I spent last night in Ridgecrest at the Clarion inn waiting for Seven and Dallas to get in from their flights. They got here around 9PM, we figured that was too late to get a ride up to KMS. It’s about 45-50 minutes to get there and we’d be pitching in the dark. I organize a ride for this morning from a trail angel Amy. Amy picks us and 1 other hiker up and we’re on our way.
We head up the road to Chimney Creek Campsite and drop that gentleman off. He was heading north from there. We get back on the road and 20 minutes later we’re pulling into Grumpy Bears where we grab food and hang out for a bit.
After Grumpy’s we get a ride from a guy over to the Kennedy Meadows General Store. IMO it’s much cleaner there than at grumpies. I set up my tent in their camping area and prepare for a windy afternoon. After staking everything up and giving it the “earthquake test” I head over to the store to order some food and enjoy the WiFi.
We hit breakfast in the AM and then we’re off hiking by 9AM. Short day today of 17ish miles of uphill to our first campsite by a bridge. Dallas has a full plan that’s all laid out and I honestly don’t even know what it is. Something about a ten day food carry to VVR.
The trail heads through the last section of “desert looks” and then we come across the S Kern River. It’s beautiful. We see a group of people pitching their tents and decide to pitch too. We are now in the bubble of hikers.
I head out the next morning with the goal of another short day. These short days really feel like long days because they’re at altitude. 17 miles. I’m heading to Death Creek to camp there. I leave at 6am and try to beat the sun. I head off up the trail and cross a meandering creek a few times into a beautiful meadow. I leap frog a few hikers and decide to stop for breakfast.
I lay out my tyvek in the sun and enjoy the warm morning glow. I eat a bunch of junk and set a time for 20 minutes. Timer hits and I’m on my way again. It’s another 4 miles of uphill and then all downhill the camp, I run into Seal and he says he’s heading to the same spot. Roger lets roll.
We head off and say once we hit the top we’re going to yard sale and dry out our gear. He’s winded, he’s from Ohio and the altitudes not on his side. I feel the same, we make the last climb in the sun and then pick a nice spot for lunch.
As we’re having lunch Wolf Slayer walks in. Takes their gear off and kicks it too, another 35 minutes go by and Seven and Dallas roll in. We all chill for a minute and then start the decent to camp.
This was a fun walk and the first time I can remember all of us walking into a campsite together as a group. We usually all roll in at totally different times.
We gather around and eat dinner, chill, stretch watch the swollows fly and plan tomorrow’s camp site.
The Pacific Crest Trail 