Day 56: The Sierras Loom

I naturally awoke at 4:30 and went ahead and packed up. I hung around for a while, socializing with the other hikers as they awoke and got ready for the day but eventually I tired of procrastinating and got myself moving.

Nohawk, my trail namer, and myself.

The ascent was fairly uneventful. I ran out of water a little faster than expected and refilled at Fox Mill Spring. I saw evidence of what might be an old mining claim. I photographed some bees sleeping in the flower of a thistle plant. Nothing really stood out until I crested the top and was suddenly stopped by my first real look at the Sierras.

There they are, my future looming before me.

I went downhill for about 2 miles before stopping for brunch and a rest which then turned into a nap. I continued down to Manter Creek and met with Magic, Helicopter, and Pisa. I considered camping right there but the day was hot and the river 4 miles away was tempting me with swimming so I kept going. Mission, Big Bill, and Airbender showed up as I was leaving.

A very wide lizard.

I walked less than a quarter of a mile before startling a rattlesnake who reared up, startling me and making me stumble away off the trail. We stared at each other for a long minute before it slithered into a nearby bush. I ran into 2 more snakes on the way to the river, thankfully both gopher snakes. Pisa, who randomly had climbing shoes hanging off his pack from a side trip, stopped to climb a tempting boulder and I stayed to make sure he didn’t fall and die. He did not.

A very angry snake. No rattles though!

I passed a single swimmable spot but kept going, not realizing that was the only good location. Oh well, the shadows were getting long anyway and the temperature was already falling. I camped with Magic, Big Bill, and Airbender and had a nice dinner hangout, minus the discovery that there were mice wandering around the campsite in the dark.

Day 57: Birthday Boy

I awoke to the realization I was a year older. Big Bill and Airbender had sneakily made a “32” out of sticks next to my tent sometime in the night. I didn’t linger long to appreciate it though as Kennedy Meadows and the possibility of a pancake breakfast beckoned me with syrupy fingers. It was 7:30 when I left and breakfast ended at 9; hiker math calculated that if I moved at 3 miles per hour for 4 miles I would make it at 8:50, in time to get those pancakes. That’s a fast pace but for a relatively limited distance so I went for it.

I did pause for the 10 seconds required to do my mandatory selfie with the 700 mile marker.

I hauled ass those 4 miles, pushing to maintain pace on uphills and jogging the downhills. As I entered the general store parking lot somebody on the patio furiously rang a cowbell and everyone else cheered, a celebration provided to all hikers who managed to make it this far. The experience was oddly intense for me. The excitement of my birthday, the exhilaration of rushing the 4 miles, the cheering, and the anticipation of pancakes all combined into a feeling of intense joy. When was the last time I had felt this happy and fulfilled?

I did make it in time for the pancakes.

Pancakes! Not pictured (because they were under the pancake): hash browns, eggs, and sausage.

I set up camp and did brief circuits of the Two Foot Adventures trailers and the Triple Crown Outfitters storefront. I purchased an ice axe, new trekking pole tips as mine were breaking, and also a new inflatable sleeping pad. The foam pad on its own had been making for some very uncomfortable nights and I knew it would be colder in the Sierra. I went back to the general store for lunch and greeted many hikers I hadn’t seen for months. I finished knitting the second pair of socks too!

The second pair of socks, made with the yarn I bought in Big Bear.

The rest of the day was just relaxing. I fixed a rip in Magic’s long johns, I called my mom, I hung out in the massive crowd of hikers all congregating here. At dinner time, Airbender and Big Bill stuck candles in fried pickles and sang happy birthday to me.

We couldn’t get the candles to light, and the heat from the pickles melted the wax. It didn’t matter.

I felt so grateful to be here.

Day 58: Clown Car Resupplies

The pancake breakfast was so nice I got it again. I met Sister Blister, another Trek blogger, while eating and we compared experiences. I jumped in the shuttle afterwards off to Grumpy’s to pick up my bear can and microspikes. The ride there was so packed a hiker called Hardcore and I ended up riding in the trunk.

Makes for some pretty funny selfies though. Whole lotta hikers in this one tiny car.

I replaced my trekking pole tips after I got back and tried to pack all my food into my bear can. It didn’t all fit so I had to give away a few hiker meals. I showered afterwards, did laundry, MacGyvered a gaiter attachment point onto Airbender’s shoes, and planned the next stretch with my friends.

Sciencing out how to add a loop of guy line cord to Airbender’s shoes. Photo courtesy of Big Bill.

People started drinking as the evening fell and the vibe got sillier. I painted my nails (poorly), sang, and joked around. I didn’t stay up too late though, I wanted to be out fairly early so we could hike to the bridge with the swallows.

The Kennedy Meadows cat lives a good life, although she is a little too willing to steal people’s food.

Trail Stats:

• Catholes: 17
• Stops to filter water: 55
• Resupplies: 10
• Hitches: 11
• Zeros: 11
• Crys on trail: 7
• Blisters: 8
• Gear repairs: 9
• Miles Skipped: 212.3