PCT SECTION HIKE | DAY 10 Thousand Island to Rosalie Lake
Miles Hiked: 8.4 miles
Elevation: 1553 ft ascent | 2019 ft descent
Today I will have hiked over 100 miles. Almost one-third of the hike is complete.
I woke up late today, wanting to stay in my sleeping bag to hide from the cold morning air. I finally left camp after 0745 and walked the 0.9 miles back to the trail junction. Thousand Island was nearly empty last night. Not a single other tent nearby.
I had breakfast at Ruby, not a single other hiker passed by. It is a sunny, hot, and dry day. The second climb of the day: get out of Garnet. I remember it being hot and dry before reaching the top, which is rocky with rock-covered switchbacks leading down the other side. The climb was a little easier this time, but just as I remembered. A few switchbacks down the other side, I talked with a ranger and showed my permit, then continued on my way. Down down down. From 10,100 ft down to 8,763 ft, descending into Shadow Creek. This is where I would have taken a side trail to Lake Ediza, had I not changed plans. Instead, I continued on to Shadow Lake and the switchbacks that go up to Rosalie Lake.
There are good and bad things about hiking the same section three years in a row. You know the beauty, but you also have your least favorite parts. For me, that is these switchbacks. It’s only a mile and less than 1,000 ft of gain, but for some reason (woods, no views), they are always tough for me. I’d rather do Donahue again. I made it to camp by 1500, early enough to soak in the lake. I got a good 30 minutes or more of relaxation by the water before a big family with nearly a dozen preteen boys decided to set up right next to me on the shore.
The peacefulness of Rosalie lost.
The next hours into sunset were spent with headphones in to drown out the screams profanity-filled your mom/suck my d*ck jokes of preteen boys and the occasional "There's a lady over there. Hey lady!" Their dads went back to camp and said "let me know if they're misbehaving." I’m looking forward to getting further away from civilization again. It’s always a bit of a shock to the system when you get to areas with a lot of day hikers and weekend backpackers.
Overall, it was a pretty good day. My feet are tired but less sore. The only thing that really hurts is my cracked heels.
Tomorrow: town day! Plan to hang at Red’s for a bit and then head into Mammoth.