June 15

5 miles on Piute pass alternate to get around destroyed San Joaquin bridge

Back on PCT 857-875

Immediately we began crossing snowmelt creeks ranging from ankle to thigh deep. Cooled by overnight temperatures, the water is freezing cold and we quickly lose feeling in our feet. We stomp and wiggle our toes once out of the water to force warm blood into our frigid feet.

It seems clear that we are now in peak melt. Water is dumping off of every mountain top, and onto the trail. At times the trail is an ankle deep river that we slosh through. Our feet stay wet for the majority of the day.

We climb another pass today, Selden Pass, and we are delighted that it is both below 11,000 feet and completely non technical.

At no point do we need our spikes or axe, and we even get to enjoy a short glissade on the north side of the pass.

With the melting of the snow, bears are beginning to come up to the high country. In the mud on the trail we see a recent, very clear, front and back paw print of one of the local black bears.

We also see tons of marmots. Related to squirrels, they the largest rodent in North America. Marmots look like fat mountain beavers. They live from subalpine treeline up to above treeline. Whenever we surprise one on the trail they let out a shrill shriek before retreating to their subterranean dens. Marmots are part of a class of animals referred to as “glacial relics.”. During the ice age, their territory was vast. Now they only live.in environments that mimick conditions during the ice age- up at the top of passes.

Even with a mild pass, we still accumulated 5,000 feet of gain today and 4300 feet of descent. We are both looking forward to the easier days in northern California.