Start of the Sierra Nevadas on the Pacific Crest Trail (Episode 13)

Episode 13 of my SOBO thru hike of the Pacific Crest Trail takes me across 147 miles of the Northern part of the Sierra section. These 6 days on trail are truly epic! From mountain passes, to more intense wind, to incredible alpine lakes, I love the Sierra so far!
My dad drops be off at the start of this section and then I venture into the big and beautiful mountains alone. Temperatures are dropping now that it's October, so I am facing colder nights and mornings. I meet up with my parents at Sonora Pass for a resupply partway through this episode and ask them if they'd be willing to meet me in Yosemite as well. Having some support during the Sierra proves to be a game changer for me.
I am beyond thrilled that I get to start sharing these beautiful mountains with you! I really hope you enjoy this episode!
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[@chrisharmon5453]

You’re in my backyard. I work in the Stanislaus forest and worked in Yosemite National Park for 20 years before that. You made me cry. 😭 so many memories and I love your videography and obvious enthusiasm for the mountains.

[@rachelstrahan4769]

Came across your shorts randomly and now look forward to your videos every Sunday. The scenery is breathtaking and you seem like the most genuine, lovely person. Thanks x

[@tamaravaughan503]

You look so happy in this episode , Krista. Seeing your parents has definitely lifted spirits. ❤

[@lisacasteran2251]

I absolutely LOVE your videos, thank you so much for taking us along on your incredible journey!

[@TheSwissHiker]

Another great video with an amazing landscape. Greetings from Switzerland, Benjamin

[@rachelberglund]

I love your videos so much. The way you have edited them, and the information you give along the way is a perfect mix to the beautiful scenery. I really love the way you see and shoot the landscape, and I can't wait for next sunday!

[@AMCD18]

What an amazing and honest feel Joy journey. I’m truly loving your episodes. Well done! 👏👏🥾🥾

[@rya7642]

yaaaaaaaaayy another episode!

[@paisleyfamily5972]

Having hiked the JMT over the last two years the beauty does trigger the emotions.

[@kathimatthes-sr3fv]

Another beautiful video, Krysta❤, thanks for taking the time to share your adventure with us. Every week it is such a treat to watch your progress through the PCT. (And a nice bonus to see your snow camping short videos this week, too). Your enthusiasm for life always shines through!!!

[@nam_hn]

Thank you so much for the incredible views!

[@09TessMc]

It's like I'm right there with you! So beautiful. I can't wait for hiking season, there's so much I want to do next summer. We're in the middle of autumn here in Patagonia, so we still have ways to go. What a beautiful thing for you, to be able to look back on this amazing jorney and have all the memories on video. Thank you for sharing it.

[@annehindley-norwick9997]

Oh at 12:28 your view of the lake scene made catch my breath!! It is too beautiful for words. I could feel you standing still to take it in for a moment. WOW 🤩

[@AmyGedgaudas]

I look forward to watching your video every Sunday. Thanks for taking us along with you - what a beautiful journey you experienced!

[@AmyStoneYT]

So lovely to have your parents meet you on trail ❤

[@Thestitchinmomma]

I love all your videos! Thank you for making the time to do this. I live through you girl.

[@vagabondwildernesswanderings]

This makes me want to hike the Sierra Nevada mountains in the fall.

[@arlenesolis024]

I enjoy your videos so much I can’t stop watching them. It’s relaxing and inspiring. Thank you again for sharing your adventure.

[@tomgroenbeck7620]

I think this was the most scenic stretch of your hike so far. I can't remember how many nights I camped at Glen Aulin with my wife, sometimes to photograph the waterfalls of the Tuolumne river, sometimes hiking all the way from White Wolf, another time hiking in from Virginia Lakes and coming out at Tuolumne Meadows. Although we usually did not backpack that late in the year. Beginning Oct. 15 every year the park service prohibits parking along Tioga Road during the night since they may close down the highway b/c of snow and ice at any time, so your car may be stuck until next spring, plus you will get a ticket (and they are liberal with tickets, in particular for speeding). Spending the night in Mammoth Lakes of course is easy and convenient, we sometimes also stayed in Lee Vining, provided we could get a room, that was mostly during winter time. I can't remember if you mentioned where you come from, we live in San Jose, CA since 2005 so Yosemite and Sequoia are fairly close for us (< 200mi), although in recent years the park were getting crowded and permits hard to get, so I haven't been there in recent years. But I guess we went > 100 times in total.

[@glendalund1790]

Since meeting you on the trail just south of Crater Lake, I have so looked forward to each of your videos! You’ve done a great job narrating as you hike along!

