6/7/20, mile: 713, elevation: 7,943 ft.
Sarah and I took the long mountain drive from Kernville to Kennedy Meadows. We had breakfast at Grumpy Bears Retreat. This place is a lot less crowded and quieter than when I left two-ish weeks ago. She drives me to the trailhead and I’m off and hiking at 11.
One of the hardest things I’ve done on the trail so far was to turn around and look back at her. She has been so supportive of my selfish endeavor. At times like this, I feel so guilty about leaving her and the family.
Starting at the same time are two hikers I’ve never met before: Owl and Pheonix. He’s hiked the Appalachain Trail before, and she is working on her first hike like me. Soon enough, I’m hiking alone along the South Fork of the Kern River. Within sight of the trail are many river access points, so cars and people are always in view. But soon enough I come the end of the road where there’s a campground and day-use parking area. The PCT trail register there indicates that something like 30 people passed through here in the last 2 1/2 days. Wow! And I even recognize a couple of the names, too.
The trail now leaves the sandy meadow and becomes a dirt path following the river upstream. The weather is perfect; warm without being hot, little wind, and no clouds in the sky. Once the trail crosses the “river”, however, things change. The trail climbs up to a burn area. With the elevation and lack of protection from trees, the wind picks up. My mood drops as I struggle through the wind. The rattlesnake I almost stepped on in plain site was quite the shock; welcome back to the trail.
At a water source, a new hiker shows up. His name is Gavin and he’s fresh on the trail, so no trail name yet. We chat briefly before going onwards. As the trail tops out at saddle, the wind is the worst, but there are trees in my future, and they sure do knock the wind down. I consider camping there, but there isn’t water and it’s a little too early. For the next several miles, the trail passes through are right next to a meadow, so I’m concerned about windy camp sites. I finally get to one back in the trees with a small creek. It’s quite pleasant, but the temperature starts to drop rapidly as the sun drops. Just as soon as I’m ready to climb into my tent for the night, Owl and Phoenix show up, to be followed ssoon by more new faces.
This is the largest gathering at a camp site I’ve had for this entire trip, 7 including me. Down right crowded! We all sit together while cooking and eating our meals, telling stories about our trail as well as the antics that have gone on at Grump Bear’s Retreat. Owl even whips out his ukelele and gives us a trail version of ‘Ring of Fire’. Let’s just say it involves hygiene.
It’s getting late (8-ish) and very cold. Another night sleeping with batteries and the water filter.
Savior out.