Sep 13, 2024 -- Sierra High Route, Day 14 (Reds Meadow)

Great views through the windows on the Crest and from Mammoth Pass.  The pumice like talc sand on the hike down from the pass to Reds Meadow was ridiculous.  Emptied my boots many times but still got blisters on my big toe.  14days without a resupply.  My longest carry of any long trail.   Things are closing up at Reds Meadow.   Last weekend for the bus into Mammoth, campground closed.  I got a dry cabin at Reds and a burger!  Enjoyed a dip in the hot spring, a shower, did laundry, and had a tuna melt for dinner.   In the morning I had a great egg breakfast with biscuits and was able to resupply with stuff from the hiker box and other hikers leaving at Reds meadow.   Meet up with Picanti again; he's planning on a fast finish to the rest of the route so I will unlikely see him on trail.   I would have liked to take a zero day but I want to get over the next hard passes before the weather pattern comes in.

Sep 12, 2024 -- Sierra High Route, Day 13 (Deer Lake)

Well, I was expecting an easy morning.  A few miles on the JMT then turn onto Duck Lake trail.  To save battery I left my GPS off.   I was starting to feel like I might have missed the turn.  Turn on GPS and it clearly indicated I was on a different trail that left the campsite.  I was pissed and back hiked a good mile.  Checking the GPS again, it now says I'm on the right trail hiking backward to camp.   I was on the right trail all along just shy of the turn.  So again I turn around and hike back.  Stupid. 

Surprised to see trail workers on the climb up to Duck Lake.  Beautiful section around Duck and Deer lakes.  Meet another Sierra High Route SoBo section hiker who said snow for Sunday night then dropping to the low 50s.  It was still early in the day but Roper's notes says no water till Reds Meadow; which is another 10 miles.  I took a long beak and was going to carry 4-liters to dry camp.  But the thought of extra weight was discouraging.    Decided to camp here at 3pm.  Even though it was easy day I'm exhausted.  I'm 2 days behind from what I thought I would be able to hike.   Was thinking I might have to end at Tuolumne Meadows.   Now with snow maybe I'll have to end my adventure at Reds Meadow?  We will see.  I've had picture perfect weather, but cold nights so far.  Today was the first time hiking in the morning with a coat.  The really only issue so  far has been some really windy evening in camp.   It' makes it very hard to setup your tent in the wind.  

Sep 11, 2024 -- Sierra High Route, Day 12 (Purple Lake)

Met a guy and dog on Bighorn Pass.  We were both shocked to see anyone out in this trailess wilderness.   As I was descending Shout of Relief Pass I met another solo NoBo Sierra High Route hiker; Picante.  Younger and much faster; I lost him before the next pass.  Lots of route finding to make it through to Cotton Lake around all the ridges and tarns.  Hike down to Horse Heaven was tricky staying out of the gully.  I was stumbling into class 3 obstacles so I must have been off route a little.   Rejoined the John Muir trail with it's zoo of hikers and continued on to camp at Purple Lake.

Sep 10, 2024 -- Sierra High Route, Day 11 (Laurel Lake)

Beautiful lakes, but another long day.  Thought the hard part was over after coming off Gabbot Pass with all the lakes and tarns.  It was a marked trail after all; NOT!  Overgrown, steep angle, washed out, and filled with blowdowns and spring melt debris.  It was blowdown hell.  Fell crossing Mono creek even with leaving my shoes on and using poles.  Those rocks are slippery. Scraped off knee scab and my eyeglasses fell in water.  A good reminder why I bring spare glasses as I needed to use them to find the ones that fell in the drink.   After crossing the creek I saw a mule outfitter with two big kitchen boxes and lots of tents but just one man at campsite after river crossing. The trail to Laurel lake, where I'm camping, was steep but had mostly switchbacks.  This was a surprise as Roper's notes indicated no such switchbacks.   The trail was actually nice.

  

Sep 9, 2024 -- Sierra High Route, Day 10 (Lake Italy)

Feather pass and decent from white bear pass.... 

I'm ready to get away from boulders and talus.  All the bear lakes were amazing.  Meet a father and son out on a fishing adventure and was surprised by their off trail plans in this rugged terrain.  It is beautiful.  Still enjoying fantastic weather.

      

Sep 8, 2024 -- Sierra High Route, Day 9 (Merriam Lake)

It was a good day.  Lots of lakes to help with navigation.  Only one bad talus and boulder section coming off Puppet Pass.  Decided to camp early and save Feather Pass for another day.  I'm supposed to have fun!  First day I wasn't worrying if I was lost or about to get major hurt. HaHa Camping at Merriam Lake.

Sep 7, 2024 -- Sierra High Route, Day 8 (Snow Tongue Pass to Golden Trout Lake)

Snow Tongue Pass was even harder than I remember from our section hike in 2009.  Scraped up my legs in a little rock slide on the class 3 talus gullies and took another slip on the snow field.  Had to hike back up the snow field to retrieve my water bottle that slipped out in my slide.  Then the endless boulder climbing and talus the  size of cars.  Exhausting...   Another solo day with no other hikers.   Dropped down t Upper Golden Trout Lake to camp.