Week 11: Vermillion Valley Resort - Yosemite
- scarlson51
- Jul 22
- 5 min read
Approximately Mile 865 through Mile 980
Sunday, June 29th - PCT Day 64
Got swarmed by mosquitos while taking down camp today. Little suckers. Pretty ~2.5 mile walk up to the summit of Silver Pass past two lovely alpine lakes, their shores bright pink and purple with heather and crowberry(?) Had a magnificent view from the summit, no silver to be found though. To my NW, looking down from the summit I could see Chief Lake, Warrior Lake, Nüümü Hu Hupi Lake, Papoose (which means child) Lake, and the Lake of the Lone Indian; all of them flashing in the morning sun. Descended past the lakes and turned north up Fish Creek. After following the creek for around a mile I climbed up to Lake Virginia. Skirting along its north shore, I climbed over a low saddle to reach Purple Lake. Met up w/ McNasty, Patrick, and Mary Kate. Walked into camp with Patrick and Mary Kate; they continued on. Took a fantastic bath in the rushing, snowmelt-swollen stream that lies ~40 feet from my tent. Sat and dried off in the warm evening sun upon a rock in the middle of the stream, naked as the day I was born with no one but the marmots to care. Headed into Mammoth tomorrow to get my re-supply package and some Mexican food w/ a frozen margarita and a piece of pie to top it off. Goodnight.
Monday, June 30th - PCT Day 65
Good hike into Mammoth this morning. Called mom & dad while walking which was nice. Met Rizzler/Salty heading back onto trail, hoping to catch up to his crew in a few days. The trolley system made getting into town from the trailhead very easy. Got a beer and steak enchiladas. Got my package from the post office (thank God for my mom). Met Martin from the Czech Republic, Prague - very cool dude. Got back on trail and camped on a saddle between two cinder cones. Had a spectacular sunset. Goodnight.
Tuesday, July 1st - PCT Day 66
Very pretty climb down into Reds Meadow this morning. Walked through a ~10 year old burn patch that was exploding with wildflowers. Bright purple, yellow, orange, white, and red. To my very pleasant surprise, Red’s Meadow Cafe was open! I had been told it was closed. I showed up just in time for breakfast, had 2 pancakes, 2 eggs over easy, and 2 sausages with three cups of coffee. Martin also joined me for breakfast which was nice. Very pretty walk around Sotcher Lake and up the middle fork of the San Joaquin River. The trail climbed away from the river after several miles. After the switchbacks the view to the south was an unbroken chain of looming black craggy peaks on the other side of the river valley. Words really cannot do it proper justice. Easily top 5 best views so far. My tent site has an equally magnificent view. Today was one of those days that fills the soul to the very top. Goodnight.
Wednesday, July 2nd - PCT Day 67
Cool but very pretty morning. Drank coffee while I watched the sun light up the mountains across from me. Walked past 1000 Island Lake on my way up to Donohue Pass, there were maybe 100 islands, not 1000 but still impressive none the less. The climb to the pass was a slog. Hundreds of stone stairs over 10.5 miles had me worn out by the time I reached the top. Couldn’t even stay long b/c of a pretty dark cloud coming my way, a cloud I did not like the look of. More stone stairs on the way down to the Tuolumne River. Took a very nice and refreshing bath at its headwater. The single dark cloud had turned into a mass of black and grey to the north. Not wanting to get soaking wet from the rain I guessed would come, I set up camp ~2 miles early, and just in time too. First the rain came, then the crashing thunder reverberating off the canyon walls. Finally I began to see great flashes of lightning through my tent. Gotta say I am very glad I did not get caught above the tree line when this storm broke, and I pray for those who were caught going over the pass, as I know some I passed & some behind me must have been. Snug and cozy in my tent, goodnight.
Thursday, July 3rd - PCT Day 68
Very pretty morning today, thick mist veiled the green grasses, meadows, and gentle meanderings of the Tuolumne River. Made good time on my way down towards Tuolumne Meadow. Met the General on the trail and found out there was a cafe and store only about a half mile off trail. Right as we got to the road however, we found there was trail magic being hosted by Two-Mile and her friends! They worked for a Christian NGO that takes kids hiking and rock climbing. Had two pancakes to get my appetite going before going to the cafe. Also ran into Salty/Rizzler & Super-Max which was nice. Got a double cheeseburger w/ bacon & potato wedges on the side—fantastic to have a stomach not actually feels full for once! Continued on down canyon past John Muir’s Cabin and Tuolumne Falls before heading few miles north to camp up Cold Canyon (it was not cold). Set all of my soaking wet stuff out to dry from last night’s rain. Bearclaws I bought at the store for dinner. Goodnight.
Friday, July 4th - PCT Day 69Some very pretty alpine meadows today and several lakes as well. Ran into Jim, the exploration geologist, but most of the day I kind of went by like a blur as my mind was far away with my family celebrating the 4th. Nice camp spot by a creek above a lake. Goodnight.
Saturday, July 5th - PCT Day 70
Cold this morning, ate some dubious chocolate I found in my pack & dry heaved sporadically for the first hour of the day. Kinda figured that might happen though b/c the chocolate tasted rancid, like spoiled milk and vomit. Oh well what can you do. Some very beautiful wildflowers all day today including bright red and orange Indian Paintbrushes, sunshine yellow Mules Ears and butterwort, white and yellow Mariposa Lilys, purple Mat Lupine, Horse Mint and pastel pink Blue Languid Ladies, to name a handful of the many I saw. Went up and over two ridges, the crest of the first held a beautiful alpine lake – its water almost level w/the elevation of the pass so it seemed as if you walked up a flight of stairs where the landing was a lake. Had an amazing swim in the river that lies ~100 feet from camp, even had a white granite sand beacon. Goodnight!
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