Beauty & the Beast (D-36 709.5 - 735.5; D-37 735.5

Beauty & the Beast (D-36 709.5 - 735.5; D-37 735.5 - 760)

All I can say is that Seirras are absolutely beautiful and very tough too. Meadows, rivers, creeks and steep climbs up mountains. Unlike the desert, the elevation gradients are higher and the trail is not uniform.

Here are a few pics:

Bridge over Kern River

Kennedy Meadows

Saw a few more snow plants...they are so pretty (& interesting - thanks Lisa & Ritu) that I had to share again

A change in signage

Signs now on trees, instead of boards

Crossing a meadow

View of Owens Valley from the crest @ 10650 ft where I camped on Day 36

Mountains all around and meadows

Chicken Spring lake - the first lake I have seen on PCT

Filtering water at the Lake

For those who have had Biscoff cookies on Delta airlines and loved them, there is now Biscoff butter. Love it!

Some more scenery

My campsite on D-37 with Rock Creek flowing next to the tentsite and deer walking around in the meadow

Data:

D-36

D-37

NOTE: Another feature of the Seirras is that there is essentially zero cell phone connectivity. In fact haven't had any signal since the day I left Kennedy Meadows. So, while I am writing these blogs in real-time, it will be 10-14 days or so before it will be posted online when I get back into town & you will be able to read them. So, till Musk's satellite-based cell service (Starlink?) becomes a reality in a couple of years, this is the best we have.

Comments

Monthly Data Update (M-4; Day 91 to 118)

All data below in italics is for M-1, M-2 & M-3 respectively, for comparison. M-4 is 28 days (all other months were 30 days) Distance traveled on PCT: 702 mi / 1130 km ( 631 mi / 1015 km; 554 mi / 892 km; 798 mi /1284 km ) Total time: 281 ( 280; 280; 320 ) hours Total ascent: 126,923 ft / 38,686 m ( 117,830 ft/35,915 m; 99,040 ft/30,190 m; 123,951 ft/37,780 m ) Total descent: 128,161 ft / 39,063 m ( 115,912 ft/35,330 m; 99,730 ft/30,400 m; 123,921 ft/37,771 m ) Highest point: 7174 ft / 2187 m ( 9407 ft/2867 m; 13,120 ft/4000 m; 7580 ft/2310 m ) Average distance/day: 25 mi / 40 km ( 21 mi/34 km; 18.7 mi/30.1 km; 26.6 mi/42.8 km ) Average distance/hiking day: 26 mi / 42 km ( 21.8 mi/35.1 km; 21.3 mi/34.3 km; 26.6 mi/42.8 km ) Average time hiking/day: 10.0 ( 9.3; 9.3; 10.7) hours (incl Nero days) Average pace: 2.6 mph/4.2 kmph ( 2.3 mph/3.6 kmph; 2.0 mph/3.2 kmph; 2.5 mph/4.0 kmph ) Number of Zero days:...

My gear and my tramily (D-97 @ 2148 - Zero day)

Some of you have asked about what gear I am using. Since today is a Zero day (the last Zero day was on D-57) and there is nothing much to report other than the fact that I shipped the last set of resupply boxes to different places in Washington state and ate substantial amounts of food today, I figured I might as well talk about my gear, and also a bit about the other most essential component on the hike - my "tramily" (trail-family). Tent : 1-person Rainbow Li from Tarptent (bought new). This has worked very well for me and as you know from my earlier posts, Tarptent has given very good customer service too. I haven't had the chance to use the tent in heavy rain or snow (luckily) though and can't comment on it. I use a Tyvek ground sheet (already owned), also from Tarptent. Backpack : Catalyst from ULA (already owned). I started with Zpack Arc Air Robic 60L (bought new) and used it for 700 miles, but it was not comfortable at...

Gratitude (D-114: 2577.8 - 2592.1 - Nero @ Mazama)

As the last town day on the trail ends and a few dozen miles left to the end point, I would like to speak of gratitude. Every so often on the trail, there are moments of "why the heck am I doing this?" and that's when I have to compel myself to remember that this is an option and an opportunity given to me. I am fortunate enough to be able to hike on this trail for a long period, which is essentially a vacation (albeit, a physically & mentally demanding one). Not everybody gets the option of taking such a long vacation from work, family and other commitments. It may be a cliche, but I am full of gratitude for this. I am also deeply grateful to a bunch of people who made this hike possible and I would like to use this post to mention those people. Ravin & Deepika opened their home and hearts so that I could do all the preparatory work before the hike. They were generous to a fault and I used (& perhaps, abused) their generosity. Even during the hik...

A thru-hike attempt

Search This Blog