Chapter Thirteen: Forester
*This is a photo companion to my book, Crunch: A Million Snowy Steps Along the Pacific Crest Trail, available on Amazon here.
May 21st, 2017
Tyndall Creek
Amped getting out of camp as the sun starts to rise.
Making our way through the other-worldly beauty heading to Forester Pass.
Tiny dots in a sea of ice.
Tracks from previous hikers and skiers, with the ice chute in the notch on the left. This picture makes my thighs burn and my mouth all sweary.
Don't look down! The snowfield we climbed up to gain the switchbacks.
Forester Pass looking south in June 2014, a low snow year.
Forester Pass looking south in May 2017. A few more snowflakes down there...
Stumpy cornice at the pass. I'd been warned of a "massive" and "impassible" cornice here... not quite. I'm not complaining though.
Forester Pass. 13,200 feet. The highest point on the Pacific Crest Trail, on May 21st of the highest snow year in recent history. This is what I was out here for.
Amped, taking his victory selfie.
Crushed it.
Looking north from Forester Pass, June 2014.
Looking north from Forester Pass in May 2017... There was a lake, where?
Glad we weren't the first steps across this hillside...
Back on safe(ish) ground!
Headed down from Forester Pass.
Huge first glissade down from Forester. SO FUN. But sometimes best to let your friends go first...
Looking back on Bubbs Creek, June 2014.
Bubbs Creek, May 2017.
Wandering through the avalanche zone graveyards...
Our "dry" patch for the night. Can't argue with a bear box to sit on though! High luxury.
Camp for the warm(ish) night down from elevation.