Tag: California Section I

July 9 to July 12. 

Spent time with Pitcrew. Relaxed, worked on my bad Achilles, ate a lot of good food, got a haircut, and resupplied for next 6 days to Sierra City. 

I got my new shoes! I need to not let them get this bad before getting my next set.

Got a new water filter, fuel can, and smaller dry bag for my quilt.

Did a lot of icing of my Achilles and lots of ibuprofen to bring down the swelling.

I planned out all of Northern California. My goal is to keep things to under 20 miles per day except when absolutely necessary. I am hoping for a much more mellow trail in NorCal, but I don’t need to push things. I also plan to do plenty of town stops in NorCal.

I can’t wait to get rid of by bear can in 6 days at Sierra City. I will get there late on a Saturday or early on Sunday. Either way I need to wait for the post office to open on Monday at 10:0 am. I booked a cabin for Sunday night in Sierra City. 

Overall I feel pretty good. My legs appreciated the rest and my Achilles, while not perfect, is a lot better. We will see how long that lasts. 

It was great to spend time with Pitcrew. We took several good drives including a visit to the PCT trailhead where she needs to drop me on Monday. We also had to drive up to Reno to pick up a prescription and then checked out Virginia City and Silver City on the way back to Tahoe. Very cool scenery and history on the drive. 

It will be another 1600 miles and 2.5 months until we see each other again. It is going to be tough to say goodbye on Monday morning, but we have been through this before. 

Wednesday, July 8. Upper-40s and sunny going up to low 70s.

Up at 7:00. On trail at 8:10.

Lunch at 2:00 with a nice view.

Got to CA Route 4 road crossing at 4:00. Very remote area with no cell service. Pitcrew will pick me up here around 8:00 pm unless I can hitch a ride further northeast towards Tahoe.

Got a hitch after an hour from a nice guy who works at a white water rafting company and was on his way home from work. He dropped me off in Markleeville at 5:30. I got dinner and beers at the Cutthroat Tavern while I waited for Pitcrew. Perfect!!

Pitcrew picked me up at about 7:30. It’s wonderful to see her for the first time in 2.5 months. We are off to Lake Tahoe for a 4 day vacation. Plus I need to heal up and get my Achilles in better shape.

Technical Notes:

• Protein Shake (10oz): 330 cal, 19g carb, 13.5g fat, 36g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Milky Way Midnight 220
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Tortilla: 140 kcal, 24g carb, 3g fat, 4g protein 
• Tuna: 90 kcal, 4-7g carb, 1g fat, 14-16g protein 
• Milky Way Midnight 220
• Town food for dinner 
• Water liters: 3
• Miles: 15
• Time: 7:58
• Up: 2858
• Down: 3419
• Calories consumed: lots
• Calories burned: 2455
• iPhone battery used: 15%

Tuesday, July 7. Mid-40s and sunny going up to low 70s.

Up at 6:45. Had breakfast at the restaurant, then packed and waited for the 9:00 shuttle to the trail. I have about 32 miles to get to CA Route 4 by tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. for Pitcrew to pick me up. I plan on 16-17 miles to hike today with a big hill to start. Really looking forward to seeing Pitcrew and getting off the trail for 4 days. 

Trail magic at the trailhead at Sonora Pass. On trail at 9:45.

I have to go over this at 10,504 feet. After that, it’s mostly downhill until late in the day.

I get to say goodbye today to the High Sierras. I’m still in the Sierras for a while, but I’m mostly done with the high altitudes, snow, and cold temps. Apparently, I’m moving into cattle country as well.

Now that I’m down at lower elevations and moving out of the High Sierras, I am seeing more meadows and flowers blooming. Warmer temperatures too.

Stopped for lunch at 2:00 and 9.11 miles in. I have a 1.5-mile climb coming up and 7.5-8 total miles to go yet today. Back on trail at 2:30.

Low bridge on trail.

