May 28 mile 774.1 to 788.5 Tyndall Creek to Forester Pass to Bullfrog Trail

PCT miles: 14.4

Well, a wild day! Woke early to start hike over the highest pass on the PCT at 13,153 ft. We have hiked Forester twice before, but always southbound. This was our first northbound trek. Looks completely different. It’s very intimidating from the south with a large 1000 ft head wall and steps carved into the face.

We passed a group of about 10 tents just passed the creek. Chris said they looked familiar, but wasn’t sure (everyone still inside their tents, but stirring).

There is a long gentle approach and then the climb begins. As we were nearing the pass we heard a bunch of yelling and hooting from below us. Kids! Finally, Chris turned and waved, but couldn’t make out who was behind us. Rick stopped and saw it was Astro and Good Vibes, followed by Sunrise, Viking, and Stilts. We couldn’t believe it! We last saw them our second day at Kennedy Meadows and knew they were headed to Ridgecrest to wait out the storm and to let Sunrise’s ankle heal, but we honestly thought we wouldn’t see them again because we took an extra day in Lone Pine. They are speedy!

Big reunion on the small pass. Fun times. Also met ‘Wrongway’, who oddly passed us going the the wrong way later in the day because he left something with Viking. Appropriate trail name.

We passed the group a couple times (they take breaks) throughout the day and they said they were going to camp at one of the exit trailheads to Independence. Their plan was a resupply in Bishop. Thought we were nuts to resupply in Independence (small town), but it worked for us.

We reached the tent site at the Kearsage trailhead before they did and started setting up. We met ‘Hot Toddy’ at the campsite. He hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2019 after retiring (quite young). He was also headed to Independence for resupply. His parents (!) were driving up from Ventura to meet him, hike with him a bit, and drop off his resupply.

Stilts stopped by our tent site and told us not to take Bullfrog Lake trailhead, but to continue up to the third PCT exit to Independence over Kearsage Pass. We did as he suggested the next morning.

————— Now that Rick has a phone for photos, Chris is convinced she looks ‘homeless’ with too much strapped to the outside of her pack (carrying tent and Rick’s pad because he has Bear canister). She’s determined to find a new pack! Rick thinks she looks at times like a certain character from the movie Road Warrior.