Day 45
Start: Pinyon Mountain
Finish: McIver’s Cabin
Daily Mileage: 21.3
PCT Mile: 645
There are many sloped campsites out here and we found one of them last night and were both sliding around. At least the wind died overnight to give us some peace.
I took off ahead of Cookie Monster and strolled my way through high desert. I quickly passed an old mine shaft and did some ups and downs through low scrub and the now normal flowers. It was some easy but peaceful hiking on sandy terrain, and I enjoyed moving quickly through it.
Hiking on up the ridge that had been looming before us, we passed the typical wildflower fields on our way up. It was a 1,500 foot climb which would be our biggest of the day. However, the first two thirds of it was graded really well, and it was hard to tell we were climbing at all. It got a little steeper at the end, but it was amazing how quickly and easily we made our way up the ridge.
We took our lunch break up top among the rock outcrops of the summit. We’re seeing a lot more rock the past couple days, not just the gentle well-weathered mountains of the past, and it is great that they have some more character.
The snowy Sierra are also looming ever closer, and growing quickly in size. Just a couple days ago they were dots on the horizon, and now I can start to pick out features on the mountains. We are under 60 miles from our official entrance to them now!
After lunch, the trail passed through pine forest for the most part. The day warmed up, and even the wind was warm. The sun beat on the pines, and they gave off that heated pine forest smell that is one of my favorites. The treadway was sand, but didn’t slow me down much.
After some epic blowdown detours, the forest ended in a burn area and the trail ended in a 4×4 track that went on for a couple miles. It was getting late in the day, and I powered through this section since it wasn’t too scenic and made great time.
There is a short side trail to McIver’s Cabin which also has a big flowing spring. The cabin reminded me of Appalachian Trail shelters, but one feature of those shelters was the mouse population. I decided to set up my tent instead of sleeping inside to hopefully not have to deal with them. Though they chewed their way into Lou’s tent last night.
It’s Cookie Monster, Lanyard, Lou, and I again tonight. With the Sierra getting close, crossing strategies are on our minds and we spent some time discussing. I’ve spent so much time and energy on this single upcoming section of trail, but it deserves it for a hopefully successful traverse.
The nights are getting a bit warmer, and it seems there is less and less risk of freezing, even at elevation. That will change in the Sierra, but at least it is more pleasant for the time being.
