Into the Sierras

Holy smokes what a magical place!!!!!

Okay let’s back up a bit. Headed out from Tehachapi and had a week left in the desert. Leaving Tehachapi we walked through the second largest windmill farm in the world then continued on to more spectacular desert views. This stretch included two huge water cashes supplied by locals that we pct hikers rely on for a 40 mile stretch without water. So incredible support and long water carrys. Unfortunately this stretch was tainted by shin pain causing me to fall behind. It was actually really fun to camp that first night all by myself though. Just enjoying picking camp and eating dinner and setting up and going to bed all solo with the Joshua trees and sunset. Then I was able to hike with another friend into Lake Isabella where I zeroed with Annie and Arc who stayed behind with me there. It was wonderful to have their company. After the body rested we booked it to Kennedy Meadows South to catch up with the tramily! I averaged 21 miles that last week INCLUDING the zero day. Looking back I’m proud of my body for being able to do so many miles but took away from the enjoyment to cram so many miles into the day every day.

Kennedy Meadows South, the gateway between the desert and the Sierras, was a bit of a low for me. I was tired from the long days and had the tough decision of deciding to go slower than the tramily and let them go on ahead or keep pushing. On top of that I had a stomach bug and didn’t feel very good. I ended up deciding to push on with them because they all mentioned they wanted to slow down too to enjoy the Sierras and what a good decision I made!!

Into the Sierras we went. I’ve never been south of the redwoods in California before so this has all been new. But wow the Sierras is something else entirely. It started off with more trees and shade and rivers with mountains in the distance slowly growing nearer. And then it felt like all of a sudden we were surrounded. Summited Mt. Whitney at sunrise and boy oh boy we were surrounded indeed. Incredible peaks all around. The next day we crossed from Sequoia National Park to Kings Canyon via Forester Pass, the highest point on the PCT. Once again felt on top of the world! It’s all downhill from here to Canada then right? Right??

The alpine lakes and mountain backdrops have been absolutely stunning. Out of this world. We’ve slowed down to about 17 miles a day which has been delightful to get to camp early, jump in lakes, leisurely get camp ready and eat dinner, have time to chat and journal. Enjoy the beauty. The sierras has started out incredibly.

I’ve loved chatting and getting to know everyone in the tramily more and more too. Small talk can only go so far so it’s been neat to hear about others lives and be inspired by them. And also to be more introspective sharing about my life and my own perspective, faith, and goals.

There’s sad news from the tramily though, one of our tramily suffered a stroke and had to be helicoptered out. Last we’ve heard he’s in the Fresno Hospital. Please pray for Skittles and his recovery.

Highlights:

Camping solo

Hiking with Pickle who kept me up while my shins were hurting. Chatting and identifying different desert plants. We’re going crazy with the iNaturalist app.

Got a hitch into Lake Isabella with Pickle from a 45 year old man who was on his way to a dentist appointment. Turned out he had the date wrong and joined us for breakfast 20 minutes after he dropped us off. Though he didn’t have an appointment he did manage to get the cute receptionist’s phone number and we helped him send texts and got him a date! After he sneakily paid for our breakfast.

Saw a rattlesnake second to last day of the desert and he didn’t rattle. It’s like he knew we were leaving anyway.

Jumped in the Kern River at the end of the desert with Annie to celebrate the accomplishment! Or was it the Jordan River 😉

Arriving into KMS our tramily didn’t know we’d make it so fast and we got the largest hollers and huge hugs from every member of the tramily. Felt so loved

Not necessarily a highlight but little fun fact. The base weight (no food or water) of my pack in the desert was 14 lbs! Then leaving from KMS my pack weighed 34 lbs fully loaded (add 6 day food carry, 1 liter of water, bear can, micro spikes, and ice axe). Yesterday my waist belt tightened to its capacity so it’s time to carry and eat moreeee.

Also not necessarily a highlight: we had lunch by a river one afternoon when Arc’s (sitting furthest from the river) old stove caught on fire. It tipped over and the flames doubled in size as Arc grabbed it, sprinted, then threw the stove mid stride 15 feet into the river. No forest fire started.

Camping at Chicken Spring Lake and whole tramily jumping in. First alpine lake!!

Summiting Mt. Whitney has been my favorite day yet. Midnight start, chatted with Pancake and marveled at the stars going up, beautiful sunrise and stunning mountain views at the top. We all brought up our sleeping bags and were so cozy. Jumped in Guitar Lake with Picasso at the base after coming down. Took such a long nap then headed off for a few more miles along the pct to set us up well for Forester Pass. Neat to break up the trail with a fun mountain ascent.

Just the jaw dropping beauty of the sierras