Desolation Wilderness

1. 

When everything's wet all the time it's important to find time to dry things out 

And bathe in the Stream whenever possible

10 miles a day

I could not walk more than 10 miles a day in the Sierra .Even after I became confident with my navigation skills. When you're hiking on top of snow pack for many miles it becomes impossible to calculate elevation gains and losses because the drifts can be 40 ft deep.

The ice axe combined with mountaineering boots are essential for me at my age .I need to be able to cut steps into the snow banks with my boots  and if it's ice-covered I need to be able to cut steps using  the adze of my axe . Twice I needed my  ice axe to arrest my fall on icy slopes. Once on a 1200 ft descent .Aside from thermal gear  my ice axe is my most important piece of mountaineering gear 

Heatwave

During my time in the town of Bishop a heat wave caused flooding in the surrounding area.
I took a bus North to South Lake Tahoe. Then started walking North through Desolation Wilderness. This picture is Aloha Lake mostly covered with ice just a small opening to get water from. I found a patch of Earth to put my tent on.

I spent most of my time alone in Desolation Wilderness .  The trails were mostly covered with snow and I had no one but myself to rely on for navigation . The first couple of days were difficult . When the trail is covered with snow and Ice, it's not always the safest route. it's important to know your target destination and find the safest way there .  Traversing Mountainside switchbacks that are covered with ice and snow is dangerous 

 June 17th, on the way to resupply in the town of Bishop .I exited the PCT via Kearsarge pass. 11700 ft above sea level .the  climb was as exciting as the two previous days. These last 3 days Whitney, Forester, Kearsarge were the most adrenaline-filled days of my entire life.

Next big climb

Me and Wizkid Forester pass 13200 feet above sea level .This ascent was more difficult than the summit climb on Whitney. Both days had  spine-tingling traverses . But snow obscured the Switchback trails  on the shoot , south-facing slope approaching Forester pass. It was a long slow wall hug straight up to that mountain pass.crampons and Ice axe the whole way. After the pass it was one long glissade down the other side our speed averaged six miles per hour on The Descent

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Endorphin and adrenaline

After climbing Whitney, I felt like I could do anything. Near the end of our hiking day, this stream Crossing was relatively easy and provided a boost as one more challenge is behind us. Less than 1 mile later we met our match. A stream that was so swollen by the days snow melt that we could not cross it safely . Our last failed attempt left us soaking wet as the sun went down. We pray for below-freezing temperatures to reduce the amount of runoff in the Stream to make the crossing easier in the morning. Another night camping on snow pack. And soaking wet boots mean solid blocks of ice to put on our feet in the morning. As soon as I wake up, I put my boots in the dry sack I use for my sleeping bag, I curl around them in the fetal position inside my sleeping bag until the ice melts enough to put them on my feet. The Crossing in the morning went much easier. the stream was still a raging torrent that nearly knocked me off my feet but the endorphins and the adrenaline make it all manageable and gives you the head of steam for the next big climb

Whitney Summit

Mount Whitney Summit tallest mountain in the lower 48 states 14,500 ft

We Camped at Guitar Lake and begin our Ascent Before Sunrise

I am proud of my accomplishment but I acknowledge that I could not have done it alone.

The positive energy from the group that welcomed me has filled me with new confidence

Happiness abounds in this Pleasant group of young people