Day 170 - JMT Forrester Pass

The mountains had a surreal glow this morning as we climbed up towards the 13,200 foot high Forrester Pass. 

One of the wonderful things about the mountains is that they change appearance as the sun changes height, creating a movie-like experience as you walk. I felt so free and happy this morning--just in love with this light. 

After sixty minutes of walking, we stopped in the first sunny spot we could find to thaw out and rest. Another hiker came bustling up the trail behind us and stopped at the sunspot to shed a layer of clothing. Sly was a Canadian hiker, just turned 40, who seemed happy to see us. We struck up a conversation about travels and when we pushed off Sly asked if he could join us. We said yes of course. We hiked quickly up the trail, reaching a high plateau with epic alpine views. Selfie time!

We skirted around a high alpine lake and then went up a ridge line ever further higher. We were at 12,000+ feet now and the world began to look small yet vast. We felt on top of the world.

Yet we had further to climb. One foot in front of the other we climbed towards a small saddle opening in a high ridge, the pass to the other side and clear skies. 

We made the pass and celebrated with mistimed jump photos and story-sharing with other triumphant hikers. Many people were going northbound towards Yosemite, but we were glad to be almost finished on our journey south. The scenery seemed to get better and hiking more challenging everyday going south-- as if designed that way, like a book that slowly builds towards a grand finale, one secret exposed chapter by chapter.

We continued down the other side towards our finale, Mount Whitney.  Sly continued hiking with us and we greatly enjoyed his company. He had hiked the Appalahian Trail so we talked about the great eastern mountains often. But you can't find this kind of view back east!  I stood, soaking it all in.

I fell behind the fast pace of Sly and Bob as an overuse pain in my left foot set in.  The views left were awe-inspiring and my mood high despite the growing pain. 

From the Biggorn Plateau, the view of Sequoia National Park was perfection. We had planned to camp here and enjoy the vast views but the campsite was exposed and cold, so we continued south. 

We rounded a corner and looked up at a far mountain range.  The mountain in the middle sloped gently to a high summit, which made us think it was Mount Whitney. We continued down and camped in the forest below. I found a cold stream and iced my foot for fifteen minutes, then took a nap, ate dinner and went to bed.