Got to camp at 7:00. Pushed as far as I could and still have some light to set up and eat dinner.

I need to go about 16 miles tomorrow, and Pitcrew needs to go something like 2500 miles. Both will take about the same amount of time 🙂 Can’t wait!

Technical Notes:

• Chicken fried steak and eggs, toast 1000
• Apple juice 150
• Coffee
• Milky Way Midnight 220
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Tortilla: 140 kcal, 24g carb, 3g fat, 4g protein 
• Tuna: 90 kcal, 4-7g carb, 1g fat, 14-16g protein 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein 
• Pepperoni 400
• Top Ramen Hot Pot Infusion; Japanese Garlic (12 oz water): 550 kcal, 85g carbs, 24g fat, 14g protein
• Jerky (2 oz): 140 kcal, 12g carb, 0g fat, 22g protein 
• Fritos 400
• Milky Way 250
• Water liters: 4
• Miles: 17.26
• Time: 9:17
• Up: 3652
• Down: 4088
• Calories consumed: 3650
• Calories burned: 3002
• iPhone battery used: 25%

Monday, July 6. Mid-40s and sunny going up to upper 60s.

Up at 5:00. On trail at 5:50.

I had 6.5 miles to finish before 9:30 in order to catch the shuttle to Kennedy Meadows North. Decent climb for the first 4 miles. Surprisingly, I had to cross 3 big snow traverses and 3 small ones. Unfortunately, the first big traverse resulted in an accidental 150-yard glissade. I got a few scrapes and bruises. But to add insult to injury, I lost a pole way up and had to climb back up to retrieve it.

Finally made it through the high pass and started downhill.

I arrived at Sonora Pass at 8:30. Put out my tent rain fly to dry and waited on the 9:30 shuttle to KMN.

Arrived at KMN at 10:30. Checked in but can’t get my bed in the bunk room until mid-afternoon. Had a nice breakfast in the restaurant then took care of town chores: Shower, laundry, dry out tent, patch hole in tent floor, inventory leftover food, resupply, charge electronics, send Pitcrew the list of things to bring to Tahoe.

They have WiFi but no cell service. The WiFi is so bad that I can’t upload or text photos. I will have 10 days of blogs to post when I get to Tahoe in 3 more days.

Had lunch in the restaurant and washed my laundry a second time. With detergent this time 🙁

KMN is a cool place and not just for hikers like KMS was. It is also a working ranch and does mule pack trips into the outback.

Had 3 good meals at the restaurant and checked out the saloon for a bit. Purchased two days of resupply and got my bear can packed and ready for tomorrow. Overall, a nice day at KMN!

Technical Notes:

• Protein Bar 300
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Steak and eggs, toast and hash browns 
• Orange juice 
• Chili Cheeseburger 
• Tater tots
• Root beer x 2
• Ribeye 
• Baked potato 
• Soup 
• Salad
• More
• Water liters: 1
• Miles: 6.64
• Time: 2:48
• Up: 899
• Down: 1785
• Calories consumed: 4000
• Calories burned: 987
• iPhone battery used: 10%

Sunday, July 5. Mid-40s and cloudy going up to upper 60s.

Up at 6:00. It started to rain as I was packing up my tent. The rain fly was very wet and the inner got a bit wet. Got packed and into my rain gear and headed north at 7:15. Basically an ugly morning.

I have a hard 17 miles today and I can’t cut it short. I must be close to Sonora Pass so I can catch the 9:30 a.m. shuttle to Kennedy Meadows tomorrow morning.

Ran into bear scat on the trail for the second time in 2 days. Glad I’m moving out of this area.

First climb of the day done. Passed by Dorothy Lake.

Reached Dorothy Lake Pass at 9:20. I just exited Yosemite after 5 days. 

Crossed 1000 miles at 10:29.

Lunch at noon while I dried my tent from this morning’s rain. More rain is on the forecast around 4:00 today.

Starting my last climb of the day. It’s a big one at 4.5 miles and a bit under 2000 feet of elevation gain.

