Campsite of Dreams

Everybody enjoyed sleeping in this morning, and when we finally got up it was us versus mosquito again. Not ideal to be breaking up camp fully clothed in rain pants, long-sleeves and bug-net when you want to have a relaxed breakfast, with the prospect of wanting to get rid of all that warm clothing fast enough after leaving camp again. Still it beats being being stung to misery by swarms of the little devils. I did enjoy finding my untouched food-bag still hanging safely from the tree.
When getting ready to leave, Brightsight came cruising past (he got his trail-name after crushing Mr. Brightside by the Killers, when we were doing Karaoke in Idyllwild) . He started the PCT on the same day as us, and we hiked 2 weeks together in the beginning of the trip, before he put on a faster pace and raced ahead. He had to get off trail for 2 weeks, and got back on trail in Kennedy Meadows, leaving a day after we did. It was good hiking together again and to catch up.
Today we’d hike over Pinchot Pass, and after dropping down into the valley first, we started on the 7 mile climb. We crossed a suspension bridge over the river, and later chilled out along a snow-melt stream, which flowed rapidly over a sheet of rock; pretty cool. The Canadian family who’d taken a zero in Bishop had already caught up with us, which is great because it’s always fun to have them around.
In the morning we hit the 800 mile-stone! Eiiiight Hundooooo Baby! It was good that the four of us were hiking together when we passed it. Better to share those moments with friends. The climb up to Pinchot Pass was tough, and all of us felt like we were making slow progress (which was in fact true). The views however were once again from out of this world.
I was happy to catch Jukebox and Pops around lunchtime, settled down beside a small lake. Unfortunately it was swarming with mosquito’s again, so out came the long clothing and bug-net. Once the protective gear was put on however, I enjoyed the break and it wasn’t all that bad. After lunch it was time to book it the final 2 miles onto the pass. I played a playlist with a random collection of music and stepped into my little music-time-machine. Lots of the songs that played brought back beautiful memories from my time during University and Earth Sciences, and I enjoyed revisiting some of those great memories of time spend with friends.
The last bit of the climb onto the pas was not so bad, and when reaching the top everybody was real relieved and in a great mood. Another pass checked off the list.
We hadn’t really settled on a campsite yet, but all of us were ready to call it a day pretty soon. We’d make up for the miles tomorrow and try to hike out at early. The other side of the pass was again totally different from the side we climbed up, and we were hoping to find a lakeside spot to pitch our tents. A couple of miles down we found some free spots, and we couldn’t believe our luck; this place was unbelievably pretty, probably one of the most gorgeous campsites we’ve had on trail yet.
We filled our water-bottles and couldn’t stop raving about the amazing beauty surrounding us, we had 360 degrees views. After setting up camp, we moved away from our tents a couple hundred feet to have dinner (because of bear-threat, no food near camp). The sun started setting and the colorful clouds in the sky made for great panoramas.
This is truly a magical place, and after finishing dinner and me hanging my food in a tree again, we all just sat on the rocks to watch the sky change colors before it got dark. I have the storm-doors of my tent open on the side of the lake, such that when I wake up tomorrow I will be able to enjoy the amazing views again; should make for a great way to start the day.
800 miles in, and day 58 on trail; good times. I wonder how,
I wonder why,
I wonder where they are,
The days we had, the songs we sang together

And oh, my love
I’m holding on forever,
Reaching for a love that seems so far…

So I say a little prayer
and hope my dreams will take me there
Where the skies are blue,
To see you once again,
My love
Over seas from coast to coast,
To find the place I love the most
Where the fields are green,
to see you once again,
My Love

My Love – Westlife