[@Finally35]

There are no words to describe how amazing that land is. Thanks for sharing these videos. Your luck to have been able to do this.

[@markwilson7450]

Great work , helping the wife and I plane our SOBO journey 2025, thank you.

[@rickc2102]

My formative wilderness, so beautiful to see, thank you!

[@glengullickson6538]

The lakes are beautiful!

[@dtsb123456]

I'm loving this part of your journey! I visited the Eastern Sierra Nevada for the first time last year (late September) and fell in love. There was still some snow on the ground and wildflowers blooming. Looking forward to your next segment.

[@scottd7926]

Gorgeous mountain views!

[@laurentgousset1946]

Thank you for sharing this experience, you are awesome!

[@knotyourguru]

If I had to venture a guess, I'd say that loneliness is the number two reason through hikers quit the PCT, behind injuries.

[@westaylor5508]

Thank you. You are awesome!

[@talltree71]

Enjoyed this video. Thanks.

[@johnganshow5536]

The NOBO's at that point aren't going to make it to Canada before winter. Love the videos and your adventures!!! Thank you....

[@dtsb123456]

They might be finishing a section they had to skip earlier in the season. Parts of the Sierra Nevada were covered in many many feet of snow until late summer last year. The amount of snow they got in 2023 is ridiculous.

[@user-sr5eq2tb7t]

2023 was a high snow year and a lot of hikers skipped the Sierras and did a flip flop finishing the Sierras at the end. I was unable to section hike into Canada at the beginning of September because of fires. So I did SOBO Quincy to Donner Pass with a lot of thru hikers that were going to finish their hike in the Sierras. It was a strange year last year.

[@kellypruitt2362]

Can’t wait for next week❤❤

[@wholefoodie800]

❤❤❤

[@peterfontaine4627]

So exciting to see you starting the Sierra. I have never hiked there. How would you compare it to the North Cascades? Obviously much higher passes, and perhaps more stark scenery? Some of it reminds me a bit of the Enchantments here in WA. Onward!

[@KrystaNorwick]

So beautiful!! The Sierra are higher and more epic feeling. When higher up there is of course less vegetation than the cascades. The cascades I was there in July/Aug, so there were lots of wildflowers and lots of green. But then I was here in the Sierra in Oct, so I'm not sure what it would be like at a different time!

[@Fistmele]

Love the Sierra, spent several years there. Is that the Kakwa 55 pack?

[@KrystaNorwick]

Love it too!! Yep is the Durston Kakwa 55L. Great pack!

[@barlowwe]

Thank you so much for these videos! I look forward to them every week now! I plan on section hiking the PCT beginning in 2026 when I turn 50. When would be the best month to hike the Sierras where they are just going to be nice and not cold or snowy?

[@tomgroenbeck7620]

Hiking through the Sierras, it really depends on the year and the amount of snow. PCT start date for the NOBOs is usually end of April, so some years the snow in the Sierras is mostly gone, other years there is quite some snow left. Also Tioga (hwy 120), Sonora (hwy 108), and Ebbets (hwy 4) passes typically open before Labor Day, but again, it depends on the amount of snow left. Another nuisance are the mosquitoes, they usually go away around July - August, when the snow melts and dries up. Another thing to keep in mind are the numerous creeks you need to cross w/o bridges, logs or rocks to cross. In some of them the water can be really swift making them dangerous to cross.

[@monicasehuprt3298]

I hope you’re wearing a personal locator beacon.

[@CaribouDataScience]

How come some of your videos are hidden (3 unavailable videos are hidden)?

[@KrystaNorwick]

I'm not sure? Where are you seeing that? Does it show you which videos they are?

[@miraclebub]

Were those Nobos going all the way to WA? Seems kinda late to start?

[@user-sr5eq2tb7t]

They skipped the Sierras because of the 2023 high snow year and finished them at the end of their hike.

[@KrystaNorwick]

They were NOBOs who initially skipped the Sierra because of too much snow, hiked all the way to Canada and then skipped back to finish the Sierra as the last section of their hike!

[@AndyTomaselli]

what year is this? The Sierra Nevada range is currently snow covered.

[@KrystaNorwick]

The dates are at the start of each day throughout the video. But this was October, 2023! It just takes a while to sort through the footage and edit everything :)

[@oldalaskan4097]

You seem to use the term "alpine" as synonymous with "timberline", but that is not correct because a lot of "alpine" (highly mountainous environment is below the timberline. We love your videos. Thank you for letting us vicariously experience your travels.

[@coffee-co8gk]

First