Chief, aka Kevin. PCT 4 me 2013: 07/10/13

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Wind, Wind and Walker Pass Resupply - Heaven.

Hello Sierra’s, mile 744.

Up to 9 rattle snakes, 2 were close calls, one made me do a sweet dance and the second Jug and I had to distract him to get by.

Big Jumpy rattler

Jug is a 27 year old guitar playing young gun who carries a gallon jug with his water ALL the time, carries it in his left hand, even though he is right handed. He also has his little backpack guitar. He is a cool dude.

JUG

The WIND. The wind blew for 250 miles. It was clocked up to 65 mph. It was constant. You couldn’t do one thing without making sure things wouldn’t blow away (maps, water, stoves, tents) My tent broke, but fixed now. Hikers were literally blown off the trail, hiking sticks broke in half and many of us questioned our sanity. I am so glad to be out of that wind. Poor Wendy crawled into a ball and quit. I have heard she is back on the trail..good job Wendy.

Never realized how precious water and shade is. My whole strategy for the past 700 miles revolved around water. I think most people know how important water is, but when it is scarce and you have to carry it through wind, heat and 2 desserts, its something. As for shade, walking through burned out areas you really begin to look for any bit of shade. So after our wonderful resupply from “Chief’s wife” (you all know who that is!) at Walker Pass, “Walking Home” (lives in Winthrop, WA) and I did 29 miles. We weren’t planning that many miles that day, but after a big climb out of Walker Pass and still NO water, we just hunkered down and walked until we found water and campsites! AAh, the South fork of the Kern River. Beautiful water. What a plus. Many of the 20 somethings were catching Golden Trout with their hands! It was a Water Party! We were all acting like a bunch of toddlers.

Walker Pass Resupply. Wow. Maureen did it this time. There was a bucket with water to wash our hands, battery operated shower, fresh, cold green salad stuffed with veggies, cold fruit, tri-‐tip, garlic bread and beans. And then to top it all off, our neighbor, Dan the Postman’s amazing cheese-‐cake cupcakes. Hikers came in throughout the day. There was Will and Roadrunner from Arizona, Recycle, Chip, Jug, Icebucket (from Finland) and Weeds (who had to get Medivaced out last year!!), Katie Jeans (hikes in bluejeans?), Fashionplate Dan, 5-‐Star, Walking-‐Home and Back Up (because he has a back up of EVERYTHING in his pack). Back Up said that Maureen had turned his worst day into his best day EVER. All the group that was at Walker Pass couldn’t stop talking about the Trail Magic that “Chief’s Wife” had left at Cameron Canyon out of the Tehachapi area (cold fruit, candybars, beer, water, soda, chips, and Loy’s amazing cookies!)

Walker Pass Resupply

Thanks DAN! Cheesecake cupcakes

Then, FINALLY, Kennedy Meadows. A night late for the BIG PARTY (thank God) I’m calling it the Sierra Paloozza! It’s becoming a famous tall tale on the trail. That was the night a 55 year old Librarian got her TRAIL NAME..Canadian Mist. When I arrived at KM at 11am there was still Hiker Trash hanging out at the Breakfast deck hung over from the night before. I walked in and was quite the celebrity because of Maureen’s Trail Magic. I can go through the rest of the PCT without worrying about anything because every hiker is worshipping me after those 2 amazing Trail Magic drops. Then my eating fest began with a breakfast burrito, then double bacon cheeseburger with double fries, vanilla milkshake, and my own PINT of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. I’ve lost a good amount of weight and I’m sure I can share clothes with Shane now! After 5 hours of hanging with my trail trash gang, I started walking towards Horseshoe Meadows. Found a perfect campsite among the conifers and a stream to filter beautiful, clean, cold water. It was my very own Trail Magic.

Maureen picked me up at Horseshoe Meadows and gave Texas Poo (I’m not sure I want to know how he got his name?) and I a ride down to Lone Pine. If you are trying to hitch a ride into a trail town, and you are a man, you have to be alone or hook up with a “ride bride”, single girl hiker. Otherwise, you will never get picked up. So Texas Poo was a lucky man that day. It’s a long rode down into Lone Pine to the Post office for resupply. Then more eating for 2 days and then off again from Cottonwood Pass. The trail buzz is that Forester Pass is still a bit sketchy, but the first hiker out, Ned Tibbits (ski patrol mountaineer form Tahoe) cut the ice chute up to the top of the Pass out. He tries to be the first guy out every year and cut the safety passage over the ice chute. He walked the PCT in 1977 and this is his annual contribution. A welcome one for sure. JOAN, I added this tidbit just for YOU! Oh the memories we had on that ice chute!!!
I’m having a few zero days with Maureen in Lone Pine. My feet are great now. Thanks for all the recommendations from emails that Maureen has passed on. Everyone’s feet are different and what works for some, doesn’t for others. But on Rik’s recommendation, toe socks were the miracle for me.

