Day 7 | Onion Valley Campground to Rae Lakes
(7/9/17) So fresh!!
Distance Hiked: 11.2 miles
Final Elevation: 11,170 ft. (1,890 ft. gain)
Fresh socks, fresh underwear, plenty of rest – what a way to start the day! Resupply also means a much heavier pack, but overall, we’re in great spirits!
![IMG_7751 Back up atop Kearsarge Pass for the second time. Stellar payoff ??](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7751.jpg?w=736&h=286&ssl=1)
![IMG_7753 The formation of these mountains and canyons never cease to amaze me. I was throttled by the smooth halfpipe arc in that mountain - looks to be formed over hundreds of years of winds perhaps?](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7753.jpg?w=468&h=351&ssl=1)
![IMG_7755 Just pumping some more water - a very, very common chore. Depending on the water source and sediment, one liter of water could take anywhere from 3-6 minutes or more and we needed at least 4 liters of water each per day. Lotta pumping.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7755.jpg?w=264&h=351&ssl=1)
![IMG_7759 IMG_7759](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7759.jpg?w=181&h=241&ssl=1)
![IMG_7761 IMG_7761](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7761.jpg?w=181&h=241&ssl=1)
![IMG_7764 IMG_7764](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7764.jpg?w=181&h=241&ssl=1)
![IMG_7766 IMG_7766](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7766.jpg?w=181&h=241&ssl=1)
![IMG_7772 I didn't really get a great photo of this, but I loved this rad shark fin ridge across the lake that we camped at that night.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7772.jpg?w=264&h=351&ssl=1)
![IMG_7774 View from the camp looking the other way.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7774.jpg?w=468&h=351&ssl=1)
![IMG_7775 That night's elevation](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7775-e1503798654172.png?w=736&h=1310&ssl=1)
Day 8 | Rae Lakes to Twin Lakes
(7/10/16)
Distance Hiked: 10.9 miles
Final Elevation: 10,560 ft. (610 ft. loss)
Just more and more stellar views! We got a little surprise today in the shape of a bridge! I was so stoked – this was such a legit suspension bridge in the middle of nowher. It was fun to play on.
![IMG_7776 Loved pouncing around this marshy bit of trail - so lush!](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7776.jpg?w=270&h=203&ssl=1)
![IMG_7778 The quality from one trail sign to the next was strikingly inconsistent.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7778.jpg?w=270&h=203&ssl=1)
![IMG_7780 Thomas, so Muir-esque](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7780.jpg?w=270&h=202&ssl=1)
![IMG_7783 Funny curled, Dr. Seuss trees everywhere!](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7783.jpg?w=462&h=616&ssl=1)
![IMG_7785 There was much flora to be admired, but these are my favorite flowers from the trip. They grow up, then curl to face down, then open to spread their petals back up around itself](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7785.jpg?w=181&h=241&ssl=1)
![IMG_7792 Damn hippies.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7792.jpg?w=181&h=241&ssl=1)
![IMG_7793 Sick suspension bridge in the middle of nowhere!](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7793.jpg?w=181&h=241&ssl=1)
![IMG_7798 Pinecones as big as thy hand!](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7798.jpg?w=181&h=241&ssl=1)
![IMG_7802 This one was begging to be tubed down!](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7802.jpg?w=468&h=351&ssl=1)
![IMG_7804 IMG_7804](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7804.jpg?w=264&h=351&ssl=1)
![IMG_7806 My usual - taking a photo when I think it's a video and vise versa.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7806.jpg?w=736&h=981&ssl=1)
Day 9 | Twin Lakes to just south of Mather Pass
(7/11/16)
Distance Hiked: 12.2 miles
Final Elevation: 10,480 ft. (80 ft. loss)
No good photos from today, unfortunately. We’re just too busy! You’re going to enjoy the tent tour though ??
Day 10 | just south of Mather Pass to just west of Deer Meadow
(7/12/16)
Distance Hiked: 9 miles
Final Elevation: 8,400 ft. (2,080 ft. loss)
These were some of the most consistently-amazing views of any day we had.
We found a stellar little place to camp with all the ammenities…except for a bear box. It wasn’t actually all that common to have a bear box, but this area was marked as having many more frequent bear sightings. So, to Thomas’ chagrin, I initiated operation bear hang!
![IMG_7810 I started taking these screenshots marking our elevation a little more often ??](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7810.png?w=314&h=558&ssl=1)
![IMG_7812 This was definitely a top 3 day of consistently jaw-dropping scenery.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7812.jpg?w=418&h=558&ssl=1)
![IMG_7814 IMG_7814](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7814.jpg?w=270&h=203&ssl=1)
![IMG_7817 I believe this is where we both just stopped in our tracks without a word and stood in awe for a good 20 minutes.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7817.jpg?w=270&h=203&ssl=1)
![IMG_7819 "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." - John Muir](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7819.jpg?w=270&h=202&ssl=1)
![IMG_7822 IMG_7822](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7822.jpg?w=462&h=616&ssl=1)
![IMG_7823 Catch the short video of this serene landscape on my Instagram feed - Take a few seconds today and put yourself here. Enjoy the break and serenity. ✌?You can almost feel that fresh breeze. @ian_doingthings](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7823.jpg?w=515&h=290&ssl=1)
![IMG_7827 IMG_7827](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7827.jpg?w=217&h=290&ssl=1)
![IMG_7829 So many weirdly bent and curved trees](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7829.jpg?w=343&h=258&ssl=1)
![IMG_7831 Poor guys. Seemed to run into a fair bit of forest fire destruction today](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7831.jpg?w=343&h=257&ssl=1)
![IMG_7832 Thomas got crazy stoked and rammed this tree so hard that it bent around his noggin straight-up cartoon style. No big deal.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7832.jpg?w=389&h=519&ssl=1)
![IMG_7835 This spot was so tight - really nice layout, beautiful trees all around, nice fire pit, nice floor, stellar little river 10 ft. away.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7835.jpg?w=468&h=351&ssl=1)
![IMG_7836 IMG_7836](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7836.jpg?w=264&h=351&ssl=1)
![IMG_7841 Serene little babbling brook 10 feet from the tent ??](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7841.jpg?w=243&h=324&ssl=1)
![IMG_7842 Thomas wasn't entirely impressed by my stellar bear hang](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7842.jpg?w=243&h=324&ssl=1)
![IMG_7845 But it was still there in the morning!](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7845.jpg?w=242&h=324&ssl=1)
Day 11 | west of Deer Meadow to north of Simpson Meadow
(7/13/16)
Distance Hiked: 11 miles
Final Elevation: 5,800 ft. (2,600 ft. loss)
I couldn’t even look down long enough to write much today. The views at our camp and throughout the day were breathtaking – rushing rapids, rad waterfalls, switchbacks in the river, narrow goat paths along the treacherous but gorgeous mountainsides.
About 2 miles into the day, a few minutes before we were planning on cutting off the PCT/JMT westward, we ran into a friendly, informative park ranger who we stopped and chatted with for a few minutes. Interestingly, he told us the route we were about to turn onto was the old JMT! Pretty sick!
And man did it prove to be rad. This might be my favorite day of the entire trip. Most of the day was spent following through the canyon made by the middle fork of Kings River. The trail was so much less maintained and we definitely went much longer between seeing people.
