Chester to Burney Falls

We went into another national park call Lassen. The main characteristic is that is volcanic. I saw a geyser and one of those sulphuric lakes. I met again with Cheeseburger and Cracker Jack. I thought he were ahead! We walk one more mile where we found a rest area with tables. Lunch time. I went into the river to have a quick shower-bath and after cook lunch, gourmet lunch. If feel really weird to be cooking and eating seated in a table, it is a luxury that we really enjoy. The 3 of us are European we were thinking how lucky we were, in summer time in the middle of California, I love California, having a good lunch in the wild ....I start to miss California when I have still like 300 miles to go...........

In the afternoon I put 15 turbo miles, the easiest of the trail. I pass a large burnt area, it was a little apocalyptic.  People have said when you get close to Old station the terrain get smother and the mileage pick up, it is true!

Next morning I met everybody for breakfast in Old Station. It is just a camping resort with a very small post office. I don’t understand the tradition in USA and the post office. They put a post office everywhere........

We got into a classic stage of the PCT “the hat creek rim “. It is a hot 30 miles stretch with no water, very expose, volcanic, and hot, very hot.  The tactic is start in the afternoon and hike deep into the dark. I was quite lucky; it was a storm on top of me so I just start after lunch with the cloud cover. I top up with water but I trust the water cache in the middle point (cache 22 I think is called ). I spoke with people. They had enough water for me.

I spoke with the fireman; they said that they follow the storm, looking for the lighting that produces any fire. It is a quick respond.

I arrived to the highest point of the rim with the sun set, where is located this radio station. Camp site for tonight.  Red skies, and I can see Mt Shasta at the far end.

In the morning the sun woke me up at 6.00. This is the day that better wake up early; I still have 15 hot miles to go. The feeling is the same than in the desert: hot, dry, not shade, doing full hidratation, worrying about the water, checking for snakes. The trail is actually quite difficult because of all those volcanic rocks.

By 12.00 I was probably in the worst place down in the volcanic plateau. I was dying in the heat. I found a small water cache full of bees. I stop for a quick lunch but I fall asleep seated with the backpack still on. It happens to me when it is very hot I just fall asleep with the backpack........

I escaped into the valleys, tree cover appears, green leafs and a little bit after a river show up. Done Hat creek rim !!! I charged my phone in this fish farm and after I stop with the trail Magic place. I was alone but I think is called Mr Wild show up (the trail angel ) do you want a beer? Well It is not the best for dehydration but I think I needed, I had a hard day in the office...... He explain me how all this place started a few years ago and how it is growing, it has grill, food, drink and a shower!!

He also explained me to determinate if a track was from a big dog or a Mountain Lion as he explained there is in this area. Watching!!  One more hour of hike and camped in a nice flat area, it is weird to find this flat areas along the PCT , we always camp in a corner by the cliff or something like that.....Dinner in the dark watching the starts. Calm.

Belden to Chester

google pic

In Belden we changed the plans. I though in a quick stop and go resupply but look like everybody stay for a party night. I went to owe lovely trail angel house to get my food parcel, lovely house it is. I went back to the party town put air in the Thermarest and jump into the river, need the wash up. In the evening part of the organization invite us for food, we brought some beers, look like pcters have a good reputation over here. They travel the country from festival to festival, they comment that PCT hikers are quite interesting, open minded, crazy and characteristic with some international. Always have good stories to share. I mean I think it is true....We have a library of non common stories.........Many hikers a lot laughs. We need those days just to chill.

I slept in the other side of the river. The house music test woke me up. UUUhhh my head... I crow for breakfast. I decided to escape. It was hot hot. All climb, The first part of the climb was burnt so I did not have any sun protection. I was hung over, dehydrated, full pack. I was sweating alcohol like a dog . Oh my god, long day is going to be ........I have to stop a couple of time for a nap to recover.

by Morgan

I did not see a rattle snake from the dessert but my colleges told me that they started to watch them again as we are in dryer low elevation location. Myself I was heading to rattlesnake spring when wow wow rattle on the right, shit!! it just moved between the rocks without make any noise....So true .... Rattlesnake Spring, the right dam name.

