Day 21 - We have a ride to catch!

 Kearsarge pass trail to Onion Valley Trail head 9205ft  elevation. 

We climbed up to Kearsarage Pass 

Today we traveled: 6.2 miles. 709ft elevation gain 2635ft elevation loss. 

JMT mile marker: 180mile.

We got up to a dreary morning. The sun was up but so did the clouds. Despite it, the view was incredible and we even spot a rainbow over the mountains. 

Rainbow in the distance 

Bullfrog lake

We try drying out the tent as much as we could and we pack camp knowing tonight we’ll be sleeping in a real bed after a hot shower hopefully. That thought really helped getting us up and over the pass. Not too many switchbacks in that direction but boy oh boy so many switchbacks going out.

A little friend on the trail this morning. Bigger than your house cat. Jackrabbit. 

Up and up we go

Almost at the top

Kearsarge Pass

The trail was long and we could see the parking lot for a long time before reaching it finally. 

Everyone that we passed on the way (they were going up) asked us how was the weather on the other side, when we look back we saw some serious clouds were picking up and wished them good luck. We were happy to get down and out for the next two days, waiting for the storm to pass. There was talked about rain, hail, snow and lightning. Yucks!! 

The parking lot in the distance 

As we got to the parking lot, it started raining again and we took cover under a big tree in the campground. We cooked lunch and waited to our ride to pick us up. We talk to a few hikers and time passes by. 

The actual road to town (Independence) is crazy - we drove from 9000ft + elevation and 55F rainy weather to 4000ft - elevation and 85F sunny day in a matter of 20min. Lots of switchbacks and curves, I’m glad I was sitting in the back seat. 

We arrive at our hotel and resupply location: Mt. Williamson hotel and it’s a charming little place with a few little cabins and a few community tables under big trees. 

Our cabin 

Walking around town with our loaner outfit

Breakfast location

We’re greeted with a welcome drink and told to bring our laundry to them quickly. We switch to loaner outfits: shorts and T shirt and we send everything we have including underwear, bra, socks, gloves, all clothes, bandanas and go outside to catchup with Rob and a few other hikers while drinking beer and eating oranges we bought at the nearby gas station. Later that evening we walk down the street to one out of two food trucks in town. Both serves Mexican food. I get a veggie burrito no cheese and Bob gets veggie tacos no cheese. I’m stuffed and we go to bed after a very hot shower. The soap is surgical grade, it doesn’t foam but the smell alone can kill bacteria. I feel very clean. It did take me a few rounds of scrubbing to get the dirt out of my feet. We both feel much much better and happy to be able to take a rest day. Yifat