DSC01111

Wed, 26 Apr 2017 22:21:16 -0700

Lots of great, craggy peaks on the way down, and starting to get back into some vegetation. Somewhere around here, we came across probably my favorite person I have ever met on the trails. Looked like he was in his 60s, big beard, with a huge pack on. There was stuff hanging off his pack everywhere, including an extra pair of hiking boots and a big solar panel on top. He looked like a backpacking Santa Claus. He was moving at a snail's pace but was happy as could be. He was doing the entire JMT solo starting from Yosemite Valley and was on his 25th day. According to him, his pack was somewhere between 60 and 70 pounds, and he said "I don't know what I'm carrying that everyone else doesn't carry??". We could have chatted with him for hours, but we pressed on.