JMT Day 5

Virginia Lake to VVR

Heading to VVR today! I’m pretty excited about it. Its the place along the JMT/PCT everyone talks about. Nothing beats landing at a place that gets thru-hikers and it sounds like a thru-hiker haven. 

But first, a 15 mile day to bang out with a decent scent and a crapload of decent. The lungs and knees are taking one for the team today guaranteed. 

Leaving Virginia Lake sent me down a series of narrow and gnarly switchbacks overlooking Fish Creek. It was beautiful but also not the place to get caught up in the view instead of watching your footing. 

Then it was back up with a climb to Silver Pass where I got to take in a couple more beautiful alpine lakes. 

Then down along another beautiful couple lakes as you connected with North Fork Mono Creek which lead you to an even more narrow and gnarly set of switchbacks to navigate down with an even more epic view. I mean, just look at it! 

Then I followed Mono Creek all the way to the junction to the Edison Ferry pickup where I would catch a pontoon to VVR. 

I suck at gauging how long it takes to me to get anywhere. Yes, I know the Naismith rule but like, math. And also, I’m a fast climber and a snail descender. So I just hail ass and hope for the best and managed to arrive an hour early only to find other people waiting around who aren’t good at Naismith math either. 

The ferry across the lake was pure joy. So fun just being on a boat packed with fellow thru-hikers to thru-hiker haven. 

On arrival they gave us a complimentary beverage, they even had good non-alcoholic beer which is the best cuz I’m taking the year off from drinking but seriously there’s nothing better after a hard day of hiking than a crisp beer. 

The evening was awesome to see play out. A giant campfire surrounded by hikers as a hiker played guitar they have onsite. People playing lawn games. They have loaned clothes for when you do your laundry. Giant hiker boxes to rummage through. The best pizza on Fridays, which is when I happened to luck out and be here. Plenty of charging stations and showers. It’s seriously like adult summer camp for thru-hikers. If you ever hike the PCT or JMT you def have to stop at VVR. I’m glad I planned to have a zero here tomorrow.