Day 60 - A Pass Too Far

Mile 878.7 to Mile 901 - 22.3 miles

With 7 passes crossed in 6 days, something has to give - me!!! I was absolutely shattered at days end and am thankful for a short 5.7 miles to Red Meadows tomorrow where I'll catch the shuttle to Mammoth. The climbing, the snow (mostly soft & slushy) & the creek crossings did the damage today. Almost 4700 feet of climbing tested this kiwi. From a 5.30 am start it took 4 hours to go 6 miles to summit Silver Pass at 10937 feet. It was typical JMT stuff with big switchback climbs and the massive giant steps. Three fords in the first 2 miles meant cold wet feet. The second one was potentially lethal with fast flowing white water while the 3rd was virtually under a waterfall

The snow was getting soft as the pass loomed centre of picture. It was actually to the left up a valley then a final climb to the right

The view just down from the summit was amazing - we dropped down in to the valley and later in the day would sneak around the tree lined lower mountains on the distant right

Getting down from the pass was a battle of snow & finding the trail (no snow trail markets on the JMT). At Fish Creek we thankfully had a steel bridge to cross the menacing water

This started a tough 1200 foot climb to Lake Virginia

Now we have a Virginia Lake back in my spiritual home of Whanganui which I think wins the contest...just.
A pleasant surprise were a couple of double log bridges which I vote we should have more of

Having bemoaned the lack of snow markers, Dairy Queen pointed out to me that blazes carved in to the trees were JMT markers...doh!!!!!
We also passed 900 miles today which means I've done 100 miles in the last 5 days. In the Sierras!!!! Not sure that was in the plan. Anyway - it's summer solstice and a full moon so will retreat to the tent before weird stuff happens....Weta