Journey Day 78 | PCT Day 78

Pacific Crest Trail, near Sonora Pass, California.

7/3/85

Up real early, we ditch camp to dodge bugs. Skipping breakfast turns out to be a mistake. Grab a food bar, shed outerwear, hike on. Alone as I hike up out of canyon along creek to Dorothy Lake Pass. Long meadows, creekside walking make for more of those delightful mosquitoes. But changing scenery to volcanic rocks makes for a diversion.

Learn from passing hikers the others are just ahead. Finish up, find Eric getting water below ridge near pass and lake. Take long break in a reasonably bug-free spot.

Up from break, I head out alone. Top pass after Dorothy Lake. Then down past several lakes. Take a swim break at Lake Harriet. On down, lose Keith and Eric. Land turns from glacial to volcanic origin. Wait by crossing of creek. Finally Keith and Eric show up, having been lost. I lead the group across a broken bridge. Jeff hops log upstream.

Another 1.6 miles hiked to meadow camp spot near waterfall. Bushed from hike, only food bar and prunes to eat all day. Cook quick, then hightail it into tents as bugs discover us. Writing this last thing before I crash. Tomorrow on the 4th of July, we’ll be at Sonora Pass.