Day 17 & 18. Aug 15 & 16: Re-Supply at Kearsarge Lakes via Glen Pass. 8 Miles & 8 Miles

At last, today is here.  Today will be my final re-supply.  This important rendezvous will be with my brother Don.  An added bonus is that my good friend John will be there too.  They are two of the finest men I know, and  I am honored that they would sacrifice their time and energy to support me.  We conjured up this idea months ago, and the time is finally now.  I can't wait.

The first order of business is to climb Glen Pass.  Unlike other passes on the JMT, it is very steep on the north side.  From Rae Lakes, the trail starts up 1,300' and reaches 11,900' in two miles.  I began to modify my mileage plan about 6 days ago so I would begin today at the base of Glen Pass, making today an 8 mile vs. 14 mile hike.

It was a beautiful morning as I started up the trail.  Blue skies and light winds.  There were quite a few hikers getting ready to go up, so I pushed ahead with a fast pace to stay ahead of the pack.  I was also very eager to make contact with Don and John as early as possible.  Finally I made it to the top by 10am.  It only took 75 minutes instead of the 130 that my "Trail Math" had calculated.

The Painted Lady towers over Rae Lakes.  Glen Pass to the right

 

Glen Pass at 11,924'

 

Glenn Pass at 10am

By 1115am I was above Charlotte Lake and it was time to put our rendezvous plan into action.  We both had maps that we had annotated with the same trail checkpoints: the same sheet of music as they say.  I was getting close to my first checkpoint so I pulled out the walkie talkie I had been carrying since Reds Meadow on Day 6 and triggered the mike a few times.  "Eagle One this is Red Dog, how copy?" came the reply.  It was Don's voice.  They were on top of Kearsarge Pass and apparently we have call signs!

I was beaming.  It was a happy and grateful moment for me.  My wife, my brother, my friend were all working behind the scenes to help me do this.  Solo hiker?  No, not really.

About two hours later I had covered the last 3 miles to find Don and John waiting for me under a tree next to Kearsarge Lakes.

Kearsarge Lakes Campsite

Food Can is filled again, Thanks guys!

John and Don enjoy dinner

The next morning, Don and John headed back up Kearsarge Pass and I headed south to Center Basin Creek along the JMT.  This had been a very important event in my journey.  I needed this food to continue hiking and it was really the only time I was directly dependent on someone else on the trail.  They came through for me, and I will always be grateful.

Dave, John, and Don: A Great Reunion on the John Muir Trail

 

Vidette Meadow and Bubbs Creek valley leading to Forester Pass

Looking back north from Bubbs Creek near my campsite

SPOT MESSAGES

LEAVING RAE LAKES
Dave's right here"
Latitude:36.80776
Longitude:-118.39972
GPS location Date/Time:08/15/2013 07:35:13 PDT

Message:Heading to Glen Pass &then my resupply crew!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=36.80776,-118.39972&ll=36.80776,-118.39972&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

GLEN PASS
Dave's right here"
Latitude:36.78958
Longitude:-118.41196
GPS location Date/Time:08/15/2013 10:07:16 PDT

Message:Glen Pass@10am! Blue skies. All's well.

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=36.78958,-118.41196&ll=36.78958,-118.41196&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

RADIO CONTACT
Dave's right here"
Latitude:36.77738
Longitude:-118.42079
GPS location Date/Time:08/15/2013 11:36:49 PDT

Message:Radio contact made with DW&JP.

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=36.77738,-118.42079&ll=36.77738,-118.42079&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

3 MESSAGES TO THE WIVES
Dave's right here"
Latitude:36.76773
Longitude:-118.38623

GPS location Date/Time:08/15/2013 13:44:50 PDT
Message:3 Amigos are all Happy&safe! Thx CWx2&LWP 

GPS location Date/Time:08/15/2013 19:23:19 PDT
Message:3 Amigos say good nite to all. Well fed&safe 

GPS location Date/Time:08/16/2013 08:49:07 PDT
Message:3Amigos departing ways.Great visit, great day


Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=36.76773,-118.38623&ll=36.76773,-118.38623&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

END OF DAY 18.
Dave's right here"
Latitude:36.73061
Longitude:-118.37341
GPS location Date/Time:08/16/2013 14:45:05 PDT

Message:At Camp. Gear ready 4 50/50 chance of rain.

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=36.73061,-118.37341&ll=36.73061,-118.37341&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1