PCT Day 43

 

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PCT Day 43, 24 June 2022 (Friday)

"Hard To Pass Up"

Start Location:	Independence	Destination:	Middle Rae Lake
PCT Miles Day 43:	4.5	Cum PCT Miles:	793.5
Non-PCT Miles Day 43:	8.0	Cum All Miles:	859.8
PCT Miles Remaining:	1,859.1
Elevation Gain Day 43:	1,509	Cum Elevation Gain:	141,505

 

Today was off to a good start, with the Mt. Williamson Motel serving a better than average motel breakfast.  Then several of us got on the shuttle at 8 AM to go back to Onion Valley Campground.  From there it was another good hike back up to Kearsarge Pass and then down to re-join the PCT.

Today’s stats don’t look very impressive, but the Kearsarge Pass Trail is a little over 7.5 miles and about 2,500 feet of elevation gain, but it doesn’t count since it’s a side trail and not the PCT.

The remainder of what I hiked today was, essentially, the approach to Glen Pass, going over the pass, and then down to Rae Lakes.

Glenn pass is, by reputation, the toughest pass to go over on the PCT/JMT.  However, while challenging, I don’t think it lives up to its reputation.  I think people perceive it’s tough because you have already done the somewhat taxing Kearsarge Pass earlier in the day, and most people are carrying 5 to 7 days worth of food.  So the food weight is very heavy, and this makes any hiking more challenging.  The views from Glen Pass, though, are very impressive with lakes everywhere you look.

This is monsoon season in the Sierra.  As I started going down Glen Pass, the clouds were starting to gather.  Soon after, it started lightly raining and then hailing.  It continued to rain for several hours.  These monsoon storms are not supposed to last that long, but this one just seemed to want to linger over where I was for an extended period of time.

I got my tent set up at Middle Rae Lake, so this will be the first real test of how waterproof my tent is.  This is the earliest I have ever got to a campsite.  I am trying not to get ahead on this stretch, so I arrive at Mammoth Lakes on schedule and not early.

 Looking down at the Onion Valley Campground

On the way up the Kearsarge Pass Trail from Onion Valley

Kearsarge Pass Again, this time with blue skies

Kearsarge Lakes on the way down from the pass

Charlotte Lake and Charlotte Dome (the interesting rock formation to the right)

Looking up towards Glen Pass

Icy blue tarn near the base of Glen Pass

From the top of Glen Pass looking north towards Rae Lakes

Atop Glen Pass, 11,957 ft., and no scraggly facial hair since I shaved in Bishop

Upper Rae Lake, Glen Pass is to the right of the cone-shaped peak

A stone bowl of water from today's monsoon storm

 

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