PCT: Kearsarge Pass resupply (Day 50)

06.04.2018 – Day 50

Miles : 17.7
Camp: Days Inn (Bishop, CA)
Weather: pretty warm (low 80’s)
Wildlife: deer, dancing birds
People: Mark + Tammy

Resupply day!!

The day we hiked Whitney, we realized we were running low on food, as well as running low on fuel tabs. Luckily that night Violet shared some of her liquid fuel with us, and Sarge (Topp) shared his extra food–it helped what we had left stretch to today.

PCT: Forester Pass (Day 49)

We opted to write the next several posts as individual days vs. a whole section in one post, because of the sheer length and overwhelming size that the post would be.

 

06.03.2018 – Day 49
Miles : 14.2
Camp: PCT mile 782.5 ish
Weather: pretty warm, unfortunately
Wildlife: Marmots
People: 

The Sierra Mountains are one of the most notorious sections of the PCT. In fact, there’s a separate trail–the John Muir Trail (JMT)–that shares almost the whole section of the Sierra Mountains and is impossible to get permits for. 

They’re notorious for multiple reasons:

PCT: California, Section G

Section G
Walker Pass–> Crabtree Meadows (Mount Whitney)
116.7 miles

***We skipped the first 60 or so miles; read previous post to understand why

“It’s SO. FREAKING. PRETTY.” –Caitlin & Aaron, every day in the Sierras

Day 41 – 05.26.2018
Miles: 0 (unplanned)
Camp: Kennedy Meadows
Weather: 70’s
Wildlife: hiker trash
People:

We arrived in Kennedy Meadows today due to April’s amazing accommodation! We got to Lake Isabella by bus, and she picked us up at a coffee place and drove us all the way to Kennedy Meadows (pretty remote area).

We set up camp by the general store in the trees, and talked a lot about how it felt good to be back in close proximity to the trail, and “with our people”.

PCT: California, Section F

Section E
Tehachapi Pass –> Walker Pass
81.5 miles
(4.5 miles hiked)

“We’re not out here to be miserable; we’re out here to be together and to have fun and have an amazing summer outside.” -Aaron (with Caitlin nodding her head in enthusiastic agreement)

Day 38 – 05.23.2018
Miles: 4.5
Camp: 4.5 miles up from Tehachapi Pass
Weather: hot; 80’s
Wildlife: red snake (non-venomous)
People: Chilly Bin

We set off for the trail in the early afternoon, hoping to catch the 1:05pm bus out to the trailhead. Chilly Bin was going to join us, but then found us while we were eating lunch and informed us she learned of line dancing happening tonight and was going to stay.

“I’m here for the experience, and I just really want to line dance!” she exclaimed happily. We parted ways, her back to the hotel, and us for the bus shelter.

PCT: California, Section E

Section E
Agua Dulce (Hiker Heaven) –> Tehachapi Pass
105.2 miles

 

Day 31 – 05.16.2018
Miles: 10.2
Camp: Martin Dale Ridge (PCT mi. 462)
Weather: (left @ 4:30pm; warm but not too bad; windy)
Wildlife: fox! (with pups!); quails; lizards
People:

Well today was eventful. We intended to 0 today, but we want to be in Casa de Luna tomorrow, and it’s 24 miles away. Plus there are a couple of bigger climbs–one right in the beginning, so we decided we’d hike out at night and get the climb done, and have half days 2 days in a row.

PCT: California, Section D

Section D
Highway 15 (Cajon Pass, CA) –> Agua Dulce, CA (Hiker Heaven)
112.5 Miles

Aaron: “Did you guys have fun dancing with the poodles?”
Mule: “what?”
Aaron: “Do you know what poodle dog bush looks like?”
Mule: “Well, I thought I did.”

Day 24 – 05.09.2018 
Miles: 17.6
Camp: Applewood Inn (Wrightwood)
Weather: HOT
Wildlife: lizards + thangs
People: GQ, Mike (Thor) , The Europeans (Sebastian + Frederica)

Holy COW this climb was more brutal than we thought. It wasn’t so much that it was steep, or necessarily “hard”, but when you’re climbing 3k feet, you expect it to get cooler the higher you go.
IT DID NOT GET COOLER.
It may have actually gotten hotter.

PCT: California, Section C

Section C
Highway 10 near Cabazon, CA –> Highway 15 (Cajon Pass, CA)
122.6 Miles

“Today shall henceforth be known as The Day of Shitting & Pissing” -Aaron

Day 16 – 05.01.2018 (happy MAY!)
Miles: 0 (unplanned)
Camp: Morongo Hotel
Weather: stormy as hell in the mountains
Wildlife: nada
People: n/a

PCT: California, Section B

Notes: The way this blog is written, it is first hand written in a journal while we’re on the PCT. I (Caitlin) write in it (almost) daily, then I ask Aaron what stuck out to him for the day and include anything I may have forgotten about. When I type it up in town, I don’t include everything. So, my question to readers would be: what do you want to hear about? What’s most interesting? Do you have any questions? (leave a comment below!)

PCT: California, Section A

Section A
Campo, CA –> Warner Springs, CA
109.5 Miles

“Every day is another day; every mile is another mile. They’re gonna add up without us forcing anything. Let’s just do our thing, and enjoy it.” -Aaron

Day 1 – 04.16.2018
Miles: 15.4 ish
Camp: Hauser Creek
Weather: 70’s; warm. Not too hot because of the breeze
Wildlife: TWO rattlesnakes (Mexican Reds), bunnies, a million lizards (“California frogs”) and bees (Aaron got stung- jerks!)
People met: Marc (Pyro), Gail (Missfit), Sebastian (German) + Frederica (Italian) (aka “The Europeans!”), Sarge, Alon (snake whisperer)

Update. (Caitlin edition)

This post written by Caitlin.

This section written at the end of March:

Our life is a big nesting doll of countdowns right now.
There’s really no other analogy that fits quite as well as that one.
There’s only 4 more days where I will go in to work.
Aaron technically has 7 days left of work.
There are 21 days left until we fly out to LA.
And a mere 26 days left till our feet hit the trail!

We’ve ordered the last of the gear we needed (headlamps, food, food, food, snacks) and we have a list of items we’re gonna snag when REI has its 20% off member sale this weekend. (other shoppers LOOK OUT–we’re on a mission!)

seriously though, it’s getting real!
Aaron has been slaving away at the stove, the dehydrator, and the meal prep station (assembling meals, repackaging bulk snacks into small baggies).
Our flat rate boxes arrived today, and it’s time to get serious about packaging them.
We’ll be booking our plane tickets tonight.
IT’S.
ALL.
SO.
REAL.
(and our stoke level is HIGH — can you tell? 😀 AHH)

~~~~~~

Written today, 4/11/2018:

So crazy insane that we’re heading out tomorrow.
We’re spending a couple days in California, and then stepping on the trail on the 16th.
We packed our bags for the first time today (lol!) and they’re amazingly light (hooray!!) Tomorrow at the airport will be the official tell of how heavy everything is. (Aaron’s guessing no more than 20 lbs each)

We’ll check in one final time before heading out, about how we’re feeling, and what we’re thinking. Until then, take care of each other. And we’ll see you soon!

Thanks for coming with us on this ride!