DAY 51. JUN 16 TOTAL MILES 900: 1/3 of the way

N 37 deg 31.760; W 118 deg 57.020: We left Vermillion Valley Resort at 10:34. I was so hungry last night I ate two meals plus ice cream. It was a great place. The trail out was not bad and we did 16+4 and went over Silver Pass to get to Purple Lake. We all got up at 5 am to get started by 6 am. I cannot count the large beautiful lakes we see every day and the ones near the passes are usually frozen. WE ARE 1/3 OF THE WAY TO CANADA!

Glissading over Silver Pass. We had several steep slopes coming off of Silver Pass so we glissaded instead of traversing the snowslopes. We just sat down on our behinds and slid down the steep slopes. It was a blast!

SunCups Photos and Description

Hiking the snowfields is like walking on frozen waves which are called Suncups. This is a result of the sun melting troughs in the snow sometimes 2 ft deep. I found that maintaining my balance across this snow was easier without using my trekking poles. The trick is to stay on top of the waves and not drop your foot into a trough which could result in a broken leg, bad at 11,000 ft in the middle of nowhere. Still I found the new experience a lot of fun. Timing when hiking these areas is critical. Late in the afternoon the snow is too soft and difficult to maintain balance. Early morning made traction much better and safer.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

DAY 43 & 44, Tues., June 10 and Weds., June 11 - ZERO Days in Lone Pine, CA

Spent a zero day Tuesday in a small, lovely little town, Lone Pine, CA. This is a place known for the Alabama Hills, where many western movies have been made. It is also a town nestled between the Inyo Mountain Range and the Eastern Sierra Mountain range. From our hotel you can look right at Mt. Whitney and the other high peaks of the Sierras. The temperature in Lone Pine yesterday was 100 deg but up on the mountain it was cold enough to freeze my shoes when I woke up on Monday morning. Quite a contrast.

Plan to get on the trail today (Weds., May 11). I'll be hiking on the John Muir Trail which parrallels the PCT for 200 or more miles. It will take me all day to reach the actual PCT because I'll be doing 9 miles on the Kearsarge trail just to reach the trail north. Also, the elevation we'll be climbing over is 11,760 ft.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

Day 42, Mon., June 9,17.7 mi. TOTAL 790.2

After summiting Mt. Whitney on Sunday, we took a number of photos and got back to our tents. We packed up and hiked within range of Forrester Pass. Spent the night Sunday at Lake South America Trail. Forrester is the highest pass at 13,180 ft on the PCT. Locating the trail to the pass was more difficult than climbing it. The trail was spectacular once we got up there. Another challenge we have is traversing SunCups and Snowfields.

SunCups: A result of melting snow at different rates causing frozen waves often 2 ft deep or more and wide enough to drop a foot in (possibly breaking a leg). Often these "frozen seas" cover broad areas.

After clearing Forrester Pass, coming back down to 9,950 ft, we found ourselves facing 11,760 ft Kearsarge Pass and had to hike back down to 9,960 ft to Onion Valley Campground where Shirley and Gordon were waiting. She had cold Grape juice and pastries waiting for me. I will take a zero day tomorrow.

Keep hiking,

Greybeard

MT. WHITNEY- 14,494 ft.. Sunday, June 8 - 9:15am PT

I'm standing on top of Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the Continental U.S. and I have cell service. Can you imagine!

Oh, what a view. I cannot describe it. Last night Slider, NimblewellNomad and I camped at Guitar Lake. This morning around 6 am Pacific time we headed up to the summit. I called Shirley from the top at 9:15 am. I can see for miles and miles 360 deg. Also, have a good look at the Portals trail (which we did not take) and I am so glad we didn't. It looks rough.

My coordinates are: N36 deg, 30'; W118 deg,18'. I will upload photos as soon as I get into town. Plan to meet Shirley tomorrow late or early Tuesday morning at a campground near Kearsarge Pass. She will be driving up from Bakersfield where she has been staying with her new found friends from Canyon Hills Assembly of God church.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

DAYs 39-40, Jun. 5-6, TOTAL miles to date 744.8

Thursday, June 5th: after hiking 20 miles, I bedded down around at Monache Creek, N36 deg 17.808; W118 deg 07.832. This section took me from an elevation of 6,080 ft. up to 10,540 and then down to 9,030 where I pitched camp. There are about 5 switchbacks which helped make the climb gentle to moderate. I am entering into an area called the Golden Trout Wilderness. Hmm, trout sounds good to me about now.

