Day 51: Forester Pass

June 9, Day 51: 770.3-788.5

Miles Hiked: 18.2 PCT 

Off trail to Kearsarge Lakes: 3.5 miles

Gratitude of the Day: I’m thankful for every corner of the trail, because at every turn is a “WOW” moment. 

Forester Pass

What a wonderful night of sleep, the best yet on trail, probably out of sheer exhaustion. I went to sleep at 8pm, woke at 3am to freezing cold to pee, and then slept until 5:30am. I slow started to pack up made some coffee and ate breakfast.  Today would be another huge climb to go up and over Forester Pass at 13,200 ft. In a normal PCT snow year, Forester is legend, it had a very dangerous snow shoot that makes anyone have a healthy fear of this pass, this year, there wasn’t any snow, I just walked a rocky trail right up to the top of the pass.  When I crested the pass I would be rewarded with a stunning view and preview of what’s to come.

I walked down the pass to a pristine lake where I had lunch with Anchor, Catch, Col. Sanders, and Baewatch. The water was so blue and so clear it made you think that it was playing tricks with your eyes. Then it was all downhill for the afternoon following Bubbs Creek, a stunning high Sierra river that just rolled over the granite.  The last 1.5 miles to the Kearsarge junction was nothing but vertical, gaining 1200 feet. Then at the junction we took the Kearsarge path so we can jump out of the high Sierra’s and go into the town of Bishop. Tonight I’m camped at Kearsarge Lake. Today was the best day on the PCT by far. Tomorrow I’ll be in town, a hot shower, laundry and an ice cold beverage.