Lionheart - Pacific Crest Trail Journal - 2013

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Mather pass

Two Pass Reunion

Climbing two passes
Reunion hugs and cheering
Golden staircase down


Tried to get an early start because I wanted to get in two passes today. Was on trail by 7 am and topped Pinchot Pass (12,139 feet) just after 8 am. A couple miles after the pass, I ran into Coincidence who said the gang was just ahead. I rushed down to a canyon bottom and found Outburst, Hot Tub, 30 Pack as well as Puppy and Belgian Red. Hugs all around!

We slowly made our way to Mather Pass (12,096 feet) which literally is a vertical wall of rock. From the base of the rock wall to the top only took 30 minutes. Nothing in comparison to the hours it took last time I hiked through, which was full of snow. On the way down the other side, which had a few patches of snow, I met Pascal from France and his two donkeys. He was trying to traverse them through the snow and massive rock fields. One of the donkeys had gotten nicked on the rocks and was bleeding. The donkey was obviously freaked out and didn't want to budge. Pascal and the donkeys are on a 3-5 year journey north to the Columbia river, across the Oregon trail, down the continental divide and then all the way south to Chile.

We found a nice sunny spot to relax aside the Palisade lakes before descending the golden staircase adjacent to Palisade creek.

30 pack made a fire and seating for all of us and we gathered for dinner. I was the only one not cooking. After dinner was story time where we all took turns reading from a Louie L'amour book. They've been working through this book together every evening since leaving Agua Dulce. Such a great day!

Entry 92 of 208
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