Central
California Donner
Pass to Walker
Pass 505 miles
Introduction
The Pacific Crest Trail
in Central California is in many respects the finest part of the trail.
Most of its length consists of satisfyingly high granite mountains
with many lakes and a remote feel being far above and away from urban
California. Its main feature is the Sierra Nevada mountain range running
roughly north-south and the PCT joins up with another more famous
and popular path here for about 130 miles - The John Muir Trail. During
this stretch the hike traverses spectacular high alpine mountains
up to 13,000 feet and passes beneath the highest point in the contiguous
US, Mt Whitney.
South
of Mt Whitney the trail slowly drops down to more arid high terrain,
past the outpost at Kennedy Meadows and on to our finish point on
Highway 178 at Walker Pass. This is the location where we had walked
north to from Mexico for the first 650 miles of our journey and would
mark the end of our hike.
We
decided whilst in Beldon to start this section at Donner Pass, 130
miles to the south. This meant that we would be able to hike a more
attractive section with Gordon and Eric and would give us a better
chance of reaching Walker Pass, 505 hiking miles away before winter
snows set in.
Next
from Donner Pass through Desolation Wilderness to Echo Lake.......