![IMG_7846 Beginning elevation for the day.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7846.png?w=198&h=353&ssl=1)
![IMG_7850 IMG_7850](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7850.jpg?w=265&h=353&ssl=1)
![IMG_7852 IMG_7852](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7852.jpg?w=265&h=353&ssl=1)
![IMG_7853 Just a full blown halfpipe of mountain surrounding us](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7853.jpg?w=736&h=231&ssl=1)
![IMG_7854 So. Many. River. Crossings.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7854.jpg?w=343&h=258&ssl=1)
![IMG_7857 So. Many. Waterfalls.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7857.jpg?w=343&h=257&ssl=1)
![IMG_7860 Can't get enough of these giants - can't even fit them into the frame!](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7860.jpg?w=389&h=519&ssl=1)
![IMG_7865 Would've been just as gorgeous of a view, then an eagle swooped in ??](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7865.jpg?w=490&h=367&ssl=1)
![IMG_7867 IMG_7867](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7867.jpg?w=242&h=182&ssl=1)
![IMG_7871 Cruised through this landscape for quite a while today.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7871.jpg?w=242&h=181&ssl=1)
![IMG_7868 It's not often that I pop in the earbuds while in nature so I can take in all the surroundings and experiences together, but floating through this scene with the soulful, dreamy sounds of Ben Howard and Bear's Den was perfection.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7868.jpg?w=736&h=167&ssl=1)
![IMG_7873 Slowly sneaking up on this golden meadow was pretty rad.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7873.jpg?w=366&h=275&ssl=1)
![IMG_7875 Catch the short video of this serene landscape on my Instagram feed - Take a few seconds today and put yourself here. Enjoy the break and serenity. ✌?You can almost feel that fresh breeze. @ian_doingthings](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7875.jpg?w=366&h=275&ssl=1)
![IMG_7879 Elevation at this night's camp.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7879.png?w=217&h=386&ssl=1)
![IMG_7881 We were stoked on this exceptional spot we found right next to the meadow, the river, and surrouned by mountains. Plus THREE bear boxes to top it off!](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7881.jpg?w=515&h=386&ssl=1)
![IMG_7885 When you force the same pair of boots to support you and 40-50lbs. of gear through all types of terrain and water, sometimes ya gotta help em out. Loaded these bad boys up with Shoe Goo for the next morning, haha. They got a bit deformed, but it held tight!](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7885.jpg?w=736&h=552&ssl=1)
Day 12 | north of Simpson Meadow to Granite Lake/Granite Basin
(7/14/16)
Distance Hiked: 12.9 miles
Final Elevation: 10,000 ft. (4,200 ft. gain)
The first half of the day was amazing – we had our biggest climb, our longest distance, our hardest day planned in the entire trip. We climbed a grueling 4,000 ft. over 6.6 miles. It was exhausting – a truly intense physical and mental challenge, and then so rewarding to complete.
But then, mosquitos. A new word needs to be invented for the intensity of this onslaught. Relentless clouds of hundreds and hundreds of mosquitos for over 5 miles. I’ve never known such annoyance and mental strain – thus the severe decline in photos and video.
It wasn’t pretty at times, but we pushed through the biggest day yet, and accomplished a lot.
![IMG_7888 Thomas fashioning a belt out of utility cord ?? #whateverittakes](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7888.jpg?w=243&h=324&ssl=1)
![IMG_7889 IMG_7889](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7889.jpg?w=243&h=324&ssl=1)
![IMG_7889 IMG_7889](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IMG_7889.jpg?w=242&h=324&ssl=1)
![IMG_7891 Lunchtime. Almost up the 4,000 ft. pass](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7891.jpg?w=418&h=558&ssl=1)
![IMG_7893 Camp for the night, 4,200 ft. higher than 10 hours prior.](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7893.png?w=314&h=558&ssl=1)
Day 13 | Granite Lake/Granite Basin to Morraine Campground
(7/15/16) Resupply Day #2!
Distance Hiked: 11.4 miles
Final Elevation: 4,800 ft. (5,200 ft. loss)
The mosquitos were still bad in the morning so we had to get out pretty quick even though there was breakfast to make, cleaning up, and boiling water for the day. I stayed as covered as I could for the first few miles, which was not fun thanks to the hot sun and the initial climb out of the Basin.
Good conversation, Nathaniel Rateliff in the earbuds, and anticipation of resupply and real, fresh food got me through that first part of the day, though. By the time we got about 4 miles in, things were going well, and man were the views helping!
We had to walk another 2 miles from camp to the store/cafe, then 2 miles back to camp, but man did we gorge – big veggie burger, 2 fruit cups, Dr. Pepper, Sun Chips, Almond M&Ms, coffee almond ice cream, and a Stone IPA. Feelin good!
![IMG_7894 IMG_7894](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7894.jpg?w=343&h=258&ssl=1)
![IMG_7896 IMG_7896](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7896.jpg?w=343&h=257&ssl=1)
![IMG_7898 IMG_7898](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7898.jpg?w=389&h=519&ssl=1)
![IMG_7899 IMG_7899](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7899.jpg?w=468&h=351&ssl=1)
![IMG_7901 IMG_7901](https://i0.wp.com/iandoingthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_7901.jpg?w=264&h=351&ssl=1)