Mile 786.1 to 788.5 plus 7 miles over Kearsarge Pass.

A little too much socializing last night led to the decision to sleep in and wake up at 6:30. In the morning, our first steps on the surrounding snow led to an oh shit moment where we all realized our mistake. Unlike the previous nights, the snow didn’t freeze over. If it was already a little slushy this early, we could only imagine how it would be in the afternoon.

Navigation was a challenge today too because the trail was again under snow and we were forced to follow footsteps when they were there and use GPS when they weren’t.

We covered ground slowly at 1 mph as we climbed up the “trail.” When we got out of the trees and remembered to lool back, we were treated to great views.

When we covered the 2.4 miles to the junction with the trail to Bullfrog Lake, it felt like we had already been going for half a day.

The snow conditions worsened as we went and we were breaking through sun cups as we went. I had finished all my snacks for the day by the 4 mile mark and we all remarked how we were drained. Perhaps it was the snow or perhaps it was the accumulation of being out for 8 days with heavy packs, but we were all feeling it. Bedazzled offered to take the lead, which I was grateful for and soon we stopped at water. We could see Kearsarge Pass from our spot. There was still a lot of elevation gain to come. I ate at least 1,500 calories before I started the nearly straight up climb over snow which eventually turned to loose scree. With unsure footing, I powered up the side of the mountain to the exposed switchbacks,  which would take us the last but to the pass. I looked back over the winter wonderland of frozen lakes, snowy ground, and soaring peaks. In the midst of my exhaustion, a part of me realized that it was beautiful, but frankly, I didn’t care that much.

Bedazzled, Vipr, and Fun Dip rolled up and we set up lunch at 12,000 feet and gorged ourselves on all our extra food. After eating another 1,000+ calories, I felt somewhat recovered. Slowly the scenery grew on us and we started to explore the area. Vipr climbed a set of bolders and we all followed her up to a nice 360 degree view. We could see down to Independence and the desert. Our destination for the day.

After 3 hours, we dragged ourselves back down into the snow following a slushy bootpack. We got to a potential glissade spot and clever Vipr urged me to go down first. I was breaking sun cups with my butt and it was slow going. “Use your trekking poles to push,” she yells. So there I am rowing on the snow like an idiot. Then it dawns on me. She is using me to create the chute. I get up walk to the left to a steeper spot and and finish the glissade. No continuous chute for Vipr.

Glissading and going downhill really helped speed things up and soon we were making ok time. We passed beautiful Kearsarge Lake and soon saw the trailhead parking lot. We ran down the flooded trail and burst into the parking area. We see an older fellow hanging around and ask for a ride, but he isn’t leaving for another 90 minutes…then erin, who hiked the trail in 2007 came up and offered us a ride to Independence! At his SUV, we meet his wife Love Note, who hiked the trail in 2011. They also both hiked the CDT in 2013. We crammed the four of us, a baby, and the two of them into five seats and made the drive down.

Long store short, we couldn’t get a hitch to Bishop and they offered us a place to stay at Love Note’s mom’s house! Linda let us take showers, do laundry, and camp in the backyard. We also tried out the random. French bistro called the Still Life Cafe. If you are in Independence, definitely check it out.

It was over 100 degrees here in Independence the heat wave is continuing for the next week. We plan to take a couple days off and let the temperature cool down and the rivers lower before we go back out.