Campsite on Spanish Needle Creek to Fox Mill Spring
Last night Share Bear threatened waking up at 5:00 AM. I was pretty happy when I woke around 5:15 AM and didn't hear a stir, so I went back to sleep. When I woke at 6:10 AM however, she was in her tent packing up her things, so I knew I had to get up.
When I got out of the tent, all the other around us were still sleeping, so we packed out bags quietly and started eating breakfast when Cool Breeze appeared and joined us.
After breakfast at 7:19 AM, Share Bear and I were ready to hike, but Cool Breeze still had some packing up to do. We still invited him to join us in our "ready to hike" photo.
When I got out of the tent, all the other around us were still sleeping, so we packed out bags quietly and started eating breakfast when Cool Breeze appeared and joined us.
After breakfast at 7:19 AM, Share Bear and I were ready to hike, but Cool Breeze still had some packing up to do. We still invited him to join us in our "ready to hike" photo.
The first goal of the day is to reach the stream only 0.7 miles away to collect and filter some water. We arrived at the stream and hiked up. We met Cupcake who told us to walk up the stream till we see a water bottle in the stream that is helping to focus the water. Huh...we didn't understand, but walked up stream. We saw what would be a good place to collect water, but we didn't see the water bottle, so we kept walking and then saw what we were looking for:
The next water source is just over 10 miles away, so I only filled 3 liters. While filtering Bear Bait showed up. We were quite surprised that she showed up since it meant that she woke up before 7:00 AM, but there she was. She did say that she left Max still sleeping, so at least one of them is keeping the tradition going today.
After we all had the water we needed we headed up the trail.
After we all had the water we needed we headed up the trail.
We hiked over a saddle and came upon a wonderful morning view:
From where we filtered water it was a 4 mile climb that was pretty steep in places.
We just took it one step at a time and finally made it over the crest:
Luckily, right at the top was a great place to take a break, so of course we did.
As we rested there, Faint Goat and her dog Maya showed up and took a break. Faint Goat hiked the PCT last year, but missed a couple of sections due to trail closures and injury. She is taking the time on her way from Oregon to Texas to hike some of these sections. We were a hit worries about a dog on the trail, but Faint Goat is a veterinarian, so knows how to take care of a dog.
Also while resting here Max showed up pretty hungry because Bear Bait had most of the food...oops. Faint Goat, Maya, Share Bear, and I decided to hike on 3.28 miles to a known campsite and a good place we figured for a lunch break. Max and Bear Bait will catch us there.
As we rested there, Faint Goat and her dog Maya showed up and took a break. Faint Goat hiked the PCT last year, but missed a couple of sections due to trail closures and injury. She is taking the time on her way from Oregon to Texas to hike some of these sections. We were a hit worries about a dog on the trail, but Faint Goat is a veterinarian, so knows how to take care of a dog.
Also while resting here Max showed up pretty hungry because Bear Bait had most of the food...oops. Faint Goat, Maya, Share Bear, and I decided to hike on 3.28 miles to a known campsite and a good place we figured for a lunch break. Max and Bear Bait will catch us there.
Faint Goat is a pretty strong hiker, so she took off leaving Share Bear and I behind. This stretch of the trail started gong down, but then began climbing again all the way to our planned break spot.
When we arrived Faint Goat and Maya was already set up under a tree. Also, Passport was there with his wife that decided to get back on trail at Walker Pass. She had come off for a while because the desert heat was getting to her. It was nice to see her back on trail.
We found a tree and started eating lunch when Audible showed up. We left him and the campsite still sleeping and hadn't seen him all day. He said he came this far without taking a break...ah, to be young. Not long after, Max and Bear Bait arrived as well followed by Harry who we met yesterday. Harry is doing remarkably well considering the challenging terrain and that he just got on trail 2 days ago.
Just after 3:00 PM Max and Bear Bait decided to hit the trail. Max was running out of water and was anxious to get to the next water source that was 4.73 miles away. Share Bear and I soon followed.
The trail to the stream 4.73 miles away was very pleasant with very little ups and a nice gradual down.
We found a tree and started eating lunch when Audible showed up. We left him and the campsite still sleeping and hadn't seen him all day. He said he came this far without taking a break...ah, to be young. Not long after, Max and Bear Bait arrived as well followed by Harry who we met yesterday. Harry is doing remarkably well considering the challenging terrain and that he just got on trail 2 days ago.
Just after 3:00 PM Max and Bear Bait decided to hit the trail. Max was running out of water and was anxious to get to the next water source that was 4.73 miles away. Share Bear and I soon followed.
The trail to the stream 4.73 miles away was very pleasant with very little ups and a nice gradual down.
The only issue we were having was the heat. Share Bear's thermometer read 112 degrees. I don't know how accurate that is, but it felt pretty hot. We had water, but it was pretty warm.
When we arrived at the water source we both had one liter of warm water left and only 2.28 miles to go to a spring and our campsite for the night, but we decided to filter 1 liter each just to have a drink of cool water.
After the water was filtered, we drank it, and knew it was worth the stop. Especially since the next, and last 2.28 miles of the day was going to climb over 1000 feet. Luckily the scenery remained beautiful:
When we arrived at the water source we both had one liter of warm water left and only 2.28 miles to go to a spring and our campsite for the night, but we decided to filter 1 liter each just to have a drink of cool water.
After the water was filtered, we drank it, and knew it was worth the stop. Especially since the next, and last 2.28 miles of the day was going to climb over 1000 feet. Luckily the scenery remained beautiful:
Finally, right at 6:30 PM we arrived at Fox Mill Spring and Max and Bear Bait. They had found a great place were we all could camp which was awesome. I quickly set up my tent and went down to filter a couple of liters of water to drink and cook dinner with.
As we were cooking dinner, Cupcake from this morning decided to join us for dinner. She ate and ran since she wanted to make the 20 miles to Kennedy Meadows by 2:00 PM tomorrow.
After dinner I got in my tent and then Faint Goat and Maya showed up and decided to stay here for the night as well.
Since we are still 20 miles from Kennedy Meadows, we decided to hike 15 miles tomorrow leaving the last 5 miles for Tuesday morning. I know that Tim will be upset that I won't make it there tomorrow night, but it isn't worth pushing and then being really tired when entering the Sierra.
Here is my home for the night:
As we were cooking dinner, Cupcake from this morning decided to join us for dinner. She ate and ran since she wanted to make the 20 miles to Kennedy Meadows by 2:00 PM tomorrow.
After dinner I got in my tent and then Faint Goat and Maya showed up and decided to stay here for the night as well.
Since we are still 20 miles from Kennedy Meadows, we decided to hike 15 miles tomorrow leaving the last 5 miles for Tuesday morning. I know that Tim will be upset that I won't make it there tomorrow night, but it isn't worth pushing and then being really tired when entering the Sierra.
Here is my home for the night:
I decided to leave the rain flap off again tonight. Here is my view from the tent:
I also noticed that I didn't take a self-portrait today, so I took one in the tent: