As I was eyeing my wristwatch waiting for the alarm to go off at 5:15, I hear Bob rustling around. He wants to get an early start. I can’t let him get up before me. I have a reputation to uphold. I let the air out of my air mattress.
We have a crazy itinerary today. Bob has suddenly become an optimist. He thinks we can climb over three passes while also hiking 18 miles.
Have you ever had a manager like that? One who believes that setting realistic goal is a form of defeatism.
Buckeye Pass
We didn’t have enough energy to go up over Ebbits Pass yesterday, so we will do it this morning. It’s about 800 feet up over 4 miles – not bad. It’s a closed-in kind of climb so I focus on what’s in front of me. This vine-covered rock and baby pine strike my fancy. I like the composition.
The pass will be there when we get to it.
At the top is one of those amazing meadows. This one is decorated by red flowers.
Right around the corner from that is Peler Lake.
Here’s another couple smaller lakes.
Mule Pass
It was a bad idea to stop for lunch right before attempting the climb to Mule Pass. Lunch is when I force food down until I’m almost sick. I am miserable afterward, and my legs have not recovered from yesterday’s workout. Oh well. No use being a baby about it. Get up that pass!
It is hard. That dang trail goes straight up. Not only as it hard to breath, but my legs burn for the first time this hike. This is what the pass looks like at the top.
Pass or Fail
One of the hikers that passed us as we climbed Mule Pass has come up behind us. “Hello, again,” he says. He just stands there staring at us. I didn’t realize I was that entertaining to look at. Perhaps I should start a YouTube channel. Then I notice his jacket. He is a Ranger with the Yosemite Wilderness. He is checking permits. Bob and I have PCT permits. We are not on the PCT. We are on an “adventure.”
He eyeballs us suspiciously, then lets us pass. He tells us he is signing off on our permits today because this trail is lightly travelled. “But don’t try doing this at Tuolumne,” he warns. “Yes, sir!” we promise.
This counts as the third pass.
Burro Pass
The last pass is Burro Pass. It is at the far end of this valley.
Bob says we shouldn’t have to descend too much before going up to Burro. He is looking at his ancient map again. I have a bad feeling. We go down, way down, over a thousand feet. When we go up to the pass, Bob is right. It is not straight up like Mule. But it is a long way up. The top 400 feet are still steep.
I imagine how they will find my body and what the newspapers will say about my demise. Bob is nowhere in sight. Probably dead already.
When Bob reaches the top of the pass, I walk up to him and grab him firmly be the shoulders. “We crossed three passes today,” I yell. “I’m so sorry,” he replies. He thinks I am mad at him. “We should be celebrating,” I counter. “We did it!”
We decide to camp at the first available spot, as in, any kind of flat ground.
August 31, 2025
Miles hiked: I have no idea, But our phones say between 19 and 20 miles.
Most surprising moment: When near the top of Burro pass I see not one, but two mountain toads. Each is about the size of a dime if you stretch their legs out.