Start point

Tentsite at 716.2

End point

Kennedy Meadows South, mile 702

Miles hiked

30

Wilderness area

Inyo National Forest

South Sierra Wilderness

Sequoia National Forest

The day on trail

Well today wasn’t the best.

It started off okay. We woke up. I left a bit late and got turned around at the campsite. I walked a bonus mile: 1/2 in each direction.

At least the views of the bridge and the meadows were beautiful.

I couldn’t believe how high the water was under the bridge. It even spilled over the trail at the far end of it.

I caught up to the others and we took a little lunch break. I felt pressured to eat, even though I wasn’t hungry, because I didn’t know when we would have another chance.

That upset my stomach.

We continued on with two of the group, only guy whose name I can’t remember and SallyFieldDotCom hanging back with me. I stopped to dig a cathole to take care of my upset stomach and ended up losing the last two.

There was a traverse across a snow covered mountain: not a bad one, but one. And I couldn’t find the boot track. I saw the two taking off well above me uphill, and they couldn’t hear me call to them. I tried finding my way up, but the snowbanks were too steep and I was constantly hindered.

Eventually I found the track. And it was too late. I’m not chasing a group across snow if we don’t move as a group. I don’t want to lose them when it really counts.

So I turned around. Time to go back to Kennedy Meadows South.

On the way I met a great guy, Michael, who hikes the Sierra regularly in the Summer, when there’s no snow. We chatted and he considered whether he wanted to continue in the snow or go back to the road.

I continued on, making as good of time as I could with the circumstances.

There were a gnarly, broken tree I had to pass through…twice now!

And more views I loved.

I took a lunch break and some time to filter water. Michael caught up to me and said “I don’t know how your group lost you — you’re bloody fast!” It was really sweet, but I also just want to be with my trail family or solo. I’m not a big fan of hiking as a group, at least not right now.

Michael continued on and I enjoyed my break.

I caught up to him at the bridge in the meadow. He was watching the swallows that live under it dive and flutter while hunting bugs.

Continuing on, I ran into Polar Bear and Walking Home. They offered to have me join them, and I was tempted to. But I didn’t have enough food to restart my trek a day and a half in. I needed to get back to KMS.

That was around sundown, and moving on, the trail came alive at night.

I saw a new kind of beetle to me. I saw a river road. There were millipedes, baby pinacate beetles, and so many spiders with their eyes flashing in my headlamp.

Eventually I made my way back to the road, then back to Kennedy Meadows around 10:45. There were people around the fire, and I was able to sneak in without applause or waking anyone up.

I caught up with the people around the fire and it was nice to be around others. I gave them a brief recap of my day. I met a bunch of great people, but I can’t remember their names at this point. I’m exhausted and my body and soul are wrecked.

Today was my first 26 mile day, in total. It was also my first 30 mile day, including the road walk.

Too tired to set up a tent, I elected to cowboy camp on the deck of the general store.