PCT: CA Section F (and 1st Part of G) - Tehachapi Pass to Kennedy Meadows
Day 41 - 6/16/25 - Back on Trail
Distance: 16 miles
Weather: sunny, very windy
End Location: Golden Oaks Spring
Lessons Learned:
Breakfast 8:30 a.m.
No waffles this morning.
Packed bag, showered.
Texted trail angels.
Bucksnort picked me up at 11:20 a.m.
He didn’t want money but asked if I’d help pick up trash at the trailhead, of course!
Met Flipper and Tilly.
Also decked out in blue, I got a pic with Flipper.
Started trail at 12 p.m.
16.5 miles to water, I carried 5 liters due to heat and with 7 days’ worth of food, which made my pack the heaviest it’s been yet.
Ellie wanted to stay in town one more night, so I was back to hiking alone.
This is where Cheryl Strayed began her journey in “Wild” and recognized the parts of the scenes.
Such a beautiful start, wild cars grazing the asphalt and trash bushes decorated the trail 😂
Rocked out to Big Wild’s Superdream Album.
Then “chill” playlist, one of my first playlists ever made back in high school, beach vibes (Sublime, Shwayze, Aer).
“They say life is what you make it, but really life is what makes you” - Tobacco Road.
At 2:30pm took a break at a tent spot with trees and protection from the wind, hiked 6.5 miles and 2000 ft elevation.
Gale force winds almost knocked me over a few times, but I’d rather have the wind than the heat.
Took a break and laid out on a new floor pad while I played harmonica, amazing.
Maybe the best $30 I’ve ever spent at Wal-Mart, the new floor pad weighs 1.1 pounds but offers extreme comfort and endless nap opportunities.
Left 3:15 p.m., 10 more miles to water.
Hiked 4 miles by 5 p.m., took another break, ate an apple on the floor pad, absolutely loving this mat - the ability to lay down during a break is so nice.
Started seeing granite walls poking through the mountains.
Napped for 10 mins.
Left at 5:30 p.m.
Hiked through more windmills.
Leap-frogged with a hiker named Jackie (WY).
Made it to camp at Golden Oaks Spring around 7:30 p.m. and filled up water.
Debated whether to cowboy camp or set up a tent.
Apparently, there is a resident black bear at this spring, but the mosquitoes were the real deciding factor.
Jackie and I both set up our tents.
Talked with Jackie about hiking alone; there’s a kind of freedom to it.
Then made dinner, Buffalo Mac, starting to like the soupy version, more water, and easier to clean.
Went to bed around 9:30 p.m.
Had a nightmare about the bear at camp and thought I saw its shadow on my tent; tried shouting “hey bear” twice.
When I realized it was only the wind and the shadows of the trees, I went back to sleep.
Hopefully, I didn’t alarm Jackie too badly 😂
Day 42 - 6/17/25 - Robin Springs
Distance: 22 miles
Weather: Sunny
End Location: Robin Springs
Lessons Learned: new water-carrying system
Woke up at 5:30 a.m.
Packed up
Cat hole with an amazing view of sunrise over the valley
Breakfast (honey bun, coffee with collagen, protein bar)
Filled up water, carrying 3 liters for 10 miles
The wind spun the windmills, creating energy as the coffee created energy for me
Started the morning off with classic Kid Cudi
Kanye’s verse in “Erase Me” is legendary
“The height of her shopping was writer’s blocking me, I hope you die, Aria” 😂
Left at 7:20 a.m.
Although I missed Ellie, I was glad to be hiking alone again
No compromising, more independence
I felt less rushed
Hiked past more windmills
Listened to the daily news podcast, then the audiobook (“Fear and Loathing”)
“In the world of the guilty, the only crime is getting caught” - Hunter S. Thompson
Made it to the top of the water around 11:30 a.m.
Saw some familiar faces : Cheech, Here, There, and Jackie were all hanging out and finishing up their grub
Had a bit of water left, so I ate lunch first
Salmon tortilla with parsley, BBQ chips, and sesame ginger teriyaki sauce
Apparently, Jackie heard my “Hey Bear” comments last night; we cracked up 😂
After lunch, I walked down to fill up water at Miller Springs, 1 mile each way, steeply uphill going back
Tried out the new system for carrying the water bladders back
During the last section, right before Hiker Town, there was a steep water carry, and I almost ate shit because I had 2 liters of water in each of my hands.
