Miles: 13.7 

Total Trail Miles: 979.1 

Ascent/Descent: 3434/4064 ft 

Start Time: 05:00 

End Time: 17:15 

Temperature: 16°C (61°F)

We had a 2 mile ascent first thing up to Benson Pass, bits were a little steep but it was an easy pass and we were all in good moods. We took a snack break at the top before starting the descent down to Piute Creek. Piute Creek was another of the biggies but we had read you could cross upstream easier where it splits into 5 or so separate streams. We found logs or rocks to cross all of them but it did take a while and we didn't end up having breakfast until almost 11am! We then had another ascent to Seavey Pass where we took lunch. The descent down got pretty steep once we got near Rancheria Creek with the snow creating a steep slope directly leading into to the rushing creek. We traversed carefully with Buddy kicking in steps and found a snow bridge to cross the creek a little way down. The other side was also steep though and it took us about an hour to go just over a mile. 5pm soon rolled around and luckily we found a dry flat spot to camp by the river.