Friday, June 6: hiked another 20 miles to Horseshoe Meadow arriving around 1:30pm. Shirley was waiting for me. She had ice cold orange juice and a large pack of sweet roles. My coordinates are: N 36deg 26.894; W 118 deg 10.243. Elevation 10,500 feet. I was glad to hear that my baby's fear of the canyon road was not as disturbing as the other day. She followed Gordon (a grand fellow who is supporting Nimblewill Nomad, Dan, and Slider, hikers I am hiking with) up the steep road to Horseshoe Meadow.

We didn't spend the night because we have a lot of climbing to do to get to Mt. Whitney. More about that later.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

DAYS 37 & 38. Jun.2-4. TOTAL MILES 702.8

Here the PCT leaves Sequoia National Forest into Inyo National Forest, but still in the Southern Sierra Wilderness.

June 4, Weds., around 11am. - arrived at Kennedy Meadows General Store just down from the campground. N 36 deg 01.136, W 118 deg 07.403. I called Shirley from the pay phone as she was just getting ready to turn onto the road that would bring her to the campground. Little did we know that it would be a frightening experience for her. The road, Nine Mile Canyon, was very steep, elevation 5,000+, narrow and curvy. She was in tears when she pulled into the parking lot. After she settled down, she brought out a big bag of sliced watermelon which we shared with all the hikers. We spent the night in my tent and planned out our next meeting place. We spent the night in my tent. Getting up around 5 am I packed up and we said goodbye until Friday when we would meet at Horseshoe Meadows Campground, out of Lone Pine, CA.

I thought you would like to know that not only are the views during the day remarkable, but the nights are beyond description. In the Smoky Mountains and on the Appalachian Trail, I am used to looking up at the sky through the trees. Here the view is not blocked by the trees and you feel like you could just reach up and touch the stars. There are millions of them so vast across the sky. You can see the Milky Way and the planets like you've never seen before. What a beautiful experience.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

DAYs 35, 36 and 37: TOTAL miles to date 652

Friday, May 30th, I got back on the trail at 5:15am at Cameron Rd. and Highway 58. Coordinates: N35deg 22.433, W117deg 50.790. I packed 4 days supplies since Shirley and I planned to meet at Hwy 178 on Mon., June 2nd. Total mileage between Hwy 58 and 178 is 86 miles. The terrain was so gentle and well marked, I found myself hiking faster miles than I planned. The first day, Friday, I hiked 35.6 miles, Saturday 20 miles (N 35deg 28.652, W118deg 08.721), then Sunday I realized I only had 30 or so miles to go, so I tried contacting Shirley to let her know that I would be arriving at Hwy. 178 on Sunday instead of Monday. I couldn't get cell service but another hiker had service. We met at Walker Pass (N35deg,39.042; W117 deg 40.334).

For the first time I saw a deer. It was a small desert variety and instead of running like the deer back east, this one hopped like a kangeroo. I've seen hundreds of lizards and little ground, mouse-like creatures called Pikas. This section was a transition - from the high desert to the cooler and greener, more vegetation, type terrain. The elevation at Tehachapi Pass (Highway 58) where I put in on Friday was 3,830 ft. Then, at Walker Pass (Highway 178) on Sunday I ended up at 5,246 ft. But, the descent was gradual and very pleasant - much easier walking.

Trail angels, Scout and Frodo, set up two tents right on the trail on Saturday and I ate supper big time. I had lots of spaghetti and bread, cold pepsis, and dessert. It was so good. Then on Sunday, Meadow Mary was camped at Walker Pass Trailhead Campground and served hot dogs, cold drinks and chips. Shirley brought McD's Quarter Pounder and I ate that too. My strength is back and I'm feeling good. We spent Sunday night in Ridgecrest. I'll repack my pack in the morning and head toward Kennedy Meadows.

By the way, I caught my first glimpse of the snow-peaks of the high Sierra mountains. Everyone is excited and looking forward to hiking upward and onward. Canada here I come!

Praise report: Thanks to all the trail angels for their constant support.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

More photos from the PCT

Rock Formations on the PCT