Over 13,000 ft... The highest point on the Pacific Crest Trail. Snow, switchbacks & brilliant sunshine... What a climb!!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Forester Pass.
Over 13,000 ft... The highest point on the Pacific Crest Trail. Snow, switchbacks & brilliant sunshine... What a climb!!
Surviving the Sierra.
Wow, what a week... Snow, mountains & steep climbs... And the most isolated, amazing scenery. We have certainly had our most challenging but rewarding week yet.
Since we left Kennedy Meadows and began the ascent into the Sierra, we have been crossing decent sized streams and rivers, sometimes so many in a day, we have not bothered to removed our shoes. The water is chilly to say the least, but pretty refreshing! Also, as it is so plentiful, we haven't had to carry much at any given time though, so we have enjoyed that bonus.
Climbing Mount Whitney was a tough day, but incredibly rewarding. At 14,340 odd feet, it is the highest mountain in the lower 48 states. Mt McKinley is the highest in the USA, but that's up in Alaska.
We have had the most amazing weather. Clear blue skies, no wind, upper 20's (celcius)... Perfect!
Whitney was actually a side trip 8 miles off the trail, so although it was our highest climb, it wasn't until we crossed Forester Pass that we reached the highest point on the PCT.
Reaching the pass was quite a mission, as we went from around 9500 feet from our campsite, up to just over 13,000 feet in 12 miles. It involved sloshing through a lot of snow melt & then carefully, gingerly making our way over hundreds of yards of deep snow to the bottom of the switchbacks that took us up the near vertical rockface to the steep pass... Where Spencer took my pic, above.
Coming down to Kings Canyon on the northern side of the pass was even harder as the snowfields were much broader & more softer in places, having us often 'post-hole', sinking up to mid thigh, sometimes up to our waists in the cold, sharp icy snow.
Once we cleared the snow-line & the pine trees got thicker again, the trail got easier to navigate & we dropped back down to under 10,000 feet.
The mozzies at the campsite were swarming thick and fast, so dinner was a hurried affair before we all dived for cover in our tents.
Now, we are resupplying in Bishop, having had to make a steep 9 mile side hike out over Kearsage Pass. Our trail-friend Stacie was kind enough to meet us at the trailhead & run us the 40 more miles to town.
We have gorged ourselves on Taco Bell as usual, and soaked until prune-like in the (damn) hot spa... So we should be ready to get back on the trail tomorrow.
None of us are looking forward to the steep climb to get back to the trail, especially with full packs, but that's just how it's gonna have to be!
We should reach Mammoth Lakes in a week where we will collect our bounce box, and I will update my website. Keep watching for some great pix!!
Cheers...
RWK.
Out.
Since we left Kennedy Meadows and began the ascent into the Sierra, we have been crossing decent sized streams and rivers, sometimes so many in a day, we have not bothered to removed our shoes. The water is chilly to say the least, but pretty refreshing! Also, as it is so plentiful, we haven't had to carry much at any given time though, so we have enjoyed that bonus.
Climbing Mount Whitney was a tough day, but incredibly rewarding. At 14,340 odd feet, it is the highest mountain in the lower 48 states. Mt McKinley is the highest in the USA, but that's up in Alaska.
We have had the most amazing weather. Clear blue skies, no wind, upper 20's (celcius)... Perfect!
Whitney was actually a side trip 8 miles off the trail, so although it was our highest climb, it wasn't until we crossed Forester Pass that we reached the highest point on the PCT.
Reaching the pass was quite a mission, as we went from around 9500 feet from our campsite, up to just over 13,000 feet in 12 miles. It involved sloshing through a lot of snow melt & then carefully, gingerly making our way over hundreds of yards of deep snow to the bottom of the switchbacks that took us up the near vertical rockface to the steep pass... Where Spencer took my pic, above.
Coming down to Kings Canyon on the northern side of the pass was even harder as the snowfields were much broader & more softer in places, having us often 'post-hole', sinking up to mid thigh, sometimes up to our waists in the cold, sharp icy snow.
Once we cleared the snow-line & the pine trees got thicker again, the trail got easier to navigate & we dropped back down to under 10,000 feet.
The mozzies at the campsite were swarming thick and fast, so dinner was a hurried affair before we all dived for cover in our tents.
Now, we are resupplying in Bishop, having had to make a steep 9 mile side hike out over Kearsage Pass. Our trail-friend Stacie was kind enough to meet us at the trailhead & run us the 40 more miles to town.
We have gorged ourselves on Taco Bell as usual, and soaked until prune-like in the (damn) hot spa... So we should be ready to get back on the trail tomorrow.
None of us are looking forward to the steep climb to get back to the trail, especially with full packs, but that's just how it's gonna have to be!
We should reach Mammoth Lakes in a week where we will collect our bounce box, and I will update my website. Keep watching for some great pix!!
Cheers...
RWK.
Out.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
High in the Sierra.
After our first day hiking up into the Sierra Nevada, we are feeling pretty good.
The trail was well graded for the most part making the climb out of Kennedy Meadows, at 6300 feet to our campsite above Cow Creek at 9160 feet, a pretty nice climb.
