Milestone Basin and Vidette Creek 2014

Over Forester Pass

Thursday, August 21, 2014

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Forester Pass, at 13,150 feet elevation, is the highest point on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT and JMT are the same trail in this area), and the highest point for us on this trip as well.  We had last crossed this pass in 1995.  From the south side, the pass looks impossible from a distance, being a small notch in the ridge.  The trail, partially dynamited out of the granite, switchbacks up to the right (east) of the notch, and crosses maybe 50 feet below the notch, and has a few more switchbacks on the west side before reaching the pass.  The north side is much less dramatic, but a long elevation drop to our camp at about 10,700 feet.


After getting used to not seeing anyone, we saw at least 100 people today.  As soon as we reached the JMT in the morning we saw at least a few people each hour.


Journal Entry:  Long on-trail today.  Very cold last night - 32°F in tent at 4am.  Awoke to dew and frost.  Early sun though—around 7am.  Spent some time drying, walking by 8:30.  Reached Forester Pass around 12:30.  Long downhill to “Center Basin Junction” campsite in trees.  Arrived just before 4:00.  Tomorrow we head down and then up over Kearsarge Pass, hopefully to Flower Lake.



frost on tent and backpack in the morning!

reflections in lake where we camped

view southwest toward Kaweah range

Forester Pass is low point on ridge

Forester Pass

marmot

zoom in on upper part of Forester Pass

marmot having lunch near switchbacks below pass

view to the south from halfway up to pass

trail just before it crosses below pass

view north from Forester Pass

looking back at the pass from the north

destination for today is the trees below

Junction Peak over the large lake below the pass

first few trees appearing near a small lake

University Peak over the valley ahead as we near camp


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