July 3, 2020
After driving five hours from Corralitos to my friend’s house in Truckee, I lighten my load by emptying some items from my backpack. Then I could actually lift it into Sue and Clyde’s car.
Their dogs Hana and Blanca were reluctant to share the back seat. But soon we were turning off highway 80 onto a forest service road just off the PCT. The quartet hiked about a half mile with me, and then I was left alone. At this point of the trail a number of day hikers are coming and going. The number of hikers thinned quickly. I proceeded at a decent clip through the ups and downs, past dense patches of aromatic Mule’s Ears.
I was in my normal hiking state—eyes glued to each footfall. Then I glanced to my left. What do you know, it was the Peter Grub Hut. I stopped to investigate the hut and eat my first P,B & J.
After that point, I only saw one other hiker, named Stack. They were heading to a good spot for their hammock.
I wanted to reach the campsite located 12 miles in from the trailhead. My pace was good. The temperature was perfect, no mosquitoes, and good terrain. I came to an earlier site with two other campers. It was on a marshy stretch and that meant mosquitoes. So onward.
I found a good source for water from a pipe at snowmelt creek. I was shocked to hear a jet. I crossed a dirt road and met up with another hiker who mentioned how unusual it was to hear a jet. The trek to the campsite was up switchbacks. I sat and ate my dinner another P,B&J. Then I continued to the campsite on a saddle just over the pass. Nice site, clear and level. The wind picked up. It was beautiful, loud and wild. No one was there except me. There was no loneliness, only mountain peace.
Mountain Peace 