Forester Pass

Day 48

21 miles-Crab Tree Meadow ranger station to Vidette Meadow campsite

From the campsite it was 14 miles to the top of Forester Pass, the tallest point on the PCT at 13,120 feet. After a full day yesterday and a chilly moist night, it was hard to get moving this morning. My legs were tired and I was so cold. I must not be used to a wet cold anymore. After a couple of miles I warmed up and my legs felt like they were working again.

The climb up to Forester pass was very different than how I had imagined it. We crossed a couple of high plateaus with marmots running over the soft ground and eating the grass. The trail was steadily going up for a few miles crossing several streams coming out of high alpine lakes filled with snow melt. As we got higher we would see another lake and another stream. Going up mountains and passes is just so interesting because perspective changes so quickly that it seems like every new turn is a new view. Finally we got to the base of the very short but steep part. Looking at the wall before climbing, it was hard to see where the trail went. While on the climb, the trail is so well made that you feel tucked into the side of the mountain.

The climb was so fun and we could see our friends at the switchbacks above and below us so it was almost like a game!

As we reached the top, I was listening to my favorite pump up song which makes me feel strong and the view was so lovely I cried a bit! Overwhelmed at being here in this beautiful place and being able to share it with Kevin.

There were some other hikers up top coming south who told us that about 8 miles ahead there were some people camping and doing trail magic for hikers! Here? In the middle of nowhere? So we hurried down the other side of the pass to get to the food!

As we passed a few of the lakes in the other side of the pass, I paused to remember the woman who recently died there. She was a PCT hiker who died from untreated altitude exposure. Very young and what a terrible thing for her friends, family, and community. It was sobering to walk through that area after reading what had happened there. Her memory will live on.

When we arrived at the trail magic, it was a party. A group of trail angels do this once a year on a weekend and we just happened to come across them at this time! What a treat! They were cooking spaghetti over the fire and even had some food that I could eat too! The trail angels were hilarious and super fun to hang out with. At the end of the night, one passed around kazoos and led us in rousing chorus’ til everyone was laughing! It was a great experience there!