Day 103 – 3 Jul 19. Invisible Snow, Mosquito Attack and Harassing Deer

Today 36.4 km (22.6 mi), Total Distance 2121.1 km (1318.0 mi) 10 hours 40 minutes (0720-1800)

I had trouble getting to sleep last night but once asleep had a good rest. I was ready quickly and continued the climb.

The trail was in the forest and the gradient was so gentle I barely noticed I was climbing. It was less than 10 minutes until I passed two tents just short of a river crossing.

The river was too wide to rock hop across and the rocks were slippery. As this was the only river crossing of the day I took off my shoes and socks. The water was really cold and I was very happy to get my socks back on once across. As I was putting them on I noticed a huge slug on a rock next to me.

Now I continued climbing. After a few miles the gradient increased and there was a few zig zags. The terrain turned rocky for a while before the final stretch in the forest up the hill. Just short of the summit there were some open meadows and then the snow started.

I had been expecting solid snow for 5 miles so was pleased that it was patchy snow with only a few longer stretches for about half a mile. All up there was maybe 1.5 miles of snow.

Just before dropping down hill I met two hikers who were on their final section before completing their PCT which they started last year.

There was one snow traverse and a few more snow patches before the trail dropped down via zig zag to below the snow line. From this point there were only a couple of tiny patches of snow.

The trail continued descending very gently and there were few different patches of trees, some more open and some closer together providing welcome shade as it was another warm day.

There was one bright green meadow. The trail was under some water and it was mosquito heaven. I stopped to take some video of the trail and was swarmed with mosquitos that I had too rush forward to outrun. I decided to delay my lunch until I was on the ridge where hopefully there would be enough of a breeze to keep them away.

Not long afterwards I came to an area with a wood fence and met a hiker I hadn’t seen since the desert section. Like nearly everyone else I have met he bypassed most of the sierras.

Now the trail started climbing, back under the forest. I managed to have lunch insect free part way up the hill.

The trail now followed along the side of the ridge and came into an open area with volcanic rock and more of the big bright yellow flowers I love, as well as some red and purple flowers.

I turned left onto another ridge line and started to get views ahead and to the right. I loved the interesting shapes the lava had created as it cooled.

There was another section of trees as I went along the side of a steeper hill and then I remained on the ridge as it curved around. The trail alternated between open patches, thick tree and an area of fire damaged trees.

This had been a dry section so I was glad to get to the 0.3 mile side trip down to a spring to refill my water.

Now the trail started climbing and I stopped at Carter Creek Saddle. Not long after my tent was up I heard what I thought was a hiker walking towards me and as I looked out my tent I saw it was a young stag with tiny antlers. He walked past my tent and down the hill.

Shortly afterwards two hikers arrived and it was Sam and Travers who I first met at Mt Laguna and then walked with a few days later. Sam had taken a month off trail to get married while Travers continued. I asked them about whether the shops would be open tomorrow which was Independence Day. They assured me everything would be open less the post office so I decided I would head into town tomorrow. They continued on wanting to get over the hill before camping.

A little later the deer returned and then proceeded to circle my campsite continuously for the next few hours. I had always thought deer were quiet when they walked but this one sounded like a clumsy hiker thrashing through the woods. After it got dark it came a bit closer and then it found my wee spot and made a racket snorting and pawing, trying to get a the salt in the urine. I had enough of the racket and yelled out loudly and it bounded away but came back 5 minutes later. I yelled again and it went away for good.

Talking with others later I realised I was lucky as they usually hang around and even try to steal things to chew for the salt.

Visits: 428