Lily Pad Lake, The Nipple, Lost Lakes, Forestdale Divide, Carson Pass, Upper Truckee River and Shadow Lake
PCT mile 1063 to 1087
Day 7 of Pacific Crest Trail section hike from Tuolumne Meadows to Donner Summit
Wildflowers on this trip are amazing. I didn’t quite realize this earlier, because the Sierras are known for wildflowers, but this year is different. As I am hiking through the section from Ebbetts pass to Carson pass, which I also hiked about a year ago, I noticed it is different. Last winter had a decent snow fall early, but a dry spring. This winter was very dry, but it rain in the spring. So snow feed streams are dry and lakes are empty, but the hillsides that were dry last year are exploding with wildflowers of all types. Carpets of them. There are birds are singing from every tree, and the mosquitoes…
Wild Flowers near the NippleWild Flowers near the NippleWild Flowers near the NippleWild Flowers near the NippleWild Flowers near the NippleUpper Blue Lake, almost dryLost Lake, Lost a lot of water
Tryon Peak, Noble Lake, Ebbetts Pass, Kinney Lake, Mokelumne Wilderness and Pleasant Valley
PCT mile 1041 to 1063
Day 6 of Pacific Crest Trail section hike from Tuolumne Meadows to Donner Summit.
Got great views of peaks to the west and north. Between Asa lake and Novel lake, just south of Abbott Pass. The sky is overcast with broken clouds which is great for photography, but also means it is going to rain. Need to do a bit of research which peaks they are.
I met Deluxe (trail name) from Norway. He Camped at Asa lake last night, but not at the main camping area as I did. He is hiking through to Canada. He has a small solar charger strapped to the sleeping pad on top of his pack. Said it takes all day to charge the battery. He told me about his single wall tent (European) vs. a double wall tent (US).
Crossed Abbott pass today. There was a cooler that once held trail magic, but the magic was all gone. I added my bag of trash to the many that were already there.
Tonight I am camping by Lily Pad Lake. It is pretty, but the mosquitos are too hungry.
Wild Flowers in Noble CreakTryon PeakHiram PeakCarson Iceberg Wilderness
Sonora Peak, Wolf Creek Lake, East Fork Carson River and Asa Lake
PCT mile 1018 to 1041
Day 5 of Pacific Crest Trail section hike from Tuolumne Meadows to Donner Summit
Camped last night at PCT mile 1018 just north of Sonora pass at altitude of 10000 ft. Started today on the trail at 5am.
Today I am camping near Asa lake, PCT mile 1041. If there was a star rating system for primitive campsites this one would get 5 stats. It is complete with a great fire ring, benches and tables.
PCT mile 1023. South fork Carson river. Finally the sun hits the canyon’s floor and I can take a break to charge my battery. Last night I used it to charge my phone and it got almost completely depleted.
It is puzzling that I didn’t see anybody on the trail besides Tim. I didn’t even see anybody camping as I usually see in the morning.
I Met Tim hiking south. He said the fires are away from the trail, but it gets smoky some times. He is going as far as Sonora pass. I told him about the Sonora pass cafe.
Day 4 of Pacific Crest Trail hike from Tuolumne Meadows to Donner Summit
Last night I camped at Dorothy lake – PCT mile 996. I shared the site with 2 women, which I didn’t see because they where hiding from the mosquitoes in their tent. The mosquitoes where bad. They told me about fires farther north and maybe the trail is closed.
I started at 5:15, past Yosemite boundary into Hoover wilderness. First 10 miles where by many lakes and had huge swarms of mosquitoes.
Uncle Buck (trail name) passed me on the trail again. He passed me yesterday, but probably started later then I did. He stopped to talk to Supper Classy (trail name), who was southbound. They seem to know each other. I asked her about the trail north and she said it was open as of yesterday. Later Uncle Buck told me that they started from the Mexican boarder at the same time. Then where hit by snow storms and changed plan. So he didn’t see her for a month.
It became cloudy in the afternoon. Tin Man (trail name) came southbound and said forecast is for 20% thunder showers. He was hiking a loop, only partially on the PCT. He had both knees replacement. Was 76, and still a strong hiker. Wow.
Up by Leavitt Peak Uncle buck was sitting in a spot that had a good cell phone connection and was talking on the phone. I managed to get my first connection on the trip there -54 email messages.
I asked Uncle Buck about using Mr. Fox as a trail name for myself but he said that people might think Fox is my real sir name. I thought about a new name and came up with Fox Man.
A couple came southbound. The guy said he was a PCT hiker, but talking some time off. His trail name is Cardboard. He thought that Fox man sounds cool.
Eric (no trail name) was southbound. He said he hiked through from the north with no problem. Also there are trail magic at the pass. Trail magic are goodies provided by trail angles.
First I couldn’t resist an Apple from a cooler by the side of the trail. Yum.
Sitting at Sonora pass eating the Apple a hiker name Possum came northbound. He said there was a Sonora Pass Cafe at the day use parking. We went there and found Trail Owl (trail name) who set up a picnic table full of goodies. I helped myself to some of the fruit. Trail Owl volunteers with the PCTA and manages the area south to the border with Yosemite.
Trail Owl runs the cafe twice a year, a few days each time. He had 35 through hikers today.
I set camp at PCT mile – 1018 by a small spring just north of Sonora pass. This spot is too small and too close to the trail, but there is nothing else and nobody on the trail.
Dorothy Lake at DawnKennedy CanyonHigh up by Leavitt PeakSonora Pass Cafe
Return Creek, Miller Lake, Benson Pass, Smedberg Lake and Piute Creek
PCT mile 956 to 975
Day 2 of Pacific Crest Trail section hike from Tuolumne Meadows to Donner Summit
Yesterday hiked from h/w120 to reverse creek 14 mile 1800 ft. Today hiked to a small lake at PCT mile 975 our 18 mile and 5000 ft.
Last night used 350mah to charge 10% of the phone. Bulk battery down to 3 bars.
Yesterday saw nobody on the trail past Glan Aling. 6 people pass by my camp as I was making dinner. I camped by reverse creek. Today I saw about 10 hikers.
I was up by 4 am and on the trail by 5, stopped at 6:30, in the tent at 8:30
Charge battery 215mAH in 15 minutes when took a break by Miller lake at 8 am
Charge battery 200mah in 20 min, battery closer to full, 10 am
chugchug 