The Adventures of...: Day 81

Day 81, 10 miles, endpoint PCT mile 1104

We scrambled to get our last minute projects, such as preparing a large box to ship back home, finished before we had to check out of the hotel this morning. The box for home included our bear cannisters, which are no longer required. Yay! My pack is now much less bulky and awkward without the huge can. It's also nearly three pounds lighter.

With the box for home and the bounce bucket sent away at the post office, we were ready to get out of town. We stood along Highway 50 with out thumbs out, waiting for a ride 12 miles down to where the PCT crosses the highway. After only a few minutes a car stopped. Inside was Tank, a guy hiking the PCT we had never met. Tank's dad was driving and his mom was in the backseat. Tank was taking the day off from the trail to visit with his parents, who drove up from San Francisco to see him.

Tank and his parents very nicely drove us to the trail crossing. We were very lucky that a fellow hiker happened to pass us by. Thank you, thank you!

Once back on the trail we hiked one uphill mile to get to the resort of Echo Lake. There we had lunch and visited with Badass and Sunnyside, two hikers we met at Tuolumne Meadows. After hanging out at the lakeside resort, we were on our way again. We hiked past Echo Lake and then crossed into the Desolation Wilderness. I think this wilderness has the best name out of all the wildernesses!

We then hiked along the stretching two mile shore of Aloha Lake before settling in on a rocky hillside above another lake.

Tomorrow will be a full day of hiking, my first in awhile. Looking forward to it!