Spencer has warped ahead, so we were a little disappointed we didn't get to catch up with him this evening, but Tom & I have had the pleasure of hiking with another trail buddy, Ryan, who is stopping with us tonight.
So far, there have been no bear sightings, but we know they're around... So we have made a point of putting all our food & smell-ables in our bear-proof cannisters, and placing them 100 yards away or so.
So now, even though it'll still be light until almost 9pm, it's 7:45, & time for bed!
We did around 21 miles today, the scenery was great, but tiredness is creeping in.
I expect it to get down to near-freezing tonight, so we are all in our tents for the extra warmth they give..!
Ok... Signing off...
RWK.
Out.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Relaxing in Kennedy Meadows.
Hi all... and Hi to my wonderful 3 followers... Spencer (well, he's sat right next to me at the moment, but...), to Leigh-Ann, Tom's Scuba friend and to Todd, my good bro from Singapore...
Well, we are up at the start of the Sierra Nevada, resting up at the wonderful hikers rest-stop haven that is Tom Figueroa's place up here in Kennedy Meadows.
No pix this time as (not meaning to sound ungrateful) it is a bit of a mission to upload pictures from my camera to this slow PC... and to upload on the slow internet conection. However, having free use of a PC and internet is fantastic, so we are all taking the chance to do some updating.
So after the last post... the lonely highway got less lonely about 20 minutes after I posted, as we (Spencer and I) got a ride back up to Walker Pass from a good guy named Doug Rossback... Once we were up at the pass, we re-stuck out our thumbs and quickly got another ride from there down to the junction at Highway 14, where there were a few roads going off in different directions across the desert.
Just as we were figuring out which road to go and stick our thumbs out on next, a State Trooper pulled up in his shiny black patrol car.
Learning from my past experiences with John Q Law, I turned, waved, smiled, and gave my broadest Aussie "G'Day Mate!"... instant problem-situation avoider!!
He grinned back, and after chatting as to what we were doing, he gave us a ride 15 odd miles up the highway to the junction to Kennedy Meadows road. Sweet!
Blasting up the highway at 100mph in a patrol car complete with Remington 12-gauge shotgun and CAR-15 Armalite Rifle strapped next to us was a blast! If he'd have gone with the lights and sirens too, it'd have been complete!
Karma was still with us too, as no less than 5 minutes after being dropped off by the kind officer (to protect and SERVE..! which he did...) we got our final 30 minute ride up to Kennedy Meadows by a chap called Randy, another hiker, although due to injury he's resting up a bit at the moment.
Pulling in to the General Store we spotted some trail mates, so it was time for more swapping of stories and swilling of cold sodas.
The "Dynamite" couple that is Tom n Tori (TNT... dynamite... geddit?) who we have been seeing along the trail quite a bit, gave us the low-down on where to stay and what to do, and by late afternoon, Spencer and I were comfortably accomodated in Tom F's great hiker haven.
The next morning, whilst waiting to get our laundry in the machine, our Tom came bookin' on in, a good 3 to 5 hours earlier than we expected him!
So after collecting our supplies from the store (they accept postal deliveries for hikers) we have re-sorted some gear, packed food into our new bear cannisters, got stuff ready to send back, and have done our best to rest up.
The weather has been gorgeous, and the smell of the pines everywhere is fantastic. We hear the forecast is for more of the same for the whole week too, so we are pumped for a good weeks hiking through some of the most amazing scenery on the trail.
We will re-supply in about a weeks time in the town of Independance... unfortunately, it is a 9 mile side trail off the PCT to get to a road, and then a 15 mile road walk, (or hopefully a hitch!!), to get to town. It's either that, or we have to carry 12+ days of food to get us to Vermillion Valley Resort, which doesn't have much... but, that's too much to carry.
From Independence I am sure I will have cell-phone coverae, so will update again if I haven't managed to do so sooner.
Until then,
RWK.
Out.
Well, we are up at the start of the Sierra Nevada, resting up at the wonderful hikers rest-stop haven that is Tom Figueroa's place up here in Kennedy Meadows.
No pix this time as (not meaning to sound ungrateful) it is a bit of a mission to upload pictures from my camera to this slow PC... and to upload on the slow internet conection. However, having free use of a PC and internet is fantastic, so we are all taking the chance to do some updating.
So after the last post... the lonely highway got less lonely about 20 minutes after I posted, as we (Spencer and I) got a ride back up to Walker Pass from a good guy named Doug Rossback... Once we were up at the pass, we re-stuck out our thumbs and quickly got another ride from there down to the junction at Highway 14, where there were a few roads going off in different directions across the desert.
Just as we were figuring out which road to go and stick our thumbs out on next, a State Trooper pulled up in his shiny black patrol car.
Learning from my past experiences with John Q Law, I turned, waved, smiled, and gave my broadest Aussie "G'Day Mate!"... instant problem-situation avoider!!
He grinned back, and after chatting as to what we were doing, he gave us a ride 15 odd miles up the highway to the junction to Kennedy Meadows road. Sweet!
