Hot Springs and Muir Rock

Day 25, Wednesday 9/30/2015, PCT mile 867 to 851, distance ~ 19miles

When I left Marie it was overcast. After only a few minutes I ran into two women who were hiking the JMT northbound. Both were wearing Alta's, they seem to become popular among hikers and I understand why. 

I enjoyed one last look back at Marie Lake and then moved on.

 I had breakfast at Sallie Keys Lake, also a very nice place. 

I went on to find the Blaney Hot Springs near MTR which we skipped last time. I crossed the creek with my shoes on to minimize the risk of injury, especially since I already had a cut from yesterday.  With the help of some maps and GPS I found the hot spring which was about bathtub temperature. There were bubbles coming out with the hot water from the bottom. 

The adjacent Warm Lake was not really warm, maybe just a bit warmer than the other lakes, but it was very clear and pretty. I saw the biggest trout I have seen in any Sierra lake. 

Just as I came back over the river my friends Kyle, Zach, Eli, and Sarah arrived looking for the hot spring. They decided to stay for the night. 

As I hiked on I stopped by at the Muir Hut. 

I also found the Muir Rock. Very easy to miss if one is not really looking for it. 

Nearby I ran into the last person for today, Climbing Lineman who was finishing a skipped section from his PCT hike. 

The hike up to Evolution Creek is very scenic. 

There was a chance of rain and snow in the forecast so I decided to cross Evolution Creek today so that any wet socks and/or shoes would have little chance to dry before. 

I found a nice campsite less than half a mile from the crossing. 

Trailhead 

VVR to Marie Lake - my favorite

Day 24, Tuesday 9/29/2015 VVR - Bear Ridge to JMT to Marie Lake PCT mile 867, distance 15 miles

I was out of VVR by 7:30am. Yesterday it was nice and relaxing to hang out there, but now I wanted to get away from the generator noise and smell. DawnMarie and her dog Kumba decided to stay for another day. 

I decided to hike out on Bear Ridge because I already knew the standard JMT route. I had to follow the road first which goes below the dam to get to the actual trailhead. 

One last view of Edison Lake

Bear Ridge trail is very sandy and steady uphill, I'll try Bear Creek next time. After and hour or so I was passed by Todd and Simon who will hike the PCT to the LA area. Once I got along the creek the trail way quite pretty. 

I didn't see anyone else on the trail until I had set up my tent at Marie Lake and one couple hiked by heading for Sallie Keys. 

Marie Lake was as beautiful as I remembered it and many nice memories came back. 

In the tent during my daily foot inspection I noticed an almost one inch long cut across the middle of my left foot. I have no idea how I got it, it must have happened while going swimming in Marie Lake, which was the only time I was barefoot today. I cleaned it and applied some iodine as I can't take any risks with my feet. I hope it will be okay tomorrow. 

Trailhead 

Vermillion Valley Resort

Day 23, Monday 9/28/2015, hike 4 miles to VVR

Today was resupply and recovery day. In the morning I hiked the four or five miles from the ferry landing to the resort. 

The rest of the day was shower, laundry, repackaging the bear can and chatting with quite a few other hikers who came in during the day. I enjoyed the social interaction. 

Food was a little disappointing for me as they had just stopped making individual meals so the only option was a non-vegetarian buffet style lunch and dinner. I skipped it. Luckily the store had beer and chips and together with my own resupply items I was not left hungry. In the evening I sat with Eric and DawnMarie around the fire, the first campfire for me on this trip. 

DawnMarie has been hiking with her service dog Kumba, who unfortunately had some paw problems so she was taking several rest day to give him time to recover.

I also met up again with Kyle, Zach, Eli and Sarah whom I had seen a few times now.

Trailhead 

Virginia Lake, Silver Pass, Engagements

Day 22, Sunday 9/27/2015, PCT mile 892 to 879

I was watching out for signs of the Lunar eclipse, but didn't see any because I had the date wrong - it's tonight!

I had my wake up swim in the morning and then I was on the way. As I left I met Kyle, Zach, Eli, and Sarah again. They had also camped at Virginia Lake. 

Last look at Virginia Lake 

As I was stopping for breakfast they passed me again and I finally asked for picture of us all together. We had seen each other now so many times over the last few days. 

We ended up passing each other again multiple times during the day. Interestingly they were they only ones I met today going south.

I did notice some fresh footprints of someone ahead of me who has the same Altra shoes as I have, they have a fairly distinct tread pattern. Did I mention that they are the most comfortable hiking shoes I ever had? I just wished they had a more durable tread. 

Squaw Lake, Susi and I camped here last year

Chief Lake

View up to Silver Pass 

As I arrived on Silver Pass Sarah announced that Eli had just asked her to marry him. They were both beaming. 

I felt special and lucky to be the first one to hear about it besides her brother Kyle and Zach. 

This was particularly special because when I was on the JMT last year with a group of friends we were the first ones to hear about an engagement too, not very far from here at Red Cone Meadow. 

I wish Sarah and Eli all the best for their future. 

Silver Lake

I was debating if I should end the day at Mono creek near the shoreline of (almost dry) Edison Lake or if I should go all the way to VVR today. I decided to take my time and picked a nice spot with hopefully good view of the moon. 