Two miles into the climb and I loaded up with 4 liters of water (8.8 lbs). There is no more water for 10 miles. Ugh.

The final 2.5 miles of the climb were hard and wide open with occasional rain. Very different terrain! It’s like hiking on the world’s biggest scree field.

YouTube Video of Day 73

Reached camp at 4:45. I’m exhausted. I have 2 bars of cell service, so I had a long call with Pitcrew while I set up camp. This was the first phone or internet service I had in 7 or 8 days. 

It’s very cold up here at 10,600 feet with an overcast sky and no sun. I crawled into my quilt at 6:30 and had dinner indoors.

I think it’s almost time for new socks.

Today was another hard day. Big climb, bad Achilles, and generally need some time off. Happy to make camp early. Thought about going further but there are no camp spots listed between here and Sonora Pass. 

I have 6.5 miles to go to get to the 9:30 a.m. shuttle. I plan to get up early and hit the trail. No way I want to miss that shuttle as my only other option is to try to hitchhike.

Technical Notes:

• Protein Shake (10oz): 330 cal, 19g carb, 13.5g fat, 36g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein
• Tortilla: 140 kcal, 24g carb, 3g fat, 4g protein 
• Tuna: 90 kcal, 4-7g carb, 1g fat, 14-16g protein 
• Fritos 100
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Hard salami 90
• Curry noodles 450
• Dehydrated Chicken: 170 kcal, 0 carb, 7g fat, 25g protein 
• Jerky (2 oz): 140 kcal, 12g carb, 0g fat, 22g protein 
• Milky Way 240
• Fritos 200
• Water liters: 4
• Miles: 17.53
• Time: 9:07
• Up: 3717
• Down: 1890
• Calories consumed: 2900
• Calories burned: 3042
• iPhone battery used: 30%

Saturday, July 4. Mid-40s and clear going up to upper 60s.

Up at 6:00. On trail at 7:15.

Mosquitoes are terrible today!

First steep hard climb of the day from 9:00 to 10:30. Only 1.75 miles but steep and buggy. One more hard climb to go this morning, then a gradual climb the rest of the day. These steep uphills aggravate my Achilles.

Just got passed by two separate youngsters who were scampering uphill like it was nothing. Damn kids!

Started second climb at 11:22. Not gonna be fun.

Ugh. Only halfway into this climb and I’m beat. I feel like this mountain climbing stuff was easier a month or so ago. My body needs a day off from this fun and games. 

Ran into lots of blowdowns this afternoon. Looked like some very strong wind storm came through here this past winter or spring.

Finished the climb at 1:00. Got passed by 3 more people. I’m moving very slow again today. 

I wanted to call it quits around 14 miles today, but forced myself to make 18.4 miles. Body couldn’t go any farther. Made camp by a huge marshy meadow at 5:30. Millions of mosquitoes. Got tent set up fast and made dinner in the tent.

I’m not making it to Sonora Pass and Kennedy Meadows North tomorrow evening. It’s almost 24 miles. I should be able to do that kind of mileage, but the best I can pull off these days is 18 or 19 max. I have to start doing more than that or I’m not going to make it to Canada before the snow flies. I’m hoping my 4 days off in Tahoe let my body rest and fix itself.

Technical Notes:

• Protein Shake (10oz): 330 cal, 19g carb, 13.5g fat, 36g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Snickers 250
• Tortilla: 140 kcal, 24g carb, 3g fat, 4g protein 
• Tuna: 90 kcal, 4-7g carb, 1g fat, 14-16g protein 
• Fritos 100
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Hard salami 90
• Mountain House Rice and Chicken 540
• Jerky (2 oz): 140 kcal, 12g carb, 0g fat, 22g protein 
• Milky Way 240
• Fritos 400
• Water liters: 4
• Miles: 18.4
• Time: 10:24
• Up: 3399
• Down: 3832
• Calories consumed: 3100
• Calories burned: 3444
• iPhone battery used: 20%

Friday, July 3. Upper 30s and clear going up to upper 60s.

