Campsite at Mile 782.53 to Kearsarge Pass to Lone Pine

Woke up at our camp site about three miles down from yesterday's high point of Forester Pass. 

Today's objective was to go about six and a half miles down the PCT and then turn off and hike about seven and a half miles out, over Kearsarge Pass to meet Mighty Mouse's husband, Tim, at the Onion Valley trailhead for a ride to Lone Pine and a couple nights in a hotel there to rest up, clean up, and resupply for the next 90 mile stretch. 

After two pretty tough days I was thinking this day would be easier. It was not. Along this stretch the PCT shares trail with the John Muir Trail. The JMT trail builders were a tougher breed than the PCT builders, and seem to be happy to make their trail much steeper. 

Kearsarge is a tough resupply, but the alternative would be carrying a whole lot of food, so the 15 mile round trip is necessary for many hikers. 

Still, despite the tough miles today, the Sierras continue to amaze with fantastic, jaw dropping scenery.

-------------

2021 Update:

Woke up at our camp site about three miles down from yesterday's high point of Forester Pass. 

Today's objective was to go about six and a half miles down the PCT and then turn off and hike about seven and a half miles out, over Kearsarge Pass to meet Mighty Mouse's husband, Tim, at the Onion Valley trailhead for a ride to Lone Pine and a couple nights in a hotel there to rest up, clean up, and resupply for the next 90 mile stretch. 

After two pretty tough days I was thinking this day would be easier. It was not. Along this stretch the PCT shares trail with the John Muir Trail. The JMT trail builders were a tougher breed than the PCT builders, and seem to be happy to make their trail much steeper. 

Just a note here: The PCT is designated as being suitable for hikers and equestrians. That means that in general, the trail was designed to have relatively gradual climbs and descents. Horses apparently don't do all that well with steep ups and down. That makes for good hiking. I don't think the JMT had the same constraints, so it is often steeper and rougher than the PCT. Most guides for hiking the JMT that I've seen seem to give about ten miles a day as a reasonable distance, which would be great, and leave time for looking around. Unfortunately, PCT hikers have to move a bit faster than that, so the change in trail building philosophy is a bit of a shift.

Kearsarge is a tough resupply, but the alternative would be carrying a whole lot of food, so the 15 mile round trip is necessary for many hikers. 

Still, despite the tough miles today, the Sierras continue to amaze with fantastic, jaw dropping scenery.

Eventually we made our miles, and met Tim part way up the last descent.

We're in Lone Pine at the Dow Villa, a cool old hotel. Taking a couple days off the trail to rest and heal and clean and buy food for the next stretch of trail.

Photos from today: https://www.b-photo.com/Travel/PCT-2016-Day-by-Day/June/June-29/

Mighty Mouse's blog for today: http://www.timandgerri.com/blog---2016/day-71-29-june-mile-78253-78847-745-miles