Day 72: Surprise!

(Mile 996 to 1015 = 19 miles)

Dorothy Lake.  AKA, Bacon Bit Lake.

 We are on top of a ridge happily watching the sunset from our sleeping bags.  Oh, yes, we are cowboy camping once again.  And we love it.  Cool breeze blowing over the top of my bag ... I will sleep like a baby tonight.

Headstands for our easiest pass, Dorothy Pass.

 It was a big day full of treats.  First, we passed my lake!  Dorothy Lake and Dorothy Lake Pass were completed before second breakfast.  I am pleased to say that my pass was the easiest yet.  And second breakfast marked the completion of 1000 miles.  One thousand miles.  Wild, isn't it?

The 1000 mile mark!

 We thought those two treats would be it for the day until we found the random squirrel, entered an entirely different landscape, had dinner with the New Zealanders, Wee Kiwi and Shackleton, and decided not to push for town, but sleep on this fantastic ridge.  Cowboy camp on this fantastic ridge, that is.  We were in bed by 7:45.  :)  

Handstands for 1000 miles! Just 1663 more to go.

Somehow, we squeezed 19 miles in despite lots of long stops.  Actually, Gumby turned into a hiking machine after lunch and marched us straight up to our 11000'.  That's how we got here and our 19 in.  We head down to Sonora Pass in the morning and hitch to Kennedy Meadows Resort to pick up our resupply, eat, do laundry, shower, and enjoy a nero.  Yes, so soon!  The long stretches are over.  Not a week without a stop any more.  We are getting excited for a new phase ... Northern California.

Ha!  This scared me.

These gorgeous Mariposa Lilies were everywhere on our climb this afternoon. A favorite.

We climbed to entirely different landscape this afternoon. We loved it! (The landscape ...)

This is the first snow we have had all trip.

Sunset from bed.