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.