Walking Trip In The High Sierra
June 25, 1966-July 10, 1966

The gale still with us this morning. Fried oatmeal is lousy. Off up to Mono  Pass by 8:00. The first climb up through the frosty little meadow and past the trail lakes was invigorating. Once on top (12,000', 4.0 mi) it was more than that. We had to lean hard into the wind, stopping a time or two on the lee side of large rocks to catch our breath. Hanging on to the nearest rock, the view of the pass and its surrounding dark and majestic peaks was as impressive as it had been last year.

Then down the 2 mi switchback to the lovely stream just below Ruby Lake in Little Lakes valley. Stopped at 10:00 to wash again and eat. We put on our "cleanest" clothes. A little after 11:00 we plowed down the road in Little Lakes Valley to Mosquito Flats. (10,300', 3.0 mi from the Pass; 99 miles from the road end at Cedar Grove including 5 mi worth of wrong trails.)

Since we were early, were not too chagrined not to see David with our car. Marched the 2 mi down the road to Rock Creek Lake State Park in no time (light packs, light bellies, and lots of enthusiasm for the store at the lake). Just before we got there ran into David coming up.

Changed into our clean clothes we'd left in the car. (My tight pants were 3" too big around the waist). We contained our patience until we got to the resort at Tioga Pass, then took care of the appetites. Pea soup, extra large hamburgers, milk, hot spicy apple pie.