Saturday, May 30, 2015

Day 45, Get High

Part 2, The Sierra Nevada, Day 45
Get High
Miles: 19.2
PCT Mile: 735.35

(Note: I just got service on an 11,000 foot high peak and I'm sitting on a cliff in the dark and wind to get these posts out. Days 39,40,41,44, and 45 are out, there are NO posts for days 42,43, as I spent them waiting at Kennedy Meadows for ice on Mt Whitney to melt. Finally, I will respond to each one of your lovely comments first chance I get. Thanks for reading!)

I woke up at 5 am on the beach by the river and learned a quick fact about the Sierras. It's damn cold in the morning. I jumped back inside my tent to wait for the sun. When I got up, my tent and all gear outside was covered in frost and ice!
I guess this is another reason my mileage will drop in the Sierra. I packed up leisurely, and made some coffee. It's so nice here, whereas in the desert, I just wanted to wake up and get as far as possible. I hiked out at 7:15am. 
I started hiking up Cow Canyon and saw lots of bones. Could it be cows? Too small. Sounds like false advertising.
Water would be scarce today, so my day was planned around that. I only carry 2 liters, and max out at 4 now, so I only need a little at a time. I filled up at Cow Creek spring:
I was walking up all day, and my pack was letting me know it. This heavy pack weight is really making the hiking a chore. I'm struggling to even get 10 miles in by mid-day, but I think most hikers have the same issue.
Below in the distance is the Meadow I camped in last night:
I stopped at yet another spring to fill up my water. I'm really thirsty lately, and it's hot out. Hopefully that sun is melting the ice further up.
I came upon my first highlight view of the day. It's amazing how quickly I went from desert to forest. 
When I passed this, the other side of the mountain held an even better view, maybe the best of the PCT so far. There were mountains as far as I could see, and I was only looking West. I'd soon turn North.
It was really nice hiking today. I had a smile the whole morning. 
I stopped and ate lunch, also to rest my feet. The pack weight is destroying my feet and I have a new problem. My left shoulder aches so bad after 8 or so miles that I have to stop. No biggie. Unlike the desert, stopping here ain't no thang.
Gimme a break on my lunch guys, it's all I have: ( it's just "meat" and cheese on s tortilla...)
I had to at least get over 17 miles today, so I got going. Death Canyon Creek was my goal, and I needed water from its spring to camp with. I was already low and it was hot out.
(I just had to retreat into my tent because of the cold, but when I'm done, it's back to the cliff to publish!)
I passed through many meadows. This was the calm before the storm, as a massive climb loomed.
I reached the spring and there were many hikers there, most of them I'd never seen before. Weird how this happens. Lots of people were filling up in the very slow flow. Others were relaxing in the shade before the climb. 
Because of the traffic, I spent nearly an hour collecting and filtering 4 precious liters to take 2,000 feet up and camp with. I didn't even try to keep the silt out of the water, but I did put bleach in it. Too many filthy hikers had there hands in water. I began the climb and the views were staggering.
This climb was tough. Full water and food in the heat. I was gulping air because of the altitude, and my shoulder was killing me. I had to rest 3 times in the 5 mile climb, and I wasn't the only one. It was tough on all the hikers I saw. The views made up for it though.
I reached the top and it was amazing. I have a panoramic view of the Owens Valley on one side, and the Sierra peaks on the other. There were dramatic cliffs to look out from, and there were many camp spots. I also had a bit if cell service on a cliff, so I called my family for the first time in awhile.
The best moments came after sunset as I was publishing these blogs. Just unreal views.
Below is one of my favorite pictures I've taken so far:
I am utterly exhausted, but I vowed to update the blog, so I'll be out on the cliff until I do. It's bitter cold, but I can't help but be excited for each new day in this environment. At 11,000 feet, I'm higher than I've ever been on trail so far. Until tomorrow! ( I'll probably go dark on cell connection again for a few days.)



