Day 8 August 11th Virginia pass

Agood view of cascade valley. We will hike to it's head.

We get earliest start yet at 7:30. Feels like Keep It Light by Wookiefoot. Pack feels light today and we have alot of energy and keep a good pace all day. We start near Pumice Butte and climb along cascade valley. Ultimately we get to the beginning of the valley when we climb Virginia pass. The first climb keeps us in forest without views of cascade valley we are hiking along. the trail finally takes us out of the pumice and volcanic rock and back into granite and less dust. The climb is cool and shady. A bear runs across the path 50 feet in front of us. He is a juvenile and very golden and he is really moving fast..

 

Breakfast at Duck Creek

It is a long day (13 miles or so) so we take breaks for breakfast (chia pudding) and lunch (quinoa, tomatoes and beans). On the hike besides the bear we see a Coopers hawk, a Red breasted sap sucker, a Chickadee, a couple Clarks nut crackers and Belding squirrels. A cloud passed in front of the sun for the first time since we started 8 days ago. The skies have been clear and blue accept for some smoke while we were at reds meadows

LookSight seeing

A video of glacier devastation on Virginia Pass

The rocky landscape on the assault to Virginia pass is truly amazing. We get wet in fish creek and then pasta Bolognese. Another big day tomorrow so bed early.

Bob

A video of fish creek after leaving meadows to rocky canyon