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