PCT Day 48

     <--PREVIOUS                                                                                                           NEXT--> 

PCT Day 48, 29 June 2022 (Wednesday)

"On The Way To Lake Edison, A Light Bulb Switched On"

Start Location:	Wilderness Campsite Before VVR Trail Junction	Destination:	Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR)
PCT Miles Day 48:	6.5	Cum PCT Miles:	878.7
Non-PCT Miles Day 48:	8.5	Cum All Miles:	956.3
PCT Miles Remaining:	1,773.9
Elevation Gain Day 48:	970	Cum Elevation Gain:	156,704

 

Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR) is located at Lake Thomas A. Edison.  It’s a fairly large man-made lake located south of Mammoth Lakes and west of Round Valley.  It’s pretty popular with PCT and JMT hikers as they are very hiker friendly.

There are multiple options on how to get here, so you really have to think about what works best for you.  The Bear Ridge Trail is by far the most popular option, and is promoted by VVR as the best option, probably because it’s the fastest way for northbound hikers to get there.

However, it’s a 2,000 foot descent from the PCT down the Bear Ridge Trail to the resort; this is all on a side trail, meaning that to have a continuous footpath for a true thru hike, you have to go back up those same 2,000 feet over 5 miles to rejoin the PCT where you left it.

Alternately, you can travel another 4.2 miles down the PCT, which also includes the 2,000 foot decent.  Then it’s another 6.5 miles on the Lake Trail, also a side trail, to get to VVR.  But, this means you don’t have to go back up those 2,000 feet to get back to the PCT.  There is also the option to catch a ferry in the morning that eliminates much of the 6.5 mile hike back on the side trail.  Overall, going this way is a longer distance, but saves a lot of climbing back up hill.

When I got to the Bear Ridge Trail junction, I started going down, but then stopped to think whether that was really the best option.  After looking at the mileage and elevation profile, I decided going via the Lake Trail was really the better option.  It was like a light bulb going off.  Though it did take longer to get there, everything worked out great.  I got to VVR in plenty of time to do everything I wanted to do.

They are serving a BBQ meal here tonight, should be better than my normal hiker dinner.

BTW, as an indication of the dirt bag hiker I've become, when I got to VVR it'd been six days since I'd had a shower.   You can pay for a shower at VVR, but I thought naw, it's only two more days until I get to Mammoth.   If it's already been six days, what's two more days?

Seven Gables peak on the way to VVR
 

 

    <--PREVIOUS                                                                                                             NEXT-->