13 miles day all up. It was getting dark, I conquered the mountain. I cannot move more. I set camp and having dinner I started to see mice around, ok classic camping spot..I hung my food from by poles. I feel the mice jumping over me all the night.

I am getting closer to the midpoint of the PCT. At the end of the day I arrived without water to my next water source off trail. I rode a note that said “ I went down the valley 1 mile not water found, dry creek “  Another Water crisis ......turn back 4 miles, No !  keep walking maybe 10 miles?  too much. I have to risk and find that water or just bushwalking up to the road, finally I found that “dry creek “  a dig a hole, water, ok dirty water, let’s see if I find something better , but if you keep going you find the bloody nice water!! It happens already a couple of times. People put notes, it is appreciated but sometimes is wrong, don’t trust in this notes............People with this notes is giving nightmares to everyone .......

Next day I reached the half way point of the PCT Welldone ! I did not expect survive a week, and now I am here. Being realistic it is going to be difficult to finish it. I have to really push, I am doing it but I have to keep it like this and hummer down Oregon and Washington. I have a lot to recover.

When I reached the road I saw Rock- Ocean and Apache, We went for some pizza into Chester, I did not need food resupply, just Gas for the stove and pizza time. Stop and go today.

Sierra City to Belden

South Feather fork River _ pic from CheeseBurger, Thanks

We got early into Sierra City with the news that there were not power in the town but a guy is doing a Barbecue in the middle of the town for breakfast. The atmosphere in town was weird. The main trail angel of the town was kicking off everybody from his garden as he was feed up with the behaviour of some. Not sure if it was a bad night, the end of the season or just too much hikers this year.

Sierra city seems to me like the classic republican town. There is a not trespassing sign nearly in every house with political message around. So hikers maybe doesn’t fit well, don’t get me wrong, many people treat us really well but need to start to prepare itself to accommodate more hikers, movie is coming and next year the problem will get bigger. They should face the situation.

Thanks for the Pic

I found some old friends from the desert, specially Will, It was nice to see him again. Around 11 am the power came back and maybe 20 hikers were waiting for resupplies. After 30 minutes the owners went out of the tent with a trolley full of 1 L ice- cream. They gave us all to PCT hikers as it was to long without refrigeration. It become the ice cream day, Sierra City, ice cream town!

With this weird ambient in town I decided to hike out. I met many hikers: Cheeseburger, Danger Spoon, Cracker Jack , Sting Cheeses and also Will was around. The mileage was good. The hard part was the climb after Sierra City, you get used to, and after resupply is always a big climb with a heavy pack.

One of those evenings we run to get into the South feather fork River. This is one of those magic spots of the PCT. I sat after a long day in the cascade as a Jacuzzy and jump from pool to pool, take all the dust out and have dinner by the river, the moral was really high, I put another 3 miles after doing a 23 , pretty good for me. I Camped with Will by the river. String- cheese slept in the bridge, good and dangerous spot.  Maybe.

Next day we reach the top of the mountain before Belden town. Perfect spot. I cowboy camp with Cheese burger and CJ. Those moment is when you thing how lucky I am doing this, asking for those 6 moths sabbatical. Cooking dinner at this altitude, having a perfect view of the surrounding valleys. watching our next targets for the following days. I can see Lassen national peak with the picks. Observe the incredible sun set, all orange around us. Sleep looking to the starts, no tent. I woke up in the middle of the night and see the milky way, I looked to CJ , he was also awake taking pictures of the milky way . I think is the first time I see it properly, wow. And wake up with the incredible Sun rise, Thanks PCT, you just think what people is missing in the cities........

