Explorer Duck is actually sitting upon my required " Bear Vault". This type of canister is mandatory for backpackers on the trails from Cottonwood to Sonara Pass, CA. It is a $2500 fine to not have one!
This bear vault canister is 3 lbs empty and 12 inches tall. It is cumbersome to fit into a pack....but if it keeps the bears from visiting my tent...no worries!



After experiencing some altitude sickness and medication side effects concerns - I am bypassing about 125 miles. Or as the saying goes on the PCT; "Smiles over miles"! 
Special thanks to Nora (my former OLH Cit and camper!) who met me in Lone Pine and then drove me here to Mammoth. That was after we camped 2 nights beneath Kearsarge Pass at the Onion Valley Campground. It was perfectly located 15 miles up from the Independence, CA post office -where my phone arrived!
We had a perfect site, delicious eats, and a rewarding day hiked to Robertson Lake on Friday.

where to begin as I start into month 3 on the PCT! First much thanks to each of you for all the love, support and care packages you have send my way!  Gratitude, on so many levels - is my theme as I trek the trail miles!
Unfortunately, because my phone/camera...took a notion to swim (fell off my lap) as I was filtering water from Chimney Creek - I have no pictures from after Walker Pass to (652 miles) to coming down on Trail Pass from the PCT (mile 745) into the town of Lone Pine.  Hopefully after I met up with "Scottish Lyn" again - I can forward some pics of what the scenery was like coming into the High Sierra and looking up at Mt. Whitney from different view points.
A few words about Scottish Lyn...We met before Beck's Meadows, (a day out of Kennedy Meadows and 3500 ft higher) and we had similar hiking paces, humor, and vintage! Thus, we selected camp sites together and moved slowly into the elevations above 10,000 ft. She is from Scotland but lives in London. So if you can imagine how that wreaked havoc with my Irish accent!!!
Anyway we both made the decision to not climb Whitney and jump ahead on the trail.

I am now in Mammoth Lakes CA at the hiking hostel preparing to get back on the trail tomorrow at Red's Meadows. This is basically a resupply/rest point for the PCT and John Muir Trail (JMT) hikers.