Still pretty tired from yesterday’s late arrival, I slept in. To be honest I wasn’t too excited to start hiking today. On today’s schedule would be Forester Pass, the highest point on the PCT (13200 ft). I knew that after the 24 miles from yesterday, my legs would be heavy and today would be a grind. Me and the Canadians, who also summited Whitney yesterday earlier during during the day, left the campsite around 1100. Tomorrow we’re heading into Lone Pine, a little town off the PCT. If we manage to arrive there before 1400, we’re going to be thrilled; There’s a restaurant there which serves unlimited pizza for 10 bucks before 1400, so that’s good motivation to book it hard in the morning. As expected my energy was quite low, but the views were amazing. The landscape changed dramatically, and I found myself often amazed with the beauty I was immersed in.
After a nice break and a hearty lunch I felt my energy return and I was finally able to hit my stride during the afternoon. I was steadily pacing on, hoping to catch the Canadians who I’d lost during the day. This part of the Sierras is so gorgeous, it could easily be used in a Hollywood film. Absolutely amazing. Once more I felt very lucky to be out here.
Nearing the end of the day, Forester Pass came into sight. I looked up at the massive wall of rock, through which apparently was trail found its way up. A grueling climb at the end of an already strenuous section awaited… I’d been hiking alone the entire day, and without music to give me that extra push, I expected a real challenge. It was.
The haul up Forester Pass (the v-shaped bit in the middle of the next photo) felt like my longest mile on the PCT so far. But with many, many breaks,a a lot of patience, and thoughts of getting into town tomorrow, it got done. As I stood at the pass, panting, and regenerating I soaked in the views. There I stood. A tiny spec of a person surrounded with nothing but bare granite and cliffs on every direction. The views into either valley were breathtaking.
It was 1900, the sun was setting and I still hadn’t caught up with the others. Time to book it downhill. Even though I was flying, didn’t manage to catch up with them. I expect I should do so tomorrow morning, somewhere during the continuous final 14 miles descent.
It was getting dark fast now, but during the moments of the early dusk I could still explore the area on the other side of the Forrester Pas. As if I hiked into an entirely new ecosystem, the complete change of scenery was so beautiful it looked like a fairy-tale land. There were lakes and creeks everywhere, with lush green meadows and pine-trees, everything surrounded by majestic mountains covered in snowy patches. What a landscape! Totally worth the grind up the pass. I am camped on what I believe is one of the most beautiful spots I will spend the night yet. Hopefully tomorrow morning with enough light, I will be able to snap some photo’s that do it justice.
Warn your warmth to turn away,
Here it’s December,
Everyday.
Press your lips to the sculptures,
And surely you’ll stay.
Love like winter
For of sugar and ice,
I am made. I am made
She exhales vanilla lace
I barely dreamt her, yesterday (yesterday)
Read the lines in the mirror through the lipstick trace
(Por siempre)
She said, “It seems you’re somewhere far away,”
To his face
Love like Winter – AFI
