Day 65, I'm seeing Red

June 24,

Bear creak ford mile 869 to Cascade Valley trail jct. mile 888

hiked 19 miles

I slept in a little bit. I didn't get on the trail tilll 7:45am. I wore my camp shoes and forded the creek with them to keep my other shoes dry. I walked the 1 mile in them to the next ford. Then changed into my shoes. Its nice to be able to keep the shoes dry. But I have carried those shoes for over 800 mile and really only needed them 3 times... yeah I don't think they will be with me for to much longer.

I feel a little tired from yesterday but, I can't sit around and rest I want to do 20- 25 miles today make tomorrow an easy day into town.

I was cruising along and I caught up to Cheeseburger, CrackerJack and DangerSpoon. We all took a break in this cool area that over looked the valley and there was cell service!!! I tried to call Jordan but of course she didn't answer. (sleeping, she works nights) so I called my pops and talked to him for a bit. I also checked my emails and what not. It's nice to get reconnected with the rest of the world. I would prefer to always have service. I'm not the type that wants to go out in wild to be "Disconnected".

We passed the first exit to VVR. I know there is a lot of hikers there right now. I'm sure it would be fun if I went. But I got other places to be.

And then it happened... I'm seeing red, from somewhere you don't want to see red. So I stopped to take a piss so I went next to the closest tree to do my business. Holy shit my pee is red. Seriously I'm Pissing Blood right now... I've never had that happen before so I am freaked out. I came to this ridge and had cell service again so I started to google my symtom so many things can cause this so I have no idea. I have been taking vitamin I, (never more than the recommended daily dosage) dehydration, vigorous excise, infections all can cause blood in the urine. So I don't know. I feel fine otherwise. I have to pee constantly. And it's all red. I'm freaking out man.

I keeping going. I have to keep hiking to get somewhere. So I decided I was going to go to VVR. At least I'll be by roads and other people if I need to go to the hospital. The second exit to go to VVR is coming up soon. I told CrackerJack and DangerSpoon what I was going to do and I headed down the trail to VVR. I got about half a mile down the trail and had service so I checked google maps and saw that VVR is 5 HOUR drive to get from mammoth To VVR. I not going to have Jordan do thatch extra driving to pick me up...

Screw it I'm hiking to Reds Meadows and going to mammoth! I turned around and started hiking faster.

I started climbing silver pass. Which really really sucks. My hiking speed is very slow at this point. I hate passes. I hate the sierras... I am in a hate mood right now I can't stand the fact that we go up a pass just to go down into a valley just to go right back up again for the next pass. I am hate hiking at this point. Jabbing my poles into to ground and kicking rocks like a little kid throwing a tantrum. I'm pissing blood I just want to get to mammoth and out of here, I'm over it.

I reached the top of silver take a break... Take a breath and realize I'm in such a shitty head space right now. And I don't like. As I sitting down I look around and realize where I am and how amazing it is up here. Silver pass is nice. There are a shit load of skeeters, sigh. But I put on my use my pinardin wipes and put on the head net and all is good. I really need to get a better handle on my thoughts cause they are running wild. This has been super challenging, mentally and physically. I managed to get a handle on things and take back everything I was hating on. ( I still hate passes lol)



You can see Giant in this photo. I met him at Kennedy Meadows.


Dang finger ruins another photo.



I'm sitting on a the otherside of the pass taking another break and there are less skeeters here. I'm about to drop down into that valley below which I'm sure is going to be skeeter hell. Haha. It's cool I'm ready for the little pests (I'm being nice to what I really want to call them ;)

I hiked on and got to the cascade valley trail where I saw a S and an arrow point to the right. Which is where Danger Spoon was camped. I went over and he was hiding in his tent from the skeeters. They are out in full force and worst than I have ever seen. This is the campsite called skeeter hell as far as I'm concerned.

I set up my tent filled up my water bladder by the stream near by. Jumped into my tent with my pack as fast as possible. There was a swarm of skeeters between my screen and rain fly they are going crazy it's ridiculous. Unpacked my stuff made dinner and quickly put my bear can in my vestibule with the swarm. I set the alarm for 3:30 I'm going to hike the almost 20 miles and get to mammoth brewery by noon! That's the goal. Time to get it together and kick ass tomorrow. The blood has cleared out and is back to normal for now.

I sleep and hope to dream about the glorious beer to be had tomorrow!

- Posted from my iPhone

Day 64, going for 30

June 23

Muir hut mile 838.55 to...

I awake as my alarm goes off at 4am and quickly shut it off. I have a mission to accomplish today. I start the up the jet boil and make my usual breakfast. Get out my snacks for the day. Quietly pack up my stuff eat breakfast. Put on my layers and head out the door. The air is crisp and chilly outside of the hut. 5:25am the sun is peaking over the mountains. And I am off.