This time, I attached my carabiners to the end of the water bags, shortened 1 of my poles, and clipped the bag onto my handle - worked like a charm.
New system unlocked! (Lesson learned)
When I got back, Cheech was playing ukulele in a song that sounded like it was in the key of C, so I played harmonica with her.
She also played a sad song that needed words.
She wanted to capture the feeling of seeing someone walk away but knowing that they might come back.
As she played the chords, I pondered potential lyrics.
Chatted with Jackie; apparently, she circumnavigated the world in the Clipper Yacht Race 2023-2024 and won the race.
There’s a documentary coming out on YouTube soon.
Gave her trail name: Magellan.
I think she’s gonna take it, nice.
Took vitamins.
Left at 3 p.m.
10 more miles to camp and water.
Tough incline, then another incline.
Listened to Kill Tony Pod with Harland William (wasn’t my fav episode).
After the ascent, going down, there were beautiful pine trees and tall grass with views of the mountains.
I yodeled and yahoo’d as I passed mile 600.
Lots of blow down.
Let Musher pass me; I go slower downhill.
Listened to parkbreezy’s newest album, fire.
Made it to an infamous cabin and briefly searched for the rumored honey bun cache.
FarOut comments tempted me: “If you are true of heart, the cache will show itself” 😂
Apparently, my heart isn’t true enough because I found no honey buns.
I did find a large, diamondback rattlesnake though, didn’t taste as good 😅 (kidding)
Climbed a steep dirt road.
Listened to Goose with the evening sun.
Entered Sequoia National Forest around 7 p.m.
Made it to camp at Robin Springs around 7:15 p.m.
Set up tent due to mosquitoes.
Cheech made it to the spring maybe 20 mins after me.
Ate dinner with Cheech.
Tried the new Shin Bone Broth Ramen I got at Walmart (more protein) with a chicken packet.
I was going to ramen bomb it wanted to see how it tasted by itself since this was a new flavor for me
Delicious, added a little turmeric and teriyaki ginger sauce
Ended up giving Magellan my extra instant potato pack because she had to wait an extra day for Tilly and needed food
Went to bed around 10pm
Day 43 - 6/18/25 - Just when I think I’m out…
Distance: 21 miles
Weather: Sunny, very hot (forecast called for 105° in Ridgecrest)
End Location: somewhere in the sand
Lessons Learned: if it’s hot out, just cold soak your food.
Woke at 5 a.m.
Lingered until 5:30 a.m.
Packed up.
Breakfast: coffee with collagen, honeybun, protein bar.
Deciding to pace together, Cheech and I left around 7 a.m.
So much for hiking alone 😅
Saw Here and There camp a little further up the road from the water.
Hiked 7 miles through toasted pine needles, purple lupine, and yellow balsam root flowers through the edge of Sequoia National Forest.
Cheech and I stopped at a stream to soak our clothes; it was a hot one.
Cheech and I smelled a Ponderosa tree.
“It’s so sweet!” She said with a smile, remarking on the vanilla honeybun scent.
Cheech is a cutie and has a great sense of humor.
She wears a cheetah print tennis skirt, a grey buttoned sun hoodie, and a visor with her brown hair in a ponytail sticking out.
She also carries a small guitar and other ancillary items that make her journey more delightful.
We took an early lunch break around 11:30 a.m. at Landers Meadow Spring, a lovely meadow with tall grass and yellow flowers and cold spring water.
Looked like a scene when they shot Bambi, or his mom😅
Lucky and Moses pulled up; we all hung out.
Cheech and I played a song for them.
Left at 1:15 p.m.
We hiked 7 miles to the water cache at a road.
Tall granite boulders told us we were getting closer to the High Sierra (elevation ~6409 ft).
But as the pine tree coverage started to disappear, yellow flowers and prickly pears said that we were going back into the desert.
With the forecast predicting a high of 105° in the town below us, I believed the latter.
As we passed a clearing, I saw what might’ve been Mt Whitney but it was hard to gauge.
As we descended in elevation, the heat started to get brutal.
We reached the water cache around 4 p.m. and took a break, hiding from the heat under the shade of bushes.
A trail angel had set up around 40 giant water jugs.
While we were there, he pulled up in his white pickup truck.
