Day 4 - Donohue Pass

 

Evelyn Lake trail to Rush Creek trail, 9651ft elevation. 

Today we traveled: 11miles 2487ft elevation gain 1765ft elevation loss. 

JMT mile marker: 40mile. 

Today we climbed our first pass - at 11073ft Donohue pass. I was nerves this morning, not knowing what to expect from the climb. Wasn’t anything we haven’t hiked before but this was day 4 and our legs aches.  

Compare to day 1&2 climb, today was easier. What I didn’t expect was how stunning it would be. We walked along the Lyell canyon with its beautiful river and meadow. We climbed up a forest. We climb up a granite rock. And then we walked into a whole new world. I told Bob I don’t even know how to describe it but here it goes: imagine you are looking at a wall of a mountain, it’s almost cornering you. At the top of this jagged mountain are snow fields. Waterfall and rivers flow down on a wall of rock and vegetation with the most clear water you’ve ever seen. Every so often the water is wide enough to form a small lake of blue and turquoise. Flowers dotting the fields of grass. Small shrubs are everywhere. Marmots and squirrels running around. Blue sky. It was just so beautiful. I thought yesterday was surreal but today was even more so. It’s only day 4 and I know it’s going to keep getting better and better. 

I’m here getting emotional about the view and some people in my group are excited about our dinner - Bob’s Super Ramen. I’m just teasing, It was very very good. In fact all the food so far been outstanding!