Day 45 – 6 May 19. Straight Up Start Then Zoom
I woke up as the sky brightened and opened my tent flap so I could watch the sun come up, but it was behind the hill. It was a little chilly this morning with the sun was behind the hill. By the time I finished packing everything up my fingers were a little numb but I knew there was a climb first thing and that I would warm up.
Cruise Control left just before me and Logan was still packing up when I left.
It was flat for the first few hundred meters and then a steady but long climb up a big hill. My left calf was a little tight but otherwise I was feeling good. I made steady progress and reached the saddle in just over an hour.
This wasn’t the top though and after going along the side of a very steep rocky hill there was a little more climbing before reaching as high as we would go. I passed Cruise Control just before the top as he was on his phone.
The peak, Skinner Peak, was just to our left as we cut around the side of the hill. There was a brief period of flat in the pine trees before starting a descent to a saddle.
From the saddle there was a short sidle in the open to the right of the hill and then a long period of perfect trail. It was very gentle ups and downs as the trail wound through the hills. The trail was in great condition and I made good time.
As I stopped to rest Logan passed me and then just as I was finishing Cruise Control came up. He made me go in front and I left him behind slightly until I stopped to talk to Logan when he was resting. I asked about the weather forecast as Logan’s Mini Inreach does weather forecasts. He said there was a 10% chance of rain during the day.
We checked the map and realised it was only 3 miles to the next water at McIvers spring and there was a cabin there so it was the perfect spot for lunch.
Logan took off and I had to try hard not to follow at his pace. Cruise Control was in front but peeled off to let me in front again and we stayed in this order until a mile short of the cabin as I needed to go the toilet.
We passed the two guys who had left the carpark at sunset yesterday to night hike, for some reason none of us understood. They had only covered 8 miles before going to sleep.
The trail had joined a dirt 4WD track and stayed on this for over a mile to the turnoff to the cabin. Just short of the turn off we passed Ginger Balls who had stayed at the same campsite last night.
We turned continued on the road instead of turning off to the PCT trail and after a few corners and ups and downs came to a cute cabin with chairs outside.
The guys cooked up full freeze dry meals and I had my normal assortment of snacks while enjoying sitting on a proper chair. Logan had a second full meal, keeping in mind they are eating 2 person meals.
There was lovely clear fast flowing water so I filled up to maximum again and I left before the guys, heading back down the road to the trail turnoff.
I slowed my pace down from this morning’s speed. I had already covered 22.5 km (14 miles) so there was no rush in the afternoon.
The trail climbed slightly then weaved around some hills in the open before starting a long nearly 5 mile descent. Thankfully the gradient wasn’t too steep as the trail stayed on the side of the hills, switching sides occasionally.
I passed the two who had night hiked as they had got in front by not going to the cabin for lunch like we did.
The trail came around the end of the hill and dropped to a valley which it followed to the turnoff to the campground near the road. My legs were starting to feel like jelly from the long descent.
At the turnoff there was a trail register which I signed and I briefly considered heading to the campground for more water but decided I had enough and continued on the trail for another mile to Walker Pass. This mile was uphill and my legs felt much better.
At the pass was a monument to Walker, who discovered the pass. Behind the monument was a cache of water so I grabbed 1/2 a litre for a little more comfort. I sat on the monument and had a snack to get ready for the hill ahead.
Earlier I had considered whether to stop early and camp rather than get high on the hill and have an exposed campsite. I had searched Guthoooks and the second campsite had a comment about being sheltered from the wind so I decided I would climb the hill and camp at the top.
The first part of the trail was really steep, as in exceeding PCT maximum gradient, and I was worried this would be a hard hill but after the first corner it flattened out to a lovely angle where I made good progress without exerting too much effort. The trail followed around the hill, until it ran out of hill and then there was a series of switchbacks before following the top of the hill to the ridge.
From there I now had views of the other side which were Just as expansive as the views I had been having.
The trail followed the ridge around a small hill and then down to a saddle where the campsite was. I was worried being in a saddle as this is normally the windiest part of the ridge but there were some thick vegetation and a hill to block the wind.
I set up camp and cooked dinner. By cooked I mean boil a cup of water, place into my plastic bag of food, place in a foil pouch and wait 10 minutes.
As I was inflating my mattress a guy walked up. He had a small day bag and a vest with heaps of pockets, all full. He also had a nice looking camera. He asked if I would like some water as he was heading back down and wanted to lighten his load. I accepted as it meant I could have a hot drink and start tomorrow with nearly full water. We talked for a while. He had been taking photos of the wildflowers, shrubs and trees as he is writing a guidebook of these things along the PCT. He had also put a guide to trees of the sierras on the PCT website which I had read. He had hiked 1/3 of the PCT as a boy and was now doing sections as he took the photos. As we talked I realised the label on his big water bottle showed it came from New Zealand so I was now drinking NZ water.
I enjoyed my dinner, it is my first Mountain House Freeze Dry and it was the Lasagne flavour. It was really good.
I then relaxed and read until time for sleep.
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