He had given himself the trail name, “Devilfish”, because that’s what they call a grey whale - a fierce animal that travels further than any other mammal.
I cooked dinner since we were going to dry camp tonight.
Stupidly, I boiled water for my ramen and chicken.
It was already so hot out, I don’t know what I was thinking.
I tried cooling it down with the water from the jugs, but sitting there all day, that water was basically boiling too 😅
Nothing like boiling ramen on a boiling day.
If it’s hot out, just cold soak your food (lesson learned).
Although the ants stormed our haven and temporary peace, neither of us got bit.
Cheech played “The Sun is Shining Brighter” by Trout Steak Revival, a banger.
Took vitamins.
Watched There pour water from one jug into another jug and also filled my bag, admiring his leadership and will-to-do.
“To do what ought to be done.”
Left around 5:30 p.m. in excruciating heat.
Hiked 7 more miles to camp.
Saw a cemetery in the distance, seemed redundant in a place like this.
Listened to my playlist “Spring is Here” on smart shuffle, which added in some great bluegrass music.
I had my desert hat on and was sweating bullets.
Just when I thought I’m out of the desert, they pulled me back in 😭🥵
Surely this has to be the last desert.
First of all, don’t call me Shirley, second of all, I will account for one more desert.
Felt like the final boss before the High Sierra 😓
There was a mountain that looked like a normal distribution curve, like the kind that Sisyphus would push his boulder up.
That day, the sun was my boulder.
Put on audiobook.
I don’t consider Hunter S. Thompson a role model, but I do want to try and recreate his breakfast at Hulaween, and maybe dress up as him on costume day 😂
Witnessed a treeclipse.
Cheech caught up to me just before camp; she accidentally followed a dirt road hahaha.
As we were singing “Luckiest Man”, she realized she forgot her poles.
“My poles!” She remembered.
“Are these your poles!” another hiker shouted back from a distance.
Cheech went to meet them as I continued on to camp, I could see a picnic table with my name on it
I arrived around 7:30pm and sat down on the bench
Got food ready
Other hikers that grabbed Cheech’s poles were Bella (FL) and Gabe (TX)
Cheech followed shortly after them
Ate 2nd dinner of tuna tortilla
Bella and Gabe were surprised by my array of sauces
Chilled heavily
Gabe produces music and likes EDM, but more into Riddim
Told them the aquaduct story
Played Zeds Dead, “Sweet Memories” to reminisce
Bella is from Ormond Beach, another FL person!
We talked about Ponce Inlet, they knew about the secret spot at the inlet by the dog park
I swam through the clear waters and salty vignettes of my adolescence as we recounted fond memories of the Florida beaches
“Small world” we all thought
Here and There pulled up after sunset
“The amenities here are amazing!” Here remarked as she hung her clothes up on a mental wire fence 😂
I brought my clothes over too to dry in the wind overnight
Bella, Gabe, Cheech and I all cowboy camped under a sign, which I used as a night stand for my glasses and phone
Here was right, the amenities were amazing😂
Went to bed around 10pm, saw a shooting star just before I closed my eyes
Day 44 - 6/19/25 - Juneteenth
Distance: 21 miles
Weather: Sunny, breezy
End Location: McIver’s Spring and Cabin
Lessons Learned:
Woke up to sunrise around 5 a.m.
Snoozed a bit, woke back up around 5:30 a.m.
Gabe and Bella left before Cheech and I.
Let Cheech sleep while I packed, woke her up just before the sun hit her face.
Prepped breakfast, coffee, and honeybun.
Meandered in the desert.
Came back, ate, and chilled.
Desert vibes so wanted Khruangbin, played my playlist “Chocolate Hills” on smart shuffle.
Left at 7:30 a.m.
Hiked 8 miles to water.
Cheech coughs like a cat after an unwanted swim 😂
Had service so texted fam with confirmation I was alive.
Switched to 90s rap.
“Feel Me Flow”
Then switched to my old Mac Miller playlist, indecisive on music today.
“I’ll Be There” by Mac Miller always makes me think of my mom.
I thought about the time I skipped school to go surf Sunglow Pier on a particularly good day of surf.
Good surf days in Florida don’t come often so you have to take advantage of the opportunities when they come.
The night before, I sneakily crawled through my room to strap my longboard on the roof of my Honda Accord.
