The Sierra

Returning to Bishop means returning to the Hostel California. Walking in here for the first time felt strangely like home; returning for the second time felt absolutely like home with nothing strange about it. There’s even a drink still in the fridge where I left it from last time. As soon as I check in, Read more

It’s another town day, which means a very light pack, low miles, and lots of excitement. I headed up the last mile of Bishop Pass from Dusy Basin in less than an hour. On the other side of the pass, I had one flat snowfield to cross. I put on my spikes, but really just Read more

Today I covered 9.8 miles, 15.8 km, and began the long route to town over Bishop Pass. The elevation loss from yesterday needs to be regained, and the trail out of the valley was relentlessly steep. I camped just short of the pass, next to some beautiful lakes off trail in the Dusy Basin. I Read more

This morning I crossed Mather Pass at 12094 ft, 3686 m. Camping close to the base meant I had fresh legs for the climb, and with my acclimation back I was able to enjoy the steep push that comes at the end of these passes. In the afternoon I made the long descent into Palisade Read more

Today I crossed over Pinchot Pass at 12127 ft, 3696 m. I feel like my acclimation has returned, and I was able to enjoy the scenery up the pass. I covered 11.1 miles, 17.9 km, and made camp near the base of Mathers Pass, which will be tomorrow’s mission The climb this morning was a Read more

Today I covered 9.3 miles, 15 km, which puts me in a good position to get up and over Pinchot Pass tomorrow morning. I also crossed the 800 mile marker today, a nice reminder of how far we’ve come. It was a fairly easy day, I feel like my acclimation is returning now. Having said Read more

I remember seeing people coming up Kearsage Pass when I was heading down. Some of them mentioned that after just a few days in Bishop, they felt as though they’d lost their acclimation. Now, after 4 days in town at 4150 ft, 1265 m, I’m also feeling the altitude. I covered 9.5 miles, 15.4 km Read more

Today I got a ride back to Kearsage Pass with 3 others, Rabbit, G.O.H, and Rox. Our driver, Mark, came all the way from Independence to pick us up because the bus wasn’t running on the weekend. We drove just over an hour to the Onion Valley trailhead and got there around 3 pm. After Read more

I spent the morning hanging out with Sam and Brian, the hikers who gave me a ride into town yesterday. We drank coffee on the street, and as we were sitting there, two familiar PCT hikers appeared. Trail Spice and Slider were both looking to head up to Bishop at the same time as me. Read more

Today I covered 8.7 miles, 14 km to exit the Sierra over Kearsage Pass for resupply in Bishop. Amazingly, I met the two hikers from the other day at the trailhead, beers in hand and waiting. They gave me a ride to Lone Pine, an awesome night at the saloon, and we even got food from Read more