Day 43 - Wednesday, June 9

Tenting next to a granite boulder field (mile 769.0).  Walked 2.0 miles today plus 16 on the John Muir Trail.

Frank kindly woke Jedi and I at 4 am.  We all got ready and were on the trail by 4:45 am.  Terrain was pleasant and only needed our headlamps for the first 15 minutes or so.  After that, it was light enough to hike without them.  Only slightly chilly out but we still needed our puffy jackets to stay warm.  Once it was light enough, we switched off the light and let the light of the new day guide us.

We hit a series of short but steep switchbacks before reaching Timberline Lake.  From here the trail gradually rose before dropping down to Guitar Lake (yes, it's shaped like a guitar).

We took a little water from here and cinched up our warm clothes as it was getting windier.  We climbed another series of short but steep switchbacks before getting to a series of more gentle but longer switchbacks.

Here, I announced that we were at 12,500 feet and that meant we were halfway through our elevation gain.  Frank looked ready to kill me at that point as she was struggling a little with the steepness and elevation.  Jedi, who is from Wyoming, jokingly remarked that the air was starting to feel more normal to him.

The trail continued up and we met Gazelle and Recon who told us to make sure we had our water filters in our jackets and against our bodies so they wouldn't freeze.  Their water bottles were partially frozen and they said it was absolutely frigid up there.  Met Hot Pink, Sure Foot, and Rambo a few minutes and they told us how we made the right decision to not go up for the sunrise.  They saved a couple of day hikers from hypothermia - their lips were blue and we're shivering uncontrollably.

Reached the trail junction where the trail from the east and west sides of the mountain meet and Magnet, Microbe, Slayer, and Sisyphus confirmed the other's accounts.  Here, Jedi decided to change from his shorts to pants.  I don't know how he was still wearing shorts at this point, because it was horribly cold.  Before he could put his shorts in his bag, a massive 60+ mph wind gust nearly knocked us over, picked up Jedi's shorts, blew them almost right into Sisyphus' face, and off the side of the mountain.  He was pretty frustrated about that since he really likes those shorts and doesn't like his convertible pants that he's now wearing.

We kept climbing and the trail got a little flatter but much rockier.  Passed Arugula and she said that their morning ascent was really dangerous.  Around this point, Frank told us that she couldn't feel her fingers so we stopped and tried to help her warm them up (even tonight as I'm writing this, her finger tips are still numb).  We continued on around and eventually we spied the summit and its emergency shelter.  The floor of the shelter was covered in an 8" thick layer of ice/snow so that wasn't helpful.  Went around to the other side and stood on the actual summit.

Took some pictures and then pulled out my sleeping bag and we huddled together in it.  (Photo courtesy of Jedi).

Clockwork, Bougie, and Heather turned up and sat with us.  (Photo courtesy of Jedi).

We toasted the summit: Jedi with a beer, Frank and I with some truly terrible below-bottom-shelf vodka.  I then called home briefly (the highest phone call I've ever made).  (Photo courtesy of Jedi).

After that we took a few more pictures and then I powered down off the summit with Frank and Jedi not far behind.

Walked past tons of out of breath day hikers making their way up.  Continued to power down the mountain behind Lefty.  At one point, she spotted a Marmot and pointed him out to me.  Just past Guitar Lake, Frank and Jedi caught up to me and we continued together to Timberline Lake where we ate for a bit.

Did the final 1.5 mile to Crabtree Meadow where we chatted briefly with Sisyphus and Slayer.  Sisyphus spoke to a ranger who said this wind is about as bad as it gets (it was a red flag day), so we're now officially badasses for hiking up there today.  We all took naps (this was my first on-trail nap) and then slowly packed up.  We got some water then hiked a mile back to the PCT and then hiked another two miles.

We found a site somewhat sheltered from the wind.  Frank and Jedi are cowboy camping, and I initially was going to, but decided to set up my tent because forecast is for below freezing temps tonight.  We're camped at 10,900 feet tonight.  Tomorrow, our first big pass of the Sierra.