That morning, as I left, I prayed my mom wouldn’t see the board on top of my car😂
After dropping my little sister off at school, I called the school as Dr. Silberbusch and headed to Daytona Beach.
Later, the front office called my mom to confirm that I was sick.
By that time, however, I was already in the water catching delicious curls on my 8’11 Mad Bog longboard.
I think I learned more about physics from the ocean that day than I could’ve in 3rd period, but felt some grief for disappointing my parents.
I caught up with Cheech.
She was sitting down and we exchanged vulnerable memories of our past that influenced who we are today.
A certain level of trust is required for a truly open exchange.
You say something that you’re not too proud of and hope they still accept you.
If they don’t accept the full picture, then so be it.
“A man cannot step into the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.”
Steep, sandy, and loose incline through the desert.
Walking in the sand made me feel like Tame Impala: “feel like I only go backwards.”
Unlike yesterday, it was very breezy and a tad cooler.
I listened to a podcast with the NYT and Trump’s Border Czar on illegal immigration, interesting to hear both sides.
Made it to the water cache at Bird Spring Pass (mile 632) around 11:30 a.m.
I was out of water, so I filled up and took some glorious swigs.
Remembering there’s leadership yesterday, I filled up the empty gallon.
Cheech and I ate lunch together, tuna tortilla with creamy buffalo sauce and BBQ chips, 2 zebra cakes, and blueberry tea.
After lunch, we moved to a shadier spot, an accidentally smart play - the ants didn’t bother us.
“The way the wind
Shook down on me
A pinecone from
A desert tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved a day
Of which I once rued”
- Robert Frost (adjusted for the desert)
Cheech and I napped in the shade.
Jackie and her friend she waited for, Tilly, pulled up.
Left at 2:15 p.m.
Lucky and Moses took our spot.
Lots of elevation in the heat of the day.
Played my playlist “Summer is Here” on smart shuffle.
Got into a major flow thanks to Cheech gifting me a caffeine bar.
“Dawn a New Day” played as I reached the top around 3:30 p.m., made it 3.5 miles in a little over an hour.
Took a snack break at the top.
Cheech joined me shortly after.
Took vitamins.
To pass through life and observe its beauty is a gift everyone can appreciate.
Wonderful evening hike through the high desert.
That hike was 2/3 Cover Girl: breezy and beautiful, but not easy.
Unfortunately, my right shin hurt.
6:43 p.m., hugged a large pine tree.
“When you lose yourself, you find a key to paradise.”
“Tanlines” played as I hiked past Cheech.
Hmmmm
Listened to GRiZ’s going-away album.
Put in both headphones for Falling Flying, c’mon now.
New Rule: you can wear both headphones if walking on a road and somewhat near people.
FarOut GPS wonky and back tracked because it said I passed the intersection
I didn’t but caught up with Cheech and followed her
Made it to camp around 8:00pm
Cooked on the porch of the cabin in the dark
Dinner and ration
10pm went to sleep under a blanket of stars, cowboy camping take me away
Day 45 - 6/20/25 - Grilled Cheese, Cheech Dance, Cheeseburger, and Wind
Distance: 14 miles.
Weather: Sunny but breezy.
End Location: Mt Jenkins Saddle.
Lessons Learned: If you can get a burger, get a burger.
Woke up late around 6 a.m.
Wind blew dust on all our stuff.
Ate breakfast, honeybun, coffee, and ration.
Washed shirt and buffed a few times in the spring.
Rubbed some tiger balm on for fragrance.
Other Gabe has fire gaiters (literally).
Took cute pics in front of cabin.
Drank a ton of water.
Left at 9:30 a.m.
8 miles to water at Walker Pass.
Played “Nebraska” by moe.
Clean, rested, and hydrated, Kennedy Meadows South felt tangible again.
Played my “Bob” playlist, old reggae.
Cool and breezy.
The snow dusted peaks of the Sierra in the distance.
Felt properly hydrated for the first time in days.
Passed Magellan and Tilly.
The idea of popping into Inyokern for a quick burger starting to take hold.
Gabe and Bella mentioned getting a burger last night, inception is real out here.
“Down down down” by expendable played, perfect song for the descent.
Headphones died, forgot to charge 🥲
Took a break to eat trail mix and plug headphones in.
Idea of burger, town, and charge fully took root.
