Day 67: ⛺@ mile 851 - ⛺@ mile 864.7

Date: 13.06.2018 Miles hiked today: 13.7 miles Total Mileage: Mile 864.7 As we will not hike any pass today, there is no rush in getting up. My alarm which was set for 6 am was being ignored and deleted. At 7am I got up, as the sun started to shine on my face. As soon as I open my tent doors the moskitos are around. As if they would have waited all night long for me to come back out and suck my blood! It would be so nice out here but the moskitos take much of its beauty away. We quickly get ready, wearing pants and rain jacket and some of us even put the moskito headnet on. My socks kind of dried last night. I took them into my sleeping bag as they were not that wet anymore. But my shoes are still very wet. I'm used to this now since several days and it's only the first moment where it's not that nice. But after a couple of minutes hiking you don't even feel the wet anymore. And the next river crossing is for sure coming up soon too. While we are hiking down to the junction a deer is following us. He's hiding behind a tree but is too curios to stay there and has to check what's going on. He's only a couple of steps behind us. How cute! Sadly we will not go to the Muir Trail Ranch as it only opens its doors on the 16th of June. I heard that they have one of the best hikerboxes on trail but we would have to walk 1.6 miles one way and not sure if the hikerbox is already in use. A hikerbox is a box where hikers can leave items, food, clothes etc. they don't want anymore (basically because their backpack is too heavy). As this is close from where John Muir Trail hikers start their 2-3 weeks journey, its a popular place for them to dropp stuff. It would have been interesting to check it out but it's too far away also because it's unsure if the box is in use when the ranch is still closed. From this point the climb to the next Pass, Selden Pass, is starting. We want to hike as high up as possible. As Joanne and Peter need to get some water I hike on and bump into Philly and Princess (male) having a siesta from the uphill in a shady spot. After half an hour breaking we move on. We have done half of the uphill already and are looking forward to jumping into the Lake. But when we arrive there and stopp for a minute, you are black within seconds, full of moskitos! Ahhw go away, I hate you! I'm still quite lucky as I don't seem to have been biten or they just don't hurt me. Joanne however is full of stiches all over her body. Poor thing! I have to move on, can't stay here and don't even think of jumping into the Lake anymore. This was the last official camp spot before the summit but there is a second lake in about 1 mile and I'm sure I find a spot to pitch my tent there. Philly will stay here but im sure we will see each other again tomorrow. And see there, I'm on my own up there and no moskitos or only very few. I can deal with them! Poor philly is down there with all the moskitos. What a pitty I m can't text her to come up here too (Obviously no cell phone service). I want to jump into the Lake here but there are ice pieces in there and when I put in my feet they feel frozen immediately. Nope I'm not swimming in here but I can wash my legs and arms, which must do for today! About 1.5 hours later also Joanne and Peter arrive. Joe just broke one of her poles- not her best day! Tomorrow, our plan is to go to VVR (Vermilion Valley Resort). There, you could send yourself a resupply package or just go for food and beer. It's a little expensive due to being very remote. But they are very hiker friendly and first beer is for free! You can either hike there (not on the PCT trail) or take a ferry, as it is located on the other side of a lake. As the trail there is not aligned with the PCT trail and having a boat trip is fun too, for sure I'm going with the ferry :) looking forward to a hot meal and a beer already!!! To get there it's about a 16 mile hike from our camp tonight. We camp as close to the Pass as possible. Its only 1 mile to the top of the pass:) then downhill, another uphill and down to VVR. Sounds so close and easy. We try to be there around 4.30pm as the ferry only picks up hikers twice a day to shuttle them to VVR - 9:45 and 16:45. Better make sure you are on time! That and the postholing on the other side of the pass make us setting our alarms to 4am and to hit the trail at 5am tomorrow again. It's only 7.15pm now but I'm already in my tent and sleeping bag, ready to fall asleep in a minute. Dreaming of a cold beer tomorrow!!!

Deer is watching us! Cheeky one! 

Can you see the rainbow?

Best part of the day!