Sunday, August 3. Bubb's Creek. 10 miles. 10,000 ft.
Finally, the perfect day. I looked out of the tent this morning at Arrowhead Lake, and there was not a single cloud in the sky - not one. Something about this morning signaled that none would come. We had started earlier days with a clear sky only to walk in a downpour by lunch. But this morning, every reflection of morning light was a little brighter. It was in the air, and we felt it. It would be a glorious day.
I roused Drew for a morning photo session to take advantage of the fresh light on this glorious spot near Rae Lakes. He shuffled around broadcasting his indifference, but we recorded a lovely morning.
All this added up to a late start - 10:30 - but our high spirits and energy level matched the morning. We passed Rae Lakes and started the climb up Glen Pass. We have grown so much stronger on this trip. Climbing 1,500 feet to a 12,000-foot pass is much more enjoyment and much less drudgery than it was nearly three weeks ago. Drew's spirits were high, fueled I suspect by his growing strength and visions of the finish line urging him on. We descended the far side past Charlotte Lake. Before dropping down to Bubb's Creek, we were treated to a sweeping view up the broad glaciated valley toward its source and 13,200-foot Forester Pass - tomorrow's target. We've settled for the night here in an idyllic grassy site by the creek, roaring except for a calm eddy that made a perfect dunk site.
Drew found ingredients to create quesadillas, which excited him to no end. His enthusiasm has soared. Now, at 8:10, he's making hot chocolate.
Which brings up the damn stove. This morning I noticed that the bolt that is welded to the burner assembly and that, with the attaching nut holds the assembly in place, sheared off - just broke off. Last night, I had to disassemble the stove because it wouldn't work. When I took it apart a small bit of burnt debris, I guess, fell out and the stove worked fine. Same thing again tonight. How can this brand new $135 stove fail on a 25-day trip with normal usage? It's nuts. No stove - gotta go home. Simple as that.
Last night Drew and I both had our sleep disturbed by pain - Drew in his hips, me in my knees and buttocks. Tonight, two Motrin as preventative medicine.
Strangely, pain appears when we stop. While walking, all soreness is masked by the effort. My knees are always stiff and the bottom of my feet are just numb from the pounding. The pressure points where I carry the weight of my pack - hips and shoulders - are fine with only minor irritations.
So finally, I get to relax in my Thermarest chair and write and read under the dimming sky and the coming stars. The Kearsarge Pinnacles on my right that define one side of this valley nudge harmless clouds that fluff along those jagged crags. Orange sunset light warms them. A show everywhere. There is still faint light in the west along with a quarter moon that will set soon. Can't see this stuff on a rainy night in the tent.
Three passes in three days - a fourth tomorrow. The last one is Mt. Whitney in four days or so.
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