June 25 - Uhg!!!!

Special Note: The Fullers should be back on the trail again at Kennedy Meadows! Yeah!!!

As good a day yesterday was, today was just the opposite. I was up early and after a good breakfast on the trail by 7:00. The first mile started easy but became broken and difficult the closer I came to the top of Glen Pass. Snow on the trail meant cutting across steep switchbacks to where the trail was clear. Footing was awful so the going was slow and treacherous. 

Once on top it was clear the descent wasn't going to be any better. I followed a couple who seemed to have it together until she glissaded down while he searched for the trail and walked some of it to the same point she had arrived at earlier. I decided to follow her example, and except for an out-of-control moment that ended in a snow bank it was fun! The rest of the descent to snow free territory was a slip and slide session both on rocks and snow. If any of us made a single mile per hour it would surprise me. 

During the whole ordeal I worried a bit about Sugar, the 67 year old Japanese man I camped with yesterday. At the end of today I hadn't seen him since early morning, but some nice Koreans, Jim and San, said he was going slow a few miles back. (Just as I finished this Sugar walked into camp at almost 8:00)

Everyone I talked to in camp tonight had the same story. Spice and Joe from New Jersey were the couple I shadowed and they couldn't believe how slow it was. A Canadian was almost too exhausted to speak. The German, Fukit, arrived with a damaged ankle  from where his trekking pole stabbed him when he slipped. Even the Koreans said they were exhausted. 

Tonight we are all 4.5 miles shy of another pass, Pinchot. At 12,125 feet it will be another long uphill climb to start the day. I'm hoping I'll have the same energy I had two days ago. 

Glissading tracks in the snow. 

Granite dome. 

Beautiful lakes!

Waiting to cross the suspension bridge. This was a little disconcerting as the bridge bounced as you walked. 

At least John Muir had a horse available. 

Hikingsolo