1. Central California The trail through this section traverses some of the most remote and spectacular scenery to be found in North American. At the heart of this territory is the magnificent High Sierra Range. Here the trail follows the famous John Muir Trail for several hundred miles from Mount Whitney to Yosemite National Park. This country is quintessential high mountain terrain consisting of glaciers, thousands of sky blue lakes, lush green alpine meadows, high snow covered passes and soaring granite peaks. This section begins near Tehachapi and ends near Donner Summit (Pooh Corner).

2. Kennedy Meadows is the last place to resupply near the trail for almost 250 miles.

3. Kern River Bridge.

4. Coin operate showers behind the Kennedy Meadows General Store.

5. View of the dry Owens Valley to the east of the Sierra Nevada Crest.

6. Foxtail Pine along the climb to 11,100 foot Cottonwood Pass.

7. Simply Seeking checking her email in Lone Pine.

8. Full moon overlooking the Southern Sierras.

9. The top of Mount Whitney! Highest point in the Lower 48 states.

10. The trail to Forester Pass climbs up this rock wall.

11. Forester Pass is the highest point on the entire PCT.

12. At the top of Forester Pass.

13. Alpine meadows below 14,000 foot Mount Stanford.

14. Junction Peak and Lake 12248, still frozen in mid-June.

15. Taking a break at Lake 12248.

16. Another frozen alpine lake.

17. Alpenglow from below Kearsarge Pass.

18. Diamond Peak.

19. Alpine lake below Glen Pass.

20. Frozen Rae Lakes.

21. Pack mules carrying loads into a remote camp.

22. Lake Helen.

23. The climb up to 12,100 foot Mather Pass.

24. The view from below Mather Pass.

25. The stone hut at at 11,995 foot Muir Pass.

26. Palisade Lakes.

27. There are many high and hazardous stream crossings during the peak snow melt in June.

28. The view from Silver Pass.

29. A ferry service is provided so that hikers can resupply at the Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR), six miles from the trail.

30. The ferry to VVR.

31. It’s still a long walk to Canada.

32. The first night, first shower and the first beer are free for thru-hikers.

33. . Fannypack trading tales with one of the fishermen at the resort.

34. View from Selden Pass.

35. Free showers at Red’s Meadows!

36. Columnar lava flow at Devils Postpile National Monument.

37. Banner Peak and Thousand Island Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness.

38. Footbridge over Lyell Fork near Tuolumne Meadows.

39. Marmot at Tuolumne Meadows.

40. Rust tainted Soda Springs north of Tuolumne Meadows.

41. The mosquitoes were ferocious in Yosemite National Park.

42. The “Benson Riviera” near the PCT

43. Dorothy Pass is the northern boundary of Yosemite National Park. It also is the end of the mosquitoes.

44. Bonnie Lake.

45. PCT ascending to Sonora Pass.

46. The long climb up to Sonora Pass.