MT. ELWELL 6X July 22, 2021
Looking at the skies, and getting online reports, I saw U. S. 395 south was closed, due to the Tamarack fire, at about Holbrook Junction. That meant Sonora Peak was out. I had a light breakfast. Heading north on U. S. 395, I took CA 70 westbound to CA 89 south. Using my Peaks Guide directions, I set the navigator for Graeagle Lodge. This got me to Smith Lake trailhead, where I stopped when the dirt road became rocky. Walking a few hundred yards, I used the outhouse at a trailhead.
Hiking up the trail, I came in about a mile to a junction, and detoured to head for Smith Lake. Back to the junction for the Mt. Elwell trail, I took it up through nice forests. I passed three tarns higher up, then came to the top of the trail. Taking the rock use trail to the top, I placed my new clear plastic register container, and a new book. I enjoyed the views, and waved to other hikers to come on up. Curiously, one hiker just sat on some rocks, and didn't go to the true summit.
After maybe an hour on top, I headed back down the same way I took up. This went nicely, and I was back to the car by early afternoon. I used one can of soda, and half a canteen of water. I did use my pee bottle a couple times, as I was gone for over 6 hours round trip.
Zooming back home, I rehydrated with plenty of water, and had some cheese with potato chips, then fell asleep. Back up at about 10:30 p.m., I got to the downloads and webwork. Up past midnight, I did it again. With mango juice, and making some chicken noodle soup, then having a nut bar, I could relax after a harder hike. I'd need to update my Peaks Guide, as the distances measured by my Watch were more than I thought. With over a total of 2,000 feet of gain, this wasn't as easy of a peak bag as I wrote. There were dips in the trail, so this must have added gain.
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