Day 55
Going up towards Forester Pass
Forester Pass.
We left before sunrise so that the snow will still be hard and compact. The snow field lasted almost all the way to the top of Forester Pass. From the base, it was a straight ascent on the steep, snow covered mountain. I advice anyone with fear of heights to just look straight up. I occasionally did look down below as I watched fellow hikers slowly inch their way up the steep bank. There was a train of hiker following the trail and thus the long way to the top.
Looking back and seeing all the hikers behind us
We chose a straight up approach to Forester Pass, the famous chute is on the top left with snow
Watching the train of hikers doing a long approach
Some were undecided which way to go up
Fortunately the chute was not dangerous to traverse
It was a relief finding a dry section of the switchback and we finally came to the infamous chute just below the pass. I was surprised that the snow path was well traveled. It could have been safely traversed without any additional gear, but I opted utilized the gear I had for safety reasons, meaning my microspikes and my ice axe. It was a good feeling reaching the top.
Going down from Forester Pass
After having a snack, we then descended. We glissaded on a very steep snow, and I used all my strength to slow down my descent using my ice axe. It was scary, and at the same time fun. One of the hikers actually caught air midway. Ooof!
A very steep glissade. Nice and quick but a bit scary.
Snow covered much of the trail, even in the meadows at the lower elevation. Navigating in the meadows are much more exhausting. Snow hills pose postholing, sliding and slipping. Fallen trees, small creeks, mushy meadows also meant we're hiking off trail 90% of the time, thus considerably slowing our pace. 100 percent of our attention is needed in navigating the Sierra.
Bullfrog Lake with Kearsarge Pass in the distance
We finally arrived at Bullfrog Lake in the afternoon, still frozen at this time, but we found a dry, beautiful beach right beside the lake. However, our exhausted body can no longer continue and we set camp at Bullfrog Lake. It was a beautiful area, and the sunset was stunning.
Stunning view from camp.
Long day but rewarded with an amazing sunset to end the day