PCT SECTION HIKE | DAY 20 Big Pete’s Meadow to Lower Palisades
Miles Hiked: 12.2 miles
Elevation: 2784 ft ascent | 1425 ft descent
It’s Golden Staircase Day.
And Jen’s golden birthday!
This morning is cold and muggy. High humidity. The kind of day where I definitely want to wear bug spray just in case. I remember this area being buggy last year. Downhill for about 5 miles, and then uphill for the rest of the day. The last 3-4 miles being the worst. I started hiking soon after Pao and Christian, with the others not far behind. Sharon soon caught up to me and passed me by, a gazelle—so much energy and strength on the uphills. I stayed right behind her for a little while, until we spotted a grouse and her two chicks. I stayed behind to take a few more pictures.
I stopped at a waterfall for water and a quick break. It is such a relaxing location. Jill soon passed by. Then JP. I slowly started the ascent towards the Golden Staircase. A little over 4 miles and over 1,000 feet of gain before starting the Golden Staircase. I soon caught up with Jill. Many of us were feeling the effects of the humidity. It was a slow day. Jill decided to hike with me for the rest of the day, a welcome company to my normal solo hiking. We stopped for lunch with Lauren and Devin and were soon greeted by three northbound hikers, one with a ukulele. He sang us a song and asked if it was anyone’s birthday. We told them about Jen and who to look for down the trail. They were excited, ready to greet an unsuspecting hiker with song.
I love breaks, but sometimes a break is long enough that it makes you more tired and stiff. We lucked out again this year with having overcast (and some not so friendly looking storm clouds) while hiking up the Golden Staircase. Same as last year. It is not much, but it helps. One switchback at a time. A couple of short breaks on boulders. Uphill is just hard for me, even after over 200 miles and many passes.
About 1.5 miles from the top, we met Autumn, who was a part of Indigenous Women Hike. We helped each other out and took pictures of each other with the stunning valley behind us. The last mile brought me a second wind. It was hard and felt like the longest mile, but I hoped to make it to the lake before the sun disappeared behind the growing clouds. Unfortunately, it was too cloudy and windy when I arrived at camp to swim. I set up camp near a bush, hoping to get a little cover from the wind. Jen arrived not too long after—the singers did find her! We took another group photo, as well as some couples shots. The blue sky soon arrived—it was a great night, and no rain!