Blasting up the highway at 100mph in a patrol car complete with Remington 12-gauge shotgun and CAR-15 Armalite Rifle strapped next to us was a blast! If he'd have gone with the lights and sirens too, it'd have been complete!
Karma was still with us too, as no less than 5 minutes after being dropped off by the kind officer (to protect and SERVE..! which he did...) we got our final 30 minute ride up to Kennedy Meadows by a chap called Randy, another hiker, although due to injury he's resting up a bit at the moment.
Pulling in to the General Store we spotted some trail mates, so it was time for more swapping of stories and swilling of cold sodas.
The "Dynamite" couple that is Tom n Tori (TNT... dynamite... geddit?) who we have been seeing along the trail quite a bit, gave us the low-down on where to stay and what to do, and by late afternoon, Spencer and I were comfortably accomodated in Tom F's great hiker haven.
The next morning, whilst waiting to get our laundry in the machine, our Tom came bookin' on in, a good 3 to 5 hours earlier than we expected him!
So after collecting our supplies from the store (they accept postal deliveries for hikers) we have re-sorted some gear, packed food into our new bear cannisters, got stuff ready to send back, and have done our best to rest up.
The weather has been gorgeous, and the smell of the pines everywhere is fantastic. We hear the forecast is for more of the same for the whole week too, so we are pumped for a good weeks hiking through some of the most amazing scenery on the trail.
We will re-supply in about a weeks time in the town of Independance... unfortunately, it is a 9 mile side trail off the PCT to get to a road, and then a 15 mile road walk, (or hopefully a hitch!!), to get to town. It's either that, or we have to carry 12+ days of food to get us to Vermillion Valley Resort, which doesn't have much... but, that's too much to carry.
From Independence I am sure I will have cell-phone coverae, so will update again if I haven't managed to do so sooner.
Until then,
RWK.
Out.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
A tough decision...
Well, figuring out the whole discretion, valour, & the better part thereof, I had to make a somewhat tough choice and pull off the trail for a couple of days.
My feet were not getting all that much better, and I had even more sore deep blisters that were really hurting. I have since done some web research and it looks like I may also be suffering Tarpal Tunnel Syndrome... Easily summed up by saying a squashed nerve casing severe pain!
Figuring I could live with 'losing' 50 trail miles, especially given that the previous 100 from Mojave had been spent mostly as an exercise in pain tolerance, I didn't feel too bad about taking the break.
Anyone who feels this is not true through-hiking can bite me! Unless you are doing this, or have done this, you would hve no idea how tough it can be, plus I figure walking for the past 3 odd weeks, sucking up a fair amount of foot pain has earned me a few passes!
Tom, who other than a sore shoulder from his pack, is fine. His feet have given him almost no trouble, so he has kept on truckin', and should walk into Kennedy Meadows Sunday lunchtime. Hopefully, i will be there to meet him.
Our trail buddy Spencer was also feeling in need of a bit of a break as well as a shower, so he was waiting at Walker Pass for us, where he and I hitched into Lake Isabella together.
After a good wash and rest in a less than wonderful motel, a good feed at a decent Taco joint & a small resupply at the supermarket, we are now trying to make our way an hour north to Kennedy Meadows.
Finger crossed the good karma we have been trying to keep and spread pays off in return, and we get a ride...
We'll see!
More to come.
Cheers.
RWK.
My feet were not getting all that much better, and I had even more sore deep blisters that were really hurting. I have since done some web research and it looks like I may also be suffering Tarpal Tunnel Syndrome... Easily summed up by saying a squashed nerve casing severe pain!
Figuring I could live with 'losing' 50 trail miles, especially given that the previous 100 from Mojave had been spent mostly as an exercise in pain tolerance, I didn't feel too bad about taking the break.
Anyone who feels this is not true through-hiking can bite me! Unless you are doing this, or have done this, you would hve no idea how tough it can be, plus I figure walking for the past 3 odd weeks, sucking up a fair amount of foot pain has earned me a few passes!
Tom, who other than a sore shoulder from his pack, is fine. His feet have given him almost no trouble, so he has kept on truckin', and should walk into Kennedy Meadows Sunday lunchtime. Hopefully, i will be there to meet him.
Our trail buddy Spencer was also feeling in need of a bit of a break as well as a shower, so he was waiting at Walker Pass for us, where he and I hitched into Lake Isabella together.
After a good wash and rest in a less than wonderful motel, a good feed at a decent Taco joint & a small resupply at the supermarket, we are now trying to make our way an hour north to Kennedy Meadows.
Finger crossed the good karma we have been trying to keep and spread pays off in return, and we get a ride...
We'll see!
More to come.
Cheers.
RWK.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Mojave.
After 2 days of dry dusty desert walking, we slogged our way up and over another set of mountains to look down on the further vast expanses of sage brush & Joshua tree filled sand, the massive wind farm, and over to the small town of Mojave.
The level ground walking wasn't bad, especially given the unseasonably cool weather we are experiencing, but the soft sandy slopes of the mountain trails made for some tough climbing.
My feet are sore from a few new blisters, but hopefully after the rest here in town, all should be good as we push on north to Kennedy Meadows, and the start of the Sierra Nevada.
Keep watching!
RWK.
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