PCT Mile 895 to 907.3 (12.3) + 9 mile Duck Pass Trail. Woohoo - steroids are miracle drugs. Chris is back!

Left Mammouth at 9:00 after checking out of the condo to make our way up Duck Pass Trail to rejoin the PCT. We have had the opportunity to hike this section of the PCT, the JMT, twice - both memorable, fun and special. First hike was with Chris’ brother and second time with our son Alec. Hiking any part of this trail brings back such wonderful memories. Once we rejoined the JMT/PCT Chris spent most of the hike recounting funny events that happened when we hiked with Mark and Alec. Such sweet memories.

We have used Red’s Meadow as a food/shower/and Mammoth access point in the past, but sadly it has not opened yet this season. Rumor has it may be closed all season. So, we decided to take Duck Pass Trail from Mammoth and rejoin a bit south on the trail. It is a lovely side trail we have always wanted to hike, so good opportunity.

We left Mammoth and hiked up through Marie Lake campground with many travel trailers arriving and setting up for the weekend. Lovely campsites along a small river near the lake. Rick noted that none of the motor homes we saw were in the same league with our neighbor’s star ship enterprise - just baby trailers! Wonder if they have camped here. Lovely area.

Hiked up the 3000 ft from the condo section of Mammoth over Duck Pass (10,700) along a gorgeous trail with ponds and lakes appearing around every corner. Duck Lake is quite large and beautiful. Lots of day hikers along the lower section of the trail but when we rejoined the PCT/JMT, we saw no one all day! Strange. We have hiked this trail later in the season (August/September) and we typically meet at least 15-20 hikers a day. Guess it’s a bit early for JMT hikers, but where are the PCT hikers?? Curious.

While Chris had a fabulous hiking day with appropriate drugs helping her breathe again, new backpack and shoes, Rick struggled with a HUGE heavy, well-stocked Bear canister that will hopefully feed us until we get to Sonora Pass (about 150 miles). No fun!

We passed the 900 mile mark on the PCT, but per Rick’s calculation we have only hiked 821 (including off trail). Still nice to see it. After talking with Mammoth ER doctor who said hiking over 11,000 ft. would be miserable for Chris until fully healed we decided that we’d rejoin trail after the 12,000 ft peaks of JMT and complete these miles in September (Rick purist - keeping track). We don’t want any unnecessary misery at this point - not what this adventure is about. We know this Section of the JMT/PCT and only Donahue Pass (!) (11,073 ft) is north of our rejoining point. Very manageable.

We passed the cutoff to Red’s Meadow, crossed a bridge and found a nice campsite by the San Joaquin River. Large, dazzling white cumulus clouds boiled up in front is us as we hiked throughout the afternoon and then turned bright orange as we were headed to bed. Nice ending to a great day back on trail. Fingers crossed Chris’ cough continues to improve.