The past two weeks have been completely crazy, we experienced everything from forest fires to the Sierra Nevadas: Kennedy Meadows, up and down (and up and down!) Whitney, over Forrester Pass, and out through Kearsarge Pass. I'm sorry for the delay on this post it's been hard to keep up with this, I'll do my best to remember what has been happening!
Camping at Walker Pass before walking one of our last days in the desert, we had to carry 19 miles worth of water, hopefully we don't have to do that again!
We got an early 4AM start on our long, hot day. While taking a rest a few mile back from the picture below I mentioned to SPF, "wow dude that's a gross looking cloud" he replies joking, "yeah looks like a biological attack"
We walked on a few miles further and came upon this view from a ridge. A raging forest fire just over the next ridge. We are about 17 miles in and nearly out of water. so we have no choice but to head toward the fire to replenish our supply. We walk on to reach water about 3 miles ahead. At the water we meet a large collection of people all debating on what course of action to take. While at the top of the ridge I saw a house at the base in the valley with an old dirt road leading down to it, which a few other people saw as well. The consensus is to bushwhack our way to the dirt road and bail off the trail to get away from the fire, which we later learn we were a mere 11 miles from its origin point.
Well we all make it out safe and sound, just to find a locked gate and barbed wire fence preventing its retreat. Although I'm not sure what the point of a locked gate is with half a barrel pin hinge. Just lifted the gate off its hinge and we were home free... Sort of
So we managed to get out of the woods and away from the fire, but we were still left with the problem that the fire was blocking our way to Kennedy Meadows. All roads were closed, and obviously including the trail. We managed to hitch to the middle of nowhere in the desert on a 115 degree day. After roasting in the desert, and a very awkward encounter with a closed ghost town museum, we finally managed a hitch to Inyokern. Where we met two amazing trail Angels that took us into their home, fed us dinner, gave us a place to hide from the desert sun, a place to sleep, breakfast, and amazingly a ride all the way to Kennedy Meadows.
This is the view from the car of the fire damage.
Woo hoo, we finally made it to the infamous Kennedy Meadows. Food, beer, fun, and games.
And now we are leaving, High Seirras here we come!
There they are waaay in the distance.
River wars...
Bad ass birds nests under this bridge.
Gonna lay down my burdens, down by the river side...
Chicken Spring Lake
First of many many river crossings
Getting closer...
Crabtree meadows at the base of Mt. Whitney... Best toilet on the pct, all the glory of the out doors without the squatting.
Sunset from Crabtree Meadows
So we woke up at 3am to begin the 5.5 hour hike up seven and a half miles to the top of Whitney.
Guitar Lake
Great success!! We made it to the highest point in the continental United States.
Look really close at that first line on top
The crew... Boo boo, Big Mike (formally known as Trooper), Jedi Goat (me), Monkey Feet, and SPF (sweet princess fabio)
YEAH BOY
Next day at breakfast
Ok here we go, day after Whitney and time to climb to the the highest point on the pct, forester pass, oh jmt you relentless bitch.
There it is the acclaimed sketchiest part of the Seirras, and there we are kicking its ass.
And off
Oh Sierra sunset I shall not get bored of thee!
HI-YAH
Go monkey feet
Top of Kearsarge Pass
Wow, what an adventure, but we finally made it, straight through those mountains is the town of Independance.