Start: 0745 - PCT mile 819
End:  1730 - along Middle Fork Kings River
Miles (today): 16
Miles (cumulative): 890.5 (751 PCT, 89.5 alternate, 50 off)

We both slept hard and woke up late - yesterday was exhausting!  Today was a lot easier (and shorter) - although the ascents and descents are still brutal, we didn't go over any passes today. 

Muir Pass is up next, and every southbounder we meet says it's full of snow.  Therefore, we decided to cut our hike short today so we can do Muir Pass in the morning (before the snow gets soft and slushy).  It feels great to be ready for bed by 1900!

The trail continues to improve - I didn't think it was possible but WOW, is it amazing out here.  The rivers and streams and lakes are so clear and blue and beautiful!  Once upon a time I'm sure the rivers, lakes, and streams in the Midwest were this way, too - ahh, the price of development.

I couldn't stop taking pictures of the water - look at how perfect it is (and it tastes phenomenal, too):

At lunch we met Cedric and Ellie/False Alarm.  When False Alarm learned my trail name she gave me some freeze dried apples.  So awesome!  Later, she also gave me some Aquaphor for my chapped nose (it's been running constantly) and for my hangnails (they are bleeding) - that stuff works great!!

We didn't have to get our feet wet doing river/stream crossings - we were able to find rocks or well-placed logs to cross with.  Well, except for the first crossing - I chickened out and chose to walk across barefoot instead of attempt to cross over the narrow log.  However, as the day progressed I found myself getting bolder when leaping over the water (I don't hesitate as much, even when the distance seems too great) and have discovered that walking over logs, even narrow ones, is something I can do.  (Confession: every time I come upon a large body of water to cross I think about the Twilight: Breaking Dawn book (of course I read the series, I'm not ashamed to admit it) where Bella discovers she is able to easily leap across the river as a vampire.  I wish I had those vampire abilities!)

Tomorrow is going to be a big day I think  - going over Muir Pass AND fording Evolution Creek (which is famed for being a huge body of water to get across) - so we're getting to bed early for once!

Along the trail: