June 22nd
After a restless night sleeping inside a tent cabin with 3 other hikers we awake to find that the power and water are out at VVR. This means no coffee is ready. The cook, Jon, is able to take breakfast orders using the gas stove and the limited provisions left. Basic bacon eggs hashbrowns and toast are put together in short order, and as the power and water come back on, eventually coffee is available.
We settle up and consider a second mortgage to help pay the bill, heading out on the 9:00am ferry with Crazy John, Frank, Do It Yourself and a few JMT hikers.
We are on the “High Pass a Day” plan and today’s quest is Silver Pass, not the highest pass, but because we are starting out at a relatively low elevation of 7,700 feet we have a big ascent ahead.
Crazy John, the Carrot and I follow Mono Creek to its source crossing it several times. Not the deepest or swiftest water we have crossed, but some of the most dangerous. Falling could result in a steep tumble over rough rocks with potentially deadly results.
We are meeting more and more southbound JMT hikers every day now. Spring is coming to the high country and the lake basins are blooming with more flowers and hikers. The scenery again astounds us as we ascend to the top of the pass. Eventually “Do It Yourself” and Frank soon join us.
At the top, the snow on the north slope, as well as the light, are dramatic enough that we get the ice axes out, for the fist time. But, only for some great photo ops.
We slide down the slippery snowy slopes of Silver Pass and slog through the runoff below. It’s a short quick descent to Fish Creek, where we cross and start back up the other side of this steep valley. At Tully Hole we catch up to Ukele Nate and Brit, and stop to slather on deet, so that we can chat in peace from the mossie onslaught.
Above Tully Ole we pull up a quick hard 800-foot ascent to a high ridge before beginning a roller coaster traverse to several scenic lakes. Thunder clouds threaten, but only spit a little rain at us, leaving some dramatic light on the Silver Range across the valley.