I love hiking in the morning. So amazing. I can't believe I get to see this stuff everyday. I always feel so good in the morning. To bad I can't maintain that through out the day. haha



A little selfie action in my chair.

So the miles are pretty much Rollin by so quickly and effortlessly. Is not even 12:30 and I already have 19 miles!

That's all going to change real quick. I still have Selden pass to go up and over.

I'm cruising along and Selden pass is kicking my butt I hate mountain passes. So much work just to come back down.

Yeah they suck but the view is nice.


I wish I could stay for a bit. It's so nice here. It's a shame this really really nice area is spoiled by the swarms of skeeters. Bug net on and just keep moving.


I am still feeling good and I check half mile looks like...


I did it! I camped on top of Muir Pass.


I wrote a 30 on the ground. So happy, It's just one of those little goals I've had since the begining. For one reason or another I just haven't been able to hit 30 miles in a day.

I only went .69 miles more. I decided I didn't want to ford the bear creek till the morning. There was a guy with his 12 year old son camped near by I asked if they mind if I camp near by. Nice guy I chat with him for a bit while I set up my tent. and ate my dinner.

The dam skeeters here are enough to drive you insane. my whole body is covered up so at least they cant bite me. I hate them so much I want to invent something that attract them, kills them. Kind of like a bug zapper but small and portable. I would place them all around my campsite and throughout the sierras and take great pleasure as they all die... haha see I told you, enough to drive you insane.

I quickly do my chores, like set up the tent, get water, filter the water, eat dinner, stash the bear can somewhere, clean the feet and legs. Then quickly unzip the tent jump in and zip it up real quick. It takes a few minutes to kill the few skeeters that got in. The bottom of my tent is littered with their dead bodies.

I lay in my sleeping bag feeling great and with a since of accomplishment two more days and I will be in Mammoth. The fact that I have come so far today I'm surprised my body isn't all beat up. Just the feet are a little sore, but thats nothing new.

Finished at mile 869.15 Bear creek ford.

Hiked 30.69 miles!

- Posted from my iPhone

Day 63, Muir Pass

June 22

Campsite at mile 824 to Muir Hut mile 838

Hiked 14 miles

My alarm went off at 4:30 but I just couldn't do it. I am just so beat up from yesterday. Around 5 I can hear the Hammock crew getting ready to go. I wake up shortly after and I am alone. Everyone else has gone. I make my breakfast and slowly start to pack up. It's 8:30 by the time I'm on the trail. I'm only going to the Muir Hut today cause I really want to spend the night there.

The trail leaves this little valley and finally starts climbing again. I climbed over 3,000ft and came to this really awesome lake. The thought crosses my mind to jump in. Instead I lay down and watch the frogs and tadpoles swim around.


These two frogs are actually getting it on lol. It's really nice here. I am blown away by how many awesome little lakes I have seen so far.


so nice laying in the the grass. really nice and soft to. The ground is like squishy soft I love it.



I couldn't help but notice the tips on my trekking pole are completely gone and wearing down the pole really fast.



This is what the tip looks like brand new lol. It's time for new poles I need to order some new ones when I get to Mammoth Lakes.

I only have a mile left to go and the trail goes through a lot of stream crossings and what not. Check out the water up here!



I love that color blue I think it's my new favorite color. Drinking the water from these little Glacier lakes is my favorite thing to do.

I ran into my first Ranger. I started talking to this guy going south bound and didn't even realize it was a ranger at first. He was carrying a backpack and Thought he was a JMT hiker. He was a super nice guy. He was pretty young to, I would guess mid 20's max. He asked if I had a permit I told him I did. (which I do) We chit chated a little bit about the trail and parted ways.

I lost the trail a couple times on my way up. There is a little snow here and there. But it's pretty easy to get through. I found the trail and actually kicked a new trail through the snow about 50ft or so. It was pretty fun. even though it was the early afternoon the snow was hard enough to hold me up.

At last I have arrived. This is another one of those moments I have been waiting for.


The Muir Hut.




It's this awesome little stone hut. Lets go inside and check out my home for the night.


That is the ceiling, so cool.


There is the sign that says no camping in the hut. haha I'm going to anyways this place is huge on the inside. it's to bad the fire place was cemented up. That would be so cool to pack some fire wood up here and have a fire.

So I have the whole place all to myself. I start to settle in. I make my bed and start cooking dinner when someone comes in the door. It's Adam (He's from Fort Collins, CO). I met him and his hiking partner Andy just after Kennedy Meadows. He was alone though. I asked him about Andy, and he went home. I guess he had enough wilderness and hiking. I told Adam of my plan to camp here for the night. He decided to join me. We talked for a bit while we cooked and ate our dinners. I had Vegan chilly and Adam had what he called poor mans pad thai. Roman noodles, peanut butter and siratcha hot sauce. Hmm that actually sounds really good. I have to try that in the near future.

