Kennedy Meadows!!!!

We would like to first apologize for the lack of communication lately. We mistakenly rolled into Lake Isabella (a town where we could have updated the blog) on a Sunday and the library was closed. We figured out that the rest of the world doesn’t operate on our stinky hiker time. Therefore, this blog will be lengthy to make up for the mistake.

6/1

Adam was recovering from a day of the flu when we took off from Los Angeles. Scoutmeister gave us a ride back to Mojave, and we said our goodbyes to him for at least a few weeks until he gets back on the trail to catch up. Thanks again, Scout. We miss you!

6/1-6/4

The 94 miles from Mojave to Walker Pass rolled along easily, although our legs were in shock after the long break in the city. We covered the miles in record time for us, completing the 94 miles in 3 days. At Walker Pass a trail angel named Mama Moab (who is hiking the trail with her 11 yr old son), had a big tent of goodies for hikers, and we even set up a 30 mile hitch from there to Lake Isabella.

6/5

We needed to get to Lake Isabella for three reasons. The first reason was because Forest, just a couple days out of the big city, developed terrible poison oak blisters and needed to see a doctor. Pictures can be found below if you have the stomach for them. Another reason to hitch to Lake Isabella was, of course, for food! And finally, we were going to hitch to Bakersfield to pick up our friend, Maria Parenti, who came from Chicago to hike with us for a week.

By far, the most exciting hitch of our lives followed, as we were picked up by Daniel, a California cowboy, who took the hairpin curves down-canyon at over 65 miles per hour. Considering his habits while driving, we feel very lucky to be alive.

Our coldest night yet and awkwardly-shaped frozen cheese

Leopard Lizard

Caught in the act

Similar dirty business along the trail

Snake Crossing

Forest poison oak left

Forest poison oak right

Sunrise and hundred mile views

6/6

We made it back to Walker Pass via public transit and hitching to finish the final 50 miles before Kennedy Meadows, the gateway to the High Sierra.

Bert, Ernie, and Maria (also a Sesame Street character) hit the trail. Maria, with zero backpacking experience, was in for quite the adventure. Our first steps started a steep 2.5 mile climb, and Maria never looked back despite the adversity she was unexpectedly about to face. As if 5 days in a row of walking 10-13 miles on the PCT wasn’t already challenging for the tiny dancer, then throw in explosive diarrhea, knee problems, and yes, a monstrous allergic reaction to the face! Our second night out, both Maria and Forest woke up all the other critters in the woods, including Adam, with the moans, groans, and explosions of projectile vomiting and bowel movements. Enjoying yourself yet Maria? Knee problems lingered for the next few days with pounding down and uphill stretches. By the fourth morning, Maria had woken up as a new species. Her face was swollen and red from some unknown allergy. She was a trooper though, finishing the 50 miles, as all three of us followed the South Fork of the rushing Kern River to Kennedy Meadows.

Maria hesitant to stick out the hitching thumb

First climb with a smile

No-bake Cheesecake!!!!

Jenkins-Owens saddle sunset

Adam cowboy camping

Morning mist

This is a huge checkpoint for us. We have now walked 702 miles, about 1/4 of the way to Canada! We are currently stuck here waiting for a package that holds our ice axes for the upcoming snow travel. We can’t exactly complain about being stuck in Kennedy Meadows, as we have a flat spot to camp, coffee, pancakes, internet, and loads of friends to hang out with. We have spent the majority of our days being lazy eating pints of ice cream and triple Climber Burgers in the shade outside the general store. Last night there was a potluck at the general store, where locals brought hearty dishes to share with their friends and a bunch of hiker trash. After an awesome meal, Bert and Ernie headed off with Chris, a local boy, to cut, split, and stack a couple cords of lodge pole pine for an old timer down the road. A little work with the chainsaw and maul earned us a hot, pressurized shower and free dinner at the potluck. Today, we plan to organize our food for the Sierra and head down to the Kern River for a day on the beach and a quick dip in the 38 degree water. 

Almost to Kennedy Meadows!

South Fork of Kern River - our first glimpse of Sierra snow-melt 

Outdoor Theater with movies every night!

The potluck

Kennedy Meadows Sunset

Maria heads back to Chicago this evening----back home for Mom’s cooking, hot showers, a warm bed, and a sterile environment….all well deserved after the hell she went through on her first backpacking adventure. Maria, best of luck on your adventure to France in the fall and thanks again for the company over the last week….and for surviving Mother Nature’s wrath.

Until our package arrives, we will be resting up and planning our next leg through the High Sierra. We will be hiking over 13,000-foot snow-covered passes, fording swift, swelled snow-melt rivers, and summiting Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48. The scenery will be absolutely stunning, and we will be faced with many new challenges. We are stoked!

We are picking up mail and supplies in Independence in 7 days and heading back into the Sierra for another snowy, high elevation leg. We hope to give you another update at this stop.

There has been a bit of confusion with the donating process for Camp AmeriKids. If you choose to donate directly through the Camp AmeriKids website, please send us an email or note letting us know so our records balance.

A special shout-out to our fathers on this upcoming Sunday! Thank you for all of your support, and we will be thinking of you on top of some snowy pass in the Sierra! Happy Father’s Day!

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Much Love,

F+A