[pct-l] VVR hike-in options

[patti kulesz]

yeeehhhhh! I'm taking the Cascade Valley route myself to Ive Bell...OMG it's amazing there....NINE...yes nine hot spring tubs...three that are up on the top of a hill so u can watch the sunset in the valley below....it's beautiful I have already hiked that section of the PCT/JMT anywya from Silver Pass to Red's....there's not alot there to be missed with the exception of Purple lake's beauty and the trout catching. Of course the trail to Red's from Iva Bell isn't the best either, only the view's are awesome as hell! We only found five of the tubs when I stayed there but I have heard there are more....only there for one day so I didn't have the time to look for the rest. Unless u have a map it's hard to find, even then, but worth the trip off the PCT for sure!

patti

--- On Mon, 2/2/09, mark v <allemande6 at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: mark v <allemande6 at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] VVR hike-in options
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Date: Monday, February 2, 2009, 3:36 PM




The Bear Ridge Trail, entering VVR from the south, isn't bad at all.  Not as nice as the PCT above, but just fine.  The trail going north from VVR along Lake Edison is also just fine, but more of a pain in the butt because of the constant up and down, alongside the big lake, you'll get the sensation of it taking forever to hike it.

I haven't done Goodale Pass.  The JMT guidebook recommends it as a viable walk-in alternative.  If you haven't gone up to Silver Pass and Silver Pass Lake though, you'd be missing one of the real gems of the whole PCT.  Of course, the High Sierra is so full of gems that you might not mind missing one.  

So all in all, if i were to do the PCT again, i'd:

1) Swear up and down that THIS time (3rd time through here) i'm NOT stopping at VVR, no matter what.

2)  Upon approaching it, i'd be tired and hungry, and i'd stop there anyway, paying for the ferry and shilling out a lot of $$$, trying to not think about that.

3)  Leave the next morning and enjoy a slow day across Silver Pass. 

4)  Take the Cascade Valley Trail alternate to Red's Meadow, passing Ida Bell hot springs.

If i were doing the JMT southbound again, i'd send my resupply to Muir Trail Ranch instead, and since i'd be earlier on the trip, i'd probably have the willpower to skip VVR and be glad.  Either that, or just resupply at Red's and Independence, and skip BOTH of the west side resorts.


      
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