Week 5: Mammoth Lakes, CA to Desolation Wilderness, CA

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Total Miles 211.4

 

What a crazy week!

After leaving Mammoth the snow continued. Losing the trail constantly became normal and the snow melt made the river crossings very hard. My feet have been wet for 7 straight days – LOL.

I met up with another guy in Yosemite named “Sloppy Joe” who is also doing the Loop and we hiked through that section together. We must have crossed 25 rivers on that day. At 10 pm, we crossed a river above our waistline and not knowing how deep it was going to be made it that much more sketchy.

After arriving at Kennedy Meadows North, pulling a 30 by 4pm we were wiped out. I had run out of food, AGAIN. Luckily Joe had some extra. I stayed the night there, ditched the bear canister and was back on the trail at 10:30 the next morning.

The snow pack continued all week. I slipped and fell 30 feet into lava rocks and scratched myself up pretty good. I post-holed while “skiing” down the backside of Dick’s Pass and started flying down the hill on my stomach. I was able to self-arrest with my trekking pole, which got bent in the process. I kept stepping through snow bridges and falling all throughout Desolation Wilderness.

I have almost now made it to Donner Pass and hopefully, out of the bigger snow. Such a tough week, but I was able to keep a 30 mile average and aside from some scrapes, cuts, and bruises, I’m feeling pretty damn good!✌🥾🥾

 

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