Just before dark we are joined by two other characters. Apache (a different Apache not my friend from earlier) and Merry Poppins. They also decided to stay in the hut for the nights. They asked if we saw the Ranger. I guess he asked to see there thru hiker permits lol.

So I told them all that I was going to be waking up at 4am and doing 30 miles tomorrow. They thought that was crazy. But they said go for it. It wouldn't bother them if I woke up that early. They even said it was cool if I make breakfast to. (running the jet boil is noisy)

I checked guthooks map and it looks like I have a lot of down hill tomorrow which would be perfect for doing a 30 mile day.



I want to do 30 mile day before my 30th birthday which is coming up real soon. This may be my last chance before then. So I figure I can just run down this mountain and hopefully get up and over that next little hill. haha I mean mountain which is Selden pass. I can do this. I am motived and I will be well fed and rested.

Only those who risk going to far can possibly find out how far they can go. - T.S. Ellot

It's warm in the shelter, really warm. I dont even need my sleeping bag. It's so peaceful and nice. Tomorrow, the big day. We shall see...


- Posted from my iPhone

Day 62, Pinchot and Mathers Pass

June 21

Woods Creek mile 799 to Campsite at mile 824

Hiked 24 miles

I was slow waking up. I didn't get up as early as I had wanted to. But I ate breakfast and packed up all my things and I was on the trail by 6am. I have 7 miles till I reach Pinchot Pass. Then 9 miles to get to the top of Mather Pass. After that is all bonus miles. I want to get as close to the next pass as possible which is Muir Pass.

Right after the campsite is a bridge. After that the 800 mile mark!

After the video I forgot to take a photo at the 800 mark. I realized it .27 after the fact. Oh well.



A few miles later I have have a call on line 2 and it's time to dig a hole. I went off tail a ways and find a nice big rock to hide behind. I notice there is some paper on the ground in front of the rock. I sit down my pack grab out my hole digging device. I notice the paper is pages from Yogi's book the town guide section we all tear out the pages and carry them for whatever section we are on. The pages where torn in half and wrinkled up and.... Gross there is brown streaks on them. I look around a little more and notice a little dried pile of poop. Not only did this idiot leave trash everywhere they didn't even both to burry their shit. So frustrating. I did my business used a stick and collected the pages and buried them. The thought crossed my mind to pack out the paper. But I'm no saint I'm not going to carry someone elses poo covered paper for the 5 days.

Whatever time to move on, I can't dwell on other people lack of responsibility...

I don't know if I ever mentioned this before.


So the PCT is no longer just the PCT we are now on the John Muir Trail (JMT). The PCT and JMT will be the same trail throughout the Sierras. it's crazy how many JMTer's that I have passed by already. I'm not used to seeing people walking the opposite direction all the time. I am so used to stopping and talking to everyone that I see out on the trail. But with the JMTer's there is almost no point. I'll never see them again.

So Pinchot pass was pretty easy nothing exciting to report about that. I mean it was easy in the sense that there wasn't much snow. Right after the pass I sat here for lunch.





It was a great stop. I even got to test the water tightness of my iPhones Life Proof case...

I was sitting there eating lunch, and a light gust of wind came up and blew a ziplock bag in the lake. So I sat up right away to grab the bag out of the lake and I forgot my phone was in my lap... yup, splash went the phone sinking quickly to the bottom. OH SHIT! I was wearing my long sleeve shirt but no time to take it off I reached into the freezing water to grab it the water is deeper than I thought. I got wet all the way up to my neck. Dam that water is cold. Lucky the Life Proof case saved the day. haha.

The views through this area are amazing. It's just a consist photo opportunity. But I end up not taking anymore photos the rest of the day.

The views are mind numbing amazing. I find myself just passing by instead of stopping to admire. I look but only for a moment. I actually don't have the luxury of taking it all in like I would like to. I only have so much food with me and I have so far to go. When I was planning my resupply I planned on doing 20+ mile days through the sierras just like through the desert. Come to find out sierras are tough. Most people do 15-18 miles a day through here. Tomorrow I will pry end up doing a shorter day cause I want to sleep in the Muir Hut on top of Muir Pass. but after that I am going to have to do at least one 30 mile day! I need to get to Reds Meadows before I run out of food. I also need to get there before Jordan gets into town.

