Dave’s PCT & Other Adventures: 09/04/23

Monday, September 4, 2023

Day 172 Island Pass, and Donahue pass

September 4

I woke up this morning knowing it would be cold last night, but not as cold as it was. I had frost covering my tent, and the inside ceiling of my tent from condensation. My water bladder was partially frozen and looking down at the lake there was a thin layer of ice over part of it. I got packed up slowly and hit the trail at 7:40. I have been hoping I might get a little direct sunlight to help dry my tent and sleeping bag but that did not happen so I will need to yard sell it during lunch.

Places where water has gathered on the Trail froze overnight, and there are sheets of ice that crack as you walk past them.

I reached the top of Island pass, not a very spectacular pass; In fact, you wouldn’t even know it was a Pass, unless it was indicated on the map.

The trail crews put in a lot of granite steps. I don’t like them they are rough on the back when I step down and not very friendly to the knees. As I was coming down from island pass, I stepped on a piece of granite that was covered in a thin sheet of ice that was not visible down I went, and I snapped my pole.

As I continue down to the valley there are, as normal, beautiful views of the mountains around me, and I continue to cross many streams, some of which have logs placed across them as makeshift bridges.

I’m heading towards Donahue pass the second pass of the day that I will cross

At the top of Donahue Pass, I leave the Ansel Adams wilderness and enter the Yosemite Valley. The views up top are amazing.

Coming down off Donahue Pass I slipped on another piece of ice covered granite. Down on my butt I went and I snapped another inch off my pole. The pole on the left is the normal size and the pole on the right now is at the maximum height I can get out of it with the broken pieces. REI here I come.

As a hike down the valley, it is beautiful; streams, meadows valleys, and peaks.

I stopped for lunch and yard saled out my tent to dry

I’m heading down the valley into another meadow. The river beautifully zigzags back-and-forth through it. Soon, I reach the valley floor and I’m at level of the meadow I’m treated to a beautiful water fall and Cascade coming down the side of the mountain.

As I walk alongside the river coursing through the meadow, I cannot believe how incredibly crystal clear the water is. In some of the photos, if you look closely, you can see some fish swimming in the water. A short time later, I saw this deer grazing along the grass.

The trail crosses a small stream, it would be a wet crossing, but just upstream are a couple of logs that make for a good crossing spot.

I stopped near this river for a first dinner, stove top stuffing mashed potatoes, gravy and packaged chicken all served together in a plastic bag

As I enter Tuolumne Meadows, I have more amazing views. And as an added bonus, I was able to drop my trash in the trashcan.

Cathedral peak sits off in the distance. Further down the trail, I had a good view of Fairview dome.

I have a beautiful picture of a meadow with a river, running alongside it, just on the far side of the river or three deer grazing in the grass.

I cross over another large granite slab, that looks as if he continues right on the other side of the river. Short distance later I can’t do another one. The black coloring on the rock is interesting for the second.

I cross the Tuolumne river on a pair of fairly attractive foot bridges. The views up and down river are spectacular.

The trail has brought me right alongside the impressive 50 foot Tuolumne falls.

I arrived at the Glen Aluin campground. It is a back country campground that has two advantages. There is a bear food locker and a pet toilet. I set up my tent, ate my dinner. And climbed in bed at 8:15. Much later than I would like.