Nice 8:30 am start and the last time we saw everyone together as Carmen went on ahead. Very nice day, but it did get warm quickly (apparently 108 back home). Lovely descent Meadows, meadows , and more Meadows for the entire 11 miles to TM. Soft easy trail. It was nice to rest your achingContinue reading “6/27/21. Miles 933 to mile 945 and Return to Tuolumne Meadows and the completion of our loop. Great burgers at Walker Burgers.”
Author Archives: tomconnolly3
9/26/21. Peaks, Passes and Meadows, Owe My!! Rejoining the PCT at mile 928, Gem Pass and Lake, and Donahue pass. (And lots and lots of mosquitoes). Eventually mile 928 to mile 933
We had nice leisurely starts each morning around 8:30. it was windy at night, but then clouds and wind cleared by morning Hiking down then up to Gem pass and lake was pretty and largely moderate, just normal mountain climbing. Easy path early day 2. We reach Gem pass, which like Parker pass was justContinue reading “9/26/21. Peaks, Passes and Meadows, Owe My!! Rejoining the PCT at mile 928, Gem Pass and Lake, and Donahue pass. (And lots and lots of mosquitoes). Eventually mile 928 to mile 933”
6/24/2021. A small part of the adventure continues. Miles 928 to mile 945. Detour to Algers, Koip and Parker pass, and return to the PCT and Donahue pass
Met up with Craig W and Luann from meetup and drove up 395 to get to Tuolumne Meadows. Nice scenic drive. We stayed at the backpackers camp in TM for 6 bucks per camper. We met Mike, Susan and Caleb, as well as Ralph and Carmen. We arrived to late to eat at the grill(closedContinue reading “6/24/2021. A small part of the adventure continues. Miles 928 to mile 945. Detour to Algers, Koip and Parker pass, and return to the PCT and Donahue pass”
May 27, 2021. Miles 256 to 266, Big Bear, nice easy day, Kenny the ultimate trail angel, and bad Karaoke (by me at least).
Got off to an ok early start at 6:15. Had 2 moderate to easy early climbs when rested, and just cruised the rest of the day (remember that “cruising” for me looks like distressed shuffling to everyone that passes me by). Not many photos as I was eager to get to Big Bear. The realContinue reading “May 27, 2021. Miles 256 to 266, Big Bear, nice easy day, Kenny the ultimate trail angel, and bad Karaoke (by me at least).”
May 26, 2021. Miles 239 to mile 256. Ok water carry, mile 250!, some nice forest views, and Big Bear area looms in the distance.
Woke early, had 1st breakfast at 5:30am (leftover stove top stuffing), and hit the trail right around 6:00 am And I make it to mile 250!!! Someone left some nice painted rocks as PCT souvenirs. The water spot at mile 256 had a bunch of friendly bees. We left each other alone. Feeling great withContinue reading “May 26, 2021. Miles 239 to mile 256. Ok water carry, mile 250!, some nice forest views, and Big Bear area looms in the distance.”
May 25, 2021. Miles 229 to 239. The endless climb, t0o tired for pictures, but lots of water
Nice early start to the day. After putting in 19 miles the day before, I only planned on putting in about “10 easy miles” to the start of Mission Creek. Wow was I wrong. By far the hardest day on the trail. Constant elevation gain (4500 feet), exposed terrain, softball size rocks you are forcedContinue reading “May 25, 2021. Miles 229 to 239. The endless climb, t0o tired for pictures, but lots of water”
May 24, 2021. Sunday. Miles 210 to 229. Wind farm, hiking in an ashtray, Whitewater river, and the start of Mission Creek and up, up up we go!
Trail angel Rick met me at the casino and I got a nice early 5:50 am start for what would likely be a hot and long day. It was lovely to be clean and rested! The trail was pretty mellow for several miles and water would be available 10 miles in at Whitewater river. TheContinue reading “May 24, 2021. Sunday. Miles 210 to 229. Wind farm, hiking in an ashtray, Whitewater river, and the start of Mission Creek and up, up up we go!”
May 22, Tuesday, 2021. Zero day, rest and play
Taking a break at the Morongo resort in Cabazon. Lovely place with nice clean rooms, crazy fancy pool area and hot tub, and good food (although the great steak place on the top of the tower is closed tonight). And the water slide was very nice! The plan is to hike to Big Bear LakeContinue reading “May 22, Tuesday, 2021. Zero day, rest and play”
May 21, 2021. Miles 190 to 210. Down, down down we go. And more trail angels. And Manny.
As they say, extend your hiking poles and go, go, I had drank my fill at the river, so had 4 liters left to start the downhill. I drank 1 and started down at 6:05 worried about what 7k in elevation loss, and the legendary desert heat would do to me 6:05 start. Earliest yetContinue reading “May 21, 2021. Miles 190 to 210. Down, down down we go. And more trail angels. And Manny.”
May 20, 2021. Miles 177 to 190. 4th rookie mistake, cool detour to Tahquitz watchtower, and my hardest day yet even though only 13 trail miles
So the day started with the knowledge I screwed up my filter by letting it freeze (I like to camel up before I start the day). But I had my backup, so my confidence was still high. Of course I almost immediately got off trail, but this time only cost about .2 of a mileContinue reading “May 20, 2021. Miles 177 to 190. 4th rookie mistake, cool detour to Tahquitz watchtower, and my hardest day yet even though only 13 trail miles”
Tom hikes the PCT 