Due to the holiday weekend and the broken pay phone at Kennedy Meadows I was not able to get ahold of my kids until Wednesday! I knew that they would be worried because I thought that I would be able to contact them on Sunday or Monday at the latest. I knew they would be worried and it upset me deeply knowing I was putting them through stress or anxiety not knowing how I was doing. It felt very selfish of me and that bothered me immensely.
I was able to get to Grumpy Bears Retreat on Wednesday morning and was happy to hang out there all day so I could text with my kids. The time also allowed me to chat with other hikers while giving my ankles time to rest. They were swelling and I was concerned about hitting the trail again too soon. I was also considering my options because I couldn’t imagine taking another step with the backpack that I was carrying- a new one was priority number one. The snow reports revealed that the Sierras were still under 4-10inches of snow and that would require some new hiking boots as well. Lots of $ to consider and lots of time to mull over the options.
While talking to other hikers and considering my options, someone ran into the restaurant and told us all that there was a fire brewing right over the hill. We were kept up to date about how fast the fire was spreading over the extremely dry country side and our options were looking grim. I was faced with the fire coming from one side or the 4-10 inches of snow on the other side. It became evident that we would have to get back to camp- 3 miles down the road- and start hiking towards the town of Lone Pine.
I have to say that with the state of my ankles and the thought of carrying my backpack another step had me asking the universe for another option. I was hanging out with a delightful couple from England that were hiking the entire trail. They were resting at the restaurant allowing her foot to rest due to a stress injury and hoping for a ride into town so she could get some much needed rest days before getting back on the trial. I had all of my gear with me and just when I thought that we would have to make a run for it back down the hill to camp, a car pulled up and dropped off 3 hikers. We decided to ask the driver if he would mind giving us a ride back to town with him and he was very happy to oblige. Trail angels are really amazing people. My luck changed on a dime and the next thing I knew I was on my way to Ridgecrest. They closed the road to Kennedy Meadows right after they let us down the road and we made it out with no time to waste.
The longest day yet! I was up promptly at 4am because I wanted to get an early start and avoid some of the extreme heat that the day had in store for us. I made quick work out of breaking down camp and getting everything stuffed into my pack. I am so surprised that sleeping in a tent doesn’t bother me- I heard little critters outside the tent a few times and was able to keep them at bay by simply shining my flashlight and making the tent glow. I guess the glowing tent made me look really big and it scared them away.
The hike from Fox Hill Spring to Kennedy Meadows was a roller coaster ride for me emotionally. I was very excited thinking about making it to the camp ground so I could finally have cell service and contact my kids; that kept me pushing hard. The heat was scorching and the trail was mostly either deep sand or rocks. It is tough to walk on both of those surfaces and required total concentration coordinating the hiking sticks with my steps to maintain balance and avoid an ankle injury. The heat made it difficult for me to have an appetite and the thought of eating almost made me nauseous- so I powered through the day on a half of a granola bar and 3 strips of dehydrated mangos with about a gallon of water.
The trail started off with 5 miles of steady incline which unfolded from desert to tall pine trees and black soil. The views in the passes are amazing and make every painful step worth while. It is something that every hiker experiences when encountering some type of injury or pain- it is all you think about with every step. I was struggling with that issue while my back and shoulder blades screamed with every step. I finally fashioned a way to help hold my backpack up to the level that it should be on my back and ease the pressure on my shoulders by tying my bandana around the straps and pulling them in as tight as possible. It eased the pressure on my shoulders some but caused me a whole new set of stomach issues- I’ll save you the gory details! Lol
The hike down the other side of the pass was fun. The trail gradually switched back many times while staying snug against the mountain side. I kept imagining the same situation ahead in the Sierras with snow and used each turn as mental practice for conquering the ridges coming up.
As the trail wound down deeper into the canyon the heat rose considerably. It was very tough to hike in the heat and keep a clear head- but I kept imagining Kennedy Meadows store as an oasis and pushed on further.