If you expect nothing, anything is better.
If you still receive nothing, then at least it’s what you expected.
Made it to Walker Pass Campground around 2 p.m.
Trail Magic - hiker Patrick made grilled cheeses with his homemade sourdough, delicious.
Was about to head out but then Belinda and Maelyn pulled up.
She gave Cheech and me a beer, a delicious Früh Kölsch that Ellie had requested she carry.
Cheech and I left our bags and went to the road to catch a hitch to Inyokern for burgers and a light resupply. The goal was to be back around 4 p.m.
She played “Can I Kick it” and danced to grab passing cars’ attention.
I danced as well, but I think her moves carried more persuasion.
Cheech told me to play music to make the experience more fun
Continued my playlist in my headphones. Rebelution came on.
After about 15 mins, a red car slowed down to pick us up.
It was a father (Dale) and son (Dakota), driving into Inyokern to pick up the dad’s motorcycle that was in the shop.
On aux, they also had a song by Rebelution playing - interesting how that works.
They couldn’t have been nicer. They asked us about our journeys.
After a 20-min drive, they dropped us off at Classic Burger.
I ordered a Philly cheesesteak and a lava burger (Dale’s rec) and an Oreo milkshake, then walked over to the gas station while they were prepping the order and got some more honeybuns (chocolate and iced) to make it to Kennedy Meadows
Also got a root beer and turned my shake into a float once it was halfway done.
Apparently, burgers seemed like a good idea because Dale and Dakota walked into the restaurant and ordered some as well (good idea, right?😂)
They asked if we were going back to where they picked us up and offered to give us a ride back, hell ya
Having picked up his motorcycle, Dale drove in front of us.
The bike had white with golden flames and looked glorious driving across the desert.
Dakota, a year younger than me, explained how he was dealing with the complexities of being a parent while we drove.
Dakota dropped us off at the trailhead, and Dale pulled over to say goodbye.
“I was driving sideways there for a second,” he said, commenting on the strong wind.
Hiked back to the picnic table and were greeted by Ellie, Tasha, and 360 - good to see them again 😁
Mixed orange Gatorade electrolytes with fruit punch electrolytes.
Looking like a variation of tequila sunrise, Tasha called it an “electrolyte sunrise”😂
Cheech and I left around 5:30pm
It was very windy
The wind cooled the temperature down a bit but provided potentially hazardous conditions
It pushed against me as I climbed uphill and literally knocked me over while I was stopped at a switchback using the restroom
I altered my stance wider to provide stability and walked along ridge line during a beautiful sunset
“Wild Flowers and Wine” by Marcus King played in my headphones, thought Cheech would like that song (she knew it and did)
We made it 6 miles by sun down at 8pm
Cheech was scoping out a wind-protected spot on the saddle as I walked up
Had the colors of the sunset on both sides of us
We set up cowboy camp, the wind was ridiculous 😂
When that wind is super strong, it’s almost better to not sleep in a tent, the flapping throughout the night has a tendency to wake you up
Made ramen while in sleeping bag, no spices for fear that they would just blow away
The anticipation for the high sierras built as we previewed our path on FarOut
The sky wasn’t affected by the wind, was a beautiful sparkling night
We went to bed around 9:30pm as the lights of Ridgecrest flickered in the distance
Day 46 - 6/21/25 - Hike Naked Day
Distance: 24 miles
Weather: windy, sunny (not ideal for hiking naked)
End Location: Chimney Creek
Lessons Learned:
Woke up around 5 a.m. to a beautiful but cold sunrise
Ate breakfast in bed, iced honey bun (my fav), collagen coffee, and banana
Stayed and prepped my backpack from sleeping bag until the sun warmed up
Still super windy, not ideal weather for Hike Naked Day😂
Left at 7:55 a.m.
Being shook down by the wind, I started the morning with Dark Star’s Orchestra version of “Shakedown Street”
Woo!
Hiking along a precarious ridge, the prevailing westerly wind gusts tried showing me the fastest way down
The sun warmed me as the mountain blocked the strongest winds
The music that morning was great:
“I’m in a Hurry” by Alabama
“Pigs” by Pink Floyd (such a cool song, guitar with speak box to sound like a pig)
“Windy Mountain” by String Cheese Incident, perfect timing
Started laughing out loud, what a coincidence 😂
“You gotta give yourself the shivers before you can give it to anyone else”
Cheech and I made it to Joshua Tree Springs around 12 p.m.
