Day 56-57: Kennedy Meadows
May 30-31
I spent my two zero days in Kennedy Meadows preparing for the Sierras, socializing with other hikers, and eating. There were about 180 miles before the next common resupply stop – unless you were willing to descend over 2000’ to the east side of the mountains and head into one of the little towns: Lone Pine, Independence, Bishop.
Food volume was constrained by what you could cram inside a hard-sided bear can. That wasn’t the only new piece of gear: I’d mailed myself microspikes and rain pants for the snowy passes ahead, and I bought a lightweight ice axe from one of the outfitters. Whether or not it would be necessary by the time I reached the northern passes was still unknown, but I’d rather carry it than need it and not have it. Plus, I was determined to glissade – descend by controlled sliding on your behind – off as many passes as possible.
I purchased seven days of food – enough to last me until Kearsarge Pass with an extra day spent climbing Mt. Whitney. I would descend about 8 miles off trail and 2600’ in order to resupply; the alternative was hiking over 20 miles every day for more than a week through the hardest, most scenic part of the trail.
5 Comments
Dov
That’s quite the colorful cast of characters! I hope you get to leapfrog with them some more throughout the trip!
kate
I love reading the signs at the shops you’ve been photographing along the way (“Hot beer, lousy food, bad service, Welcome!”). What nice people you are meeting, and I see both old familiar faces/names and new ones. The resupply issue does seem to complicate the scheduling and planning. At least there will be water, and perhaps not too much heat.
Sheila
So great to see happy smiling faces — especially yours 🙂 and I love that you dropped a way-point on top of Whitney!
Therese
It’s great to see all of your bright, smiling faces. So excited that Mount Whitney is so close to the PCT – hope you brought your Chicago city flag to wave from the summit!
Ray
You’re re-energized and re-optimized . . . Whew, what a relief it must be to have the desert leg behind you, and alpine adventures ahead. Looking forward to seeing your images of sky-blue lakes and rushing streams . . . if not snow in the mountain passes,