Day 45; Sun June 10

(Stud) It was cold again last night sleeping at a elevation of around 11,400 ft--but no wind so still good sleeping weather. Only problem is my hips get sore when I lay on my side--which is constantly waking me up. Several other hikers have commented on the same problem. I eventually took off my rain jacket and used it as padding--and it helped a lot. So I'm going to keep that up unless we get lucky and find a spot with really deep duff.

The first part of the trail this morning was more loose beach sand, lots of bloulders and intermittant sequoia or foxtail pine--with a background of granite. Between the white sand and granite hillside and boulders--it actually looked like snow.

It was another clear day, and seemed warmer than yesterday. The terrain didn't vary much during the day--although thankfully the loose beach sand was not a constant.

Just before lunch we reached a beautiful stream that we could hear before we saw. We passed over several other streams after this. What a wonderful thing it is to hear the sound of water--and lots of it. No more big water carries until northern California.

We detoured off the PCT today to Crabtree Meadow--our "base camp" for climbing Mt Whitney. Mt Whitney is a side trip we couldn't pass up. The meadow is beautiful--an expanse of short green grass nestled into the granite hills beside a babbling creek. Here we are the guests of the very outgoing-but not bothersome-marmots that have the run of the place.

We arrived in late afernoon just before those who summited today started returning. The thru-hikers that went up today included Mike (who just today got the trail name Second Hand--since he has so much hand-me-down clothing), Thirsty Boots, Sun Walker, Lucky Joe, Tiki and Roswell-who we just met today. She is perhaps in her late 20's and is from Olympia, WA where she is a personal chef, shell fisherman and also works for the nonprofit organization "Books for Inmates". We shared a small fire with her tonite as we were eating dinner. Those that went up today are worried about Wounded Face--a hiker in his 60's that headed up late and has still not returned. Based on his late ascent and slow pace--they don't expect him back until 10 pm. Sun Walker said if he isn't back by 2 am--he'll go out looking for him.

We will be up early in the morning to do the ~ 15 mile round-trip hike up Whitney. Hopefully we'll see Wounded Face sleeping soundly in his tent when we head out.