Day 134: Mather Pass
The mountain pass we climbed today is called Mather Pass.
A hiker we passed on Kearsage Pass had been hiking with others on Mather a few days earlier and someone just ahead of him had slipped on icy snow and hit his head on rocks and died.
By the time we were approaching it everyone we met had heard about the accident and we were able to identify the patch of snow where it happened but the snow had receded and we could walk past on the path. Nevertheless it was a sobering reminder of how quickly accidents can happen.
Down in the valley beyond the pass we went by a large group of hikers wearing day packs. Behind them came about 20 mules packed with provisions including steak, chicken and ribs, etc. Apparently you can hike the Sierras in style if you have enough money.
We are camped next to a river which we were hiking beside this afternoon and the waters are really roaring. It is a bit like being beside the beach.
Yes, it can be dangerous hiking, you alwasy need to be aware.
I quite like the idea of pack horses!
Beautiful country
Great to hear you’re doing better with the altitude Ros
Doesn’t seem to be too packed out with hikers (aside from pack mules!)
And you don’t seem to have had trouble with river crossings like you would have in spring?
Actually there are more hikers than we are used to seeing, being all the people doing the John Muir Trail. We have only had a few river crossings where we got our feet wet, all below the knee.