PCT, Day 64

I did not sleep much and got started at 5:47. Most people had already left. From now on, the big passes in the Sierras begin. An early start makes sense because there is still snow, and when the sun hits the snow and it gets slushy, microspikes do not help much. There is also the danger of postholing.

After an hour of climbing, I am short of breath again. The pass is at 4000m, and my body is not yet acclimatized to that altitude.

I reach the pass after 3 hours. The views on both sides are very beautiful, with many lakes. Going down the other side, microspikes are needed, and the snow is slushy, so I walk very slowly and carefully. From 4000m, it goes down to 2900m. At 3450m, the tree line is reached. It is cold today. When I left camp, it was 3 degrees with an ice-cold wind. The wind persists all day, and I have to put on warmer clothing and gloves.

I walk in my wet socks and shoes, which did not dry after the last river crossing yesterday. My feet do not get warm until the descent. At 1 pm, when I notice that my socks feel almost dry, another river crossing appears. There is a big log across, but a fall from that log would mean death. So, I succumb and get my shoes and socks soaked again by walking through the river. 

After 19.4 km, I reach the last campsite before the junction to leave the PCT and set up my tent. There are lots of mosquitoes around, and I put on my rain gear for some protection.

Tomorrow, I will have to leave the trail to resupply. This means that I have to walk out approximately 17 km and over a pass again at around 3450m. Then, there should be some mobile reception, and I can try to reach a trail angel to get a ride into the next town. The road at the trailhead has no traffic, but if a trail angel has time, they pick up hikers for a donation.