Mile 892.6 to 907.9 – 15.3 miles total hiked on PCT

Being able to camp at Lake Virginia has it benefits. 😄

After Lake Virginia, it is a short hop to Purple Lake.

After that, it’s a hike along the ridge line past Duck Pass.

Nothing really hard about this part. It just takes time and for the most part it’s downhill which always helps keep you from going crazy on the trail (or crazier 🤣).

900 miles… my feet and legs hate me. 😀

Oddly, I did find the expected trail-made mileage sign made of rocks or wood. Either I missed seeing it or no one made one for this milestone.

Either way, I made it to the 900 mile mark!!!🥳

Then it was more hiking along the ridge and then down along a stream that led to the Red Cones, a pair of volcanic mounds that get their name from… you know.

And the final stretch of trail before Reds Meadow is an open area with some old burn scars but plenty of new growth makes it very green.

Upon reaching Reds Meadow, I bought a couple Diet Cokes and then waited a long line for the bus to get me up to Mammoth Lakes. Due to years long road reconstruction you could only get up to Mammoth Lakes on certain days, such as Friday when I got here.

At one point, I was thinking I would just resupply at Reds with a few more meals to get me to Tuolumne Meadows, but the long hike from Onion Valley, and some equipment and medical issues forced me to take some zero days in Mammoth Lakes. The next day was also the Fourth of July, so that also played into my decision to take some time off the trail.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get back to Mammoth Lakes in time to pick up a package at the post office. With the holiday, I wasn’t sure I would even be able to pick it up on Monday.

I did go to Vons grocery store to do some shopping plus I was going to pick up two prescriptions at Vons pharmacy. Unfortunately, only one was received by Vons and of course it was not the one I really really really needed. Figures.🤣

So I found a hotel with a hot tub so I could soak away my body’s pain. Ahhhhhh…

Just some cleaning and repairs to my equipment. I even washed my backpack and tent. I had been having trouble with the zipper on my inner tent. After sorrow cleaning, I was still having the problem and I found that using a pair of pliers to crimp the zipper head tighter allowed it to work. Hopefully it keeps working normally now.

Then I had to see ophthalmologist in Reno, but I had to get there first. Sunday after the July 4 holiday there was a lot of traffic leaving town and I was lucky to get a lift from someone going home to Reno.

Fortunately, I was able to get a morning appointment after they opened the office.

Even more fortunate, the eye problem turned out NOT to be something that would keep me from continuing Norrh on the PCT. 😊 Just age catching up to me. And it was literally one week after I turned 60 that the symptoms started. Who said it’s just a number?

So after four Zero Days, I’ll be back on the trail the next day!!🥳🥳🥳