Journey Day 54 | PCT Day 54

Mt. Olancha, California

6/9/85

Up to iced sleeping bags and gear. We dry as best we can, pack and off to megaclimbs to Mt. Olancha.

Very rigorous, sweat pouring as we work our way up the ridges leading to break spot. Lost at least once, we finally determine our locale and climb to great viewpoint from Olancha to Sierra Peaks.

Just as I note our remoteness and distance from other people, several groups with nothing more than day packs pass us. Sleepy, we eat big, rest for the downhill.

Down we go to Gomez Meadows. Rocks and pines, pines and rocks. Taken for granite after awhile.

But we enjoy good views, nice landscape and hike down to more water. At lunch break, I manage to spill most of the fuel that was supposed to take me all the way to Tuolumne Meadows at the end of the John Muir Trail. I’m incredulous, as is Keith. We decide to conserve, use Keith’s and hope to buy or otherwise acquire some along the way. 

Hiked down past amazing granite formations, through pine forests. Cross several nice streams, but we decide to wait until Gomez Meadows for water. All we get there is mosquitoes, which are becoming a problem. We push on as they bite me all over.

We struggle on toward a creek the guidebook says is at the mouth of Death Canyon. Bugs persist, we’re exhausted, nearly delirious. Spot water off the trail. I suggest looking for a crossing of the trail. When none shows up, we stop. I go for and find water down the creekbed from a dry portion of the creek. It looks good, but we’re resigned to filtering.

I bring back the water and we have an agua party. We alternate drinking cupfuls. Quenched, we cook and eat. 

Bear bag #2: A struggle, but we get the bags about eight feet off the ground after three tries. I’m testy, but no angry exchanges.

We crash in tents, tired from a long, hard day. Amazingly new boots no trouble. Only a minor heel problem on the right foot, which Ens’ mole foam, special care seems to have remedied. We’ll see.