw a map and was feeling pretty comfortable about being able to do that. The second day I started bumping into more South bounders who actually crossed the river just downstream of the bridge. It is only a 45 minute detour versus 4 hours for the up and over. I am feeling very optimistic I can cross the river, but will find out when I get there and evaluate. Today is a 7 mile ascent up and over Muir Pass, and then I will continue on to my campsite located just before the San Joaquin river and decision time.

Keep in mind had I taken a Bishop pass to Piute Pass for the bridge detour every picture you see today would have been missed. I’m only 30 minutes in and it is freaking spectacular.

Much of the trail has these rock steps built in. If you look in the distance, you can see a rock retaining wall built to hold back a portion of the Trail

The trumpet shaped violet colored Mountain pride, purple daisy family Subalpine Fleabane, purple Sierra Penstemon, and the yellow Sticky Cinquefoil (the last two are new flowers to me) are all growing in one area along the trail. It is a beautiful site.

The views around me make it hard to continue hiking. I keep stopping to snap pictures, but the beauty is worth sacrificing a little bit of speed.

Two more new to me flowers are the purple long stemmed Swamp Onion and the yellow Arrowleaf Senecio.

I took a picture of this water cascade and realized I have a lot of scenery pictures but not a lot of pictures with me in it. I did a couple selfies and asked a couple other hikers to take some shots of me.

I continue down the trail, capturing many more pictures of water and cascading waterfalls. I stopped along this small lake Inlet to camel up and refill some water. It took me a little bit to notice, but there are a couple of waterfalls coming down the mountain side around me.

As I continue my ascent, I travel over a few snow patches and along a snow melt river. Absolutely gorgeous check out this video

I reached Helen Lake which sits at an oppressive 11,300 foot elevation. The stream is the Helen lake outlet. The normal PCT trail crossing is under water, but just 20 feet up stream are these large boulders that will provide for a dry crossing

I stopped at lower Helen lake for my second breakfast. Muir pass is 1.5 miles ahead, passing upper Helen lake which sits 300 feet higher than the lower lake.

I have reached the top of Muir Pass. Muir hut is located at the top. It is a Spectacular structure built entirely of rock and amazing architectural aspects. The views are astounding in all directions.

I have come across a couple of marmots that are hanging out here in the sun on this rock

I have dropped down into the valley seen from the Muir hut and I’m now standing amongst the lakes that were so far below just a short time ago.

The trail leads along the shore of Wanda lake with its rock island rising out of the middle.

As I reach the end of Wanda Lake, the trail takes a sharp right turn and continues down the valley with ever increasing stunning views.

Evolution Lake sits in the valley with beautiful green meadows all around it. The shore zigzags in and out, and it has small rock island at the end. About midway down the lake I found a nice shaded spot with a good back rest rock. I chose this spot for my beans, cheese, and Fritos lunch.

I have descended into the valley and I’m now walking along McClure Meadow which is another location in Sierras that has it Ranger cabin. This one does not appear to be occupied.

I continue to hike along evolution creek that has flowed alongside me all the way down from the lakes below Muir pass.

I reached the evolution Creek Crossing. It is widened out and is slower. It appears to be about knee depth. I changed into my water shoes and headed across with no issues.