Well today was proof that the PCT doesn't give a rat's toosh about you. Actually, this day was absolutely one of my favorites yet, but it was also brutal. We set out at 7 to hike to the highest point on the PCT, which also happens to be one of the more dangerous and technical climbing spots, involving the crossing of the "ice shoot" with the use of an ice axe. Later, we would climb thousands of feet once again, not to advance ourselves on the PCT, but simply to exit this section, climbing up and over a high pass to access a nearby town for resupply.
Forester Pass gave way to the most stunning scenery I could imagine: snowy peaks, crystal clear mountain lakes, and grassy meadows - a real paradise. And we entered it like adults, "glissading" (sliding down a snowy mountain on your butt using your ice axe to steer - weeee!) Hiking at a consistent pace is nearly impossible given the stunning views that repeatedly slow me to a stop just to ogle at my surroundings. It's everything it's cracked up to be. And did I mention marmots?
[a hospitable campsite, Forester Pass, Boom happy, the ice shoot, at the highest point on the PCT, selfie]
Later, we thought we were exhausted when we made it to the top of Kearsarge Pass, finally, but to our shock and eventually horror, the descent down The other side was endless - this was startling because we would have to return these ten miles back to the PCT, and all of this downhill would turn to up.
By the time we finally reached the campground at the bottom, we were all drained and assumed it would be too late to catch a ride down to the nearest town, Independence. We plopped our gear down near the driveway, and we must have looked pretty pathetic because a couple campers brought us some extra food. Only twenty or so minutes passed when a nice elderly gentleman pulled into the campground to drop off a hiker and offered us a ride down to independence! This meant Subway for dinner - woohoo!
[hiking down the north side, so much snow, glissading, the coolest mountain I've seen, lerve, one of my favorite pictures yet]
While we sat eating our footlong subs, we learned that all the motels in town were booked up. Boom and I elected to shower and do our laundry at the very gas station where we were eating our dinner, trucker style. By the time the laundry was done, it was dark. We schlepped ourselves to a campground a half mile outside of town and stealth camped with a few other PCT hikers. There are occasional moments on the PCT when you are reminded that you are in fact homeless, and this was one of them. But hey, we were clean and full, and tomorrow is a new day.
[Independence, only dinner option in Independence]
