Start point

Kennedy Meadows South, mile 703.4

End point

716.2

Miles hiked

12.8

Wilderness area

Inyo National Forest

South Sierra Wilderness

Sequoia National Forest

The day on trail

It’s time to head out with the group!

Big group, big dreams.

Today started out with so much optimism. We had a full resupply for four days, plus one extra. We had a solid plan. We were feeling invincible.

The trail was stretching before us. Lone Wolf and Charlie ended up with a breakneck pace and left everyone way behind. This concerned me because we were supposed to be hiking together. Oh well. Two down. No biggie.

Sinead and I enjoyed the views and checked out some signage.

There were some areas where we had to go up and around the trail due to swollen rivers.

But we did it.

Unfortunately, only a few miles in, Sinead’s knee really started hurting. The weight from the extra gear was too much for her injury. We sat down for a couple hours and talked. We cried when she made the decision to turn around.

This was so heartbreaking. It was so painful to watch her go. My trail family meant so much to me, more than I ever expected. I can’t believe how much I cried.

I try to capture not just the good, but also the bad. Thru hiking is up and down, and it’d be dishonest to just record the up.

But I walked on. She told me to “f***ing crush the Sierra” so I’m going to do my best.

I came to a bridge that had the river under it so swollen that the water lapped at the underside of the bridge.

I found a lizard missing its tail, but that would grow back in time.

More lupine. I wish this beautiful flower wasn’t so invasive.

And some views.

As expected, too, the snow started back up. It was patchy, but wouldn’t be for long.

I found some weather worn signs.

And we got the first views of the Sierra.

I’m excited! And still heartbroken.

The group gathered and got into camp with beautiful views. Someone had driven an ice axe into the dirt and wrote “PCT” with an arrow in rocks — they’d apparently gotten turned around, which is easy to do. We agreed to start hiking at 5 am to catch the snow while it’s still crunchy. I got verbal confirmation that they’d wait for me, which was especially important after losing Sinead. We all had dinner and went to bed under magnificent cloud formations.