Ate lunch, tuna tortilla, 2 Twinkies, 2 zebra cakes, and a bag of Skittles
Beautiful little creek canyon with oak trees and a cool breeze, wish I could stay here all day
Cheech and I had talked about doing a portion of the Sierra together, she was going to come up with her plan and for me to review and decide if I wanted to join
Felt very tired. I didn’t get great sleep last night due to the wind and felt like I needed a double zero in Kennedy Meadows.
“Would you consider staying in Kennedy Meadows Tuesday as well?” I asked Cheech, but her schedule didn’t really allow for much flexibility.
She was also meeting her partner somewhere in the Sierras.
Open relationships are interesting.
I took a nap for 10 mins.
When I woke up, Cheech left before me.
While I really enjoyed hiking with Cheech, maybe it was best to start distancing.
The goal was to hike 6 miles and meet at the 2nd crossing of Spanish Needle Creek.
Left at 1:40pm.
Short uphill then long downhill.
Made it to Spanish Creek around 3:30pm.
Made instant potatoes but didn’t add the usual chicken packet, planned on saving that for dry camp.
Left the creek around 4pm.
With nearly 2500 ft elevation gain in 4 miles, it was a tough climb, but powered by strategic potatoes, I booked it up the mountain.
Passed everyone that left before me and got to the top at 5:30pm.
I ate an evening honeybun as I hiked.
Amazing energy booster (love you, honeybun).
At the 2nd tent spot, where I told Cheech I’d wait to meet her, the wind was horrendous.
I put my windbreaker and gloves on but couldn’t wait due to the risk of turning into an icicle.
By 7:15pm I had made it nearly 7 miles and stumbled across a lovely cowboy spot right next to the trail with plenty of light to spare (my headlight batteries were nearly dead).
I ate a lemon pepper chicken packet, figuring Cheech would pass me shortly.
I went to a viewpoint and got a nice little sunset, but it was cold out so didn’t linger too long.
I set up cowboy camp (mat, sleep pad, sleeping bag) and ate some BBQ chips in bed.
Passing around 8:30pm, Cheech said she just ate an energy bar so was going to keep going, god speed 🫡
Went to bed around 8:45pm.
*Unfortunately due to the intense wind and cold, I did not hike naked on Hike Naked Day. I actually ended the day with more layers on, which felt like sacrilege 😅
Day 47 - 6/22/25 - Marathon Day
Distance: 27 miles
Weather: Sunny but breezy and cool
End Location: Kennedy Meadows South
Lessons Learned: Push it
Woke up at 5 a.m. to the sound of a hiker’s footsteps crunching by.
It was so quiet out…
First cowboy camp alone ☑️
The sun was starting to come up.
Packed up and ate, left by 6:15 a.m.
Hiked 5 miles to water at Chimney Creek.
Listened to Toro y Moi’s Live Album from Big Sur, so good.
Passed Cheech at her cowboy spot around 6:45 a.m.
She didn’t make it that far because a mountain lion crossed her path and stopped her in her tracks.
I kept going but stopped to take off my windbreaker and gloves shortly after passing her, unzipped my knees on my pants a tad as well.
Need to remember the lessons I’ve learned.
Don’t get attached to anyone out here.
If you enjoy a place, spend more time there and appreciate it while you can.
Sticky Fingers played “Cyclone”, “These Girls”, and “Kiss the Breeze”.
“Kiss the breeze and let her rhythm flow on…”
A ranch nestled in the valley below reminded me of Yellowstone and my old roommates.
Quail fluttered like drones in the morning light as I walked past their trees.
Made it to Chimney Creek Campground around 8:30 a.m.
Cheech was there.
She mentioned the word “impermanence,” which stuck with me.
Left before her around 9:05 a.m.
My goal was 8 miles to the top of elevation for the day and eat lunch, then mostly downhill for the 2nd half of the day.
High desert biome.
Saw a light blue buff on the trail and picked it up.
There were some girls at a stream; returned the buff to the owner.
Large juniper trees lined the trail.
4 dead mice next to poop.
Burn area turned essentially into a desert.
Yellow flowers, Indian paintbrush, purple lupine already turning to seed pods.
