Kennedy Meadows

2.5 days from Kennedy Meadows at mile 702. KM is considered to be a major milestone on the PCT by thru-hikers. It marks the point where we leave the dry and hot deserts and mountains of southern California for the high sierra.  The PCT makes you.go through hell to get to heaven. Were all extremely excited.

Southern California has offered little wilderness and the heat and long (up to 25 mile) dry stretches have been difficult. On average I've carried a gallon of water each day. On the otherhand Southern California has offered outstanding vistas and several awesome opportunities for us to experience trail magic. Often we can look back and see the mountains we have walked thru for several hundred miles in the previous weeks.  Knowing and seeing the distances and mountains we have crossed makes us feel strong.  Due to the numerous cities and road crossings we have met so many people eager to help us on our journey with food and drink and shade and rides to town. Honestly one of the most exciting sections required hiking across the Mojave desert for about 20 miles. So there we were crossing the desolate landscape studded with Joshua trees. I think it will make us appreciate the Sierra Nevada that much more.

While we leave the desert challenges behind in the coming days the High Sierra will offer its own. In a typical year the High Sierra includes colder temps, hazardous creeks swelling with snowmelt, snow covered high mountain passes (some higher than 13,000 ft in elevation), horrendous mosquito swarms, and lots of bear activity. On the upside I often won't be carrying more than two liters of water at a time, and due to the low snow pack I don't anticipate too much snow on the passes or high creeks.  Usually ice axes are recommended for the mountain passes but they're probably unnecessary this year. We will have to carry bear canisters to prevent bears from getting our food. Bears in the Sierra Nevada are smart enough to get food hung in trees. Well be doing much shorter days in part due to increased elevation gains and losses in the high mountains and in part just to enjoy the scenery that we have so long sought.

Were almost there and I can sense the excitement among the other thru-hikers.  Today we got out first glimpse of the High Sierra from above Walker Pass. In just a little over a week we will be climbing to the top of Mt Whitney, the highest in the contiguous US.  I'll take some photos and pass to Gretchen when she visits me in Independence, CA.  It will be my second time summitting Whitney.  This time I'll be up there to watch the sunrise at over 14,500 ft.