September 1
I woke up about every hour from 3 AM on checking my watch to see if it was time to start packing up. I checked at 5 AM and then did not wake up until 6:05, a little late. I got dressed packed up ate and headed out of camp at 6:50. I am immediately was on an uphill climb to the top of Bear Creek Junction from there I had a fairly level path before dropping down steeply into the valley on the other side.
I passed some impressive trail work on the way down. This giant tree has been sawed and cleared from the Trail.
As I approached Mono Creek, I met forest ranger, Evan, and one of his crew members. They have been doing the trail maintenance and actually are the ones that cut the giant tree further up trail. They pose here with their handheld cross cut saw that they use.
I crossed Mono creek bridge and began an uphill ascent to Silver pass.
Trail is follows Mono Creek. I stopped in a beautiful spot for some water and a quick snack
I again crossed Mono creek and head steeply uphill towards Silver pass. I cross this beautiful water cascade, and continue higher up the mountain. I passed by this beautiful mountain meadow that is feeding the water cascade below.
After more uphill, I stop by this creek for some water and my second breakfast before continuing on towards Silver pass 1.3 miles ahead.
I pass by Silver pass lake and then need to cross one snow field before reaching the top of silver pass.
I’ve reached the top of Silver pass. For some reason in the video, I keep calling it high pass. One unique thing about this pass is I normally start descending once I reach the top, here I have another .2 miles uphill to what it’s called High Point before a starting my descent.
As I decend from High Point, I stop and look around and realize this would be a great place for an 11 pitcher series of my 360° view.
As I descend into the valley, I pass by many beautiful snow melt filled lakes. The deeper in the valley I go the more incredible the mountainsides around me become.
I have a small rock hop across this lake outlet. The stream continues down the valley.
Maybe I’m bored, or maybe I have an overactive imagination, but to me it’s kind a looks like a goblin sitting on the edge of the tree
I got to the end of my descent into the valley and immediately started an ascent up the next. I crossed over the stream on this footbridge and then followed that stream up the valley past this beautiful meadow. I continued my ascent looking back down on the meadow, and at the amazing mountain peaks around me.
I arrived at Virginia lake, which at 10,300 foot elevation is much larger than I had expected. I had planned to take a late lunch here, but it is extremely windy, so I opted to push on.
After a much longer assent and decent than I had expected or would’ve liked, I reached purple lake.
Following purple lake I have one more ascent and soon I reached the top of my final ascent for today. I have a final 1 mile of downhill trail to my chosen campsite.
I arrived in the area and saw five other tents and worried, I may not be able to find a place. That’s always a fear when I come in to camp a little later, I found one spot initially and then somebody pointed out a much nicer spot further up the hill. I pitched my tent. A few minutes later, a gentleman named Nick from UK who is also a Hiking PCT northbound asked if he could put his tent by me. Of course, I said yes.
I went down to the nearby stream, got some water, the waterfall picture is taken from the trail .1 miles for my campsite, and feeds this stream. I washed up, came back to my tent-site ate a double dinner, (my lunch and regular dinner) and got ready to settle in for the night.
After reviewing, tomorrow’s like plan and proofreading this blog entry, I was ready to sleep at 7:30 PM.
Today’s PCT miles hiked 22.2
Total PCT Miles hiked to date 2198.5
PCT mile marker 895.9
(Returned to complete 303.4 flipped over)
Miles left:
Kearsarge - Echo 196.5
Snoqualmie-Terminus 259.5
Total 456
