Miles: 13.1 + 2.5 extra for river crossings

Total Trail Miles: 965.4 

Ascent/Descent: 2600/2368 ft 

Start Time: 05:00 

End Time: 17:15 

Temperature: 14°C (57°F)

Today was the big river crossing day, we aimed to cross 5 of the biggies; McCabe Creek, Return Creek, Spiller Creek, Matterhorn Creek and Wilson Creek. With Return Creek being one of the notorious ones as a hiker died crossing it in 2017, this was also the one the ranger, Annie, down in Yosemite Valley was concerned about. We had 4 miles of (snow) hiking to do before we got to the McCabe Trail junction where we detoured up so we could cross McCabe Creek higher up in a meadow area where the current was ment to be less strong. We lucked out and managed to find a log across the creek, it was a little narrow and a bit wobbly and after Buddy crossed wobbling a bit me, Yeehaw and Shortcut decided to bum scoot it. Slide then walked across it which got my heart racing more than when I crossed it as he has a few big wobbles but luckily didn't fall. However as he jumped off the log he missed the land and jumped into the edge of the river so got wet! We headed onward to Return Creek, e also went upstream for this one and found a spot where it widened and braided into 2. The first part was knee deep and pretty short and the second only thigh deep and manageable - a huge relief. We dried off on the other side whilst having breakfast. Slide decided to go on ahead here for some solo hiking. Spiller Creek wasn't far ahead and we lucked out here too finding two logs that we could cross on and keep dry feet. We then had a steep climb before having lunch at the top and having an equally steep descent down, it took a while add the snow was soft and we didn't want to slip. At the bottom was Matterhorn Creek where we spotted Happy Hour across the creek and she advised us where they crossed and it was only thigh /crotch deep. I took my shorts off for this one, the current was quite strong but we all managed to cross safely. Lastly it was Wilson Creek and luckily we found a snow bridge so that was the easiest of them all. Yeehaw went on to meet Slide but me, Shortcut and Buddy ended up stopping a mile earlier as we where exhausted after another 12 hour day.