Day 54--From Kearsarge Pass Trail to Camp Site South of Glen Pass

Written Saturday, 12 June 2021

Today was an absolute whirlwind!

After a comfortable night at the somewhat pricey Creekside Inn, we were up and ready to make two runs of hikers from Bishop back to the Onion Valley Campground. The first run left at 0600 and consisted of The Ambassadors and six or seven other hikers who wanted an early start (which seems like an awesome idea, given the 2,500 foot climb and 7.5 mile walk, just to get back to the PCT).

The second run is at 0930, for folks who want the full benefits of their time in town and one last breakfast before hiking again.

On both runs, I end up carrying random hikers from Onion Valley back to Bishop, and, in the end, I figure we did 67 rides in 7 round trips between town and trailhead.

When I turn in the vehicle at UHaul, the manager checks everything out, including the odometer. He looks over his glasses and says, "So...how many miles do you think you drove?"

"Well, the shuttle service was a little more popular than I expected it to be..."

In the end, he gave me a generous discount on the mileage fee, and we called it a good deal for both of us.

After that, I had a couple of hours to eat a leisurely lunch in the cafe of a nice bookstore (Spellbinder Books on Main Street) so I had several sandwiches and a couple of desserts or maybe it was a couple of sandwiches and several desserts. I don't me exactly, but everything was good.

After lunch(es), I schlepped across town with my heavy pack to meet up with a wonderful Trail Angel named Debbie who is carrying me, Sunshine, Sam, and Hannah back to the Trail--or at least as close as she can get us. On the ride, the mountains look so steep and forbidding....

By 1615, Debbie has us back to the trailhead, and by a little after 1630, I was slogging back up toward Kearsarge Pass...2,500 feet up on a hot afternoon. This is definitely some sort of record for a late start on the Trail for me.

In fact, I don't get back to the PCT itself until about 1945, and I don't have much time to make headway so I just hike a mile or so (this is officially a nearo, not a zero because another quadruple zero would look like I was loafing), fund a spot under a tree and set up my gear for a cowboy camp. I make a quick supper and get under my quilt after dark.

The last few days haven't been as relaxing as most town stops are, but I had a great time, met a whole bunch of new hikers, and feel like I did help some.

Anyway, I'm safe, dry, and warm and back on the Trail.

Miles Hiked Today: 0.9 (seriously!) Total Miles Hiked: 790.0

Sea Otter Fact of the Day: The US center for sea otter conservation is the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California. We should all get together there someday.