Thursday, June 11, 2026. Clear and
53 going up to 76.
Up at 6:00. Not sure when we are leaving today. That’s up to Brad. He is having some foot issues and may want to take it easy today. I’m up for anything.
We are hiking this morning. Yay. I packed up while waiting for the breakfast line to go down. My pack weighs 40 lbs as expected. That’s 7 days of food and ONE liter of water plus bear can, ice axe, and micro spikes.
Back Flip (Brian) arrived at KMS while we were having breakfast. He took a few days off for a family vacation.
We left the general store and road walked to the trail at 8:40. The first several miles were mostly flat. We left civilization at the end of the last road in this mountainous area at 3.25 miles. There is a small National Forest Campground here and that’s it for civilization on the trail for over two weeks.
We followed the south fork of the Kern River the first part of the day. Lots of water options in the sierras. We crossed the south fork of the Kern River on a foot bridge at 10:40 and 5.2 miles. Took a 30-minute break. Now the steeper climb begins and goes on for 14 more miles.
We stopped for lunch at 2:15 and 11.5 miles. Big climbs all morning with these 40-lb packs. Took a 60-minute lunch break at the beginning of Beck Meadow.
We reached the foot bridge over the South Fork Kern River at Monache Meadow at 4:30 and 15.30 miles. This bridge is a bit famous as it appears in a lot of PCT videos and people like to camp in the meadow just beyond. We ran into Margarita and four other hikers here.
Hard last 2-mile ascent into camp. We are camping at 9145 feet. We reached camp at 6:50. Only two other people here so far. In bed at 8:00.
My feet felt good all day. Blisters seem to be gone and the new shoes took care of the other general foot pains. I can’t wait for this pack to slowly get lighter.
Two problems. Both zippers on my tent are having problems. I’m afraid one or both will completely break soon. Next time we get to camp early, I’ll attempt to make it better with my mini pliers, but I’m going to need a new tent at some point. Also, my CNOC water bag developed a second leak. This one is more problematic as it is right at the connector where the filter attaches. I should have replaced it in KMS. I need to nurse it along until we reach Bishop in 6 days.
Overall, a good first day in the Sierras.
Technical Notes:
- Breakfast sandwich 600
- Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
- Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
- Fatty: 210 kcal, 8g carb, 14g fat, 12g protein
- Mango (3-4p, 49g): 140 kcal, 35g carb, 0g fat, 1g protein
- Skittles (2.17oz): 250 kcal, 56g carb, 2.5 g fat, 0g protein
- Mango (3-4p, 49g): 140 kcal, 35g carb, 0g fat, 1g protein
- Peak refuel home style chicken and rice 740
- Skittles (2.17oz): 250 kcal, 56g carb, 2.5 g fat, 0g protein
- Fritos 340
- Water liters: 5
- Miles: 19.8
- Time: 10:20
- Up: 4423
- Down: 1388
- Calories consumed: 2970
- Calories burned: 4360
- iPhone battery used: 30%
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