PCT SECTION HIKE | DAY 3 Dorothy Lake to Stubblefield Canyon Creek
Miles Hiked: 13.8 miles
Elevation: 1157 ft ascent | 2830 ft descent
I like today’s elevation profile. Downhill. If I decide to stop at Wilma Lake, it is all downhill. I really should push on another mile or two at least in order to shorten the last day of this section into Tuolumne. Wilma makes the most sense for water, as there is a 4-5 miles dry stretch to the next water source.
That said, downhill (as much as I love it) isn’t always a guarantee for a good day. The first part of the day from Dorothy to Wilma was hard. Physically and mentally. There were almost zero hikers going south or north, although I did finally see another southbound hiker.
My feet hurt. A lot. I don’t know what it is this year, but my normal setup just isn’t working. Maybe they are slightly too small? Same shoes as last year, just a new pair with more cushion and better tread. Have my feet really grown again? No new blisters. Still three…but they hurt. Just after the ranger station, there was a water crossing (Falls Creek). I switched into my Bedrocks sandals and decided to keep them on until at least Wilma/Wilmer Lake, since I planned to soak my feet there anyway.
Game changer.
I soaked my feet, ate lunch, and relaxed…
…until the snake swam over my foot. There’s the energy I needed to hike a few more miles. Haha.
More miles. My first goal was Tilden Canyon Creek, around the small lakes. Guthook comments mentioned the water wasn’t great and I wasn’t sure what camping was going to be like, but at least I would be to my goal mileage for the day. The first part of the climb was hard, but my feet felt good. I met another solo female heading south at Wilma. She passed me about halfway up the first climb and said that I missed a bear! I heard some snapping branches earlier but didn’t stick around to find out what it was. First (almost) bear on the trail.
I got to the lakes, still felt good. It was still fairly early.
I knew the next section would be hot and difficult, more miles than I had planned, but I started climbing. Stopping every fifty feet or so to catch my breath. Then downhill. Steep, hot, exposed. As I made my way over the pass that isn’t technically a pass (start of the infamous washboard section), I could now see the small lightning fire across the canyon. It was small, but still smoking.
After what seemed like forever, I found the water crossing and campsites. I set down my gear and talked with a northbound PCT hiker. I set down my pack, put my bear can aside, and gathered supplies to filter water and do laundry. I walked down to the water, looked across the water and…
I spotted the young bear mentioned in Guthook, standing just across the creek. It was young, very small, and golden in color—small enough that I was looking around for a mother. Fortunately there didn’t seem to be one nearby. I spotted two other hikers looking for a campsite on the other side. I invited them (northbound PCT hikers ) to camp with me, letting them know about the bear not far from me. We worked together to scare off the bear (after taking pictures of course). His immediate response was to go up the trees rather than run away. He was curious. We kept on with the hazing: yell and shout, threw rocks in its direction, and kept at it. Eventually he wandered off and we did not see him again that night. We ate dinner, and were later joined by two more thru hikers.
So far, it is warm tonight. The mosquitoes are strong, meaning an early night in the tent. The heat is radiating from the sunburn on my neck and chest, almost making me want to sleep without my Melanzana hoody.
