Saturday, June 20, 2009
The 3 hour drive with Reed from Los Angeles to our starting point at KennedyMeadows ended in a steep, winding ascent into the mountains, providing views
from the backseat that induced both burning anticipation and a healthy amount
of self-doubt about taking on the Sierra Nevada range.
I weighed my pack at Kennedy Meadows General Store and it came to 35 pounds
with water and 4 days of food. However, a white-bearded man informed me with
astonishingly little concern for the preciseness of lightweight backpacking that
the scale is off by “about 5 pounds in one or the other direction.” So it seems my
pack weighs somewhere between 30 – 40 pounds. Interesting.
with water and 4 days of food. However, a white-bearded man informed me with
astonishingly little concern for the preciseness of lightweight backpacking that
the scale is off by “about 5 pounds in one or the other direction.” So it seems my
pack weighs somewhere between 30 – 40 pounds. Interesting.
The terrain today was occasionally desert-like but walking along the river
countered the dry heat. Jess and I eyed a pink mountain in the distance and wondered what would cause
one mountain to appear cloaked in cotton candy in a range of sandy and green peaks. We reached the base
to discover with wonder that this easy to moderate mountain climb would be through a vast and even
spread of light purple wildflowers. Wildflowers to the left, wildflowers to the right, ahead, and behind;
it was like walking into a fairytale.
countered the dry heat. Jess and I eyed a pink mountain in the distance and wondered what would cause
one mountain to appear cloaked in cotton candy in a range of sandy and green peaks. We reached the base
to discover with wonder that this easy to moderate mountain climb would be through a vast and even
spread of light purple wildflowers. Wildflowers to the left, wildflowers to the right, ahead, and behind;
it was like walking into a fairytale.
The remainder of the day was through meadows surrounded by cragged mountains and a couple miles of a
burnt section. After our first five miles, a 15 minute break reminded me how restorative a short rest off my
feet can be. When we reached the South Fork Kern River in Monache Meadows, I was surprised to have
walked almost 14 miles since noon on our first day. We planned to hike another mile or two after dinner but
were lured into a lively gathering of about fifteen thru-hikers for some trail magic (i.e. someone who
provides hikers surprise food, drink, transportation, anything really. Some who do trail magic regularly are
called trail angels).
burnt section. After our first five miles, a 15 minute break reminded me how restorative a short rest off my
feet can be. When we reached the South Fork Kern River in Monache Meadows, I was surprised to have
walked almost 14 miles since noon on our first day. We planned to hike another mile or two after dinner but
were lured into a lively gathering of about fifteen thru-hikers for some trail magic (i.e. someone who
provides hikers surprise food, drink, transportation, anything really. Some who do trail magic regularly are
called trail angels).
A trail angel named Tom had hiked in a guitar, margarita mix, fish, and other goodies for a mixed bag of
hikers who had all started walking in Campo, Mexico. I get the feeling that because there are no shelters on
the PCT, seeing this many long distance hikers in one place is rare, so we made a home for the night by the
river with our new friends.
hikers who had all started walking in Campo, Mexico. I get the feeling that because there are no shelters on
the PCT, seeing this many long distance hikers in one place is rare, so we made a home for the night by the
river with our new friends.
So many times today I giggled and grinned to myself, thinking “we are actually doing this.” I feel at ease
about the adventure ahead of us and wanting of nothing else for myself than this.
about the adventure ahead of us and wanting of nothing else for myself than this.
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