July 3 – PCT 831 to 843

Rained hard again last night, really hard, but not for very long. I am getting rain but each day I hear about people that are getting hailed on. It is always about 1 day ahead of me the hail occurs. Good thing I am slow I guess. The morning was beautiful and I felt ready to try to get to Muir Pass. It was only 7 miles away. How hard can it be. Well it took me from 7:30 until 2:45 to make the pass. 7 hours to do 7 miles. Do not believe I set any speed record. This was the hardest ascent for me. But it was beautiful. It was a series of steep ascents to a plateau where generally there was a lake. The trail would generally take you across the outflow stream from the lake, take you around the lake, and across the inflow stream to the lake and then a steep ascent to the next plateau. Beautiful but for whatever reason, I found it difficult. Here is my hike in pictures.

Sun rise heading towards Muir Pass
Sun rise heading towards Muir Pass
Before the Muir ascent got steep I pass by this beautiful meadow
Before the Muir ascent got steep I pass by this beautiful meadow
Trail went right next to river for awhile
Trail went right next to river for awhile
Wow... just wow...
Wow… just wow…
Plateau 1 lake
Plateau 1 lake
White mountain heather (Cassiope mertensiana)
White mountain heather (Cassiope mertensiana)
Found the single tree on the next plateau interesting
Found the single tree on the next plateau interesting
2nd Plateau lake
2nd Plateau lake
2nd Plateau lake
2nd Plateau lake
2nd Plateau lake
2nd Plateau lake
Moving on up to 3rd Plateau
Moving on up to 3rd Plateau

IMG_0558

Lake on 3rd plateau
Lake on 3rd plateau
Lake on 3rd plateau
Lake on 3rd plateau
Huge and final lake on way to Muir Pass.  Helen Lake.  Collapsed here and watched the birds for awhile
Huge and final lake on way to Muir Pass. Helen Lake. Collapsed here and watched the birds for awhile
At Muir Pass is the John Muir hut.  Almost all hikers in each direction stopped here for awhile to rest and eat.
At Muir Pass is the John Muir hut. Almost all hikers in each direction stopped here for awhile to rest and eat.

IMG_0563

Looking down from Muir Pass
Looking down from Muir Pass
Cushion buckwheat (Eriogonum ovalifolium)
Cushion buckwheat (Eriogonum ovalifolium)
Sapphire Lake
Sapphire Lake
Evolution Creek, inflow to Evolution Lake.
Evolution Creek, inflow to Evolution Lake.

I camped by Evolution Lake and it looked as if it was going to rain but it did not. First night in awhile there was no rain. Ate some dinner and got ill again.