Excuse the lack of videos. Sometimes ”upgrades” to apps are not really updates but ”downdates” so I couldn’t attach my videos to the blogs as I used to. Here is the link to the following video, still in Washington. I will try and post the others or feel free and visit ”a tale from a trail” on youtube 😊

The newly updated weather forecast did change our plans, freezing cold, wet and snow forecast for the next two days. So we decided to “pop out” to Mammoth. No shuttle, so it was hitchhiking – a couple of German guys on a car holiday picked us up and took us directly to Mammoth. Found a motel, bought seam sealant for the tent, showered, ate pizza and had a very cosy night in the warmth. Meanwhile it stormed in the mountains, we woke to fresh snow on the hills above town – smart move bailing to Mammoth.

The following day we pitched the tent in the motel room (just fitted) and seam sealed the Palace. After 175 days pitching the tent everyday it’s not surprising the seams needed sealing. Afterwards I went to the Library and updated the blog, Anna did the laundry, nice to be in town and not freezing our butts off in the mountains. Hopefully this is just a tiny cold snap and not the new normal weather.

The following day we took the morning bus back to Tuolumne Meadows and resumed walking. A cold start but a lovely day. We met hikers who had been out during the bad weather who had frozen – great decision to bail. Donahue Pass was the destination for the day, our first of the high passes between us and the end of the High Sierras (11,000 feet – 3,300 meters). At the same time we had also joined the John Muir Trail (JMT), a famous High Sierra trail popular with many across the world that you need to book years in advance. Although late in the season, the PCT and JMT trails joining meant there were lots of people on the trail.

We camped 2 miles over Donohue Pass, minus 12 degrees overnight but luckily no wind. Cold but beautiful, impressive mountains, plenty of gorgeous alpine lakes. Walked to Reds Meadows and climbed over the hill to camp at a lovely lake near the bus stop to Mammoth again. Next morning got the free bus back into Mammoth to resupply (we’d only been gone 2 nights). Got an updated weather forecast – another lot of bad weather forecast for later in the week. The problem with the bad weather is that we still need to do half a dozen high passes which are obviously more tricky in bad weather.

We decided to stay in Mammoth again and recheck the forecast the following morning. Next day the forecast had improved so we decided to continue, there are a number of bailing options along the way so we thought we’d see how far we could safely get. Back on the free “Trolley Bus” to Horseshoe lake and onto the trail. An easy’ish 20kms got us to Purple Lake, again lovely views along the way but still pretty cold and windy. Anna found a lovely sheltered campsite away from the lake where we put up the seam sealed Palace. Fingers crossed the weather holds out!

Again a tad cold overnight and again a stunning sunny day. The scenery in the High Sierras is like a visual orgy of wonderful landscapes. Large rivers, lots of lakes, mountains every which way you turn and all pretty stunning. The eastern Sierras are however relatively arid so the alpine areas are pretty barren – hence the hesitation to cross high passes in poor weather – there is no where to hide up there. Not having huts like we do in New Zealand (because they believe it gets in the way of the “wilderness” feeling) you only have your tent to hide in.

Eventually we made it to Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR) by taking there ferry across the lake. They are in the process of closing down (as is everyone else) but at least we could buy some food, have a shower and do our laundry. We were the only PCT hikers camping there, most people are skipping VVR as they think it’s already closed. Onward to Kearsarge Pass and the end of our High Sierra adventure……..