Kearsarge Pass/ Bishop, CA. Mile 789

Of course, when you come out of the Whitney Portal you must almost summit Whitney Mt to get back into the PCT. The connecting trail is only 1.9 miles shy of the summit. P.S. I think this picture is a bit to much advertisement for Arcteryx.

So, of course, we must get back into the PCT this way.  And to boot, we do it in the rain. We are BEASTS. I know this picture contains the sleeve of my jacket. But I want to show the sheer degree that Cathy and I are cramponing up. I know, not a word.

Look at that sunrise above the Whitney Portal!

We were lucky enough to get a ride from Lone Pine to the Portal with Bill Powers.  A man full of jokes and wonderful stories. P.S. same gentleman that drove us to Kennedy Meadows. 

He drove by his cabin on the way to the Portal to turn off the grass watering. Of course this little gem was in the cabin. I apologize for all who find this picture crude. I could not help myself. 

This is my very friendly Marmot friend. He really wanted to share my snack. 

Cairn.

Once back on trail we have the highest pass on the PCT approaching: Forrester Pass. She is a bit over 13000 ft. Ahh yes.  Fun stuff. The views were spectacular. Worth every scree scramble and snow crossing.

This legit is Forester pass. You exit the top in the far left corner by the tallest patch of snow. You start in the middle and switch back all the way. Most of the switchbacks are covered in snow. If you divide the picture in thirds the right third in the snow near the rock face, you can see a person. 

This picture is me looking down from half way up Forester pass. Cathy is the tiny gray fleck near the bottom. This is the expert version of Where is Waldo. 

Cathy begins to really have a hard time with the mileage.  We have a heart to heart and decide we have to exit at the next opportunity to get more food to make the distance. And of course some R and R. 

We hiked around bull frog lake,  crossed the pass and made it down too Onion Campground by night.  No hitching possible then.  Slept in and were waiting at the trailhead by 0800 for a friendly person to give us a hitch to Bishop, CA.

Caught a ride with Mark Venner, a wonderful photographer from Reno, NV. We chatted about famous Nature Photographers to hiking gear. Such a nice man. Check out his amazing pictures: MARKVENNERPHOTAGRAPHY.COM

After grocery shopping and gear fixes, we rested and hitched back to Onion Valley. Got a ride with a lovely Man on his way to pick up his son from a Boy Scout hike. Like most exits from the PCT in the Sierras you have to hike at least 10miles each way to get out and in.