5/24/20, mile: 702, elevation: 6,007 ft.
Yes, I changed my plan. Instead of marching short of Kennedy Meadows and rolling in on Monday morning, I blazed the almost 20 miles to Sherman Pass Road. And I did it in record speed for me.
I’d been thinking of this for a day or so now. The terrain is relatively flat, my pack is light and I’m motivated. While I didn’t voice it out loud to Safety this morning, I think he got an inkling of it when I just disappeared down the trail. He caught me at a short break at the high point, but then it was downhill to the next water where we had talked about camping for the night. I got there at 11 and pretty much said, I’m gone. And of all the spots where I took breaks in the last 700-ish miles, this was the best ever. Not only did I have a comfy log to sit on, I also had another that acted as a backrest. Heaven. An hour later, I was on the trail again. Next stop: Kennedy Meadows.
With my earbuds in again, I just put my head down (but watching for branches!) and took off. Big steps, light running on downhills, powering up the uphills, not stopping to eat or drink, just do it while moving. I pulled off the next 4-ish miles at over 3mph, a new record for me. I reached the Kern River and was just amazed.
This is the biggest flowing water source since Deep Creek Hot Springs way back there. The smell, the sound, absolutely fabulous. I couldn’t resist the urge to take a short break, rinse my clothes and legs and grab more water. Absolutely fabulous. With it being quite warm with little shade, the wet clothes were quite refreshing for the next 20 minutes or so.
I certainly have barn brain. I’m not looking around, I’m not constantly looking at the app to see how long, just get it done. I’m so focused I almost miss the 700-mile marker. For many thru hikers, this is the BIG milestone. The initiation is over, the Sierras are next. Time to bring your A game. But the REAL end is getting to town. For years it was the Kennedy Meadows General Store, just off of Sherman Pass Road at PCT mile 702. More recently, it’s changed to Grumpy’s Retreat which is just past 700. Wanting to get the miles over with, I go to Sherman Pass Road.
Once there, the emotions are all over the map. Relief, elation, sobbing, screaming, yelling. I’m sure I look like a nut to all of the weekenders driving down the road. And I do not care. I just walked 700 miles, all they did was drive. And for me, the most amazing part is that I thought I would get here at 5pm….instead I rolled in at 3:30. Whoa!
The energy maintains as I walk the mile-and-half to the General Store. My expectations are deflated when I realize while the place is busy, there are no hikers. As I find a place to sit on the porch and try to decide what to do first, a patron hands me an extra cheeseburger they didn’t want. Woo hoo, free food! I step inside to get the low-down on how things work here and to buy some beer and more food. As my second burger is grilling, another customer starts asking me questions. We end up talking quite a bit, sharing beers and generally have a great conversation. Once he and his girlfriend are gone, I realize I don’t want to be here for the night. My friends are at Grumpy’s about 3 miles away by road. So I pack up and start to road walk. And very shortly I get a ride. People out here know hikers, and more importantly, they also know that hikers want to go to one of three places: The General Store, Grumpy’s or the trail.
I get to Grumpy’s and start to walk around finding hikers I know. I eventually find out where the camping area is, and then gravitate back to the bar/grill. There’s Gunner, Censored is in the parking lot, Pac Man is outside, I get re-introduced to Wildcat, and then finally there’s Loud Cloud. His hair is a bit longer, but other than that, no missing him.
The evening turns to night, the light fades to dark, and the screaming and laughing seem to go on forever. It’s good to be among friends! And if it wasn’t for Loud Cloud, I never would have found my way back to the camping area. Thank you my trail son!
I can’t believe I made it. Not that I didn’t think I could, it’s just been so many years dreaming of this moment, it’s finally here. What a journey this has been already, and I still have over 1,900 miles to go. How intimidating.
Savior out.