The plan was to meet Jesse and Lisa at a hot spring 13 or so miles from the nearest trailhead down near Mammoth. It's not super-well-known, so we'll call it I*a B*ll ;). They were going to be 2 days ahead of us, and I got a voicemail right before they went in that they had learned about an alternate route in, and that we should check it out since it would be shorter. The red flag should have popped up when Jesse mentioned the "short overland section," but it didn't.
Long story short, "short overland section" meant hiking through high altitude snow, occasionally within sight of a trail, staying on a trail, then going truly overland over inhospitable terrain and not making it all the way to our destination that day. Oh yeah, then waking up, wandering around for a couple more hours, fording a creek rushing with snowmelt, and then finally stumbling into the hot spring after a day and a half of hiking.
Jesse and Lisa's experience was similar, however enhanced by both their canine companion and their ursine intruder.
Once at the spring, things were sweet, although Jesse and Lisa had already hiked out. We still soaked to our hearts' content. And then went back the easy way...hitchhiked back to where we left the car...and called it good...
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/1479/blurryfallja3.jpg)
Along the PCT
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1184/reflectedtreesnl3.jpg)
Calm water
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/6207/overlandbx4.jpg)
Looking east into the High Sierra where we left the trail to go overland
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/4254/drainagerg4.jpg)
Looking south into the drainage we'd be descending into 2000' below
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/7705/fishcreekiy8.jpg)
Roaring Fish Creek
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/7153/fishcreekothersidega9.jpg)
Fish Creek from the south bank
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/7899/reptileai5.jpg)
Little fella
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/1540/firstpoollowxh6.jpg)
Our reward is nestled in here
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/6660/firstpoolkh8.jpg)
Little puddle of paradise
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/1659/treeandskyno2.jpg)
View from the springs
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/5144/steepcreekuc1.jpg)
Steep mountain creek
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/6199/rockyflowersmn7.jpg)
Hearty flowers
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/2479/sanjoaquiniq2.jpg)
Standing above the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/1781/flowerarchii9.jpg)
More flora
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/3703/charredpaintbrushmv4.jpg)
Indian Paintbrush in front of a charred tree
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/9974/hidingyw5.jpg)
Irish bird
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/5706/firststepfc6.jpg)
First step of a huge waterfall on the way out
![Image Hosted by ImageShack.us](http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/6305/rainbowfallsor8.jpg)
Rainbow Falls