Saturday, June 11, 2022
Start/Finish: Pumpelly trailhead
Miles: 20.81
Elevation gain/loss: 7450’/7450′
Total time: 8:43:41
I woke up at 5:30am and started driving maybe 20 minutes later. I arrived at the Pumpelly trailhead around 7:15am, after prepping the last of my gear, started hiking at 7:37am with 3L of water.
I powerhiked up Pumpelly, and reached the first summit right around 9:10am with only a handful of people there. Then it was down White Dot to the very busy main trailhead by 9:55am and then headed back up White Cross, summiting for the second time at 10:55am with perhaps 2 dozen people lingering nearby. There were two places along White Dot that had water I could have filtered (though they both smelled skunky), but I didn’t need any yet so I just kept moving.
Then it was down White Arrow, which then turned into Halfway House Rd. I jogged down the smooth hill, used the privy by the parking lot, and then hiked back up using Old Halfway House Trail and White Arrow. I scooped a liter to filter from the stream near the top of the steepest section, though if I’d known there would be no more water, I would have taken more. Even after filtering, it tasted very metalic and kind of gross; I added two packets of water flavor and just said good enough. I hit the summit for #3 at 12:45pm. There were 3-4 dozen people at the summit this time and I had to dodge them as I headed down towards Dublin trail.
I passed by 3+ groups as I descended. I made the parking lot by 1:45pm, and turned around and headed back up. I stopped to chat with another hiker for perhaps 5 minutes on my ascent since my legs were feeling it and I wanted some rest. I made the summit for #4 at 2:55pm, and then I weaved around the remaining 2 dozen people at the summit to head down Pumpelly. Without properly maintaining my hydration and fueling, I deliriously hiked and tripped my way down the eternal trail, arriving back at the trailhead at 4:15pm.
I was filthy and very thirsty, so I went for a quick refreshing swim directly across the road in the lake. There was a perfect swimming spot with a sandy bottom that I couldn’t resist. Then I packed up and drove the 1.5 hours back home.
