Day 60

Trail miles: 15.8

Total: 787

Today was a horribly solemn day. A young woman died today on Forester Pass, and it hit everyone very hard. We were heading up the approach switchbacks when we heard a helicopter getting uncommonly close. It took me a second to realize what horrors that could mean. It wasn’t until a hiker coming downhill talked to us that we found out a girl died from altitude sickness. Nothing prepared us for walking around a dead body that day. I feel heartbroken to think that her parents might not have known yet. We got to where they couldn’t see us anymore and took a second to gather our emotions. We had to keep moving because of the snow conditions on the other side of the pass and the sun was only getting stronger. In the Sierras, there’s a lot of trail along ridges that you have to walk along. In the early morning, frozen trail and microspikes make for less chance of slipping and sliding down the hill. We made it to the top around 11:30pm, which is very late. We took a very slow descent and make it to the bottom safely. I postholed more than a few times, and got stuck so bad that Brad had to help pull me out. Or sometimes I would have to roll out of them. The area was so beautiful, I just wish that girl had gotten to see it. And waterfall after waterfall along the river.