The trail started another slow incline over the rolling desert with knee high bushes bordering the trail. This slowed down my progress because I would make sure to clap my hiking poles loudly before each bush in hopes of not startling a snake. It worked because the next snake I saw slithered quickly across the path and darted into his hole. I figured it was better him than me! Lol
It is amazing how quickly the terrain can change when you are hiking because with the steady incline I found myself in the middle of a forest and luckily shaded from the relentless sun. The forest leveled out and as fast as the nice pine trees appeared, they were gone and I was back on a desert sandy trail.
I could hear the splashing if the Kern River before I could see it and that was exhilarating. I will never forget turning the corner and all of a sudden seeing a rapidly flowing river. Actual water that came from more than a little drip was a relief in more than one way. It meant the end of desert hiking with a back pack weighed down with 3 liters of water and worrying about having enough water to make it to the next water supply. I was so happy to be able to stop and put my bare feet in the water and watch the steam come off! As much as I was enjoying the respite, I had one thing on my mind and that was to reach an Internet connection and contact my kids.
The final 5 miles into Kennedy Meadows were very tough for me. The turn off for the campsite/store was up a steep paved road and it almost seemed cruel to have to hike to the top of the hill- it felt like someone was stretching the road out and it would never end.
Finally we made it to the top- I’ll admit I was almost crawling! Then there was a roar of clapping and cheers from all of the hikers that were hanging out on the patio. It was pretty cool to be cheered into the finish line. The store was about to close but we were able to get some cold water bottles and some snacks. My heart sank when the clerk told me that they didn’t have WiFi at the store and that the pay phone was broken because some hikers had jammed it with pennies. Yes, I cried! I was so exhausted and then was disappointed that I couldn’t contact my kids until the next morning. We hiked to the top of the campers’ hill set up camp shortly before the sun went down. I only remember one thing after getting my tent up because I jumped into my sleeping bag and was fast asleep before I could even unpack- but I checked my Health app and it said I hiked 23.81 miles! Goodness no wonder every inch of my body ached.
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We decided to get an early start today so we got up at 4:30am! We took our time with breakfast and packing up so we didn’t get on the trail until about 6am. It was nice to start when it was cooler out because we knew the first 4 miles were going to be all up hill. I was not looking forward to that but knew the views at the top would be worth every step. Boy was I right! All I could think of around every turn was “Well, you don’t get to see this everyday!” Since I doubt I will ever see these views again, I took my time to take them in and enjoy them. Treetop likes to hike a lot faster than me- with 653 more miles than me under his belt he is much stronger- so I hiked most of the day alone. I was very much OK with that as I knew he was waiting at a designated spot ahead and it gave me lots of mental meditation time.
I made a new little friend in the trail today. He was kinda of rude tho- he was taking a nap in the middle of the trail and was playing dead. So I tossed a rock at him and asked him to kindly be on his way- he just stuck his tongue out at me and refused to move. Rude! So I took a picture of him and told him how handsome he was ect. I tried my best to channel my inner snake whisperer, however he was not about to budge. So I stretched out my hiking pole as far as I could and gave him a tiny nudge. He stuck his tongue out at me again and then turned around and slithered off the path. When he was a save distance away I thanked him and bid him a happy day and then continued- rather quickly- down the trail. Apparently, he was Rodney the rattlesnake and I was the only one in our group that he decided to introduce himself to- how hospitable!
We are camping at Fox Mill Spring tonight. My health app says we hiked 18.77 miles today. I’m completely spent! My finger tips are so cold from the exertion and heat/salt build up. Tomorrow will be another tough hiking day; we will hike about 20 miles into Kennedy Meadows where most importantly there is internet service available so I can call my kids! There are also showers, a restaurant and a store there with ice cold water! Sounds like paradise! I am going to see if I can get a ride into town tomorrow with the store owner so I can get a new backpack and new boots. My back and shoulders are extremely sore from the one I am carrying now.
We will take a rest day at Kennedy Meadows and then assess the snow conditions before making a decision about entering the Sierras.
The post “Well, you don’t get to see this everyday!” first appeared on Lily Pads of Curiosity.]]>Mike is an amazing hiking buddy! He has helped me is so many ways- lots of hiking tips, filters water like a champ and even has helped me adjust my backpack because apparently it is the wrong size and my torso is too long for the pack. It is kind of humorous to think I am actually too tall for something! Because the pack doesn’t fit right I have been having a very hard time carrying the load without having to readjust about every 50 steps. As if I’m not moving slowly enough trying to acclimate to the heat, energy exertion and elevation. Oh yes- let’s not forget the fact that I have a new layer of skin made out of salt. I’m sure a shower will feel like a salt scrub massage!
