June 22 - Kearsarge Pass to Independence and Bishop

Independence isn't much of a town and my resupply wasn't yet there so I hitched a ride with Mountain Goat to Bishop and the Hostel California. 

Yesterday I hiked to within two miles and 1000 feet of Kearsarge Pass and the camped on a ledge overlooking the lakes below. Today I crossed over with a zillion other hikers to make the five mile descent to the Onion Valley trailhead where Michael, brother of another Trail Angel, Larry, who I mentioned previously, picked up hiker trash for the quick descent into the desert. He dropped us off at Subway and then returned up the mountain for another batch. After a quick sandwich it was time to check on my box, secure a place at the hostel, and then hitch a ride north to Bishop. 

A nice former Mountaineer and her daughter picked Mountain Goat and me up on their return trip from backpacking in the mountains around Lone Pine. She dropped us off in the parking lot of the hostel about an hour later. 

The hostel was packed with people I had met on the trail. That included two hikers I hadn't seen for about six weeks, Hatchet and Crocs. It was great to see them again! They had been hanging around Bishop at the hostel doing odd jobs and climbing or hiking sections of the PCT. 

If you've never been to Bishop now may not be the time to come because it is so hot here. However, you can cool off with a beer at the local brewery which just opened in the last year and has a great IPA and awesome food. You'll know which one it is because there's only one in town.

The rest of the day was spent doing laundry, taking a shower, and visiting with new and old acquaintances. 

Hikingsolo