Up at 6:40. On trail at 7:40.

Summited Benson Pass (10,107 feet) at 11:40. That was a hard, steep climb. Plus, my left Achilles is really acting up today. I have 13 more miles and one more pass to get through today. 

Stopped for lunch in a meadow at noon at 7.3 hard miles in. 

This afternoon was very difficult on multiple fronts. My goal was 19.7 miles today. However, the climbs today were very difficult. I almost gave up at 13 miles, but forced my body up nearly to the summit of the second pass. That way, I have an easier morning, and I at least got close to my plan by doing 16.4 miles. That said, those last 3.4 miles damn near broke me. 

I had a couple of people who were SOBO ask if the climbs got any easier for them today, and I had to tell them that their climbs would get worse. 

I did not see many people today and only 3 NOBO all day. I guess the big bubble is no more. I’m camping all alone. It’s a slightly disturbing feeling not having another person around and being two hard days’ hike in either direction from the nearest civilization. I try not to dwell on that. At least there is good scenery!

YouTube Video of Day 71 Views

Set up camp at 6:30. We did not get the afternoon thunderstorms that were predicted.

Technical Notes:

• Protein Shake (10oz): 330 cal, 19g carb, 13.5g fat, 36g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Tortilla: 140 kcal, 24g carb, 3g fat, 4g protein 
• Tuna: 90 kcal, 4-7g carb, 1g fat, 14-16g protein 
• Fritos 100
• Snickers 250
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Hard salami 90
• Peak Refuel Chicken Coconut Curry 850
• Jerky (2 oz): 140 kcal, 12g carb, 0g fat, 22g protein 
• Fritos 400
• Milky Way 240
• Skittles (2.17oz): 250 kcal, 56g carb, 2.5 g fat, 0g protein 
• Water liters: 4
• Miles: 16.4
• Time: 10:42
• Up: 4196
• Down: 4573
• Calories consumed:  3550
• Calories burned: 3573
• iPhone battery used: 25%

Thursday July 2. Upper-30s and clear going up to 60.

Up at 6:30. Packed up and headed to the grill for breakfast and the store for electricity at 8:00. On trail at 9:00. Let the solo hiking begin!

One of my first and last views in Tuolumne Meadows is Lembert Dome.

Followed the PCT signs out of the meadows.

Sometimes it was hard to find the trail in the rocks.

I am not going down into the Yosemite Valley where the spectacular views are. I can’t burn the day plus I plan to come back here with Pitcrew in a few years. Therefore I just got these mediocre views of Yosemite (heavy sarcasm).

YouTube Video of Yosemite Views

I stopped for lunch at 1:00 once I got outside the no camping area. The near to last mile today was as brutal steep. I had thought about going another 1.5 hours, but my Achilles was screaming at me after that last ascent. I made camp next to Miller Lake at 5:30. Really nice camp spot about 75 feet up in the rocks above the lake.

I made dinner and chilled out watching the lake. It is nice to NOT be in a narrow valley for a change. That means the sun is actually shining on camp until near to sunset areas of disappearing over an hour before official sunset. That has bent happening a lot lately in these steep mountains.

Technical Notes:

• Breakfast burrito 750
• Coffee x 2
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per 
• Tortilla: 140 kcal, 24g carb, 3g fat, 4g protein 
• Tuna: 90 kcal, 4-7g carb, 1g fat, 14-16g protein 
• Fritos 100
• Milky Way 240
• Curry noodles 450
• Dehydrated Chicken: 170 kcal, 0 carb, 7g fat, 25g protein 
• Fritos 400
• Milky Way 240
• Water liters: 4
• Miles: 18
• Time: 8:40
• Up: 3163
• Down: 2280
• Calories consumed: 3080
• Calories burned: 3063
• iPhone battery used: 22%