Day 136

Day 136 (pct 26): 16 miles

For those coming behind me these conditions were on 5/21. Today was when shit hit the fan. 1st 3 pics/vids were atop Glen Pass. This, along with Mather Pass were the only potentially dangerous ones

A lot of today really felt like I was back on the AT in winter, except worse. “But Mr. Horsepower sir, didn’t you consistently deal with colder temperatures and more precipitation on the AT?” Yes I did, but I was much more prepared for it with the gear I had. With all the reports of the Sierra this year and not knowing anything about this incoming weather, I still have all of the same gear I did for the desert section plus 1 pair of Under Armor long Johns. Physically and mentally I can handle this, but my gear is not up to par for it.

It was a cold night even in the valley. It started snowing around 8am and didn’t stop all day. The weather forecast someone showed me a few days ago said snow showers. I know Ohio is a pretty mild place but where I come from snow showers doesn’t mean 12+ hours of snow. Where I’m camping right now probably has a fresh 6 inches and it isn’t done.

As I was approaching Glen Pass it was getting worse. On the other side of the mountains behind me I saw a little blue sky and thought it might take over by the time I reach the top. Nope. The snow just got worse. It was pretty easy going up. But going down was more difficult. Snow was starting to cover up the tracks so it was hard to tell where to go. I fell and started sliding and was gonna hit some rocks 20 feet below me. All I was thinking was “fuck this is gonna hurt this is gonna hurt this is gonna hurt.” At the last second, about 3 feet before them, I self arrested with my microspikes onto a small rock like a baseball player sliding into a base with style. I had put those on 30 seconds before so that ROI was incredible.

Feet are in pretty rough shape from being wet and cold all day

May is mental health awareness month. Please consider donating to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at the link in my bio!

Song of the day: stupid again-Tory lanez

It was freezing cold up at that high elevation. My hands were a little numb all day but up there they were frighteningly cold. The right side of my face was even starting to go numb from the cold. I started to get some PTSD back to my frostbite scare on the AT but thankfully as I dropped lower in elevation they got a little better. I really wish I knew this weather was coming when I left Kennedy meadows and I would’ve taken my mittens rather than send them home.

I was gonna stop at 14 miles cause that was in a valley with the lowest elevation but I looked at the map and noticed there was a stream ford coming up soon. I figured since I’m already wet and cold I might as well do it now rather than early in the morning and set the tone for tomorrow. If you think it’d be cold walking across a steam of snow melt water barefoot while it’s snowing and below freezing, you’d be right. When I initially stepped in, the shock wasn’t too bad, but after, 3 seconds it was pretty wild. Thankfully right on the other side of the steam was Purge and Ghost Fingers, some fellow Ohioans, that gave me a towel to dry my feet quick. And before I crossed Purge motivated me by telling me “it’s not as cold as it looks... It’s colder!”

To keep my sanity today, I found myself talking to marmots. I was mostly being an angry parent telling them to go back inside and get out of the cold.

Today probably would’ve been great scenery, especially around Rae Lakes but there wasn’t much visibility. I planned on going farther today but with this snow I moved slower and it was too late in the day to approach the next pass. I didn’t want to be up at 12,000 feet when the temperature starts dropping. Tomorrow might have to even be a shorter day cause it’ll be the same situation but the second pass is one of the most dangerous.

As disappointing as today was with the mileage and cold, it was one of those days where I just look around and smile at the absurdity of what I’m doing. I haven’t done this since hiking through a blizzard in the AT where it snowed for 28 hours straight.