I got to the top of Mather pretty late in the afternoon. Going down Mather pass sucks. I don't see the trail or foot prints in the snow this really sucks there is a lot of snow here. I don't even know where to go. I hate Mountain passes at this point. I am sick of climbing. I ended up going down over these big boulders it was super sketchy large holes and gaps to fall into and get a leg caught. I must have gone the wrong way cause this really really sucks. I hate Mathers lol. I eventually made it through. I'm finally on the trail again and all is well. except it's starting to get dark and I need to find a campsite preferably with other people. After my "fun" night with mountain lions I prefer not to camp alone or night hike.

I came across 2 green packs sitting in the grass off the side of the trail... I know those packs. It's Worm and Squeaker. I sat down and waited for them to come back. They where down by the river scouting a camping spot. We talked for a bit but they said the site they found was pretty small. They left and went back down by the water. I looked around and there was flat spots but rocks everywhere. No thanks. So my search continues. I came to a bunch of stair like switch backs. I passed a couple earlier who referred to this as the golden stair case.? I don't know if thats what it's actually called but it's like a mile of steep stair like switch backs lucky for me all down hill. I was pretty much running down them at this point. I was trying to get to valley below. Halfmile's notes say there are lots of campsites below. Unfortunately down here by the water and in the trees there is a ton of skeeters. On with the head net and long sleeve shirt. I passed by a few people camping but no room for one more. I continued on. It's almost dark and I am starting to worry I am just going to have camp wherever in the dark and by myself... One more mile I walked and saw a fire threw the trees. I got off trail and started walking towards the light...

I could see a large campsite and a bunch of tarps hanging and attached to the trees. what the heck? I got closer they where Hammocks. 5 people camping with hammocks. This is the first time I have seen anyone with a hammock, and there is 5 of them. I got into camp and was greeted by the guys around the fire I asked them it was cool if I joined them. Everyone was nice, I talked to them a bit while I set up my tent and I ate my dinner by the camp fire. They where hiking the JMT. They where from the east coast which explains the Hammocks. They where impressed by my 24 mile day lol. They asked me about the trail ahead. I tried not to tell them how shitty I truly thought it was. Instead I just told them it was tough and lots of uphill.

I stopped hiking at 8:30 and it's 10 already I dont think I'm going to be able to wake at 4am like I want to. I sat and watched the fire die down, we put it out and all the Hammocks are sleeping now. I stashed away my beer can between some logs and crawled into tent clean my feet change into my sleeping clothes slip into my bag and I am happy. Happy and fed, happy with how far I have come today. 24 hard miles kind of happy. I take a vitamin I, and listen to the sound of quite, and to the sound of my feet throbbing with a dull soreness. It's a sound only I can hear. A sound I have become accustom to...

- Posted from my iPhone

Day 61, Glen pass

June 20

Campsite above Bullfrog Lake hiked 1 mile to PCT mile 789.1 to Woods Creek mile 799.8

Hike 10.7 +1 (Kearsarge Pass)

I got on the trail at 9:30 wow thats late. I have been just messing around. I have a 1,200 ft climb todo in the next 3 miles. It's time to tackle Glen Pass. Glen pass is 11,900ft in elevation and supposed to be the sketchiest pass on the PCT. I guess it's steep on the otherside with lots of snow. I don't know how it's going to be with this low snow year. But either way I'm a little nervous. also because I switched out my shoes and these shoes have very little thread for traction on snow unlike the Lone Peaks I was wearing. Needless to say Im not looking forward to it.

It's a really nice day. The trek up the pass was easy. looking down from the top I can see How this could be scary with lots of snow but really doesn't look to bad this year.

On my way down however I only slipped and fell 5 times so that was annoying. I knew these shoes wouldn't do well. I made it and it wasn't a big deal. It was easy I just followed the trail and the foot prints in the snow. nothing exciting about it. Some people have said in earlier years that hikers have seen their lives flash before their eyes lol. So I'm glad it's a low snow year.


More Glacier water as i like to call it.


I can't remember what lake this is. It had a sweet island. This would be a sweet place to camp, but I have a little further I need to walk.

Walking over Glen pass really took it out of me. I don't feel like going to much further. Pinchot pass is next so I want to get within a few miles of the pass so I can tackle it in the morning. I think I am going to get up early tomorrow and do Pinchot pass and Mathers pass.

I caught up to another Hiker and it was Jeff! I haven't seen Him and Meg since Kennedy Meadows. They where planning on camping at Woods creek. That sounds good to me. I am going to camp there as well. It's going to be early yet and I haven't really gone that far but I am spent. Plus it would be nice to camp with some good company.

We Got to Woods Creek it was a nice campsite with a bear box and no skeeters so thats a plus. I set up my tent ate dinner with them and it was a good evening I feel like I never get to camp this early 5ish.

I'm going to get some good rest and and hammer out both passes tomorrow 5,800ft of climbing and around 20 miles todo tomorrow oh boy...


I didn't really take many photos today it was pretty uneventful.
- Posted from my iPhone