Day 52: Beauty Around Every Corner

June 21, 2015 Tentsite at Bear Creek Ford (869.0) to Lake Virginia (891.6) 22.6 PCT miles today 935.7 miles total Today’s Elevation Gain/Loss: + 5,150 ft, – 5,354 ft We didn’t realize until just now that today’s elevation gain and loss was actually greater than any other day we’ve had in the Sierras. It makes…

Read More

Day 51: Not to be Underestimated

June 20, 2015 Tentsite past Evolution Lake (845.9) to Tentsite at Bear Creek Ford (869.0) 23.1 PCT miles today 913.1 miles total Today’s Elevation Gain/Loss: + 3,479 ft, – 3,417 ft Today was not quite what we had in mind. That’s not to say it was bad in any way, but between our inaccurate expectations…

Read More

Day 50: John Muir, Our Hero

June 19, 3015 Tentsite near Palisade Creek (824.6) to Tentsite past Evolution Lake (845.9) 21.3 PCT miles today 890.0 miles total Today’s Elevation Gain/Loss: + 4,172 ft, – 3,188 ft We don’t know as much about John Muir as we wish we knew, but from what we can gather, he was one very incredible man.…

Read More

Day 49: Double Down

June 18, 2015 Tentsite near Woods Creek (801.7) to Tentsite near Palisade Creek (824.6) 23.9 PCT miles today 868.7 miles total Today’s Elevation Gain/Loss: + 4,365 ft, – 6,049 ft What’s better than hiking over one High Sierra pass? Hiking over two High Sierra passes! Today was a very long day, but the views were…

Read More

Day 48: Our Summer Job

June 17, 2015 Onion Valley Trailhead – Lone Pine (7.5 on Alternate) to Tentsite near Woods Creek (801.7) 7.5 Alternate miles (Kearsage Pass), 12.3 PCT miles 845.8 miles total Today’s Elevation Gain/Loss: Unknown We may not be earning money this summer, but that certainly doesn’t mean we’re not getting paid. Today’s work was extra taxing,…

Read More

Day 47: A Nero in Lone Pine

June 16, 2015 (10th Re-Ration – Lone Pine) Tentsite before Bullfrog Lake Trail (788.6) to Onion Valley Trailhead – Lone Pine (7.5 on Alternate) .2 PCT miles, 7.5 Alternate miles (Kearsage Pass) 826.0 miles total Today’s Elevation Gain/Loss: Unknown On these neros and zeros it is extra hard to find time to write. Actually, it’s…

Read More

Day 46: Meet the JMT

June 15, 2015 Crabtree Meadow Ranger Station (1.3 on Alternate) to Tentsite before Bullfrog Lake Trail (788.6) 1 Alternate mile (Mt. Whitney Summit), 21.7 PCT/JMT miles 818.3 miles total Today’s Elevation Gain/Loss: + 4,311 ft, – 4,928 ft I truly did not believe that anything would top yesterday’s Mt. Whitney summit, at least not anytime…

Read More

Day 45: The Perfect Summit

June 14, 2015 Crabtree Meadow Ranger Station (1.3 on Alternate) 15 Alternate miles (Mt. Whitney summit) 795.6 miles total Today’s Elevation Gain/Loss: + > 3,853 ft, – > 3,853 ft Words fall short on a day like today. Our summit of Mount Whitney was better than we could have hoped, and we decided on the…

Read More

Day 44: Stormy South Sierras

June 13, 2015 Tentsite near Mulkey Pass junction (744.6) to Crabtree Meadow Ranger Station (1.3 on Alternate) 21.7 PCT miles, 1.3 Alternate miles (Mt. Whitney Summit) 780.6 miles total Today’s Elevation Gain/Loss: + 3,306 ft, – 3,372 ft As I write this, rain is pouring down on our tent and any would-be views of Mt.…

Read More

Day 43: Motivational Mountains

June 12, 2015 Tentsite after Cow Creek (722.4) to Tentsite near Mulkey Pass junction (744.6) 22.2 PCT miles today 757.6 miles total Today’s Elevation Gain/Loss: + 3,628 ft, – 3,181 ft Today was another stunningly beautiful day of hiking in the Sierras. Our feet hurt less today than they ever have, the weather was a…

Read More