July 10, 2017
Mile 944.5 (just past Tuolomne Meadows) to Mile 960.5 (6.5 from Benson at the top of a ridge)
Pacific Crest Trail Thru-Hike: Day 67

One: Campsite Hunting

Man oh man we are getting good at finding campsites! We’re about 3 feet below the fire line on a ridge top before a big drop where there’s a meadow creek crossing (wet, buggy), so we’re camping up here! The view is unreal, we’re not visible on the trail, it’s flat, we have a backrest for next to the fire, there’s tons of wood, it’s awesome!

Two: Creek Crossings

We crossed three REALLY intense creeks today. McCabe, Return, and Spiller. We crossed all three at the official PCT crossings. Spiller was the strongest and at its deepest got to waist height, which was also where it had the strongest current. We crossed McCabe and Return solo.

Return got a little sketchy. Halfway across Return Creek I was planted behind a boulder that was breaking the current for me, and Alex, ahead of me and waiting for me to follow, said “I don’t think I can stand here any longer”.

Well Jesus! Don’t just stand in the middle of the damn river waiting for me! Finish crossing!

Once he got across, I finally came out from behind the rock. That way he’d be able to grab me if I got swept off my feet. There was a moment when I was a few steps from finishing when I almost lost my footing, but I managed to move with the current just a bit downstream and finished the crossing.

For Spiller Creek, we started crossing solo but realized it was too strong, turned back to the starting bank, doubled up and crossed as a pair. That current at the one deep point was fuckin STRONG. No way would we have been able to cross solo.

Three: Backcountry Cooking

I made fruit compote with honey and black raspberries, we’ll put it on our oatmeal tomorrow and take pictures for Heavenly Organics and Berrihealth. It’s a lot easier to post stuff when it has helpful information like recipes, so I’m going to plan on doing more of that.

Four: Feels Like Home

I realized yesterday that the reason we’re spending less time in towns when we resupply is because we feel like the trail is our home now. It really feels like home, it’s the closest thing we have to a place to go back to. A well-chosen campsite starts feeling like a private place to escape to, just like a home does.

The instant we get back on trail it feels like there’s a big weight off my shoulders, because we’ve taken care of our errands and don’t have to figure out how to get back home. And the trail is always here to welcome us back.

It mostly feels great to have a place that feels like home when really we’re homeless and wandering through the wilderness.

Five: Sonora Pass Resupply

I’m really glad we stopped in Yosemite Valley, but we need service so we can tell our guy bringing the resupply to Sonora Pass that we’ll be late! I think it’s going to be exactly one month, July 15th, when we get to Sonora Pass.

Six: Trail Magic

We got trail magic today! A guy was refilling his water near the destroyed Glen Aulin bridge and asked if we were PCT hikers. He said he had brought his son out for the first time to see the backcountry and wanted to make sure he didn’t run out of food. He gave us so much good food! Epic bars and Starbucks via and more! We recommended Le Conte canyon as the best part of the trail so far, and recommended finding a way to day-hike there.

Seven: Shortage of Mints

I’m almost out of Andes Mints, and we’re going to run out of gum! Disaster! Orbit White gum has been the best gum for on-trail so far.

Eight: Worth it

Alex looks so happy. I think we are both so happy out here. It’s not easy, and we deal with challenges every day, but we decide how difficult, patient…everything about the situation. No spectators. And it helps that when we work really hard for something, like the climb up a mountain or switchbacks, it’s always worth it with an incredible view.