PCT Hike Take 2 and ENGAGED!!

So I got some more time off work this year to hike more of the PCT.  After losing a day of hiking since our luggage didn't make it to Bakersfield after a 2 hour layover in LA, we finally got to Walker Pass to start where I left off last year.  It brought back so many memories from last year and seeing my name in the hiking registry at the campground.  I was so excited to continue the journey.  The first day we hiked 17 miles before we got water.  There was some water at 13 miles, but possible had uranium traces so we chose to hike 4 more miles.  We were so excited, we rarely had rest breaks and by the late afternoon we were exhausted and it was very hot out!! The trickle of a stream was exciting as we were totally out of water.  The next day we were tired and made sure we got more rest breaks.  We were going to make camp in the late afternoon, but the river was dry at the spot we were going to stop.  Maybe some slight mud, but that was it given the later part of the year and the low snow volume last winter.  There was water off trail over a mile each way.  I figured that we'd be almost halfway to where there was a bed, showers, laundry cooked meals and our re-supply.  We were tired but we did the flat 8 mile walk until into the night.  We finally make it and loved having our own trailer at Tom's.  It was great to have pancakes, burgers and get cleaned up.

It would have been to just hang out there all day, but we left in the afternoon to keep going.  It was a little hard to plan our day as we were moving slower than I was last year since I wasn't as fit so each day we didn't get quite as far as I thought, but at least we were just getting up when we felt like it and was a little more relaxed that way.  We hiked a couple more days before getting to the side trail to Mt Whitney.  We could have used a day off, but had 2 half days, but it's not the same.  By then, we were happy to get out of the really hot desert heat!!The night before Whitney a trail maintenance guy brought us some beer which was a nice treat!!.  I think we got a later start from it:).  Getting my blistered feet ready with our leopard and dragon duct tape:).

It was nice to carry only our stuff for the day up to Mt Whitney which is the highest peak in the continental US.  Nothing technical, but you still noticed the decreased O2 up that high.  Didn't know how Dan would do as he'd never been up that high, but he was fine - plus we had 5 days to acclimatize.  Hiking up from there was beautiful.  It was amazing to see where we had to go as you don't think there could be a trail but there was. Our campsite at Crabtree Meadows down below in the treed area.

We finally got to the top with a glorious view.  We could also see the town we were going to have our day off at, but it was 2 days away.  We had a fellow take out pick at the top, but Dan had other ideas.  He decided to ask me to marry him there!! What a surprise!!! Not that we hadn't talked about it, but I was not expecting that!! What a perfect place.  I did make sure he felt the same once he did have more O2 to his brain and he was still good with it;).  The rest of the trip had wedding/marriage planning throughout it.

                                ENGAGED!!!









After our tough and happily emotional day, the next day brought us the highest pass on the whole PCT.  Forrester Pass is 13000ft and steep climb.  Certainly easier than my pals who had to do it last year in June in the snow so I kept that in mind.  We saw this mule train at the bottom.  If the horses could do it so could I.  It was so beautiful, but we were very much in need of a day off and we tried to get out that day, but we were way too tired.  The next day we hiked 9 miles east over Kearsarge Pass and hitched to Independance.  It was rainy and windy off an on and a really, really good day to get out, get rested and clean.

We were so happy to rest as it had been too long.  The first night was just about food, rest and getting clean.  Our second night, we were going to go to the french restaurant in this little town to celebrate our engagement.  The owner decided not to open that day and the regular restaurant was also closed so we only had Subway.  Not the kind of celebratory dinner we had planned.

It felt so good to be rested and we flew back up the passes the next day to camp at Rae Lakes(above).  Camping by the lakes is beautiful, but it's also windier and colder.  We also woke up to lots of condensation and some frost when we camped by lakes.  Guess you can't have it all.  For the next 5-6 days, each day was up and over a big pass and down.  It was gorgeous, but not easier especially at altitude.  The hardest was up 4000ft elevation then down the same - repeat the following day to get to Muir Pass where there is a commemorative hut for the whom the trail is named after.  He's a legend in this world and I think he started the Sierra Club.  The trail was to get a little easier for us after this hut at 12000ft.

We had a half day to get to another rest stop at Muir Trail Ranch.  On the way there at the Evolution Creek Crossing, we had to put on our sandals to cross so we were at the other side and Clara Hughes and her husband were hiking the opposite direction.  I immediately recognized her and debated whether to say anything after a lot of media with the Olympics she just competed in, but I had to.  We chatted for a few minutes and she's just like she is on TV.  Her hubby had also hiked the whole PCT years ago so was quite experienced.

We got to our own cabin and some great hotsprings at the Ranch.  The food was amazing!!!  Dan's little toe was getting infected and quite sore though.  It was looking better than it had so we decided to keep hiking to Mammoth Lakes and see how it was.  It was not looking better by then so we cut our hike short 2 days.  No big deal after almost 3 amazing weeks of hiking and it should be fun. Here was our last hiking day and campsite.

We went to Lake Tahoe had a good rest for a few days!!  Can't wait to return to the trail for more, but that's good enough for now. Here's us on the beach waiting to have a sunset dinner.

