The VVR folks have this system down.   The ferry leaves after breakfast.   So they make another $20/head off folks milling around eating and chatting.   I settled my tab for a whopping $260.   Honey buns, showers, steak dinners, beers all add up.

I checked out the remnants of last nights party around the fire pit.   There was an empty scotch bottle laying next to the pit, empty and half empty beer bottles scattered around.   All the evidence points to a bunch of hung-over hikers walking around this morning.

The horn sounded and everyone rushed out to the beach to board the High Sierra assault craft.  

A few folks looked a little green from last nights party, but most seemed to be in high spirits.   Unfortunately our captain spent 15 minutes circling around looking at some bird nest in the trees and two big birds flying around.   Never figured out what they were.   I oooh’d and aaah’d with everyone else, but frankly I just wanted to get on the trail.   Once we landed I strapped and took off.

Today is going to be a miserable climb from ~8k to 10.7k over 6 miles.   I had not even finished the 1 mile route from the ferry landing before it started raining.    Put on the rain jacket, pack cover, and kept moving.  

While climbing in the rain, I met several groups of JMT’ers coming down.   They were in various states of dress.   One had a trash bag on, which I admired.   Another father, mother, daughter combo had  three had gigantic, hooded, neon onezies on over their clothes and packs.   They looked like telatubbies.   I mentioned it to the Dad had he laughed.  Said he got a great deal on the rain suits.   His kid looked devastated.   I should have got a pic. 

Rain cleared out after a few hours and I hung the gear on my pack to dry.   The climb was relentless. 

I liked this little waterfall.   Took a pic mid crossing. 

The pass is up here somewhere. 

FInally made it to the top around 3.   I suppose this rates as a nice view. 

The route down had some rock scramble to it, then it smoothed out. 

Lower down there was bridge crossing over fish creek.   I took a small Video

Although I don’t get credit for another pass, trail turned into another 2k climb to get to Virginia lake at about 10.5k.   Nice lake.

Before descending to Purple Lake, I got my first look at the smoke from Yosemite.   

I arrived at sundown at the campsite.   Soho was already setup….he loves those climbs.   I’m exhausted and a little irritable.   It was a long day with almost 5k of climbing for a measly 15 miles.   Getting sick of this pass shit.  When do I get some flat ground?