Posted 7/6/14
We got to experience our first zero day in Independence. This is officially the first full day that we did absolutely no hiking since we started the trail. Unlike the magical land of food and drink we had imagined and fantisized, Independence turned out to be a tiny little town with only a few dining options to satiate our hunger pangs. We posted up in a cute little motel that was owned by a former PCT hiker named Strider. This place was a little pricier than the cheapest motel but it was really awesome and worth the extra money. We got an ice cold Sierra Nevada when we checked in. They also had a laundry service and loaner clothes so we could wash EVERYTHING. The day we left we got a hot and hearty breakfast and ride back to the trailhead from Strider. All these little extras really made it worth while and we had our own private space, with A/C and a TV for a change. We did little but stuff ourselves with food and lay in bed which is precisely how you're supposed to spend a zero day.
Our first meal off the trail was an amazing pancake breakfast with pie a la mode for breakfast dessert (new concept: eat a dessert with every meal!). This was SOOOOO much better than oatmeal with peanut butter. After taking a breather and laying in the grass at the park, we mustered the strength and gumption to go have burgers, a pile of fried food, and ice cream cones. An evening full of cable TV followed, rounding out one heck of a rest day!
One might think that amount of sloth and binge eating would make getting back on the trail difficult; but this was hardly the case. We got right back into hiking gear and spent each of the last two days busting out 15 miles and 4,000 feet of elevation gain. The rest and recuperation did us well as we are taking down mountain pass after pass in the Sierras.
Yesterday we went over Kearsage Pass and Glenn Pass. Glenn Pass proved to be more strenuous than we thought it would be because it was straight up a series of right switchbacks for almost a mile. The views at the top of Glenn were worth the climb though.
Today we climbed over Pinchot Pass. This was one of our biggest climbs yet; 7.5 miles ascending 3,500 feet. It felt like it went on forever but there were more lakes than we had seen yet on this climb. Swimming in alpine lakes gives you a boost of energy to help carry you through the steep uphills. The next few days should be very similar.
One thing that has made relaxing at camp difficult has been the mosquitos. We haven't been able to get to camp without frantically throwing on our bug armor in a while. Fortunately we're equipped to handle thembut their overwhelming presence is still aggravating. We often feel like prisoners in our little bug net cell which is the only place we are unreachable. Our bug net is functioning terrifically! We couldn't be happier we made this and brought it along. We're anxious to test out the other features of our tarp tent.
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