Photos — 50 miles in the Sierra

c) Andrew Carter, 2022

I was able to get back to the PCT on October 14th to finish the last 50 miles I had to hike in the Sierra. I had to skip these miles last year because of fire and smoke in Sequoia National Park. I had intended to complete these miles in August, but the “world’s largest blister” I got on my right foot, hiking south of here, put the kibosh on that.

I was blessed with perfect October weather — no rain, clear skies, warm days, and not too chilly nights. It only got below freezing on one night.

I began my hike where Woods Creek crosses the PCT in Kings Canyon National Park. To get there, I had to hike 15.1 miles in from Roads End on the Kings River. California Rt. 180 dead-ends there.

I then hiked 49.7 miles south along the PCT before exiting at Cottonwood Pass and hiking 3.9 miles down to Horseshoe Meadows and the incredible county road which connects the Meadow to Lone Pine and US Rt. 395. That road climbs over 6600 feet in 20 miles. It was built for a proposed ski area Walt Disney wanted to develop in the Meadow and up to the Sierra crest. Because of the Wilderness Act, the ski area was never built.

With the in and out, my 49.7 mile hike along the PCT became a total hike of 68.7 miles. I took five days to do that. In the process, I crossed Forester Pass which is the highest point on the PCT (13,160 feet) and passed near Mt. Whitney which is the highest point in the continental United States (14,494 feet). I also crossed Glen Pass, which is “only” 11,930 feet, but which I think is the most difficult climb on the PCT for southbounders.

Connecting all the dots of my multiple section hikes along the PCT in 2021 and 2022, I have now hiked 2573 miles. That leaves just 81 miles to go, from Stehekin, WA to the Canadian border. I plan to do those miles next August.

Here are the photos I took. I hope you enjoy them.

A mother bear walking near Woods Creek in Kings Canyon National Park.
Her baby was just behind her.
The intersection of Woods Creek Trail and the PCT
Not sure who created this Leave No Trace poster, but it’s pretty cool.
I confess I don’t pack out my soiled TP. I dig a cat hole and bury it.
South Baxter Creek Canyon
Rae Lake, north end — Fin Dome at the right
Rae Lake, south end
I’m in Kings Canyon National Park.
The deer are tame since no hunting is allowed.
Recent snow near the top of Glen Pass
Looking north from Glen Pass
Bubbs Creek Canyon, lower down
Bubbs Creek Canyon, further up
Just before (north of) Forester Pass
Looking south from Forester Pass
Looking north from Forester Pass
Yours truly at Forester Pass
Diamond Mesa, top end
Diamond Mesa, further down
A view from Bighorn Plateau
Another view from Bighorn Plateau
Looking west from Crabtree Meadow
Looking west from Guyot Flat
Leaving Sequoia National Park,
Entering Inyo National Forest
Leaving Sequoia National Park,
Entering Inyo National Forest
Looking west from Guyot Pass
Big Whitney Meadow in the distance
Big Whitney Meadow a little closer
Sign near the Cottonwood Pass trailhead in Horseshoe Meadow

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Andrew Carter

I just completed a multi-year thru hike (MYTH) of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). It took three years. I hiked 1840 miles in 2021, 733 miles in 2022, and 122 miles in 2023. The only reason I had to hike in 2023 was a wildfire closure at the north end of the PCT in 2022. During the past two years, I've also thru hiked other, shorter US trails. I hiked the Benton MacKaye Trail (GA, NC, TN) and the Tuscarora Trail (VA, WV, MD, PA) in 2022 plus the Ozark Highlands Trail (AR) in 2023. I hope to hike the Long Trail (VT) next year and the Colorado Trail at some point in the future. Please note, all content on this site is copyright.

One thought on “Photos — 50 miles in the Sierra”

  1. Dear Andrew,

    I loved your hike stories and have saved them all. Very impressive and hopefully on day I can do a small, very small, section of your amazing hike! ❤️

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