We got the first bus to Agnew and were on the trail by 8.   Soho stopped to help a group of hikers with a similar pack as his get strapped in.   One guy had his ultralight pack loaded to the gills and his waist belt loose so all the weight was on his shoulders.  He kept telling them to cinch the waist belt tighter and lift the pack above the hip bone.   He told me later that they kept ignoring his advice so he just left.    

This route is special to me.   I took my daughter, her two friends, Steve, and Joe on this exact route many years ago.   We took 4 days to get to Toulome meadows.   I figure it will take me about a day and a half this time.   

Lots of marshy ground on this hike.   At least the wild flowers were out.   It was much prettier this time around. 

Got above Thousand Island lake and took a pic.   This was our first campsite during my daughter’s hike. 

I think we camped around here on the second night. 

I found a Marmot doing his thing next to the trail.  Soho calls them Sierra Ground Hogs.    I don’t think that would be a good brand name.  I mean, I have a Marmot pullover and Marmot sleeping bag back home.  Who would want to buy a Sierra Ground Hog bag?   I decided to bug this one.  Mess’in with the Marmot

Then it was up and over the pass.   

 

Coming down from the pass a Yosemite Ranger girl asked me for my pass.   It is the first time anyone has checked it in 5 months.   Seems that Yosemite area rangers are the only ones that care.   Then she asked about my bear can.   Yes, miss ranger, I have your stupid bear can.   I almost gave her my suggestion that we should exchange the 2.5 pound bear can for a 2.5 pound rifle.   That would be a more permanent solution to the bear problem.   I think my opinions would have fell flat.   Thing is the only bear I’ve seen on the trail was next to a dumpster.  In fact, I can look out my window at Mammoth and see a bear going through the dumpster just about every night.   There are supposedly 40,000 bears running around in these mountains.   According to a lady in Mammoth, there are 41 tagged “nuisance” bears in Mammoth.   Just shoot those and the bear “problem” goes away.   How’s that for an opinion?   

Ok, so now that I’ve bummed everyone out about my bear theory, here is our camp site.   My food is securely stored in my lead lined bear can except the stuff that can’t fit which is under my pillow….so suck it. 

Did 17 miles and 4k of elevation today.   Tomorrow I’m jamming into Toulome to catch a ride to Mammoth for a Zero.