Log: Day 111 - Mile 922.0

August 1, 2016

I've always found that starting your day with a climb is the best way to combat the morning chill. On the way up to Donohue Pass we met Bright Side and Wit, two PCT section hikers from Alaska. They had been working on the trail piece by piece over the years and were getting close to wrapping it up. Both were very nice although Bright Side was definitely the more talkative of the two.

We stopped for a break at the top to celebrate the first pass of the JMT. It was bare, rocky, and very exposed but cool and breezy enough that heat wasn't a problem. There were a few hikers hanging out at the top and we met Bigfoot and Caribou, friends of Bright Side and Wit joining them for this section.

Part way down the descent we came across section hikers Jay and Cole. Cole had broken or sprained his foot and they had been camped out there for a day hoping it would get better enough to walk out on. They had decided to call it in while we had been at the top of the pass and a helicopter was making its first pass as approached the campsite. The crew shouted something down to Jay and Cole which we couldn't make out before turning and flying away. Thinking the air crew had decided Cole would need to wait for a ground crew, I began mentally running through all my WFR training half hoping I this might be a chance to put it into action (and feeling guilty for hoping that).

It turned out that helicopter would be back shortly and Cole did not need immediate medical attention. After double checking that they were set on water we continued on. We caught up to Bigfoot and Caribou and I slowed down to talk with them for a while. They were both trained as materials engineers and in the process of transitioning towards short-term contract jobs and retirement. Like their Alaskan friends, they were both very engaging.

We caught up to Katy and Sadie at a creek crossing where the ladies had stopped for a break. Bigfoot and Caribou continued on while we snacked. Nourished and hydrated we continued on towards Island Pass. Day 2 aches and pains began making their appearances as we went over the pass but fortunately we were nearing the end of the day.

We descended down to Thousand Island Lake. While I'm unsure about the counting there, I was very sure that it was a good spot for a swim. Katy and Sadie took the opportunity to get a nice foot soak in while we figured out our next move. The plan had been to camp here but it was still early and we were hoping to catch up to, and camp with, Bright Side, Wit, Caribou, and Bigfoot. We decided to continue another 15 minutes to Ruby Lake and call it a day there, camping down by the water.