June 11 day 43 zero mile day stayed at Kennedy Meadows.
Woke up to see Scott. He saw my sign at the store. Started the day with a bit of wine before starting on our breakfast of a dozen eggs and a pound of bacon. It was a marathon. A while latter we split a pint of Ben and Jerry’s Coffee buzz buzz buzz. Scott was keeping up pretty well but didn’t go for the steak dinner being offered at the KM store.
June 12 day 44 camped mile 719.7 hiked 17.1 miles today
Had a very strange breakfast at Ireland’s restaurant. Scott Tanner and I was served 4 separate stacks of pancakes and each time I poured out syrup out of different containers there were ants in it. It was all you can eat pancakes or biscuits and gravy. I wanted the biscuits but they were going to take a while.
After saying goodby to Scott I headed up the trail and was soon in the Sierra. What a gorgeous mountain range.
June 13 day 45 camped mile 735.2 hiked 15.5 miles today
My saddle camping spot was perfect last night. Was super comfy last night with my Thermarest pro light pad. The early part of the day I was in a wonderland of different trees and plants. Saw marmot deer and a possible snowshoe hare. Meet up with Ruth and Dave aka Pickles and the Lucky Irishman. After lunch I just couldn’t get moving. Camping on a minor peak that the trail passes over. It’s at about 10,600 feet with views of Sierra peaks and the Owens Valley.
June 14 day 46 camped mile 750 Chicken Spring Lake hiked 14.8 miles today
The last day for a while for being at all concerned with water. Passed thru some fantastic Foxtail Pine forests. These are the predominate species at timberline. Some trees are hanging in there with just a spiral of bark running up the tree.
Met up with Pickles, the Lucky Irishman and the Milkman at Chicken Springs Lake. It was nice to sit around the illegal Foxtail Pine campfire.
These pines since they live 2000 years serve as a climate record extended further back by the even more ancient standing deadwood. This is one of the distinct and beautiful features of this forest. It is a ghost forest to me. These skeletons of trees dead many hundreds of years.
June 15 day 47 camped mile 766.9 upper Crabtree Meadow hiked 16.9 miles today.
Just another great day in paradise. Made it to base camp for the Whitney assent tomorrow.
June 16 day 48 camped mile 766.9 upper Crabtree Meadow zero PCT miles today and 15 round trip to Whitney.
Made my easiest Whitney ascent today. It was a perfect day for the climb. It was practically still on the summit. Was there with Two Hats and DB along with a dozen other non PCT hikers. Saw lots of my PCT friends on the way down; Snickers, the Chosen One, the Soup Nazi, Ryan, Cornfed, Dirt Bag, and Nolean. Back in camp I found myself surprising sore after the days exertions.
June 17 day 49 camped about mile 785 hiked 18.1 PCT miles today and about 13 detour miles today.
Got going fairly early today in search of the Kern Hot spring. As I didn’t have the springs on my maps I needed to follow trail signs to the springs. Unfortunately I never saw any signs at Junction Meadow so I ended up doing a 14 mile detour down to the Kern and up thru some very little traveled area. Back on the PCT I met up with Pickles, The Lucky Irishman and Milkman on the way to Forester pass. Had lunch and met up with Dirt Bag for the final ascent. Gave Dirt Bag what food I could spare as I was to be resupplying out of Kearsarge pass the next day.
June 18 day 50 off PCT at mile 788.9 stayed Lone Pine hiked 3.9 PCT miles today plus 9 off.
Great day with a bag of walnuts an Tang as all the food I had in my pack. Light and fast. Met various PCT hikers on the way down from Kearsarge pass. Got a ride into Lone Pine with trail angel Aloha who I had last saw at Kennedy Meadows. Had a very busy day washing myself and clothes that hadn’t seen a washer since Acton KOA. Got 6 days of food filling my bear can to the brim. Had a giant hamburger and an equally giant Arrogant Bastard Ale at the Mt Whitney Restaurant for an early dinner. Saw Firestarter who had got off the trail in Big Bear and was going to rejoin in Kennedy Meadows. Stayed at the Hostel with several other hikers.