The Adventures of...: Days 38-39

Day 38, 25 miles, endpoint PCT mile 676

Not a whole lot of updates today other than it was hot (again). We left early which was good because we started with an 1,800 foot climb up an exposed, bald hillside that probably would be ridiculously hot a couple of hours later.

After about 13 miles we took a short side trail to our first water source of the day, a small spring in a canyon. The springs we often get water from in the desert may sound nice, but they are just small pipes in the ground that release a slow trickle of water from an unknown source. This spring fed into a cattle trough filled plants that looked like seaweed. Our water report indicated it had tested positive in the past for high levels of uranium, but was probably safe to drink when treated. In the desert, beggars can't be choosers.

We took another extended break because of the heat and didn't head out again until 4:30. On the next leg we hiked past the "1/4" marker, meaning we have already covered 25% of the PCT. That made both of us a little sad, because neither of us really want this adventure to end.

Six miles later we hit our next water source, which was a creek according to the water report. Covered in sweat and dirt we envisioned being able to walk in the creek, get wet, and cool down. When we got to it, we were depressed to see that the creek was nothing more than a slow moving flow a couple of inches wide. Have I mentioned that I can't wait to get out of the desert?

Before leaving the creek we saw a hiker go by the other direction without his pack. He said he was looking for his iPhone charger and had left it somewhere along the trail when he passed earlier. He had gone close to a couple of hours before he realized it was missing, dropped his pack, and turned around to run after it. I have no idea if he ever found it, but it goes to show what people will do to be able to use their phones, even in the wilderness.

At this point it was after 7pm and we had gone 19 miles. We loaded up on creek water and figured we would go just a little bit further and camp. However, we were stuck on a steep cliff side, switchbacking up and up with no possibility for flat ground. 19 miles turned into 25 before we found a nice spot in the dark up on a ridge.

Looking forward to Kennedy Meadows the day after tomorrow. Really close!

Should be an apostrophe in there.

Wow, 1/4 of the way to Canada. It has gone by too quick.

Trail views.

Josh, who holds a rare PhD in efficiency, filters water while on the move.

Trail views

Day 39, 18 miles, endpoint PCT mile 694

We had a lazy morning, sleeping in until 8am and actually cooking in camp before leaving. We always used to cook breakfast on backpacking trips (usually oatmeal with coffee or hot chocolate), but that was when you didn't have to do 20+ miles every day. Now, I want to get started as quickly as possible once we wake up, so breakfast is normally just a snack we can eat while we hike. But this morning was different, and it was nice taking it easy and not feeling rushed.

The hiking today was nice enough, but was most exciting when the peaks of the Sierras again came into view, this time just a bit bigger than what they looked like a few days ago.

Tomorrow we will hike the last 9 miles to Kennedy Meadows, the start of the Sierras. KM is not really a town, but is a very important stopping point for us nonetheless. We have several resupply packages that we will pick up there (some from home, some we mailed to ourselves from Mojave). We will get all of our gear ready to go for the Sierras, which includes screws we will put on our shoes for extra traction during snow traverses, a few warmer clothes items, bear canisters for food storage (which are required), trekking poles with snow baskets on the bottom so they won't sink into the snow, and deet--the mosquitos are supposed to be pretty prevalent.

KM also has a small general store, showers, laundry, a grill, and places to camp. We will stay one or two nights before we head out to the big, juicy mountains of the Sierras. We are very, very excited!

Trail views

This is further than it looks... but we thought it was Mount Whitney since it was so much bigger than the surrounding mountains. We would be very wrong.