DAY 63, Sun., Jun. 29; 27.9 mile day: TOTAL 1094.5

Hiked 11 miles (slacked with just water and snacks) into the first road crossing at Echo Lakes Summit just out from South Lake Tahoe. This was a easy hike through many beautiful meadows. When I reached the parking lot at the summit, Shirley was there as expected. She brought me two Quarter Pounders and an Apple Pie from McDs. Sooooo good!

After a quick break we hiked out to cover 16.9 miles to Echo Lakes Resort, a store, sandwich shop and post office right on Echo Lake. Hiking this section was moderate and very pleasant. However the last mile was a steep down and would have been more difficult for a southbound hiker.

This is my last support stop until the finish in Canada. Shirley has been following me for the past 6 weeks with a carload of food, cold drinks, and breakfast pastries. She will be heading back to Bakersfield on Wednesday and home on Friday. Hopefully, she will be able to join me again a week or two before I finish the PCT miles in Manning Park, Canada.

Photos: (1) caught this dragon fly coming out of his cocoon; (2) wild Iris in one of the large meadows.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

DAY 62: June 28: 24.5 miles: TOTAL 1067.6

Left camp at 0600 this morning and hiked into Ebbett's Pass and met Shirley at 8:30 am. This was only 6 1/2 miles over dramatic canyons with terrific volcanic formations and Bonzi-like Cedar and Pine trees. There were many passes over rolling rock strewn landscapes with the only vegetation being wildflowers. After a short break we took off again, slack packing for another 18 miles. The afternoon was blessed with hillside ridges and large pine forests. Sometimes you could see each other 1/2 mile or more away on opposite ridges. We arrived at Blue Lakes Road trailhead where Shirley and Gordon were waiting. We camped for the night here.

Photo #1 shows the Bonzi-like, weather-worn cedars; #2 are the Blue Lakes seen from above; #3 Canada - here I come.

Keep hiking,

Greybeard