Day 63: ⛺@ mile 788.8 - ⛺@ mile 803.3

Day: 09.06.2018 Miles hiked today: 14.5 miles Total Mileage: Mile 803.3

Tonight I thought I heard a bear trying to open our bear canisters. I even thought I have sawn the bear walking outside my tent. But it didn't really bother me at all. Somehow I have lost one of my ear blogs at night and woke up by some noise. That's what I dreamed then. But I just popped it back in my ear and thought that the bear can have to food which didn't fit in my bear canister and which I hang on a tree rather than checking my tent. So I woke up by the alarm clock at 5am, as usual. A reminder is always set at 5.15 and that when I normally get up. 15 minutes to slowly wake up. It was a very cold night and I was freezing a little while sleeping. Also my tent is covered in ice inside and my sleeping bag is a little wet (moist air) even so I did leave the tent "doors" open. It's hard to crawl out of the sleeping bag. I hear Joanne and Peter talking something but when I finally get out of my tent they both have not moved out of their sleeping bags yet. I say good morning and get a noise back :) well then, I am getting ready. Today we are climbing Glen pass with 3'642 müm (Hight meters above sea level). As we already did some parts of the pass yesterday only 2.4 miles are left. But it is a very steep pass and it will take me a while. I wanna climb the pass as early as possible so the snow is still hard and easy to walk on (no post holing). Normally the climb is not the problem (South side) but the descend is covered in snow (north side). I'm at the pass around 7.15am. I've met some other hikers along the way up and we kept on chatting along. But what a disappointment. After the climb up there is not even a sign with the passes name and altitude up there! But the view is epic! As always when standing upon a pass in the Sierras. Peak over peak with some crystal blue ice lakes in between. 2 couples just left the top and I want to follow them. First, it's cold up here with the wind blowing around your ears. Second in the snow it's sometimes hard to find the trail. And third, other hikers are coming up behind me so I want to make some room. But the couple ahead of me hike so slowly. Snow is a big issues for many hikers here. Even if they put their microspikes on they are scarred to traverse the snow. I've passed them within a minute. After that first snow field we can walk on rocky ground. However the path is very steep as the original path is covered in snow it's mainly only downhill. Once I even had to climb a couple of steps. But it's fun and not problematic at all. While it takes me about 20 minutes to get mostly down, the couple is still working on traversing the snow field and many other hikers are just behind them now. I have to pass a second snow field where I can glissade a little. I was so looking forward to glissade (sledge down the path on your ass) but there was not much yet. Also this is a rather small one. Buy it was fun! From the pass it's an about 8 or 9 miles downhill hike to the valley untill you start to climb again for the upcoming pass. The hike to the valley is beautiful, passing many lakes and rivers. Water can mostly be heard all day long and I normally carry less than 1 liter with me. But water means also many river and even lake crossings. That means wet shoes and socks as you don't have the time and patience to take of your shoes and socks before each crossing. Otherwise you would be changing all day long as there are several crossings each day. And sometimes the trail rather looks like a small stream or creek with all the snow melt. So dont even try ro keep your shoes and socks dry! I stopp for lunch at the junction which is also the bottom of the valley before the PCT starts to climb up again to the next pass. There is a big river which reminds me of the wild water kayaking in Slovenia. And there is also the coolest bridge we walk on the PCT (or I think so). Only one person at a time and the bridge swings nicely with your steps. I looove it! Flash, a germa guy I've met in Kennedy Meadows joins me there for lunch. We even sit in the river for a cool down. It's really hot here with the sun shining down on us. I await Joanne and Peter but no one passing seems to have seen them. I don't know how long they stayed in bed for but after waiting for more than 2 hours I keep on slowly moving up the second pass. It's more than 7 miles but if I do some today I don't have to get up really early in the morning and have less alititude to hike tomorrow. The pass is nearly 1'100 meters to hike up to from the junction. I hike really slowly. I'm tired already from hiking and descending Glen Pass, my backpack is heavy, the trail is quite steep and I hope that Joanne and Peter may catch up. There is a tent site in about 2.5 miles and that is the last official one until the pass. I await them there but they don't arrive. I've checked the hiking app and read comment about a wind sheltered camp site 1.4 miles higher up. It's reallt windy here so I decide to hike on. Half way up I bump into flash again. He says that already several people passed with the aim to camp at this spot (and it states that this tent site is fine for 2 tents). So probalby it's full by now. Also looking at the sky worries me a little. It's greyish/blackish were the pass is supposed to be and it's still heavily windy. So we decide to stay here. There are 2 unofficial camp spots next to the trail. Seems safer then hiking further up the pass especially if a storm is coming up. We make early dinner, enjoy the last sunshine and go to our tents early. However, it now looks as if the bad weather front is moving away from the pass, which is good. Let's hope for a calm night tonight! And by just checking on the miles I hiked today and also where I am at I've noticed that I passed 800 miles! I didn't see a marker so may there was none. Juhui 1000 miles coming closer!