Unfortunately it looks a little overcast right now. This gives nice colors but may be difficult for viewing the eclipse. 

Dried up Lake Edison

Trailhead 

Back to the beautiful lakes

Day 21, Saturday 9/26/2015, Ducks Lake trailhead to PCT mile 892, distance ~10miles

Today I skipped a section of the PCT. The shuttle to Reds Meadow wasn't running anymore and I had hiked the section from Reds to the Ducks Lake junction last year. Instead I took the trolley to the Ducks Lake trailhead to come in over Ducks Pass. 

View of the lakes along Ducks Pass trail

Ducks Lake had its usual deep blue color. I heard from a ranger last year that it is one of the deepest lakes in the Sierras. 

While coming over the pass I still had a little reception and talked with Susie a last time for probably the next ten days. 

The water looked inviting for swimming, but it was quite windy and not particularly warm (whereas the Bay Area just had another heat wave). So I just had lunch near the area where we were last year. 

Next I passed by Purple Lake, which is not bad, but has too much competition. 

My goal for the day was Virginia Lake, a beautiful lake, deep, with clear water, just two miles further. I have good memories from last year when we had lunch there before our hiking group parted and Susie and I continued on the JMT. I was surprised that I seemed to be the only one camping here on a Saturday night. 

The sky showed some pretty colors after sunset. 

Tonight is full moon and on the East coast and Europe one can see a full eclipse. At my location it's only partial and I probably won't be awake at that time anyway. Looks nice already. 

Time for me to roll up in my sleeping bag.

Trailhead 

Glady Lake to Reds Meadow and no shuttle

Friday 9/25/2015, Gladys Lake to Reds Meadow, PCT mile 907

I woke up to a colorful morning sky. It was getting warmer again, no frost at all. 

Soon I was on my way towards Reds Meadow. I met a few hikers again whom I already met the days before. There was Bill, also hiking solo and Eli, Kyle, Sarah, and Zach. I was familiar with Devils Postpile from last year, so I didn't linger long. 

I was expecting to meet them one more time while resting at Reds, but my time there was cut short. 

Just as I arrived Marc approached me and told me that the Shuttle to Mammoth didn't run anymore but if I make up my mind this minute we could share the taxi that he had ordered and was already waiting. And off I went, shopping for resupplies in town and a night in a hotel. 

Trailhead 

Thousand Island Lake to Glady Lake - almost in Mammoth

Thursday 9/24/2015: PCT mile 923 to Glady Lake on JMT, distance 9 miles

The sunrise at Thousand Island Lake did not disappoint. The sun plays with colors and the same view is different each time. 

Today I had breakfast in my sleeping bag while enjoying the sunrise. Thousand Island lake is ideally oriented in east west direction which allows for nice sunrise and sunset opportunity. I will try to come here again. It was warmer than yesterday but the was still frost on the grass near the lake as I noticed when I went there barefoot going for my morning swim. 

By 8am I was on the way. A while later I came by Garnet Lake which is just as beautiful.  

Compared to yesterday I met only a few people, only four going northbound. Why so many yesterday? I was passed by a young woman who was doing the JMT on an aggressive schedule with 15 to 20 miles for each day, it was nice to chat a little as I caught up with her at Shadow Lake while she was taking a break. After she left it was time for my second swim. 

I was debating where to stop today. There are no good camp spot near Reds Meadow where I will exit for Mammoth tomorrow. Rosalie Lake was my initial thought and it turned out to be a nice lake. 

Yet, maybe I can go a little further...

I ended up backtracking about a mile from Trinity Lakes back to Glady Lake because the latter had much more appealing water, ie. not greenish colored. 

As an added benefit I had a terrific view and even some reception when standing at the spot with view of the Mammoth slopes. 

Trailhead 

Bye bye Yosemite, hello Thousand Island Lake

Wednesday 9/23/2015, PCT mile 935 to 923, distance 12 miles

What a awesome day!  

During the night it got freezing cold, it was the first night that I used long underwear, fleece sweater, puffy jacket and my balaclava. 

Not comfortable for breakfast, it had to wait until the sun was out. The views of Lyell Canyon were already pretty though. 

During breakfast I met again with Jaehoon and Taewoo, they are so nice and fun. Overall I met six people going the same direction over Donahue Pass and more than 25 people coming north towards Tuolumne Meadows. Most were hiking in pairs or groups, I met only two solo hikers, Ally, who was near the end of her NOBO JMT trip and Steve, who was doing a loop. 

Leaves turning to pretty colors 

Today ended my week in Yosemite which started last week when I came in at Dorothy Lake during freezing rain and ended today at Donahue Pass in beautiful sunshine. 

Today was a day of lost and found. I found a bandana and a Fitbit and I lost my sunscreen and my bucket. My bucket I remembered about 15 min later and got back with a little extra hike back up Island Pass, where I had stopped for a swim and left it. It was a nice spot, so no harm done coming there twice. 

I arrived at Thousand Island Lake early enough for some cleaning, swimming, and enjoying the views. 

I look forward to tomorrow when the sun will be coming up there. 

Trailhead