Selden Pass
The biggest excitement today was not Selden Pass (which required the usual 3,000 foot climb, awesome vistas, and a few miles of continuous snow; nothing new) but a series of creek crossings in late afternoon, after dropping back below 10,000 feet, near the end of a 20-mile day.
Bear Creek was the worst. I was hiking with Skipper and Dane when we hit the creek about 6 pm, in full force, and we scouted for a crossing for about 40 minutes before committing. It was impressive: 40 feet wide, waist deep, and fast. We forded using a tandem method where everyone lines up side by side, faces across the river, and weaves their arms around each other’s backs to hang on to opposing shoulder straps. Actually, pretty safe. I’m just glad I wasn’t alone; I’ve walked in a group of three to twelve hikers through the Sierras so far, which makes all the obstacles easier to manage, and the scenery easier to appreciate!
What an extraordinary series of days. You sound like you are in training for an expedition to Saturn. Losing those binoculars is really a drag. Maybe they will find you again, like the umbrella.
Look forward to the next installment. We look forward to welcoming you home to Oregon in a few weeks.
Noah,
Appreciate your pictures and remarks
Sounds like the trip of a lifetime.
We are planning to be up on the JMT later in the month and therefore have been following you.
We assume that snow will have abated a bit — but clearly FAR more than normal
Be safe and let’s hope those binocs get mailed home to you etc.
Hello Noah,
Boy, was I happy to see your posts for the last several days. I was slightly concerned when days passed and no word from you!
Just a note – you talked about the little stone cabin dedicated to John Muir. For a few months, many years ago, my former husband and I lived and worked on a homestead in North Parsonsfield, ME, home to Robert Muir, nephew of John. Mr. Muir and his wife maintained this beautiful place which is on the national register and created a retirement home for standard bred race horses. We were the caretakers of the property, the gardens and the horses. It was like a piece out of time in an idyllic setting.
Wishing you many blessings along the way.
Patricia
Wow! these past five or so posts popped up all at once. Felt like I was watching (reading) from a Steve Spielberg extravaganza movie or something! Well, you will have some great stories for your grandchildren some day! Sorry about your binos…stay safe!
This is just like the olden days when friends and family were back packing across Europe, dependent on American Express offices for mail pick ups. What a nice collection of snow pix and creek crossings. Interesting how the scenery can be so repetitive without being boring. I have to add my wishes for the return of your binocs; I fully expect it to happen.
Hi! Like others I have checked each day to see if you posted. Glad to see that you are safe and have had others with you for support. (Gosh I can’t even imagine crossing in that icy water!!) I wondered what would happen up in the mountains when we got rained on all day on June 28…good to see it didn’t bother you any. SO SORRY to hear about your binocs!! I can really relate to how bummed you are. Take care!
Oh, by the way, outstanding pictures of your journey.
Dang! Bummer about the bins. Hope they find their way back to you soon. Thanks for the great posts and pics from your exciting adventure!
Still praying for you and enjoying the blog. Watch out for lightening
Hi Noah! I concur that it was a relief to see your posts after June 26. Wow, what a physical challenge you are undertaking. Ascending those high passes and slogging through soft snow sounds very tough and the stream crossings terrifying! Especially day after day after day.
Amazing fortitude on your part. Good luck on having your binos returned to you. Safe hiking.
Noah,
It’s nice to know that there are still a few places left where you can’t get cell service in CA! Glad you are up for the snow and high water, it makes for a great blog. Keep on ‘truckin…
Tim