We hiked to Spanish Needle Creek and decided to set up camp close to the water that way we wouldn’t have to start off in the morning without a full load of fresh water. The last 3 miles to camp were kinda scary for me as I ran out of water and was on the verge of crawling by the time I made it to the creek. Luckily Mike (Treetop) was sitting there waiting for me with 2 liters of cold fresh filtered water. I drank half of it in one swig! Lessons learned are in abundance each day out here!
In spite of all of that I am still happy with each step and in awe around every corner.
The post Waiting for the bus! first appeared on Lily Pads of Curiosity.]]>Lake Isabella-
I took a bus from Bakersfield to Lake Isabella with the intention of taking another bus to Onyx and then on to the trail. The road to Lake Isabella winds around sharp curves and drop-offs so of course, the driver had to show off his mad Mario skills and see how fast he could make each turn. I finally had to close my eyes and put my head down so I wouldn’t get sick to my stomach. When we got to Lake Isabella I was happy to hop off the bus at the first opportunity! The bus to Onyx was scheduled to leave about 10 minutes later so I was able to grab a sandwich at the Subway sandwich shop and hop on the next bus. I immediately met another hiker named Mike (a Psychologist from Oakland) he was on his way to Onyx to pick up some new supplies at the post office. (REI was shipping him a new backpack because his had blown out during the desert portion of the hike) We started talking and figured out that the bus that goes to the trailhead only runs on Mon-Wed- and Fri. My only options to get to the trailhead on Thursday would be to walk or hitch the 17 miles or wait and catch the bus on Friday. That was a no brainier- I stayed on the bus with Mike and looped right back to Lake Isabella!
I was able to get a room at the Lake Isabella Motel and spent the rest of the afternoon chatting with Mike. If you ever get a chance to chat with a Psychologist that has worked in a women’s prison I highly recommend spending the time to hear the stories. Some tragic and some were extremely funny. Each one made for some amazing writing ideas.:)
The owner of the motel (an adorable and sweet Asian lady with a thick accent) offered to drive us over to a restaurant for dinner. We accepted and she offered to pick us up when we were finished. When she picked us up, Mike asked her if she could stop at the grocery store so he could grab some lunch supplies really quick. The store that we were next to was already closed and so she had to go down the street a few blocks and became extremely upset. She told him that he would now have to get out and walk home! She scolded him like a teenager and made him get out of the car. “You get out of car and walk back now!” I got out with him because I figured I was in trouble as well based in proximity- lol I am still laughing at the absurdity of it all and the tone of her voice. The look on Mike’s face was classic! We suddenly didn’t feel as rushed to scurry through the store and we shopped around until we decided to get some tortillas and peanut butter and then started the trek back to the motel. So I guess I did get a little hiking accomplished after all.
Yesterday we saw the Hotshot firemen as they were racing up the road. About 10 more fire truck with full lights and sirens went by heading the direction we need to go. We couldn’t see any smoke ahead so I’m not sure what was up.
I’m already re-adjusting some of my stuff in my pack- every ounce makes a pound and I need to make my pack as light as possible. The bus comes today at 12:30 and then the real adventure begins
Traveling to the trail head was an adventure in itself. Met some really great people who stopped to give us water! They were complete angels! Then we started on the trail. It took a little bit of time to adjust to the combination of the heat-pack weight with a full supply of food and water- and the excitement of finally stepping onto the trail.
The post PCT hike- Made it to Camp May 27th, 2016 first appeared on Lily Pads of Curiosity.]]>
Check out my video IMG_2554.MOV
I was moving at a snail’s pace for sure. Once we reached the top of the first pass it was amazing. I survived and didn’t quit! (The thought actually crossed my mind-) It was very very hot and we started on a steep incline of switch backs without shade or the slightest hint of leveling off for a long time- once we hit the top it became real to me and I took a moment to shed some happy tears.
Great Day!!
May 27th