DAY 61: GLEN PASS



Sour Cream descending Glen Pass


miles: ??

Note: Photos will appear at the very end of this entry (for convenience - library computers.....)

Last night we had gotten to camp in the dark AND we didn't make it all the way to the PCT junction, which is fine, however, I do not like setting up camp in the dark. Especially when we have too much food (it all doesn't fit in the bear canister) so we have to find an appropriate tree in which to hang our extra food bag. This is nerve racking. The trees at this elevation are scrawny, tall, skinney and spindly. There are not adequate branches from which to properly hang a food bag so we had to make due with some less than perfect bear hangs.... basically I didn't really sleep well that night.

Excited for our first pass of this section, we set off rather early in the morning and marched our way toward Glen Pass.

Glen Pass is a (sort of) easy/short climb, in relation to the rest. However, this turned out to be especially difficult for us for many reasons: We were weighed down with TOO MUCH FOOD, we had un-acclimated to the high high high elevation, and we were well rested (which you think would help us feel stronger and more prepared, but in reality, it just makes you feel a wee bit lethargic the first day out of town). ]

Feeling great, initially, I sped up the first part of Glen but slowed down immensely toward the top. Huffing and puffing. OH MY.

It was GORGEOUS... the terrain continues to astound me.

We got to the Rae Lakes area and were ready for lunch. Sour Cream, Rocky and I went a little further than Chik Chak and Starfox and we lunched seperately that day, determined to meet back up at camp that night at mile 803.

We passed the 800 mark today! WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!

Once at camp, hikers filtered in, but Chik Chak and Starfox never made it. Perhaps we will catch up with them in the morning.

Today beat me up, I was not used to carrying this much food, and regretted my decision to bring heavy, fruit and cream cheese filled danishes and pastries with me out here. Not just because they were H-E-A-V-Y, but because they were quite fragrant. Bears can be an issue in these parts and every night I wondered if and when we would encounter one.

Breaking camp in the morning.

Approaching Glen Pass

This lake.

There was a donkey crisis when I got to the top of the pass  - Rocky and Sour Cream were attempting to help get this donkey moving again. He wouldn't budge. He was terrified. "Jimmy"

View from the top

The top of the pass (donkey crisis in the background).

Sour Cream trying to coax Jimmy.

What happens to chips at the top. Makes packing your bear canister EVEN HARDER.

Pissed about it.

Rocky going down the other side - the descent down Glen was sort of treacherous.

the descent....

Looking down at Daisy and Jimmy. Daisy had fallen into the rocks earlier, this is probably why Jimmy wouldn't budge?

Shooting Star

Duck Lips.

So many wildflowers.

We are officially on the JMT (the John Muir Trail) - this is the section where the PCT and JMT are one trail.

I enjoy a good meadow lounge.

OREOS.

he flora that pops up out of rocks. There are a lot of rock islands in these lakes. I'm mesmerized by them.

Lake Lunch Love.

Rocky getting water.

Rockys belongings.

Sunset taking photos.

Lighthouse, Sour Cream and Sunset take an afternoon snack break.

THE coolest bridge. One person allowed at a time.

How it feels to go 800.

What the river looked like thas we followed it up up and up to our final campsite for the night. It'd been a LONG day.

The final push - dusk.