Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Partly cloudy and 54 going up to 78.
Up at 5:30. Had a small breakfast as I’m anticipating a huge lunch at Kennedy Meadows. We got on trail at 7:35.
Easy 9 miles off hike with lots of water today. Nice temperature and a light breeze.
Crossed the 700-mile mark short after leaving camp.
Finally saw a jackrabbit. He is also on the PCT.
I reached the General Store at KMS at 10:00. Everyone gets a huge welcome from the people on the deck as they walk in. Cheering, applause, and cow bells. It’s very cool!
I got a Dr Pepper, a beer, and signed up to get my packages. They have so many packages for hikers that you have to sign up and it can take up to half an hour for them to retrieve your packages. Pit Crew sent me a fully loaded bear can, my ice axe, micro spikes, gloves, meds, and several other items.
Brad arrived about 30 minutes after me.
YouTube Video of Arrival at KMS
I picked up my new shoes at Two Foot Adventures. This is the same outfitter where I bought my current shoes back around day 5. The new shoes are amazing. Like walking on clouds. Also picked up two pairs of toe sock liners. I want to switch back to lighter socks for the Sierras.
We had lunch, more beers, and eventually shuttled to Grumpy Bears Retreat about 3 miles away. Grumpy Bear’s is a bar/restaurant with tons of tenting, showers, laundry, etc. I pitched my tent in a good spot around 3:00 before the horde of other hikers arrived. Good decisions as it got really crowded later in the evening.
I bought a new water filter and a new fuel canister at Triple Crown Outfitters next door to Grumpy Bear’s around 4:00. That was it for chores today.
Today is a huge celebration. Making it to KMS and getting ready to tackle the High Sierras is a huge milestone and a very emotional roller coaster. Excited to have made it here, anticipating the Sierras, and nervous or scared about the Sierras.
As more of our bubble of people arrived, the beer kept on flowing.
I went to bed about 8:00, but I heard the party going on for quite a while.
Tomorrow I need to review my food, finalize the hiking plan for the next section, pack my Bear can, wash laundry, shower, and pick up any additional food items I need. This next stretch will be 6-7 days, which is my biggest food carry ever by a good margin. That pack is going to be heavy.
Day 47 Map – Maenter Creek Mile 694.7 to Kennedy Meadows South
Technical Notes:
- Mango (3-4p, 49g): 140 kcal, 35g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein
- Mango (3-4p, 49g): 140 kcal, 35g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein
- Plantains
- Reese’s cups x 2
- Double cheeseburger
- Lots more calories
- Water liters: 1
- Miles: 9.54
- Time: 3:30
- Up: 1339
- Down: 1030
- Calories consumed: lots
- Calories burned: 1000
- iPhone battery used: 15%
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