PCT SECTION HIKE | DAY 6 Matterhorn Canyon Creek to Glen Aulin
Miles Hiked: 13.8 miles
Elevation: 2411 ft ascent | 2973 ft descent
A day of ups and downs. It is the last day until Tuolumne Meadows and the start of the John Muir Trail section of my hike. Since I hiked more miles earlier in the hike, tomorrow will be a short day from Glen Aulin to Tuolumne Meadows.
There is a short uphill first thing in the morning to Miller Lake. As I packed my gear, I heard a single voice yell “hey bear” multiple times over several minutes. I’m not sure if he was coming from the way I was going or the trail that branched off before the climb. Either way, he didn’t mention anything to me as he passed. I took extra caution, just in case, as it was still fairly early and he was the only hiker I had seen so far.
No bears. At least, I didn't see any.
After Miller Lake, the trail takes a fairly steep and rooty descent to the creek crossings of the day: Spiller, Return, and McCabe. All easy rock hops at this point. There was a longer (mostly uphill) water carry from McCabe to Glen Aulin. I took lunch at the last reliable water source, cooled off in the water, and relaxed for nearly an hour. The uphill was long, hot, and dry (even though it was a smaller climb than earlier in the day). That last 4 miles seemed to take forever. It was a later night into Glen Aulin, but there were bathrooms and water nearby. I found a spot and quickly set up my camp so I could change.
The shorts I wore this year didn’t even last 50 miles thanks to poor stitching and seams at the thighs. Nothing like thigh chafe to slow you down. Thanks, Athleta. Note to self: don’t buy shorts with seams at the thighs (my shorts from last year were Athleta as well, but no seams and they were still great after hiking the whole JMT).
Then my glasses fell and broke.
What a day. More things to shop for in Mammoth. I’ll be changing plans, skipping a side trip, and zero at Ediza so I have time to get into Mammoth and have a little time to relax as well. The pictures may show beauty, but it can be craziness behind the scenes at times. It’s not all fun and smiles.