- Today’s miles: 11.3 miles
- Ascent: 3,170 ft
- Descent: 768 ft
- Total Miles on Trip: 191.6
Despite being way up past hiker midnight (9:00 P.M.), Kevin and I are up and out of our tents by 5:30 A.M. There was some talk last night from our new friends about attempting a rock scramble off the top Glen Pass, but I’m doubtful it will happen.
As Kevin and I are packing-up camp, I notice Hot Pants is also awake. She is looking out at the clear reflection of the lake during the early morning. I don’t want to disturb her but I realize it’s exceedingly likely that I’ll never see her again. I approach her slowly and she seems to happy to have a last conversation. She laughs when I mention that her friends are still asleep. “It’s funny doing a weekend trip like this. On my PCT hike, so much of it was about getting the miles done. But now, I’m just trying to enjoy it. I’m getting better. Hiking in a group helps- you really don’t have much of a choice short of leaving your friends behind.”
A small silence ensues and a glance from Kevin indicates he’s ready to hike. So am I. We say good-bye to Hot Pants and Rae Lakes, and head towards what I suppose is the finale of Glen Pass.
Up, up, up. I’ve only had protein powdered coffee this morning and for the first time on the trip, experience somewhat of a bonking sensation. I’m assured by Kevin, who was a sports nutrition major in college, that this is most likely due to a lack of glycogen in my body. It’s not all that bad and I take some short intermittent breaks as we hike. Also, I remember the oatmeal that’s sitting at the top of my pack, waiting for me when I get to the top. I thinking of adding creamy and reach peanut butter to it.
As we get close to the top, we see a woman shuffling along ahead of us. Upon closer examination, she is incredibly carrying two packs. A large pack sits on her back and another sits on her chest. She steps aside to let us pass and Kevin asks how this came to be. “My boyfriend has altitude sickness so I’m helping him out,” she says, panting slightly. Sure enough, when we get to the top of Glen Pass, we see the guy who is waiting for his two-packed girlfriend. His head sits in his hands and he stares at the ground. I feel bad for the guy but not too bad, as he obviously has a bad-ass girlfriend.
It’s 10:45 A.M. when Kevin brings up the fact that he is, without a doubt, short on food. He has a a bit of jerky and a bar that needs to last him until dinner. It’s a little tense and I feel a little bad to have given away some of my food to pair of female hikers a couple of days ago. We still have the beginning of Forester Pass scheduled for today, climbing 2,000 feet in a little over five miles. I want to offer some of my food, but I have exactly as much as I need to last me until the end of the trip. I compromise and at lunch I give Kevin an extra bit of my salami.
As we hike up Forester Pass, I see strange things on trail. A man comes by with a cat perched on the top of his pack. The cat stares at me and the man smiles with a twinkle in his eye. I can’t say for sure but he has all of the looks of a PCT thru-hiker- tiny pack, dirt on his clothes, skinny. I wonder if he is hiking the whole PCT with the cat. Shortly after, a pack of mules comes from the opposite direction. I hear the bells in the distance and step 10 yards or so off trail. As the group of mules pass, a guy who looks a couple of years younger than me calls out “Talk to them as they go by! They won’t be as scared.”
Really? I do appreciate the concern for the animals, but I feel slightly ridiculous having a conversation with a pack of mules. I let out a couple of half-hearted “heyyy boys” and call that good.
Our campsite tonight is a flat ridge off the side of Forester Pass. We are forced to stop at 3 P.M. as the next campsite listed on Guthook is on the other side of the Pass. That’s another 2,000+ feet of climbing and an additional 5 miles or so- no thanks. It’s been an ongoing challenge this trip to be stopping in the early afternoon. There’s really nothing out here to distract you from your aching body and sometimes clouded thoughts. It’s not the worst thing but it’s also not easy.
As I walk to a nearby stream to fill-up on water, something shiny on the ground catches my eye. I walk over to investigate and find a Ziplock bag full of some unknown substance. I don’t think too much of it and casually mention it to Kevin back at camp. “Do you think it’s food?” Kevin asks. eagerly
“I didn’t look that close. But I guess it could be.” Without another word, Kevin walks over to go find it. He returns five minutes later with the Ziplock bag in hand. “It’s oatmeal,” he says with a smile on his face. “And I’m going to cook it.” I applaud his willingness and hope it turns out alright.
Right before official dinner (oatmeal snacks aside), I play a game of count how much food you have left. It turns out not to be as much fun when you already know the exact answer. As I pour an olive oil packet into a dehydrated chicken meal, I wonder what eating is going to be like when I’m off trail. I’ve already thought of the top 5 places of where I want to eat when I’m back in civilization. In no particular order, I have down Chipotle, In-n-Out, Cuban Food, and then a breakfast burrito and steak salad from a hometown spot called Orcutt Burger.
It’s probably not the most productive thought process but it seems out of my control. I try to bring my attention to what’s actually here- dehydrated chicken and a cookie for dessert. It works and after a bit, the chicken tastes not half bad and the cookie is heaven.
