Days 92&93

Day 92

Start: 944 end: 956.4 Total: 13 miles

I awoke in the morning and had a nice long session on the highline. I did a few laps and it felt good to remember how to do it as the day before felt hard and scary. Kiki and Rocky had another session and this other guy we had met, Max also went. Max then gave all three of us a ride to the valley. Rocky and I were trying to make a bus at 11 and Kiki would be staying a couple extra days. We crammed into his tiny car, Rocky and Kiki lying down in the back with some bags, I was in front with 0 leg room and my pack on my lap and there was a couple packs strapped to the roof. 

We arrived just on time and Rocky and I said our goodbyes and ran away to catch the bus. However when we arrived at the bus there were 8 other hikers trying to get back to the trail and they said that bus didn’t exist until July 1st and the bus that was there was going the other way. Everyone dispersed to try to hitch out of the valley. It’s an hour and half away so a lot of people try to get to the end of the park and then make a sign. It’s known to be quite a hard hitch. 

Rocky and I went back to use a bathroom and she bought a latte. We then got some cardboard and made a sign that read “pct hikers to tuloumne” we took the bus to the end of the park and started hitching. 15 cars drove by within the first 5/10 minutes before a car stopped. A nice couple gave us a ride. They were super friendly and we really enjoyed the conversations on the ride. 

They dropped us off and we started hiking. I got pretty turned around trying to find the trail but eventually found it. The trail was really nice and flat as it shared a popular tourist route for a few miles. I kept going and passed a few waterfalls. Rocky was at one and we agreed on a spot for the night and hiked separately to get there.

We found a cool spot with a great view and called it home for the night. I made some dinner and then passed out. I set up my tent on a really bumpy spot but I found a nice little nook within the bumps. 

Day 93

Start: 956.4 End: 976 total: 19.6

I slept in a bit and didn’t get walking until around 8:30. I drank my cold coffee & ate my danish then headed out. I filtered water at a stream nearby then continued on my way.

I crossed 3 or 4 streams that weren’t more than knee deep. Early on, I resigned to my fate of having wet feet so didn’t really try too hard to keep them dry. 

I got to a lake around 10 and Rocky was just packing up from a break. I took a dip in the lake and lied in the sun for a bit.

After that it was 8 more miles until the next lake and lunch spot. I met another hiker named Nick or Bombadil (lord of the rings reference) who apparently I met in Tehachapi. I didn’t initially remember him but then I remembered chatting with two guys in the hotel lobby and giving them donuts before leaving. He also took a few weeks off before the sierras. There was a big down and then a big up. I plugged in my audiobook and just chugged along. 

I didn’t get to the lunch spot until 2:30/3. Some other hikers, Grateful, nuts and Forecast were also there. I took a dip in the water and laid in the sun. Soon Rocky arrived and we had lunch. The others left and we agreed on a spot for the night. 

There was a little uphill leaving the lunch spot with some route finding and navigation due to the snow. Then a couple miles of downhill and a knee deep river crossing before heading back up hill. It was 2 miles and about 1000 feet of elevation up to a small lake where we camped for the night.