Day 18 - Pinchot Pass

 Upper Basin to almost Twin Lakes 11122ft elevation. 

We passed the Pinchot Pass at 12050ft 

Today we traveled: 11miles. 2185ft elevation gain 2543ft elevation loss. 

JMT mile marker: 163mile.

We got up not feeling 100% but that didn’t stop us admiring the view. It was fantastic. The day started with an easy downhill path. 

Just before we were ready for it the trail turned into a steep uphill and soon we were huffing and puffing. We stoped after one mile and had breakfast. The first breakfast we tried was one of our favorite: Chia pudding. Well this one was a disaster. Half too watery and the other half dry. Even after mixing it, it still tasted weird. It was with peanut butter power and not the usual coconut milk powder.  I hate to say it but we dug a hole and buried it. The next meal we tried was our lunch: Rice with Tofu. That one was tasting better but it was too much food for me and I made myself eat 3/4 of it before getting rid of it. 

I didn’t have an appetite or energy to eat. 

Our next goal was to climb to the top of Pinchot Pass 12050ft and 3mile from where we were. Sounds easy enough. The trail was pretty and we  passed a few alpine lakes but never got much elevation. It was concerning. When are we going to start the climb?! Well, finally it started to gain elevation and quickly. Switchbacks, stairs, rocks scrambling, you name it. Pinchot Pass was hell. 

I was suffering big time. My throat was bugging me and I must’ve blown my nose 100 times. 

Like all good things, even bad things got an end and we found ourselves sitting at the top soon enough. We were alone at the pass and took our time admiring the view and enjoying being done with the climb. Close to the top was a blue lake that was surrounded by a brownish mountain, the sand and rock spilling into the water making it look like a multicolor picture, it looked like a peacock feather.  It was really pretty. I don’t think the pictures will show much. Must see it in person. Lucky us! 

Admiring the view halfway up

Peacock feather lake

On the way down, I was walking behind Bob, all of a sudden, a Pika runs out from the rocks, crosses the patch and hit Bob ankle! It bounce off and runs away. What a stupid animal. Cute as hell but men, stupid. I was laughing so hard. 

We had to go farther than we wanted in search for water. Tonight I was exhausted. We made shelter, ate rice and dall, which was excellent, took two Advil and was in the tent laying down by 5:30 PM. 

Rice and Dall

Today’s song stuck in my head: “Always look on the bright side of life” from the Monty Python movie life of Brian. If I need to be sick, at lease the view is incredible. I hope tomorrow I’m better. Yifat.