Thursday July 30 (Zero Day)
Friday July 31 – Red’s Meadow Campground to Deer Creek Campsite. Today’s miles – 4.0. Total trip miles – 234.6.
Rolled (staggered? stumbled?) out of my tent intentionally early for a filling breakfast at Mulehouse Cafe, and to catch an early shuttle bus for the hour ride to Mammoth Lakes. The bus loops through Red’s throughout the day and accommodates PCT/JMT hikers, as well as day hikers and tourists visiting Devil’s Postpile National Monument and Rainbow Falls.
Thursday was a typical zero day (more laundry, equipment tweaking, resupply, package mailing).
Friday was sort of a weird day. Because of the bus schedule back to Red’s, and because the distance (34 miles) to my next resupply stop was too long to cover in 2 days. So it became 2.5 days, and today was the half day. During which I spent the morning repacking, blogging, phoning, and eventually walking to the bus stop. On the bus, I chatted with Jason & Rebecca (and their cute squiggly 2 year old) about all things backpacking. They got off partway to do tourist-y things, and I continued to Red’s. And continued doing leisurely things, like having lunch and yakking with other hikers. Why not hop right back on the trail? Because it was extremely bloody hot, that’s why! And since the days are still long and my planned hike day was short, I hung out longer. And who should appear again, but Jason and Rebecca! They hung out and chatted for a pleasant couple of hours.
Oh yes, the hike! I finally headed out around 430pm, possibly my latest start ever! The start was a long hot exposed uphill climb (est 1500′), mostly through a burn area, until eventually reaching a flatter shaded area about 3 miles in. Knowing I had 2 long days ahead, I set up camp early near Deer Creek. Not a typical day out here, but a satisfying one nevertheless.
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#pct2026 #pacificcresttrail #californiahikes
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