Our camp was perched precariously on the side of a forested mountain. Just off the zigzagging switchbacks on a ledge just wide enough for a sleeping pad. As I tossed and turned through a night of fitful sleep, I stared up at the trees towering overhead and the slivers of night sky.

Bedazzled and I awoke to the sounds of Highway 80 as we packed up our cowboy camp. The sun was still below the horizon and the trees stood tall waiting for the first light. We, however, had some walking to do and headed out of camp toward the highway. We soon passed Olaf who had shared our campsite. She looked stiff and was hobbling up the trail.

The morning mist blushed orange under the sun’s first rays and the birds flitted between the trees. Mornings in NorCal are turning out to be not so bad. Photographically, it has been hard to find a view thay isn’t blocked, but the sun filtering through the trees is still nice to watch.

We had a nice short stay in South Lake Tahoe. The trail in and out was mostly snow free and we made good time coming in and out. Unfortunately, the town was spread out, and we did a lot of walking to accomplish all of our chores. I bought Bedazzled a strawberry shake to celebrate finishing the Sierra.

Our cowboy camp turned out to be a windy affair. The gusts just kept coming and neither Bedazzled or I were able to sleep much. We did, however, get a fantastic view of the night sky and Milky Way.

I tossed and turned and couldn’t sleep at all night. Searching for a reprieve from the boredom of laying in my tent, I decided to step outside. The Milky Way hung over my head and I felt as if I could reach up and touch it.

Kennedy Meadows served as a place of preparation for those getting ready to cross the Sierra. They could plan and provision for their journey or rest after coming back from a crossing. Today, it’s guests are mainly looking for a little rest and relaxation in one of their cabins or campgrounds. But there are still a few who have come through those snowy mountains and seek a short reprieve from their journey north. We call them thru-hikers.

Today we were aiming to get to Sonora Pass. The end of the Sierra and supposedly the end of the hardest rivers and passes. While we have loved the snow covered mountains and beautiful high passes, we were ready to have dry feet and not deal with swollen raging rivers.

1,000 Miles! It feels amazing to hit this mile marker.

The river was still raging when we woke at our impromptu campsite. Still recovering from the hellish day that was yesterday, we packed up and moved on quickly. We wanted to make it to Kerrick Creek before the water had a chance to rise.

I unzipped my rain fly to find a buck grazing near the river not 50 feet from my tent. The Matterhorn River snaked through the canyon floor and the pine trees stood by silently as morning mist hung in the air.

It was rough getting up today as I didn’t sleep very well. Nevertheless, I changed clothes and emerged from my tent to a silent camp.