Day 49 – Forester Pass

Miles: 774.7 to 788.9

Trail Miles: 14.2

Miles Hiked: 21.8

Forester Pass is the highest point on the PCT at 13,200 ft. We started hiking at 5am to cover the 5 miles to the pass. By the time we got to the base of the pass my hands were so cold I couldn’t even zip my own jacket.

We donned micro spikes and pulled out our ice axes. Cherry Bomb lead the ascent and had to do some route finding due to the snow.

We all made it safely across the snow chute just below the summit and celebrated atop the pass in the sun.

The descent was more route finding and some post holing as the snow warmed up and softened.

We stopped for lunch Near a stream. Painter, Kenny, Scooch and I decided to push ahead 13 more miles. We’d exit the PCT near Kearsarge Pass (11.700 ft) and meet HH! at the Onion Valley Trailhead outside Independence, CA. — I had motivation to get there by 6pm. I hadn’t seen HH in 66 days.

He was there with trail Magic when we arrived. Beer, Gatorade, cookies, chips and carrots. It all tasted so good!

We all ate dinner in Independence at Fork in the Wild, a great little restaurant inside the local food co-op.

We dropped everyone off in Bishop before driving up the additional 40 miles to Mammoth Lakes. HH and I have a place there, so it was like going home.

It’s going to be really hard to leave and get back on the trail!