The morning was hard as legs suffered descending 10 miles. In this little town call Belden ( it is just a resort ) I saw a lot of movement , I asked witch day is today, It is Thursday ? yes, it is the set up day for the house festival starting tomorrow . Great...........

Soda spring to Sierra city

I reached the road at 7.45, I knew it could be too early to get a ride. I had to wait 2 hours for a 3 miles ride....I would be quicker just to walk them.  I did my 2 days resupply and while I was chilling outside the shop a guy approached to me offering a ride back to the trail, yes please, I don’t want to wait another 2 hours. I did just 17 miles but it is ok with a resupply in the middle .

In the evening I heard some noise on my left. I saw 3 big rabbits running towards me. I got scare WTF, are they going to attack? 2 turned but the third just turn in the last moment before crash against me ....crazy rabbits. I had dinner with 4 section hikers by a river and after hiked 2 more miles up to the top of the mountain to camp again with a incredible sun set. The last two days had been very colourful and with many clouds.

This area is getting dryer and dryer. Look like we are getting into the dessert. Donner pass get the name when emigrants from the east try to cross into the west. They got trap by the snow in this pass and they finished eating each other.

I try to keep the average mileage over 20 but it is difficult with the resupplies. Adam and Ali found me having lunch. We catching up during the last days and we keep going, Jonny Cash and family with the lovely Daishy (the dog ) also pass me .

We found a trail angel note, “enjoy the gatorade......” We looked all around but nothing, so disappointed. We camp just before sierra city, I had a refreshing bath in the river, clear all the dust and sand before sleep, relax your legs in the cold water, just interrupted by snake summing around. All my life the snakes have been my terror, my nemesis. Still are but I believe I can handle the counters much better (after maybe 20). Adam invite to some Early times whisky before sleep.

Echo lake to Soda Spring

We arrive to Echo lake about 11 am. Echo lake is quite a tourist place. You can walk around the lake where you can see little wood small houses , Swiss style. If you keep walking you will reach Alloha Lake. This is one of my favourites lakes , perfect spot for lunch and for a swim , warm water, love California!

During the evening was the climb to Dick pass, nothing serious, and I believe it is the last pass over 9000 ft. I keep walking and I have to camp alone in a not campsite, no idea where Adam, Ali or Duct camped. It was late and I have to cook in the dark by the tent. This is what sometimes scare  me, specially if you in the middle of the valley surrounded of trees and vegetation, alone. I know there is a possibility of a bear show up in the middle of the night checking for the smell of macaroni. If you are in group is not a problem but sometimes alone..........

Dick pass

Next morning I discover Duct 300 meters from my camp. I have breakfast with him. The day was quite easy, 14 miles going down....I had a nap at lunch , Adam woke me up. I hiked with them in the evening for a while and when they camped I keep hiking a few miles to camp in top of the ridge. I love those places, dry camping in the ridges.....and the best sunsets. I met a guy that i saw during the day. He is doing the Tahoe lake rim trail, and he is the only guy that I saw with a hammock tent. I asked him about rain protection for the night. - No today. - I just come from the other side of the mountain and looks like a big one is coming in....

We have dinner and after the lighting storm starts. The tent I believe it is not the best place to stay during lighting with a metallic pole pointing the skies , but if it is raining outside.....storm got closer , very close. I shout that is close, the guy answer - It is fucking here! At some point I fall asleep.

The last day before Soda spring had quite a lot of climbing. We are close to Tahoe so we go from sky lift to ski lift. I met a couple  that were on the way to yoga festival . They saw me sleeping at lunch the day before, they call me the Napper... I reached the American Creek. It suppose to have water but it was completely dry. I was in trouble, 10 miles until the next one....It could be a long evening....with all the climbing . - Let's check it properly, I used all my dessert skills , I went up , do some holes, move some rocks, nothing I went down and bingo some pools. The water had a weird taste to an aromatic plant that was in contact with. Thanks God!

