Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - June 8th
Day 53: Saturday 8th June Vidette Meadow – Rae Lakes
I was away at 6.15am for the walk up to the Kearsarge Lakes, where I had left a
supply bag. At this time of the morning snow patches were frozen hard and it was an
easy 2-hour climb. The lakes were transformed from 10 days ago, no longer frozen over
and with much less snow in the basin.
I picked up about 15lb of food as well as fuel and books so my rucksack was again
very heavy as I set off for Glen Pass. The south side of the11,978ft Glen Pass had
extensive snow patches, obliterating the trail in places and I passed several tarns, which
were completely iced over. The snow started to soften, but was not too bad and I made
good progress. Two years ago I was here during a 2-day “tropical” storm. I sat out one
storm just below the pass as lightning was hitting the ridge and hikers were running
down the path, scattering gear as they went. Very dangerous! I went over the pass with
one of the Park Rangers during a lull in the storm. Today the weather was good and I
was on my own again.
The descent was another matter. The snow was getting very soft and the trail was
completely buried. I followed some tracks down and soon passed an elderly couple who
were struggling up without ice axe or walking poles. Not something I would have wanted
to do, especially with the steep descent ahead of them. They were hiking the Rae Lakes
Loop, which is a very challenging circular walk this early in the hiking season. The
descent was exhausting as I sank deep into the snow with every step. The extra weight
in my pack made this descent much worse than the descent from Forester Pass.
Eventually I reached the Rae Lakes at 3pm, having covered only 11 miles in 7 hours
walking and I don’t think I could have taken another step.
The wind had got up in the afternoon and I found a sheltered spot behind a big
boulder and camped. By the evening the temperature had dropped to freezing point and
it felt even colder in the strong wind.
The only people I had seen all day were Greg and Chris heading up towards
Kearsarge Pass to resupply.
Day 53: 10.8 miles 7.03 hours Camp: Rae Lakes
I was away at 6.15am for the walk up to the Kearsarge Lakes, where I had left a
supply bag. At this time of the morning snow patches were frozen hard and it was an
easy 2-hour climb. The lakes were transformed from 10 days ago, no longer frozen over
and with much less snow in the basin.
I picked up about 15lb of food as well as fuel and books so my rucksack was again
very heavy as I set off for Glen Pass. The south side of the11,978ft Glen Pass had
extensive snow patches, obliterating the trail in places and I passed several tarns, which
were completely iced over. The snow started to soften, but was not too bad and I made
good progress. Two years ago I was here during a 2-day “tropical” storm. I sat out one
storm just below the pass as lightning was hitting the ridge and hikers were running
down the path, scattering gear as they went. Very dangerous! I went over the pass with
one of the Park Rangers during a lull in the storm. Today the weather was good and I
was on my own again.
The descent was another matter. The snow was getting very soft and the trail was
completely buried. I followed some tracks down and soon passed an elderly couple who
were struggling up without ice axe or walking poles. Not something I would have wanted
to do, especially with the steep descent ahead of them. They were hiking the Rae Lakes
Loop, which is a very challenging circular walk this early in the hiking season. The
descent was exhausting as I sank deep into the snow with every step. The extra weight
in my pack made this descent much worse than the descent from Forester Pass.
Eventually I reached the Rae Lakes at 3pm, having covered only 11 miles in 7 hours
walking and I don’t think I could have taken another step.
The wind had got up in the afternoon and I found a sheltered spot behind a big
boulder and camped. By the evening the temperature had dropped to freezing point and
it felt even colder in the strong wind.
The only people I had seen all day were Greg and Chris heading up towards
Kearsarge Pass to resupply.
Day 53: 10.8 miles 7.03 hours Camp: Rae Lakes
Deer Mountain
Lower Kearsarge Lake
Glen Pass
Painted Lady from
Rae Lakes
Rae Lakes
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