Day 34 - Tuesday, June 26

I've decided to join up with Wisconsin Kurt for the Sierra section coming up. I want to start doing higher mileage and think that Kurt can do 25-30 mile days. Litsl decided to head out last night about 5 PM with Dude, Tracy, and Champ since they would be going at a pace that he would be more comfortable with.

I waited to see if my watch would come today but it didn't so I asked the guy at the store to forward it to Muir Trail Ranch. Kurt has a good watch with an altimeter that we can use. I was going to do a bounce box but decided to just send my box back home and let Jerry send gear I need back in my resupply boxes. I've gotten my pack weight down to 18-20 lbs by offloading items. I will need to carry a lot less water and I am sending home my steripen since I drink the water from here through Yosemite without treating it. I will have Jerry bring it to me in Tuolumne.

I forgot to congratulate all the finishers at Western States on Sunday, especially my friends, Andy Kumera and Xy Weiss. I think both are doing the grand slam this year. Good luck at Vermont. Jerry paced a runner who finished his 15th WS under 24 hours.

From here to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite is 241 miles which is about 9% of the total PCT mileage but has over 20% of the total elevation gain and loss - and that doesn't even include going up and down Mt Whitney which is not on the PCT. This section doesn't look as extreme as the Southern CA elevation map but it is because of the scale. We go over 6 peaks that are 11,000 feet or higher. We plan to summit Whitney (14,494') which will add about 15 miles (roundtrip) to our hike. Kurt also has a resupply at Independence over on Hwy 395. It is about 24 miles (one way) off trail over Kearsage Pass and down through Onion Valley. We haven't decided if we will take that time off trail or not. If we do and are lucky, we could catch a ride from Onion Valley to Independence and back. That would cut the distance in half both ways. I won't have any cell reception until probably Reds Meadow near Mammoth Lakes unless we go into Independence so I am listing my expected itinerary in case anyone wants to try to come out and join me. Although, it will probably be difficult to connect with me between here and Reds Meadow if you can't catch me in Independence. This will likely be my last blog post for several days.

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
John Muir