Glen Aulin Backpacker Campground to Campsite near small stream
It's amazing what an extra 15 minutes can do. I actually woke at 6:20, so it was 20 extra minutes. When we went into the tents last night it was petty warm, but this morning was chilly. Since we were at 7,883 feet I thought it would be warmer...I even left the wind fly off my tent last night.
The good news is that no cathole is required this morning and the solar powered bathroom was clean, smelled nice, and was warm.
Even though we slept in, we were ready to hike at 7:48 AM. Although Kristen wasn't hiking with us, we asked her to join us in our morning photo.
The good news is that no cathole is required this morning and the solar powered bathroom was clean, smelled nice, and was warm.
Even though we slept in, we were ready to hike at 7:48 AM. Although Kristen wasn't hiking with us, we asked her to join us in our morning photo.
Kristin, Share Bear, and I ready to go.
Looking at the map and terrain, today's hike doesn't look too bad. There are a couple of climbs and a couple of declines, but no passes and in between the terrain looks lovely.
Here is the bridge that connects the PCT to the campground we stayed at last night...pretty substantial.
Here is the bridge that connects the PCT to the campground we stayed at last night...pretty substantial.
Really nice bridge going to campground
Right after crossing the bridge back to the PCT, I noticed this cool PCT sign they must be pretty old the way it is embedded into the bark of this tree.
PCT sign of the day.
When the terrain map shows gentle hiking it usually means hiking through a meadow.
Beautiful meadow ahead.
Meadow with mountains.
Pinot & Pirate hiking behind us through the meadow.
The trail today was so beautiful.
Share Bear hiking ahead.
Wow.
Just before noon, as we were hiking, a large group was coming in the opposite direction. It was a Boy Scout troop. They told us that for a river crossing coming up to go left to find a log to cross. Cool...thanks for the intelligence.
When we arrived at the creek there were other hikers walking thighs the water. We listened to the Boy Scouts and went left and there was the log. Share Bear went over it with no fear in the world.
When we arrived at the creek there were other hikers walking thighs the water. We listened to the Boy Scouts and went left and there was the log. Share Bear went over it with no fear in the world.
Share Bear stops for photo in middle of log crossing.
For some reason, this log crossing spooked me. The log was pretty high up and was pretty long. I stood for a while looking at it, and then just went and successfully made it.
Just over 1 mile later we stopped for lunch. We decided to not take too long of a lunch break because there is a lake 2.5 miles up from here that we hoped would be nice enough to swim in. All this time in the mountains, and we haven't stopped for a swim in any of these alpine lakes. We are hoping today is the day since we were making pretty good time.
Most of the 2.5 miles to the lake were uphill. As we were getting closer I warned Share Bear not to get her hopes up about this lake. We have passed many alpine lakes that were brown, or too rocky to swim in. Just before 3:30 PM the lake came into view:
Just over 1 mile later we stopped for lunch. We decided to not take too long of a lunch break because there is a lake 2.5 miles up from here that we hoped would be nice enough to swim in. All this time in the mountains, and we haven't stopped for a swim in any of these alpine lakes. We are hoping today is the day since we were making pretty good time.
Most of the 2.5 miles to the lake were uphill. As we were getting closer I warned Share Bear not to get her hopes up about this lake. We have passed many alpine lakes that were brown, or too rocky to swim in. Just before 3:30 PM the lake came into view:
Miller Lake.
From here it looked good. As we got closer it look AMAZING! It was all we hoped for and more. Nice blue water with a sandy shore and grass around it. As we threw out bags down, Pinot and Pirate showed up and joined us. As did Karal from the Czech Republic, who today we found out was a pediatric surgeon.
The water was cold, but I managed to get it. Pirate shot the photo of us enjoying the lake:
The water was cold, but I managed to get it. Pirate shot the photo of us enjoying the lake:
Pinot, Share Bear, & I enjoying Miller Lake.
We spent 2 hours there and decided it was time to hike the last 3.3 miles to our planned campsite for the night. We also decided that we needed to stop and swim in these alpine lakes more often.
Of course the scenery continued to amaze.
Of course the scenery continued to amaze.
Close mountains.
Nice!
Self-portrait "Yosemite National Park mountains"
Just after 6:00 PM we arrived to the campsite and found Andy already setup. We asked if he minded if we joined him and he said of course not. Just after we arrived, Pinot and Pirate arrived. There was room for them as well.
We all setup camp and cooked and ate dinner together. Andy is the range manager at China Lake Navy Station, so we had some things in common to talk about. He is out hiking for a few days.
After a somewhat nice dinner...the mosquitos are no fun around here...we all retired to our tents. Tomorrow we are back to waking up at 6:00 AM. Tomorrow's hike will not be as easy as today's. We have a pass to climb in the morning, and then what looks like another pass in the late afternoon. I better get a good nights sleep to help prepare. With the flat site and the sound of the nearby stream, that shouldn't be a problem.
We all setup camp and cooked and ate dinner together. Andy is the range manager at China Lake Navy Station, so we had some things in common to talk about. He is out hiking for a few days.
After a somewhat nice dinner...the mosquitos are no fun around here...we all retired to our tents. Tomorrow we are back to waking up at 6:00 AM. Tomorrow's hike will not be as easy as today's. We have a pass to climb in the morning, and then what looks like another pass in the late afternoon. I better get a good nights sleep to help prepare. With the flat site and the sound of the nearby stream, that shouldn't be a problem.
My home for the night.
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