The trail continue over a ridge, I love those ridges. It is the essence of the trail, The Crest!.  I could see from here a huge storm over the right , very ugly one and clear skies on the left . over the crest.....I saw some info about Donner pass and how difficult was the emigration in the 1800.

I reached a sky lift and I decide to camp there. Nice view , no mosquitos and mile and half from the road. Tomorrow up early for resupply.

room with views

South Lake Tahoe

I met Duct, Adam and Ali when I got into the road. Everybody was looking for a ride into town. We were quite lucking with a family and drop us in a Sport Bar. Sports Bar exist in Europe but over here it is a different mentality, it is fun, good beers, average food, and good ambient. I was with Argentina and lost. We were in South Lake Tahoe, it is half California and half Nevada, so we decided to share a room for 2 nights in the main Casino Hotel in town.

We did laundry, got pizzas, hot tub and hung around the casino. The second day it was logistic for me. Send some package, I finally sent the extra gear back to Spain. I called work back in Birmingham saying that I will back; it is something that I should do every month. The idea of the bounce box did not work for me. I don’t want to be thinking about post office opening times etc. It is the problem of resupply as you go , that sometimes you use your days off to bounce food and general resupply, gas...So some day off are tiredness than a hiking day. I finished the day quite stressed with all this.  Still was time to go to the swimming pool area, I met with Duct, Adam and Ali , we got some beers and jump into the hot tub watching the sun going down, orange sky, we were talking we really deserve this day off. Early night with more pizza and ice cream.  

Day to be back on the trail. Rock ocean picked us . I realize I lost my passport, he drive us around all the shops I went the day before , nothing, the last one was the post office. I told them just leave it, they insist that it would just take 5 min, ok.  Bingo !!! it was there !! Thank you guys!! Lost & Found is back haha. I could not imagine all the trouble to get a new passport and a new Visa.........

The way to Tahoe Lake

After Sonora pass the mountains continuing, not as rugged as the High Sierras but it is mountains. A storm  got closer and closer to me doing a lot of noise, by lunch time after try to escape all the morning it started to rain. I hate this, you hike all the morning and when it is your lunch break it rains. I found a huge tree over some rocks where I did a quick shelter with a piece of Tyveck.

At night was a little bit of gourmet night, it is what happens after resupply, you have all those good foods. We started to cook over the fire. I did some nice Panini’s with cheese and chorizo and Red Bandit some burritos. After go to sleep with all the food as a pillow waiting for the bear to come.

It rains during the night I woke up with the entire tent wet. I thought to stop during the day to dry it but I never did, it is something that I never do, unpack the tent just to dry....to lazy.  The scenery has changed, it is dryer, with volcanic mountains, weird rock formations, less water. Most of the creeks are feed by snow, now, there is not much snow left and you feel that creeks are getting dryer. This area is used by the USA army as training ground for Afghanistan.

Those days I am carrying a lit bit more of food and eating more. I lost some weight during the sierras and I cannot afford lose more or almost at this pace. I am trying to get into the 4000 Kcal per day.

I have to say, the views today were spectacular. I arrived first to camp (21 miles) so I light the fire for the rest. I could keep going but I still have to dry bag and tent. Next day was the Carlson pass where people invite us to fresh fruit. It was a bicycle race over the road so there were a many people around, something that I am not used to at this moment. Leaving the Carlson pass I saw for the first time the Tahoe Lake, huge with all those clouds around. On the way up to Shower Lake the mosquitoes just ate me. I had to do a quick emergency stop to put full rain gear to be protected.

The Campground of Shower Lake was the busiest that I saw in the PCT, maybe 20 tents. I hope that in the future will not finish like this all the way to Canada.  There was an instructor, the typical that “knows “everything, I was looking how he hangs the food from a tree, he explain me the technique. After he said – this is how we hang the food in the PCT. I thought – nobody hang the food in the PCT, you retard. Tomorrow 14 early miles and World cup Final!

Yosemite

This post happens moths ago, I am already at home, but having half of my blog on line and the other in paper I feel I need to finish it and pass all my notes into this blog, so don't think that I am still walking around Yosemite :) , I mean I Wish..... 

It takes 3 shuttles to leave Mammoth lakes. The first stop  was the devils pile. It is a geological rock formation quite popular but nothing special.

I walk during the evening along a river , easy hike. It was 7.00. I was at the bottom of the mountain. I was doubting  between continue and try to find a place to camp up there or not risk and camp in a parking lot.  It is a common fight in my head : risk adventure or conservative. Today I went for conservative. I camped in a car parking . it is not the most  beautiful campsite but is flat, has toilet and a bear box...That is good when you are in Yosemite area and you can not fit all your food in a bear canister.

To choose the campsite for the night I normally use to mobile applications.  If doesn't show up any  I can check the printed maps and look for flat areas or just risk always there are spots. I like to find new spots , always some adventure. Some nights you will regret after a poor sleep.

The next stop is a highlight of the PCT : the 1000 island lake. I did the easy island pass and after the Danoui . The last mile of this was quite hard and more when it was at the end of the day. This was my entrance to Yosemite! I descended 1 mile down to the second lake. I did not want to camp below the tree line with all the bad reputation that have the Yosemite bears.

I woke up at 5.00. I had to be in the post office before 12.00 and I have to do 12 miles. I did not want to risk. the first mile was complicated but ones you reach the meadow it is a highway. I took a little shortcut. Luckily I had my two packets . I got my headlamp replacement and I bounce some clothes to south lake Tahoe. Special mention  to the guy that works in that post office. He was really helpful.

Toulumne  meadows is very tourist . It has a road so there is people all around. Yosemite is very different from Kings Canyon. Lower altitude. meadows and granite mountains with a lot of cascades.

I met Blue Butterfly. She did the PCT in sections and I asked her if it was already too late to finish, time to throw the towel??

         - no , no still to early. First you have to finish California, when you be there maybe you decide to do Oregon, there you will pick up the miles. This area is to rugged. It would be softer and your average will increase .

It gave me a burst of moral . I took my backpack and I put the 20 miles in Yosemite.

The next 2 days were cloudy so no maps as my package was lost in Mammoth lakes and not GPS as I run out of solar power. During the morning I reached a river crossing. I went up to find a better cross. Just after a trail show up. I thought umm maybe the trail split just after cross the river. I was to lazy to walk down those 200 foots to double check . After 2 hours I took a break , a little bit of sun show up, enough to get the power into the GPS to know where I was. Great I am 3 miles out of the trail. 

Yosemite is being challenging .It is not a pass a day but it is like 3 small passes a day. Slow hike, rugged. It has much more vegetation and huge trees in the valleys. The last night before leave Yosemite I got caught in a summer rain storm trying to find a place to camp. yep I risked . It was super humid, mosquitos all over and finally find a kind of spot. I tried to cook but it was impossible, too much mosquitos . I just did some quick tortilla sandwiches inside the tent but I got the opportunity to see a double rainbow over Yosemite. Still struggling with the mileage .

The last day in Yosemite was easier , I fell into a shallow river in front of a Asian  crow, no pictures please, nothing serious.....I stop for lunch with Red Bandit in the last lake of Yosemite and time for a bath, water quite surprisingly warm, doing in the evening the exit of the park, cross the 1000 miles mark! and going the approach to Sonora pass. In camp we did a fire and we me, Red Bandit and an Asian couple( Kaza and 2 Litres ) we were talking about our Bear experience in Yosemite and how a bear smell the hear of a lady while she was sleeping....... Kaza show me the pictures of a Bear trying to break a bear canister .....

1000 miles mark

The last day I have a few hours to do the last pass of the Sierras, Sonora pass, because It was semi finals of the World Cup Argentina vs Netherlands so early start , this pass I hear from many people that is quite amazing, it is very different from any other , there is no vegetation and very exposed, you can see how you walk by the ridges of the mountain.  I tried to rush down in the way to the road as I was getting late to see the match I would need a lucky quick hitch hike , reach the road , first car show up and stop, BINGO !