Cathedral Lakes Hike

     We finally did another backpacking trip.  I had been up to Cathedral Lakes outside of Keremeos before, but it had been many years.  You can take a jeep ride up a rough logging road up to a lodge and be very comfortable from there.  But, since we have to do a lot of elevation, both up and down, on the PCT we hiked the 16km up and down.  Beautiful spot to camp up there, but busy as a lot of people just take the jeep.  We did a couple of rim hikes before heading down.  It was very hot this weekend which will also get us ready for the start of our hike.  All equipment worked this trip, but my body is not as fit as it was last summer so sore from the workouts.

Stein Valley

We were looking for somewhere to backpack now that we finally have summer. The problem was a lot of the alpine was still under snow if we hiked for any distance. Since we are going back to the PCT later in the summer for 3 1/2 weeks, we needed to get some mileage under our belt. I found that the trails in the Stein Valley were clear. Only problem was that the ferry to cross the Fraser River at Lytton wasn't running due to high water levels. I found out there was a train crossing that had a pedestrian walkway across the river so we mountain biked with our packs on to the trailhead!!

We saw that the valley was smoky, but did ask beforehand and there was a fire, but south of where we were. Phew! We hiked in only a couple of kms Fri night. The Stein River was very high, very fast and very dangerous if you happened to fall in. We had a steady climb up the valley until we bushwacked for almost an hour and finally just turned around after we'd had enough. Plus it was full of bugs!!! I don't think I've had so many bites before.

We camped by the suspension bridge and enjoyed a good bottle of wine. Didn't take much to feel a little tipsy after the hike on a hot day. Little did we know but the squirrels there are really hungry. We woke up to the straps on both of our brand new poles eaten off!! Never in my 15 years of backpacking has this ever happened!! I had also bought a new alcohol stove, but got the wrong alcohol so it took forever to boil 2 cups of water. I also left the cutlery in the car. I was really messing up, but we managed. Had to eat/drink our omelettes out of our cups:).

Had a good hike back out, but it was getting really hot. We found a couple of other hikers who were waiting at the trailhead for a guy who giving shuttle rides back to the train crossing. We were all over that and loaded up our bikes. Overall, a successful trip. Dan had not been backpacking in over 30 years and he did great and loved it:) One step closer to the PCT trip.

Jamaica, Mon!!

I just got back from an amazing trip to Jamaica with Dan. Survived our first vacation with flying colours:). Of course, they say one week isn't long enough and it really wasn't. We had great weather with only a little refreshing rain. We stayed in Negril on the far west coast of the island that is known for their beaches and fabulous sunsets at a great resort, Breezes. There was a 7 mile beach which was perfect for morning runs. We relaxed the first couple of days just taking in the beach and water sports.

Dan took his first scuba lesson so we did go out a couple of times. I found a big chuck of coral in his life-jacket pocket so I took it out of there as I thought he was stealing which is illegal to do so. I hadn't seen the instructor put it there to help his buoyancy so he had trouble with it afterwards. Oops!!

Here's the view from our room and me just relaxing in the room at the end of the afternoon.









We rented a car to drive around the island in two days. They drive on the left side of the road with lots of potholes!! Dan was a brave man to drive. He did think it was fun. Forget the Wii video driving games, just drive in Jamaica!!! We hiked up Dunn's River Falls in Ochos Rios which had slippery rocks, but very fun.





We, then, had the most adventuresome part of our trip - driving the backroads on a Saturday night. We wanted to get to the trailhead to hike up to the highest point of Jamaica. The road just kept getting narrower, more potholes, more cliffs and less road signs. Plus a lot of drunk Jamaicans on a Saturday night to deal with and ask directions of. It was a very scary drive and, while Dan did a great job, my quads were sore after the drive from bracing from the scariness and close calls. We had a flat tire and 4 tall, young Jamaicans came out to help us and luckily that's all they wanted to do. Phew!!! Just after midnight we reached our goal and luckily one of the guesthouses had a place for us to stay. We didn't reserve anything - that would have taken too much planning. We were relieved to have a bed and a safe place for our vehicle so it wouldn't be stripped down overnight.

We hired a guide to take us to the peak. We had read that the trail had a lot of detours, and since I have been lost in the woods before, we thought it best to know where to go. In the end we didn't need him at all, but he was full of good information and we were supporting a local. Had a great hike on a beautiful day. It was in the Blue Mountains where they are known for their coffee so we got some at a non-tourist shop rate!!







It was great to see the island and see more of the Jamaican culture, but we were really happy to have a break from the driving. The next day was a swim with the dolphins:). I have always wanted to be around dolphins and while I'm not supportive of their captivity, I had to do it once. We even got to pet and hold a nurse shark which are powerful creatures, but they are the most docile of all sharks. Still, didn't want to get near their teeth.















The end of our days we just spent back at our resort, getting souvenirs, dancing to reggae, etc. We certainly did not want to leave and would love to go back. We may not make it back there too soon as there are many other places to check out, mon.