9/9/2023
Section: Milepost 1091.3 to 1074.4
Total Trail Miles: 1862.8
Distance: 16.9 Miles
Moving Time: 07:50 hrs
Elevation Gain: 3630 ft
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Today was a NERO day. We definitely got some good time on the trail but weren’t in a huge hurry. In the morning we got up and got packed…well, Amanda got packed. Some of us were already packed… It’s getting a lot easier to get things together after a ZERO or NERO day. In the early weeks on the trail, after a break and spreading all our stuff out, there was always some degree of terror related to ensuring that everything that came out of the bag went back in. Now, after over 100 days on the trail, slimming down the total number of items we carry with us and an extreme familiarity with those few items, there is far less consternation about making sure we have everything. Still, there’s really no certainty until night one when you go to set everything up.
Once we were all packed, Evan and Aria (the dog, who is still really not comfortable with my existence on this earth) loaded up with us and we made one more stop down to the bagel place, Bagelworks, for a final civilized meal. Our next segment was an 8 day sprint to Mammoth Lakes, so we enjoyed our last bit of civilization before heading back up to Lake Tahoe on I-50.
Full disclosure here, we didn’t start exactly where we left off. I-50 crosses the PCT about half a mile down from Echo Lake and this is where we actually started - no big deal though it was all downhill anyway. We got out of the car and made use of the wonderful USFS pit toilet in the parking lot before getting our Industrial Athlete warm-ups in, which Evan watched in amusement and then the 4 of us set off up the hill.
I can honestly say we are back into the core Sierra. The path today picks up south of Echo Lake at the parking lot for Adventure Mountain Lake Tahoe and commits to a steep climb, gaining 1300 feet in just under 3 miles. Along the way it passes Benwood Meadow and winds its way up the backside of Mt. Ralston Ski resort. From the top of the climb the PCT flattens out a bit as it meanders along a ridgeline, dipping and gaining a bit through saddles towards Little Round Top mountain. At 6 miles in, the path ducks down the east side of Little Round Top and completes a very large switchback to pass below Showers Lake. Just past the lake the day’s stage bottoms out before starting a climb up to a nameless pass and down to I-88 at Carson Pass. Shortly after the highway the trail passes into Mokelumne Wilderness and climbs east around the “Elephants Back” settling for the day just above Forestdale Creek.
Evan and Aria walked the first 3 miles with us, all the way to Bryan Meadow where we took a few pictures with them and said our goodbyes. The day was gorgeous. Late summer sun illuminated the giant granite boulders that were strewn practically everywhere you looked. The walking was less pleasant. Eight days of food weighed heavy on us as we completed the climb up from I-55 but we were happy to be back on the trail and I was loving my fresh set of kicks.
At about lunch time we ran into another hiker from Israel. Think we had seen him in some earlier stages but not 100% sure. There was this beautiful moment that I will never forget where he was just getting back onto the trail after a short break as we passed him. He attempted to step out in front of Amanda expecting her to yield but she didn’t immediately which precipitated this incredible moment of pure awkwardness. It is rare and wonderful, in this day and age, where we are all so good at eliminating these uncomfortable situations from our lives to witness such a raw and human moment. Just precious.
Anyway, we hiked in proximity to the Israeli for a while. On the backside of the Elephant's Back we saw our first marmot. Super chubby - couldn’t miss him. Eventually we settled down at a small, established campsite just past a little drainage which provided water. We set up Josh and Maddy’s tent, which is quite a bit larger than the old Copper Spur, and got dinner going. Out south of us about 100 miles or so a huge lightning storm was tearing the sky apart. We thought of our many friends who we knew were deeper into the Sierra and hoped they were okay. We ate dinner with the Israeli guy who was nice and fun to talk with. He was carrying a Ukulele but did not play it, which I was fine with. Don’t need to hear Wonderwall this evening. After dinner we headed to the new, very large tent and passed out, glad to be back on the trail and in the Sierra.
Me, Amanda, Aria and Evan at Bryan Meadows
