July 20,2024 Tuolumne Meadows mile 943 to Reds Meadows resort mile 903

Trying to squeeze in a trip before Rose and I continue our across the USA adventure.

The plan is to travel to Reds Meadow resort (near Bridgeport if that helps), stay at the “resort” (cabin, no water, no ac) park the van there (cause then I can literally walk to the van, just 1/4 mile off the PCT)

Then I shuttle to Mammoth lakes and get to stay at a fraternity brothers place there (god bless fraternities, I still have best friends from 40 years ago!)

Then I walk a short 1/2 mile to the Yosemite bus system that will take me to the trail in Tuolumne meadows (where I have started a PCT hike before with Craig)

The logistical nightmare is the YARTS bus only goes at 2 early morning times. The resort is closed to cars without a reservation, and the shuttles all leave after the YARTS bus leaves. So my plan to walk to the van takes 5 hours to drive here, and 2 days to go 14 miles. lol. Welcome to PCT section hiking.

Then I walk to dora and wait for the road to reopen on Friday. Sounds simple.m

Little tiny cabin in reds meadow. No water, but the bed was comfy and it did have power but no A/c.

YARTS shuttle to Tuolumne Meadows. Right on time and was able to start hiking by 8:45

Here we go. About 12 hikers going southbound in my direction.

Here we go!

Nice water I got to walk next to for around 7 miles.

Lovely easy 1st 7 miles, then the hike 2k up to Donahue pass.

Very pretty section of the trail.

Especially after the burnt out sections I just hiked.

1 of several bridges not blown down or burnt up.

Part of the meadow.

Great views and water everywhere. Wanted to slide down it, but didn’t.

Very easy flat trail thru the meadow.

Donahue pass up ahead.

So much water.

Made it thru the flat and was able to add about 2 miles and 800 foot uphill partway up the pass. Nice camp spot and well set up for some good climbing in the a.m.

Evening sunset.

Donahue pass in the morning. Did have to ford this as the rock and log bridge was to tricky for me. The climb was steep, rocky and pretty hard. Lots of water I just had to walk thru.

Lakes everywhere around Donahue pass.

More lakes

Near the top of Donahue Pass.

Really close to the top.

Rocky but not many mosquitoes.

Made it.

Jay and Clarissa. Nice married couple from Idaho and Washington. I eventually drove them from Reds Meadow to Mammoth.

Heading that way. Storm clouds started soon after this, and we were chased by thunderstorms till lighting hit around 3 and the skies opened up. It was loud and scary.

Nice and clear in the morning. 15 miles to reds meadow and the resort and the van.

After a short accidental 20 minute detour (I got lost), was hiking by 6:10.

Great trail.

A little exposed, but mostly downhill and nicely graded.

Found a horse camp after 7 miles. Toilet and shade. Nice.

Shadow lake.

Horses in the meadow.

Nice water flows from the Middle Fork of the San Juoquin river.

Sadly, the bridge was out and I needed to fire the stream just to the right of this pic. Was not to bad.

Minonet falls.

Mermots

Devils postpile again, this time from across the river.

I had heard this bridge was out. Very happy it was up!

Yea! Almost to the meadow! And a bed, and a shower, and real food.

Yea!

You can get everywhere from here.

Reds meadow. Found out I could follow a Pilot car out at 3:30 PM on Thursday, so I got to leave earlier than expected, and brought my friends out. Made it to Woodland before 9 PM.

Great trip! Done with the PCT till summer 2025. About 1300 total miles in so far. About 1300 to go!