Tag: PCT 2026

PCT Section Hike – Sierra Nevada – Day 3

Ian

Gross Pond (Noble Lake) to Ebbett’s Pass – 4.3 miles

PCT Mile 1045.3-1049.6

July 3, 2026

I woke up early to finish the miles to Ebbett’s Pass where Shawn was going to pick me up. I initially thought that Buffer would be with him and we would continue on to the next section, but it turns out she wasn’t feeling great from the push the day before and we decided to take a zero back in town and reassess.

Noble Lake with moon above the peak
Early morning sun making good shadows

The trail went down into the canyon to a nice water source where I could dump the nasty pond water and refill with nice, fresh water.

Dirty shoe and clean shoe

After a couple of hours, I approached the road crossing at the pass.

Shawn explained that Buffer was still at home, but he brought trail magic which we shared with other hikers that came through over the next half hour or so.

PIVOT

Ian

One of the main things you have to learn when joining the hiking community is that you have to roll with the punches. Unfortunately, my hiking buddy Stix decided the AT wasn’t for him this year, so he got off early and I’m not going to meet him up in Virginia anymore.

That’s ok. Plans change, people change, and you have to adjust. So I am now pushing my hike back this year to July and planning to meet up with another buddy from my 2024 PCT section hike on the west side of Lake Tahoe. I met Buffer in my trail maintenance class prior to my hike and she then picked me up at the other end at Echo Summit and I stayed in her spare room that she outfits specifically for hikers. Her and her boyfriend (fiancee?) Shawn are great people and I would love to see them again.

As of now, they are planning on starting at Sonora Pass on the PCT (just north of Yosemite) and going Nobo for a week or so, which would put me in perfect position to do about 75 miles and link up with my 2024 section, near South Lake Tahoe.

Let the chips fall where they may and let’s do another round of the PCT!