Dow Villa Hotel, Lone Pine, California to Middle Rae Lake
I went to sleep pretty late last night, so when the alarm went off at 5:45 AM it was hard to get up. Plus, I kept dreaming that I was climbing a mountain and it never ended...I never got to the top. The one thing that did get me out of bed was the thought of taking a shower. It is great waking up in a hotel room, especially when Tim is there as well. But, it is time to get back on the trail after taking a day off yesterday in Lone Pine.
We met Share Bear and Brad in the lobby at 6:30 AM and headed to the trailhead at Onion Valley. After arriving there we said goodbye to Tim who we will see in 9 days in Mammoth Lakes, and were ready to hike just after 8:00 AM.
We met Share Bear and Brad in the lobby at 6:30 AM and headed to the trailhead at Onion Valley. After arriving there we said goodbye to Tim who we will see in 9 days in Mammoth Lakes, and were ready to hike just after 8:00 AM.
Let's get going.
Today we have two passes to get over, Kearsarge Pass and Glenn Pass. We came down Kearsarge Pass a couple of days ago. So we know what to expect from that, but we have no clue what Glenn Pass is going to be like.
First let's get up Kearsarge Pass, what we were dreading going back as as we came down it a couple of days ago...what I had a nightmare about last night.
As we started it wasn't too bad. Share Bear and I decided to count the switchbacks in hopes that it would disturb us and make the climb easier. We have to climb 4.7 miles to get to the top. As we've come to expect, the scenery up the pass was just incredible.
First let's get up Kearsarge Pass, what we were dreading going back as as we came down it a couple of days ago...what I had a nightmare about last night.
As we started it wasn't too bad. Share Bear and I decided to count the switchbacks in hopes that it would disturb us and make the climb easier. We have to climb 4.7 miles to get to the top. As we've come to expect, the scenery up the pass was just incredible.
A stream with a view.
Beautiful.
A long view.
While climbing up Kearsarge Pass we saw Max, Bear Bait, and Audible. They were supposed to be in town last night and wasn't, so we figured we would see them on our way up. Since we saw them last, Audible and Bear Bait summited Mount Whitney which is awesome since it was a goal of theirs to climb it. After departing Whitney, they were delayed going over Forester Pass due to weather which is why they didn't make it into town yesterday. We are now 2 days ahead of them, so who knows when we will see them next.
We also saw Gregory from Switzerland. He is doing awesome.
Even with the distractions of the scenery, meeting people, and counting switchbacks, the climb is still long. After summiting two false peaks, we finally saw where we were headed:
We also saw Gregory from Switzerland. He is doing awesome.
Even with the distractions of the scenery, meeting people, and counting switchbacks, the climb is still long. After summiting two false peaks, we finally saw where we were headed:
We are headed there.
Then, after 67 switchbacks, 4.7 miles, and 3.5 hours we made it to the top:
Atop Kearsarge Pass, 11,060 feet.
We now have only 2.8 miles to get back to the PCT and it is all down hill. After about 30 minutes of going down, we decided to stop for our lunch break. While stopped, a park ranger that we saw a couple of days ago headed to town, was going back to his work cabin with his parents in tow. They are going to hang out with him for 5 days...so cool.
After 1 hour of eating and resting, we headed back on the trail. We got a good view of Bullfrog Lake from above. Couple of days ago we hiked the trail down on the lake, so it is cool to have this perspective of the lake.
After 1 hour of eating and resting, we headed back on the trail. We got a good view of Bullfrog Lake from above. Couple of days ago we hiked the trail down on the lake, so it is cool to have this perspective of the lake.
Bullfrog Lake from above.
Finally, after hiking 7.5 miles we made it back to the PCT. The trail will now head up over 1,200 feet in 2 miles to Glen Pass. This climb was for real. It was steep and rocky and pretty difficult to climb with our heavy bags.
Brad and Share Bear climbing up Glen Pass
Finally, after almost 2 hours...that's averaging 1 mile per hour...we made it to the top:
Celebrating the top of Glen Pass, 11,946 feet
Now to get down the other side. As we looked down we noticed a lot of snow that we will have to cross.
Other hikers crossing an upcoming snowfield.
Share Bear and Brad decided to go at it with just their hiking shoes, but I decided to put on my microspikes since I was carrying them anyway.
Microspikes on and ready to go.
With the spikes on, I successfully traversed the first snow field. We then came to a second one. This one started out going with a steep decline, so Share Bear and Brad decided to put their microspikes on for this crossing.
Brad and Share Bear putting on microspikes as another hiker begins the crossing.
They went first and I followed behind. Now, one of the most important thing about wearing microspikes is don't become overconfident in using them. Since I successfully completed the first snowfield, I was felling pretty good. I took my first step with my right foot and it started slipping, right into a rock. I stuck my left pole into the snow to try to catch me, and it went deep into the snow. I wound up falling onto the trail and wound up with a pretty good scratch/bruise on my right shin. The hardest part of the whole ordeal was standing back up with the weight of the pack on my back, but I managed to get up and cross the snowfield.
There were a couple more snow crossings on the way down, but none that needed microspikes. This was the view for most of the way down:
There were a couple more snow crossings on the way down, but none that needed microspikes. This was the view for most of the way down:
View down north side of Glen Pass.
The good thing about snow is that it melts and creates beautiful waterfalls:
Waterfall below Glen Pass
The melted snow also creates these amazing alpine lakes:
Self-portrait "Rae Lake"
We made it down to the Rae Lake area around 5:30 PM and was amazed at its beauty. We walked passed the lower lake and had to do a log crossing to get to the middle lake were we planned in camping.
Log crossing to middle lake.
Check out this amazing place. There were even deer walking around with little fear of humans.
Middle Rae Lake
Deer looking for dinner.
Finally, right at 6:00 PM we found the camping area equipped with bear lockers.
We made it.
We picked this place to stay for the night because it had bear lockers. We are carrying out food in bear canisters, but our 7 days of food won't fit, so we can now store the extra food in the bear lockers for the night.
We found out campsite and went down to the lake to collect water for dinner. Look who we were greeted by:
We found out campsite and went down to the lake to collect water for dinner. Look who we were greeted by:
Deer at Middle Rae Lake
This place is just incredible! We ate dinner and were in our tents just after 8:00 PM. We were all pretty tired from climbing up and over two passes, plus, we all stayed up way too late the night before in our hotel rooms.
As a matter of fact, I only got through half of this blog till I had to call it quits because I was too tired to finish. I am now sitting here after lunch the next day completed this blog.
I guess I can't say "Until tomorrow" since it is already tomorrow, so I guess I will say, until tonight...
As a matter of fact, I only got through half of this blog till I had to call it quits because I was too tired to finish. I am now sitting here after lunch the next day completed this blog.
I guess I can't say "Until tomorrow" since it is already tomorrow, so I guess I will say, until tonight...
My incredible campsite on Middle Rae Lake.
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