we eventually arrived to the trailhead, where PCT folks go to resupply
Our moving stats show that our overall average was a good amont faster than when I did the JMT and I was only averaging 1.1 to 1.4mph with all that weight vs 1.7 to 2.2mph here (Jennifer also liked more breaks and enjoying the scenary a bit longer). Either way, here are the stats:
Move Ovrl Max Avg Dist Time Move Avg Avg Cal HR HR Climb Desc Day1 14.16 7h50 7h06 2.0 1.8 2600 168 132 3881 902 Day2 13.70 8h08 6h59 2.0 1.7 2287 152 122 931 2513 Day3 14.22 8h32 7h23 1.9 1.7 2494 158 121 2011 1007 Day4 9.55 4h23 4h11 2.3 2.2 1258 154 122 505 2906 Tot 51.63 28h53 25h39 2.0 1.9 8639 158 124 7328 7328Comparing this with my JMT trip, my average heartrate was definitely higher, despite the ligher load and the lower resting heart rate I should have 10 years later. Likely a combination of lack of being in better shape and the cold.
Day 1
I didn't know how much terrain we were supposed to cover on day 1, or I'd have hurried a bit more in the morning (oh yeah, on top of the cold I also had just come back from France and was severely jetlagged).We started on the trail by 10:15, which was a bit late considering, but thankfully we made good pace (our best overall average for a day were were climbing)
we quickly got to the snowline
deer hunting was allowed here, two hunters were hoping to be lucky (no wonder the deer were skittish there)
horses on the trail ensured we had a layer of fresh poop on the trail at all times :-/
some of the track was actually icy
climbing to the pass, more snowy
last pass before the lake (just shy of 10,000ft)
we felt thankful that we were not trailblazing, or we'd have lost of a lot of time getting to camp
now, it was 'just' a matter of finding a flat spot without snow on it
I eventually found something close enough to flat
by then, we barely had 30mn before sunset, when it was going to become cold, very cold
Day 2
The next morning, I was up before sunrise given that I had gone to bed so early due to temperatures, but neither Arturo or I wanted to venture outside until the sun at least hit our tent. We had a quick breakfast and went on our way:
Arturo's routing took a less busy trail which we had to trail blaze, mostly using my GPS
we had a good amount of stream crossings, but thankfully we stayed dry on virtually all of them
always fun to see where glaciers left some rocks, and in which position
Day 3
The next morning, it was definitely warmer as the cold front had left by then. That was welcomed.
a few packing horses came to check us out
finally got to emigrant lake, it's quite large
found a nice meadow for our last night
I spotted this little mouse that played dead so we wouldn't see it