Back to Base Camp - Magnus Hikes

Dad led the charge off the plateau, back down the way we had come up.

At 9.15am it was time to go. The hike down was faster and more fun than I thought it would be. I warmed up and there were plenty of cool things to see. I tried to make out landmarks that we would be hiking to next on the PCT. From the needles we got a view straight down to base camp. It was like looking down a chute. Imagine a slide… 😛

Wish there was a slide! Looking west to base camp (Crabtree Meadow) where the JMT joins the PCT.

This part of the trail is actually the southern terminus of the John Muir Trail (“JMT”). The JMT and the PCT join at base camp and run together through the Sierras. They part ways again 175 miles later at Tuolumne Meadows, near Yosemite Village. The JMT is rated one of the most beautiful hikes in the US, and so it is also one of the best-rated parts of the PCT. Summiting Whitney sure is a great way to start it!

“Stone-giants” as seen from the switch backs in broad daylight

We passed quite a few hikers coming across from the Whitney Portal. I think we beat a bit of a rush. There were others up there to see the sunrise, but they were mostly PCT hikers. It was not at all crowded. I also noted little cumulus clouds popping up everywhere. I think if we were just starting out now, I would have been worried about them overdeveloping. As it was, I was still eager to get down lower and off the granite.

Cumulus clouds were already gathering steam as we got off the switchbacks.

We got back to base camp just after 1pm. It was so nice to see our tent waiting for us. There was nothing else to do but eat and have a really good-sized nap. Best hike ever!

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