September 10
I woke up to 515 about to get ready and heard rain on the outside of my tent. It was very light, and it’s not supposed to rain today. Figured I’d give it about 30 more minutes. Wow I fell back asleep and woke up at 6:30! that is about the time I would like to have been hiking. I got everything packed up was about to take a picture of my tent and had a few more things to put away. Wouldn’t you know it? I forgot to take that picture. So here’s a picture of where my tent was.— I was walking at 7:15. The rain indeed stopped, and the sky was actually looking somewhat clear
With yesterday and last nights rain I expect to see more of these small creeks flowing today.
Look at the erosion on some of these drainages. It’s obvious how much water was coming down the mountain earlier this year.
I continue to cross small creeks and pass by views of large peaks.
I head uphill towards the saddle below Nobel Peak. At the top the views in both directions are spectacular.
Hiking down from the saddle below Noble, I pass Noble Lake and took some great pictures of the mountainsides coming down. They are really beautiful, and I’m getting back into the volcanic rock which I really like.
I continue to have beautiful scenery as I hike down into the valley.
I just bumped into “Uncle“ who is now going by the name cowboy. I hate a lot with him earlier in the season.
In less than a two minutes of walking, I went from the volcanic rock in the valley to granite rock on the next Mountainside
As I as I approach, Ebbetts pass, it’s peak stands prominently before me. If you look closely, you can see an American flag on the top
After crossing Highway 4 and hiking back up, I’m now on the other side of Ebbitts peak passing by this unnamed lake.
As I continue up a the trail a bit further I enter the Mokelumne wilderness and soon I am able to look down at Kenny lake
The geology is changing again. I can look up to my left and see more of the volcanic rock, while when I look to my right, I have another good view of the lake, surrounded by granite rock.
As I walk along some of the more barren areas these short horned grasshoppers hop in front and along side. They make a very loud clicking sound with their wings.
The violet waxy checker bloom is a new flower for me an along Trail. The Yellow flowered rubber rabbitbush is also new to me. We have seen many purple lupines, but this white lupine is the coastal bush Lupine.
More Spectacular Mountain scapes
Lunchtime. It’s hard to see, but my tent is spread out on the bushes, in the background, to dry
On this section of trail it almost feels like I am traveling across the surface of the moon.
As I continue on, I continue to have more beautiful views of mountains, valleys, and streams.
I arrived at tonight’s campsite. It is on the shore of an unnamed lake.
Today’s PCT miles hiked 24.7
Total PCT Miles hiked to date 2365.6
PCT mile marker 1063.0
(Returned to complete 303.4 flipped over)
Miles left:
Kearsarge - Echo 29.3
Snoqualmie-Terminus 259.5
Total 288.8