Crossed the top and saw more of the Sierra’s granite, which felt closer than ever (and was).
Made it to the top of the road and down a bit around 12:15 p.m.
Stopped for lunch off the trail under 2 pine trees that didn’t burn.
I’ve already hiked 13.1 miles today; I was doing well.
I ate the classic buffalo tuna tortilla, with buffalo and teriyaki sauce, turmeric, parsley, and cilantro (these sauces and spices really add to the enjoyment).
Ate smushed zebra cakes with a spork.
Ate a relish packet and a mustard packet.
Rolled out feet with a cork ball.
With the breeze, it felt like I was in the Sierra but didn’t look like it.
Contemplated pushing it the 13 miles to Kennedy Meadows; I have the time and, more importantly, the energy.
We’ll see how I feel when I get to South Fork Kern River (9 miles away).
Left at 1:15 p.m.
Hiked 4 miles to water.
Started with music.
This has gotta be the last desert 😅
I could see green in the valley ahead.
Put on “Fear and Loathing”; I wanted to finish it in the desert and start a new book for the Sierras, maybe something by John Muir.
Finished the audiobook as I finished the desert, perfect timing.
Tripped over rocks and shale.
Like the soles of my shoes, my patience was wearing thin.
Made it to water around 3 p.m. and filled up a liter from a puddle.
Hiding in the shade of a dugout bush, I contemplated eating my last honeybun.
This a crucial decision point: I still had 9 miles to Kennedy Meadows, but if I ate the honeybun I would have no choice, I’d have to make it there or eat an unorthodox breakfast or either tuna burrito or ramen (all I had left)
I ate the last honeybun.
Made it 4.5 miles to South Fork Kern River around 5pm
Kind of had a “Wild” moment when I stumbled on Cheech enjoying the river, I gave her some privacy and moved to a different section
Filled up water, ate my last tuna tortilla (why not, I could use the energy) and left around 5:30pm
I wish I could’ve stay longer and swam but I really just wanted to be done, there will be more beauty soon
Hiked the 4.5 more miles to the road by 7pm, with only a 1 mile road walk left to victory🙏🏼
A sign told me to slow down, but I was only going 2.5 miles per hour?
Saw the sign for the general store, then saw people on the porch
As they rang bells and clapped me in, a big smile took control of my face, an emotional moment for sure 😌
I’d made it to Kennedy Meadows, 704 miles in 47 days
I sat on the porch and rested my legs while I watched the sunset
Lots of familiar faces at the General Store: Ellie, Cheech, Maelyn, Tiny, Cuddles, Friz, Alex
The chef, Sweet Potato made a last call for food, so I put in a order for onion rings and a burger with guacamole (I’d even made it in time for dinner 🙏🏼)
Maelyn gave me a beer as game 7 of the NBA Finals played, OKC won
My longest day yet was rewarded with cold drinks, warm food, and fond memories
The hike was brutal and long but hanging with everyone made it all worth it
Went to bed around 9:30pm
Alex and I Cowboy camped under a shaded veranda, it was very cold out - a front was moving in
Day 48 - 6/23/25 - Zero in Kennedy Meadow
Distance: an unexpected 2-mile jog
Weather: cold, cloudy, then sunny
End Location: Kennedy Meadows South
Lessons Learned: don’t miss the last shuttle
Woke up at 5:30 a.m. with the light
Stayed in bed for a bit, then got up and hung out with Friz, Cheech, and Alex, discussed safety as we drank coffee and listened to Otis Redding
At 7am I ordered the Blueberry Pancake (unlimited) breakfast with bacon and hash browns
Clapped and rang Tasha and 360 in as they walked in around 8:30 a.m.
All hung out and discussed the previous and future sections
“I was super stoned, but I’ve been super stoned for a decade” - Cheech 😂
The store opened at 9 a.m., I was the first one in and got all 3 of my packages - it was like Christmas
Bear can (with resupply), new shoes, and insoles, and letters from home
Unlike Hiker Town, everything made it on time and in order 🙏🏼
Maelyn gave me a breakfast beer around 10 a.m.
