15th June 2015
Mileage 7.3
Mammoth Lake (907.7) to Rosalie Lake (915)
As usual I was first awake. With a cheeky smile on my face I sprayed deodorant under my armpits. A luxury only reserved for time in town. This woke everybody. It was time for breakfast.
Two eggs, two pancakes, four coffees and a ham steak later I set off on the public transport system to the trailhead at Red Meadows. Teflon was my only companion as the others were a little slow in moving. We hiked out of Red Meadows and within 5 minutes were on the wrong trail. Consultation with the map set us on the correct route.
Our aim was to have a quick look at Devils Postpile. A series of basalt columns just off the main PCT / JMT route. Teflon and I took a short detour to view the exotic hexagonal columns before returning to the trail. We reached a junction in the trail where the Pacific Crest Trail and John Muir Trail (JMT) split and take different paths.
All the way from Mt Whitney they have been one and the same trail. The JMT is rated as one the the best hiking trails in the world. Several days ago I decided that I would hike the JMT alternate section of the trail through the Sierras. The others in the group also wanted to do the same. From the junction the trail climbs through Pine forests and past a multitude of lakes. Rosalie Lake was the planned campsite and meeting place with the others in the group.
The unusually warm weather made swimming in the lake rather appealing. I managed to get in the water up to my knees, that was enough. This is an alpine lake and there were still several patches of lingering snow on the low mountains that surround the lake. Teflon went for a swim but she is much more tolerant of the cold than I.
Others from the group arrived including Farmer. I haven’t seen him for a while. He camped with us as there was promise of S’mores round the campfire. I was first introduced to s’mores in Fairbanks, Alaska, almost exactly 12 months ago. I had not heard of them until that time so let me explain what they are.
First make a campfire, then roast marshmallows. Take a biscuit and place some Hershey’s chocolate on the biscuit. Place the roasted marshmallow on the chocolate then top with another biscuit. Oh yeah, they are great. Almost as nice as Tim Tams. Several s’mores later and after Mr Smith tried playing ‘Fluffy Bunny’ I was in my tent looking through the fly mesh at the stars.
Next : Day 61 The Lakes
The Best information about the Pacific Crest Trail:
Complete Guide to the Pacific Crest Trail
Resupply Guide for the PCT
PCT Gear List
PCT Gear Review
Great blog you have going so far. My wife and I hiked the trail last year and we both still miss it badly. I love seeing all the great pictures, it brings back a lot of great memories. Keep up the good work! The Optimist
Thanks Optimist.
News to share:
The Hat Creek Rim is one of the most famous, or perhaps infamous, stretches of the PCT. People do not always associate Northern California with extremely dry, almost desert-like conditions. However, the stretch of the PCT along the Hat Creek Rim is one of the longest waterless stretches of trail. There are virtually no natural water sources readily available on the PCT between Subway Cave (mile 1375) and Baum Lake (mile 1404). Many hikers and riders have come to rely on the water cache known as “Cache 22.”
Cache 22 unreliable so bring plenty of water.
Thanks for the heads up
S’mores are the best! Devils postpile looks really cool as well. Looks like its been well worth the JMT detour.
S’mores definitely rock