Sonora pass

In the town of Bridgeport a saw a sport bar. Place to go, there was a few hikers, Match ready to start . It surprise that quite a lot of people follow the matches. They don't know any player but they enjoy watching. Argentina won, I was happy, at this point Red Bandit tell me, the final is on Sunday around 12.00, We are 76 miles away from the next town. If we do 3  twenty plus a 16 in the morning we could watch the final in Lake Tahoe. I am in, I was thinking to stop the night but not. We went to get rid off  the bear canister, no need it any more. I sent back to Kennedy Meadows . Thanks again to all the people involve in the bear canister loan program!!!! Did my resupply and back into the wilderness, World cup Final is waiting! 

Camp after sonora pass

Mammoth lakes

The 2 days before Mammoth lakes were easy. You have the feeling that you are leaving the high sierras. The passes are less spectacular and you stay under the tree line. I heard that in the camping where  I nearly camp had a bear problem with one walking around. We get close to Yosemite so getting more carefull with this.

It has been the first time that I use the headnet. Also a funny story of a korean guy doing the JMT that he realise his boots were too small, so he started waling with flip flops . The case is that they were getting thinner and thinner and he realice he would run out of sole.

There are plenty rumors and stories in the trail, like the person that was followed by a mountain lion. Someone should write them down in a book..

The day before Red Meadows I camp 10 miles away. It was the first time I set the tarpt tent cointrail  without any peg, just with rocks. the tarp could collapse at any moment during the night.

The next day I rush down the mountain, back to civilization. It fell weird when you use money again after 9 days. In the bus you can see many people taking pictures of the wilderness. It just come to my mind, you can not imagine what is behind those mountains.....

Mammoth lakes is very interesting. In the winter is a sky resort and in summer is a bike resort. People use the lifts to go up with the bikes and descent the dry slopes. It is the typical american spread town.

I went to Mcdonalds and I found Rain man. After check in in Motel 6, they lost my parcel, no tracked, so no maps or trail notes for the next 300 miles. Next stop is the brewery , it has the point that is over 8000 feet altitude. For dinner the restaurant that is close by, steak and Oregon Pinot Noir.

It is easy to get use to civilization

Aproach to Silver Pass

In the morning I did those 2 miles. I was thinking to have breakfast at the top but it was not possible. I saw everybody in their water proofs. O man, this is the mosquito pass...They were waiting for you in the top. I couldn't stop I just went down.

At lunch time I had a bath in the river , I try to do it everyday. A clean hiker .
The new cascade shoes are destroyed after 14 days , they have holes. Maybe I would send a email to brooks , come on 14 days , it suppose to be a trail shoe .

In the afternoon I climb a mountain , the way down was horrible, full of switch backs . It is the number 2 of worst descent . Number 1 still is San Jacinto.

I just did 2 miles up to Silver pass, 16 in total today. Mosquito day. First day I use the mosquito net.

Selden Pass

We got breakfast the 3 of us together and we start the long way down of Muir, plenty of JMT. We been frog - lapping all the morning. We reached one of the main crosses , Evolution creek. It was not much deal for low snow pack this year.  I show pictures of this crossing quite terrific carrying packs over the head.

I trade some food with Sea Hawk so I dont have to go to VVR for the resuply. I go all the way up to Red Meadows. I took the detour to go the Muir ranch, just to see it. This is a ranch in the middle of the mountains  where you can send your food. They charge you 50 dollars per bucket, they said it come by horse but I have my doubts as 4 x 4 are able to reach the ranch......

There was people that nearly run out of food waiting for the other people that have spare or too much. I charged my phone, have lunch and at 16.00 I started the climb . The first half mile is just vertical , it is a killer. I found another deer just seating by trail, chilling out. I camped close to the summit with many many mosquitos. One hiker woke me up around 22.00 with his head lamp. I am not the only one that do passes at night.....

