Author Archives: Magic Mike

June 19 day 51 camped mile 790 walked 0.5 PCT and 8 off PCT miles today.
Had breakfast at the Mt Whitney restaurant. Pretty poor version of corned beef hash and eggs. Picked up new shoes at the PO and was ready to hit the road. Got a hitch to Independence and then a second up to the trailhead. Chit chatted with Cornfed, Ryan and New Orleans had a beer washed my feet and put on my new shoes. Had a gorgeous camp with a view of Charlotte lake and dome.

June 20 day 52 camped mile 805 walked 15 miles today
From the went over Glenn pass (11968ft) and descended through the ever popular Rae Lakes. Too overused for me. The foam on the lakeshore breaks my heart and reminds me to be careful for water sources even though I use a filter (Sawer squeeze). Long descent down S fork Woods creek and up the main fork. Found a little hollow at timberline for camp. Great views with lots of frost on my sleeping bag in the morning.

June 21 day 53 camped mile 815.8 hiked 10.8 miles today
Late start as I had to dry off stuff from the very frosty night. Climbed the last bit to Pinchot pass and then on to well above timberline below Mather Pass (12047ft) another cold clear night under the stars.

June 22 day 54 camped mile 836 hiked 20.8 miles today
After a brief defrosting I head up to Mather Pass (12047ft). I am there all alone. The views are tremendous. The N side descent has a surprising amount of snow. Descend Palisades creek as it slides down the glacier carved rock ramps. Lower down here are beautiful open meadows. The enormous Jeffry Pine dominate these mid altitude forests. Those and the ancient shaggy Cedar are the standout trees here. Camp a little latter than I would have preferred as I was very tired. Got a tiny sheltered spot overhung by trees to avoid the possibility of frost. It really slows the morning up.

June 23 day 55 camped mile 855.8 hiked 19.8 miles today
Was at Muir Pass with it’s hut at about 10:00. Saw two Pika’s today along with some good marmot close ups. Started clouding up today. Cowboy camped near Paiute Creek.

Editor’s note:
Made it to Vermillion Valley Resort yesterday after a hard day of stormy wet weather. Very bad reception, but none was expected at all. Will pick up mail next in Tahoe area. Almost a third of the way through the hike. -h

June 11 day 43 zero mile day stayed at Kennedy Meadows.
Woke up to see Scott. He saw my sign at the store. Started the day with a bit of wine before starting on our breakfast of a dozen eggs and a pound of bacon. It was a marathon. A while latter we split a pint of Ben and Jerry’s Coffee buzz buzz buzz. Scott was keeping up pretty well but didn’t go for the steak dinner being offered at the KM store.

June 12 day 44 camped mile 719.7 hiked 17.1 miles today
Had a very strange breakfast at Ireland’s restaurant. Scott Tanner and I was served 4 separate stacks of pancakes and each time I poured out syrup out of different containers there were ants in it. It was all you can eat pancakes or biscuits and gravy. I wanted the biscuits but they were going to take a while.
After saying goodby to Scott I headed up the trail and was soon in the Sierra. What a gorgeous mountain range.

June 13 day 45 camped mile 735.2 hiked 15.5 miles today
My saddle camping spot was perfect last night. Was super comfy last night with my Thermarest pro light pad. The early part of the day I was in a wonderland of different trees and plants. Saw marmot deer and a possible snowshoe hare. Meet up with Ruth and Dave aka Pickles and the Lucky Irishman. After lunch I just couldn’t get moving. Camping on a minor peak that the trail passes over. It’s at about 10,600 feet with views of Sierra peaks and the Owens Valley.

June 14 day 46 camped mile 750 Chicken Spring Lake hiked 14.8 miles today
The last day for a while for being at all concerned with water. Passed thru some fantastic Foxtail Pine forests. These are the predominate species at timberline. Some trees are hanging in there with just a spiral of bark running up the tree.
Met up with Pickles, the Lucky Irishman and the Milkman at Chicken Springs Lake. It was nice to sit around the illegal Foxtail Pine campfire.
These pines since they live 2000 years serve as a climate record extended further back by the even more ancient standing deadwood. This is one of the distinct and beautiful features of this forest. It is a ghost forest to me. These skeletons of trees dead many hundreds of years.

June 15 day 47 camped mile 766.9 upper Crabtree Meadow hiked 16.9 miles today.
Just another great day in paradise.   Made it to base camp for the Whitney assent tomorrow.

June 16 day 48 camped mile 766.9 upper Crabtree Meadow zero PCT miles today and 15 round trip to Whitney.
Made my easiest Whitney ascent today. It was a perfect day for the climb. It was practically still on the summit. Was there with Two Hats and DB along with a dozen other non PCT hikers. Saw lots of my PCT friends on the way down; Snickers, the Chosen One, the Soup Nazi, Ryan, Cornfed, Dirt Bag, and Nolean. Back in camp I found myself surprising sore after the days exertions.

June 17 day 49 camped about mile 785 hiked 18.1 PCT miles today and about 13 detour miles today.
Got going fairly early today in search of the Kern Hot spring. As I didn’t have the springs on my maps I needed to follow trail signs to the springs. Unfortunately I never saw any signs at Junction Meadow so I ended up doing a 14 mile detour down to the Kern and up thru some very little traveled area. Back on the PCT I met up with Pickles, The Lucky Irishman and Milkman on the way to Forester pass. Had lunch and met up with Dirt Bag for the final ascent. Gave Dirt Bag what food I could spare as I was to be resupplying out of Kearsarge pass the next day.

June 18 day 50 off PCT at mile 788.9 stayed Lone Pine hiked 3.9 PCT miles today plus 9 off.
Great day with a bag of walnuts an Tang as all the food I had in my pack. Light and fast. Met various PCT hikers on the way down from Kearsarge pass. Got a ride into Lone Pine with trail angel Aloha who I had last saw at Kennedy Meadows. Had a very busy day washing myself and clothes that hadn’t seen a washer since Acton KOA. Got 6 days of food filling my bear can to the brim. Had a giant hamburger and an equally giant Arrogant Bastard Ale at the Mt Whitney Restaurant for an early dinner. Saw Firestarter who had got off the trail in Big Bear and was going to rejoin in Kennedy Meadows. Stayed at the Hostel with several other hikers.

I’m in the Sierra. Fully prepared for a great time. I may not have service for several days.

I have been very lax in writing. I did write the last few days but am missing a week. I was hiking like hell in what felt like hell except for the trail angels. Intensely hot during the day. Many people night hiked. I did not.