I went down to the mobile 2 Foot Adventure store and did some shopping
It was bitter cold the night before and felt like if I was cold down here, I’d certainly be cold 3000ft higher
I was planning on getting an Alpha 90, but ended up getting a fleece because it felt warmer, was less expensive, and matched my color scheme (blue and grey)
I bought a shower and laundry coin and grabbed some shorts and a tie-dye bamboo hoodie from the hiker box to wear while my clothes were inaccessible
I showered and played music on my phone
“Use Me Up” by Bill Withers came on, which I thought was a perfect anthem for squeezing the remnants out of half-full bottles of shampoo 😅
After the shower, I put my clothes in the washer and set a timer on my phone for 30 mins
Then I organized my bear can and resupply, figured I would need 7 days’ worth of food
Bought a few more chicken and tuna packets from the store
Once it got hotter, I grabbed an ice cream sandwich and a root beer (making a root beer float in my belly), which Cheech bought for me
She had forgotten her wallet in Tehachapi, and I had been covering her while she was separated from it, so this was her form of gratitude, much appreciated 😌
Around noon, I ordered the Spicy Beaver Burger and wedge salad for lunch, delicious.
Hung out (literally) in hammocks under the shade of the veranda with Alex.
Tiny brought over a case of Budweiser, and other hikers Heidi (NJ) and Johnny (PA) came over to shoot the shit.
I also ended up meeting the two other hikers from Vancouver, WA that I had heard about, Rambo and Cowboy, and decided to join them on the 5 p.m. shuttle down to Grumpy Bear’s Bar for dinner - apparently they had good pizza there.
Cowboy and Rambo didn’t live too far from where I was when I lived in Washington.
At 5 p.m., 12 people all crammed into the shuttle, a white minivan with red, orange, and yellow stripes.
People and bags were stacked and on laps, making it a hilarious situation.
When we got to Grumpy’s, everyone piled out on the van and walked up to the restaurant.
After having 2 burgers in less than 24 hours, I ordered a pizza and a space dust beer.
Hung with Alex, Lucky, Moses, Venom, Magellan, Tilly, and Rattlesnake.
It was good seeing Rattlesnake again. I honestly didn’t think I’d catch up to him, but his 3 zero days leveled the playing field.
Somewhere along the trail, he was given a choice between a bow and a sword and chose the bow (lighter), so he has that now😂
Scarfed down the entire pizza and beer.
Rattlesnake bought me another beer (I gave him a lot of food in Big Bear, and he said he’d get me a beer next time I saw him, but I don’t think he planned on seeing me again😂)
Then Alex got a round of tequila shots.
We thought Rattlesnake went to go shower, so in his absence, we cheered to life, “Laheim!”
Then Magellan got me another beer for giving her some extra food on the trail.
I love it when the trail magic comes back, but was getting pretty buzzed 😅
The last shuttle back to the General Store was at 7pm and I watched carefully but, between laughs and conversation, apparently not carefully enough…
I saw the van pull up and the driver started to help serve tables at Grumpy’s
I asked her if she was ready to go back to General Store
She pointed at the clock, which read 7:10pm, and informed me that I missed the last shuttle
I thought about pestering a patron for a ride but none of them looked capable of driving, so I finished my beer and started hiking the 4 miles back to the General Store
With a lovely sunset and the opportunity to break in the new shoes, it didn’t seem like too much of a burden
After 704 miles, what was a few more 😂
But lesson learned… don’t miss the last shuttle (write that down)
After the legs were warmed up, I figured I could shave off an hour or more by jogging so put on some EDM and started grooving
The scenery was breath taking (pun intended)
The sun was setting behind the mountains and illuminating pockets of rain in the distance
I made it about 1.5 miles and pulled over to take a bathroom break
Just as I was about to pull down my shorts, I saw a truck driving down the road and pulled out my thumb instead
They picked me up, two brothers Marcus and Tua on a fishing trip, and dropped me off, saving me from my jog 😂
When I got back to the store around 7:40pm, it was getting dark but Maelyn shined brightly with a box of 7 iced honeybuns she acquired for me
Using the unexpected physical exertion as an excuse, I ate one right there on the spot and drank a glass of wine while I chatted with her and Gonzo (her friend that is visiting)
After Maelyn went to bed, I stayed up with Gonzo with another beer I foraged from the porch
She had recently gotten her MBA and we talked about the benefits of that
Went to bed around 9:30pm
I tried sleeping in the hammock with my sleep pad and sleeping bag but quickly moved back to the stability of the ground
I was warm with my new fleece and jacket 😌