Muir Pass

I did not sleep much as I was worry about by knee and the deers were all night around doing noises. I could get up at 5.00 but i would be better just to rest the knee until 7.00. I put the knee support tight and I stated the climb. Slowly, slowly. I saw Nostra Damus, they told a few crazy stories of the last days. They were helping a guy with his horses to exit the sierras. Muir pass , one of the hardest for me. 

I overtook one hiker today, he is called the turtle .... he has also a problem in the knee , he gave me some pain killers. U.S.A is like this, you approach with a knee support to another guy with the knee support and ask him about his knee. He will pass his magic pill that his doctor gave him. Always work........

Up up. I thought I was in the summit, no , it is a fake summit . one more mile, I sat by a pristine lake when Rain man show up, whats up man?.
We did the last mile together, in a moment the trail disapear , you walk in top of a river , rock to rock....

Finally Victory, it is a moral victory after the last day. It was around 14.00, the fifth mayor pass  conquered. Nobody in the top just us , it was not real. this place is crazy, look like we are in mars. We have lunch.

I put red hot chilly peppers in the headphones to the way down, in the first river crossing  I just thought F it , I dont jump rock to rock any more , straight into the water....so refreshing . During the afternoon break sea hawk show up. I camped with him and Rain man in the valley. Muir maybe my favourite pass until the moment. Sometines you can pass from the worst to the best in just hours.
The trail provide.   

Matter Pass

I had a very bad day today, wet tent, wet sleeping bag, but it was not the problem. I reached the pass very early , the snow fill were ok. The way down had cascades all over and water coming very fast.

 At the bottom of the valley several river get together in a very violent way. at some point the violence stop creating green meadows for a few minutes after become into rapids again...

I pushed too much today, I though I broke some ligaments , I could nt walk, I was freak out , in pain I reach a campsite. I had to stop early . I was worry. In half an hour I did all the jobs: dry bag, set tent, water filtration and today a fire.

After Rain Man show up to cheer me up . with dinner some deers show up in the campsite  walking around us, it is crazy. I hope, hope hope tomorrow I am better. Looks more like a just bad moment. Tomorrow take it easy. And tomorro is Muir pass- a classic!!!!

Pincho Pass

Ugly day, very cloudy but it is nice to do a pass without good weather. It increase the challenge, just for a change. It start raining, no prob, I have rain gear. I did a kind of video of the day. I am embarrassed in how bad I speak English with my super strong Spanish accent.....

what it make it different is the turquoise blue of the lakes, I think is for a kind of mineral, and the red color of the mountains. I camped near Matter pass. Both passes distance 8 miles from each other. The valley is really green and full of water. I think I got my favorite camp spot until the moment.

Glen Pass

The way up to Glen pass was quite short. It surprise me how blue are some of the lakes. The summit another great surprise. It 's surprise after surprise. When you think it can not get better, it gets better and better.

The Rae lakes... o my godness, really blue lakes. I had a swin in one and there are not as cold as I though . All the 10 milles to the botton of the valley are incredibles. There are sierra rivers all overbut not bridges, so normally there are some rocks or logs to cross over. Some of them could be quite scary...

Some people have water shoes, others just go through with trail runners.
I was thinking during the afternoon that with all this water going down the river crossing at the bottom of the valley is going to be epic. O thanks god , there was a bridges........and I reach the 800 miles mark!!

Kesarade Pass

I took Kesarade pass as I need to resupply, it is an exit from the sierras. I don't really want to leave as the sierras are much better than I thought. Kesarade pas is exit on style, full of lakes. On the way down full of day, weekend hikers. I just laugh when I saw those huge packs going up. I would like to take a picture with those guys with the Alpinelite frames. I can not believe people carry all that. I saw also some PCT hikers, always good to catch up.

at the bottom i met Rock - ocean who shuttle us to Bishop( 40 miles ) . Chilling in the hostel for 2 nights. The hostel has not pool and we are in the middle of the dessert, really hot .I went to the next motel if they have a day use pool fee.