Day 44, Under the Bridge

Part 2, The Sierra Nevada, Day 44
Under the Bridge
Miles: 15.3
PCT Mile: 716.5
It sure is good to be back on the trail. I waited 2.5 boring days at Kennedy Meadows for Winter to get lost, and I couldn't take it anymore. So here we go!
I figured out how to deal with the bright moon. It keeps me up and when I do get some sleep, I have crazy nightmares. I know the moon is responsible. So after 2 nights of awful sleep, I blindfolded myself.  I did it with a bandana, and it worked. I can't wait to blindfold myself in other situations, like mountain biking, or driving. I wanted to start the Sierra Nevada with a few hikers who I like, but I can't keep waiting around. It's driving me crazy! So with a kinda rested body and a backbreaking 50 pound pack, I escaped the vortex by 9am and walked into the hills. I'm losing weight, big time:
Even though my pack was loaded with ten days of food in a bear canister, I felt good at first. I was following the Kern River and the air was fresh with Pine scent. 
I'm using trekking poles for the first time and I noticed one disadvantage immediately; it's much harder to take pictures while I hike, or do anything with my hands. I have to stop, take my hands out of the pole loops, set the poles down, then take a pic. They are also making me quite clumsy, as I constantly kick them. But they'll be useful on the high passes, and I can always send them  home. I do feel more tired when using them, since it's now a full body workout, but this does prevent T-Rex arms!
I'm happy to be carrying less water. I only carry 2 liters now, as opposed to 5.5, which is just great. I do have to stop and filter more, but that's easy. The water is tasting good now too. Better than rat water. I stopped at this bridge to filter water:
It was confusing here, so I sat and looked at my maps:
I got going and continued to climb uphill. I am taking it very easy today, since I'm in no hurry and am testing out some gear and carrying 50 pounds. My mileage is going to drop in the Sierra Nevada, as I'll probably be hiking around 17 miles a day to set myself up for climbing over passes.  The weather was spectacular again today, very hot and sunny.
I briefly entered a burn zone. It reminded me of the desert. 
But there was actual green mixed in.
I passed two large groups of 20+ hikers, and they were part of a school group. They asked be a bunch of questions about thru hiking. I told them that school is for losers. 
After a couple hours of climbing I hadn't seen a single thru hiker. Big surprise. I'm in yet another bubble, I guess. Most other hikers have formed little teams to get through the Sierra. I'm still a free agent. I figured out that most hikers are either fresh out of college or retired, hence the large number of twenty somethings and over 50's. There are few thirty year olds. We are the minority. I am also quite awkward, so there's that. Plus I hike at my own pace. Anyways, I arrived at Beck Meadow and saw my first real "Sierra" type view:
This camera doesn't do it justice. It's a seemingly endless Meadow surrounded by mountains. It was gorgeous!
I sat under a pine and ate some lunch type stuff;
I'm really sleepy these days and I was tempted to fall asleep, but it was one of those days where it's boiling in the sun and freezing in the shade. I hiked on. 
With all this weight, my feet started to ache sooner, but I took a lot of breaks. It's pleasant to break here, and in the desert, I just wanted to keep moving. 
There's a snowy peak in the distance here. Maybe a taste of what's to come.
Because of my late start and many breaks, the day was getting late, so I knew it would be a short day. I planned to stop at the Kern River and find a spot to relax.
This was a real treat. A vast meadow with a small river running through it and a little bridge over the water for shade.
There were some people here, and I was thirsty, so I went up river to filter some water. 
Under the bridge was a city of Swallows, and there were countless mud nests. 
I sat for awhile watching these birds, it was like watching a firework show. They were constantly zipping on and out of the nests, hundreds it seemed. I had to be careful filtering the water, because there was all kinds of bird matter in it. I've already drunk frog water, rat water, uranium water, and cattle water... Why not bird water? 
I found a spot on the beach near the water and zoned out for awhile. 
A large group of thru hikers eventually arrived. I know most of them and went to say hi. They are currently sitting in a circle singing songs or something, while I make dinner at my camp. Strange. I guess this summer camp bullshit is inescapable. I set up my tent away from the herd. 
I also found the one advantage of carrying a bear canister; instant seat!
I added ham to Mac and cheese. I realize this is disgusting to most of you. Try spending 40 days hiking and tell me it's disgusting. 
I watched a beautiful sunset over the meadows. 
It's been quite an adventure on this hike, the good and bad, and whatever situation I find myself in is my own doing. It looks like I will be taking on the mighty Sierra solo, which is fitting, but I hope to summit Mt Whitney with a few others. I really look forward to the beauty and the challenge. Early start tomorrow.