21 FEBRUARY 2016, 04:10 AM
8 am – finally on the bike heading to the starting point of my hike.
12 noon – stopped at the picnic table near the fire station on highway 79 for lunch. It is beautiful here with big trees all around.
2 pm – San Fillip highway. I fixed a double flat in my front tire which took almost a full hour. One motorist stopped to ask if I needed help. Very nice.
4 pm – Scissors Crossing. Made it. It is too late to start hiking. I will stay here for the night. I locked up my bike to one of the foundation post of the bridge.
Tinker Knob, Anderson Peak, Mount Judah, Donner Pass
PCT mile 1141 to 1157
Day 11 of Pacific Crest Trail section hike from Tuolumne Meadows to Donner Summit
Taking a break at the foot of Tinker Knob I can see traffic on highway 80 — the end is in reach. Castle Peak looms high above farther north.
Talked to Erela (my sister in Israel) on the phone from the foot of Tinker Knob. They are going on a trip to Alaska at the end of July.
The number of day hikers have increased steadily as I was nearing highway 40. When taking a break at the foot of Mt. Judah a hiker approached and offer me a bag with a couple of homemade chocolate chip cookies. Later while crossing highway 40 once woman came holding a tray with slices of water melon while another strawberries. A couple talked to me enthusiastically as I was making the way on the street and were happy to help me find the start of the trail going north.
I have decided on a new trail name for myself Chug Chug.
Stats for the hike: 215 miles, 38753 ft. up, 40110 ft. down. 9 full days and 2 half days, 10 nights.
Day 10 of Pacific Crest Trail section hiking from Tuolumne Meadows to Donner Summit
Sitting on the edge of a rock outcropping just north of Barker Peak I have a great view of lake Tahoe to the east and the Desolation Wilderness to the south-west. The sun had finally came from behind the clouds.
The views today are breath-taking. The trail straddles the ridge which forms the top of Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley ski resorts.
Flowers Near Barker Pass
It was very hot earlier. Then around 3 pm there were loud thunders which followed by rain, wind and cold air. I was able to reach my intended camping area and setup my tent before it started pouring.
Camping is at Squaw Creek tonight. It is the top of the ridge that forms the back of Squaw Valley ski resort. There is a lift line that brings people up here in the winter, but I thing it looks much different then.
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
chugchug 