- don't worry , you can use it.

I went to the Starbucks and got a Frapuchino to the front desk as a payment.....

It was difficult to leave Bishop. I got a ride up to independence and I was so lucky that a trail angel was just on the way up to the trail, so lucky and thanks if you are reading this.

I was late , I could stay in the camping and do the climb the next morning but after chill out in Bishop....I said : I go up( 18.00). I will not do this if I don't know the pass. Alone, I started the climb, I saw some hikers going down thinking  - is the guy doing it at dark.....yep

In the summit was completely dark. I put the warm clothes for the descent . I could see 1 light in the valley, by the lakes, there is were I am going to sleep. It was my reference. I camped in the first flat spot. Next day I woke up just 100 feet from the lake.

Forester pass

The way up to forester was quite easy but as spectacular as usual , with some lakes in the way up. I met a guy doing a few days trip. He did the John Muir trail 30 years ago. He said how everything look the same, the only difference said that there are more people. We talked about the gear in those times, how heavy was everything and how difficult would be the PCT in that time. When we realize we touch the wall, because Forester pas is a wall, looks impossible that could be a pass over there. The Forester service is who did it . they dig a path on the wall, a few switch backs .

Thanks god, there were not ice shot, everything was clear. I had some nightmares thinking in this location and the possibility of a fall. I saw some youtube videos of this and it is breath taking with snow..

wow the  north side of the valley in front, some snow but nothing crazy. Welcome to the High sierras!!!! this is crazy . Forester pass!!

I start the way down, ones that I get into the valley it get flatter and I saw a signage :

Check point ahead.
Be ready to present your Canadian permit entry
I saw the trail cut with the 3 flags : mexico, usa and canda

And a guy dress like the clasic canadian police show up.
Hi , I am a trail angel , please join us for dinner.
I couldnt believe, you can expect trail magic in any road that you cross, but not in the middle of the sierras. Those guys carry all the food over Kesarade pass, that is not an easy one, into the valley to feed the hikers.
We were there about 10 of us, hot dinner, whiskey and mas-mellow. They did breakfast also for us. Well done guys !!! and thanks.

great great day

Mt Whitney

The night was not as cold as expected for this altitude ( 3500 m I think). I did not sleep very well as I  set the tent in not a very flat spot. At 5.30 I started the way up. I left the tent and the bear canister in camp but I carried up my rest of my gear, it is too much risk for me. I slept at high altitude so I thought I would be ok. I was wrong . I started suffering very early. I couldn't breath, not feeling very well. Every 200 m I have to stop. I drank and eat. I started to improve little by little . I think more the altitude it was the air so cold in the early morning.

At 8.00 I was feeling much better, and finally I summit ed. it was harder than expected, 4400 m altitude.

At some point Zero, a PCT hiker arrived:

- I brought a German beer but I am already with the altitude, he comment.

I thought I was bad in the way up but I went down I saw the people like a Zombies. They are crazy. I stopped a guy. I asked a question and he took 10 seconds to give me an answer...... People need to stop and recover.... They come from the Portal, the other side of the mountain and I imagine they have to gain more altitude..

Back in the lake we catch some trout by hand . One bring the trout up the river and the other just wait in the shallow part to catch them. We did some Titanium brusquetas with those.

We still had some time to get closer to Forester pass. I dreamed many times about it. We finished 9 miles from it. Tomorrow is maybe the most iconic point of the PCT. It is the peculiarity of having a small ice shot in the top with a big fall. This year should be ok as there are not much snow.

Last night I hear some noise  I did not know what it was. I discovered today that a marmot did a hole in the hip pocket of the back pack. It was the bloody marmot of Guitar lake , watch out people!!. Bears are ok, marmot are the problem......