After climbing Mt. Whitney we found ourselves on the John Muir Trail. The terrain was up and down and round and round. We crossed over numerous streams, creeks and rivers- some of which required shoe removal. The water in each stream was crystal clear and the meadows that we strolled through were lush and picture perfect with tiny yellow flowers lining the path almost as if we were on the yellow brick trail.
While we were enjoying a bit of baby bell cheese and tortilla at Tyndall Creek, we noticed a grouping of tents just to the right of the trail. We both took a couple guesses as to who might be camped with such a large group as a young man with a long ponytail bounded out of the woods. His group of friends had been on the trial for 28 days, but were now delayed due to sickness. They had already contacted the ranger so they did not need our assistance. We wished them good luck and hoped that their friend would recover soon. I can't imagine getting sick out here! Not only is the closest hospital a couple days walk, but food is also a huge issue!
Within 5 minutes of clearing the tent city we were hit with a giant gust of wind. Whoa! That was a shock. Just 5 minutes ago we were protected by tall redwood trees and now the biggest tree was a bush. The wind whipped across the land sounding as if there was a fleet of airplanes about to launch an attack on us. Up ahead we saw snow spotting the desolate landscape- OMG!
As we marched closer to Forrester Pass, the trail disappeared under huge snow fields. The tacks in the snow were our only indication- I kinda felt like I was following the trail of bread crumbs that was no longer- and spotting cairns was like finding Waldo in the see of Red and White stripped shirts. Hours went by and our energy wavered. The postholing was taking a huge toll on our energy reserved from lunch. At one point Replay refused to move another inch more. I went up ahead thinking that I was not going to sleep on the cold snow this evening and allowed her to take a minute. She did find her “zen” thankfully and at around 4:30 we finally felt as if were making headway in terms of getting closer to the top of the pass. The snow didn't have quite the same thoughts and continued to act against us preventing us from moving at a pace faster than a turtle.
To make matters the worst the trial to the top was a complete snow path. If I had been on my own I think I might have chosen the wrong path as some went right while the others went left. The energy between Replay and I was incredible. With 4 eyes and 2 brains we not only managed to pick the safest route, or so we thought, and crawl to the top, but we also kept one another going. Halfway up I was feeling a bit sure of myself, getting more and more comfortable with my footing on the snow. It what goes up must come down. All fo the sudden my feet were no longer holding my weight and I was falling. If it wasn’t for my wide Deva 60 Gregory pack I think I would’ve found myself at the bottom of the mountain caught under an avalanche of snow. Clawing my fingers into the snow I used all the energy I thought I had left and made a mad scramble to the rocks just to my left. There was no time to consider what had just happened. Push on and get to the top was the new motto and we weren’t that far away. After a couple more switch backs and a very very dangerous crossing which Replay volunteered to tackle first we were at the top. 
We had conqured the south side of the mountian, but the north side was even scarier. Our day of physical and mental trauma wasn’t over and our thought that all would be okay once we got to the other side vanished just as the “bear went over the mountain and saw another mountain."
It took us another 3 hours to make our way down the snow field, across the spine of the mountain, traverse over snow which was melting at a rapid rate since we could hear the rushing water below as we gingerly stepped across it, and glissade down a cute because there was no other option. Finally at 10,500 feet a perfect campsite lay waiting for us.
We pitched the tent, nipped on dry no cook food and fell asleep hoping that tomorrow would be a better day.
Today we had pushed one another and encouraged each other at the most dire times. We screamed explitives and witnessed shear terror on eachother faces. Today we truly became a hiking team. I cannot imagine doing this hike with anyone but Replay.
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