Days 44 – 49

June 19 — day 49
Zero PCT + 3 road miles today. Feeling way better than yesterday but still way off my normal self. Had breakfast at The General Store’s grill. Walked most of the way under the blazing sun to Grumpy Bear’s with Virgin. Luckily I had found a parasol in the hiker box so it wasn’t too oppressive. Got my resupply at the adjacent Triple Crown Outfitters run by Yogi of PCT Guidebook fame and her husband. Did a bucket laundry at GB and had a wonderful burger and fries for lunch which I couldn’t quite finish, which highlighted the fact that I’m not feeling 100% more like 70% myself. I hung out with Virgin, Sam, Safari, and French Ninja eating and drinking cold soft drinks. Of course everyone else was having beer but that would have wiped me out even more. It only took me a couple of minutes to get a ride back to TKMGS from one of the guys working there returning from a recycling run. I had picked up a stove, fuel, cooking pot, so that I could make myself some top ramen.

June 18 — day 48
Camped off-trail at the Kennedy Meadows General Store mile 702.2 hiked 17 miles today. It was a short but for me exhausting morning climb and then thankfully a long gentle descent to water at Chimney Creek where I found Virgin, La La, Next Level, and Huckleberry breaking camp. It really was a struggle to make the last miles into Kennedy Meadows. I have rarely in my life felt this wiped out.

June 17 — day 47
Camped mile 685.2 hiked 13.7 miles today. Another day of struggling to make some miles between water sources. My diet of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits is just not cutting it for me. Most everything is unpalatable to me now. I camped shy of where I was planning on going due to a forming thunderstorm and lack of good protected campsites ahead. I practically collapsed into my tent after setting it up. I was forcing myself to eat out of my abundant food supplies.

June 16 — day 46
Camped mile 672.5 hiked 17.8 miles today. I was slightly damp this morning. The beginning of the day was lovely with great views into the Owens Valley. It was hard with my huge pack.

June 15 — day 45
Camped mile 654.6 hiked 3.3 miles today. Enjoyed a solo early morning soak in the upper pool. Had a lovely day hanging out with Scott, Olena and Sofie. We did some cold water soaks later in the day in the lower pools which were feet under the raging flood stage Lower Kern River. Scott dropped me off back at the Walker Pass BLM campground where there was a hiker party in progress. I had added all the extra equipment that I would need for the Sierra (bear canister, ice axe, microspikes, extra tee shirt, hat, and swapped out a long sleeved shirt and warmer long underwear bottoms) and left a few things with Scott. My base weight went from 10 to 15 pounds. I was carrying around 8 pounds of food and about 10 pounds of water. This is not ultralight backpacking. It was hard and hot and heavy climbing out of Walker Pass. Found a lovely campsite on a saddle three miles in. It was so beautiful I was able to cowboy camp with a view looking into the Owens Valley.

June 14 — day 44
Camped off trail mile 651.3 Remington Hot Springs hiked 13.4 miles today. I finished up my food today so the pack was light except for water. Made it to Walker Pass about 1:00. It took me a good hour hitching before I got a ride to Lake Isabella town where I got dropped off at the Pizza Factory. There was a special on a medium pizza. It was a struggle finishing. I got picked up by Scott, Olena, and her daughter Sofie who I had yet to meet. We went to Nelda’s for dinner. I was pretty full so went for a malt. I was slightly embarrassed to be having dessert-for-dinner in front if Sofie because she had to eat “real food” before dessert. Got in late to the parking lot/campground of Remington Hot Springs. Only the upper pool was usable as the lower ones were under the high flood stage water.