Toe socks!

Apparently my toes cross each other and rubbed...the socks did the trick. I’m eating lots for 2 days and taking multiple baths. Ari (Shane’s best buddy and roommate) is joining me for the walk from Cottonwood Pass to Mammoth. Mile 744 to mile 901. The Sierra’s are the most welcoming site so far. No more Trail Angels and no more Trail Magic, except for the Magic that the Sierra’s already has. The Sierra’s have always held a special bond for me. I’m excited about having campsites and water, and a bit nervous about some of the high passes. I’ve walked this section before and it is most beautiful. This first section was a bitch, but it’s done.

Bestie's Trail Magic

Post Office at Lone Pine - Texas Grit

Thanks to Dana for the last Trail Magic. Cookies are GONE. Gone within about 5 minutes. The Lone Pine Post Office was quite the buzz with your cookies. Many of the hikers were there to collect their boxes. Texas, not to be confused with Texas Poo, ate about 10 cookies in about 30 seconds. A big thanks to Greg and the Phelps who will be my next Trail Angels with resupplies out of VVR and northern California. It’s always nice to see friends and I really appreciate all your help and support.

Hello to my family. I think of you all often. Shane – BE careful. Bad Fire Season. Erin – I’m walking North, your way, would love to see you and Danny.

Maureen will include some pics. I’m not the photographer but will have Ari along side to take some Sierra pics in my next segment. I’ve also included a link to fellow PCT hiker, Craig. He has a great planner guide for the PCT and some nice pics. Included a blog of his from a while back at Warner Springs. Shane was walking at that time.
Enjoy. http://lunky.com/pct2013/2013/04/25/

A memorable resupply at Walker Pass

Next update at mile 901 – Red’s Meadow out of Mammoth.

Chief

PCT Basics

I have come to find out that not everyone is as educated on the PCT as we have become in the last year ! (imagine that!!) Many of you are asking so many good questions, so I thought I would go over some of the basics.

The PCT spans 2, 650 miles from Mexico to Canada, walking through California, Oregon and Washington. One travels through the desert, the enormous expanse of the Sierra Nevada, through deep forests and volcanic peaks in the Cascade Range.
Some walk only a few miles, others a specific “section”, and then there are the thru-‐hikers (Kevin) completing every mile in a single session.
A “community” of volunteers ties this trail together. Without these “trail angels” this trail could not be completed.
The PCT avoids roads and towns, almost entirely...and aims to stay remote and passes through magnificently untamed country.
Sometimes, there are NO campgrounds and the hikers sleep wherever they can, which may be right on the trail due to water, exhaustion, and weather.
Approximately 200 miles of the trail passes through privately owned lands. Wilderness permits are required for designated wilderness lands, national parks and state parks, which the trail passes through. The PCT Association works with the hikers to obtain all the necessary permits for this and Canada.
Sections will close due to fires, damaged bridges and other reasons
The trail crosses over 57 major mountain passes, 3 Natl’ monuments, 5 State
parks, 7 Natl’ parks, 24 Natl’ forests and 47 Wilderness areas.
It dips into 19 major canyons and past more than 1,000 lakes.
The PCT is divided into 29 sections of “manageable” length. There are 18
Sections in CALIFORNIA (Sections A – R). Then when you get to Oregon, the
labeling starts over with Sections A – L, combining Oregon and Washington.
When planning your thru-‐hike, you take into consideration your section, the
trail angels available and your resupply opportunities.
When on the trail, you are only referred to by your TRAIL NAME. Someone on
the trail gives you your trail name and then you must accept or deny. Shane
was given “BootCamp” at about Day 2. He accepted!
Do you walk alone? Some do, other’s don’t. You never have to walk alone,
there seems to be a “group” of hikers that are in the same day or two within Kevin. Sometimes he will walk with another for a some time. They may walk within 4 or 5 miles apart, end up sleeping in the same area, you get the idea.
Zero Days. Just what is sounds like. NO walking. Lots of showers and laundry and lots of FOOD. Kevin has had 2 zero days. First was at mile 178 -‐ Idyllwild and most recently at mile 266 – Big Bear City.
In every resupply box, I print out the most recent water report and trail angel locations for the specific section Kevin is hiking. http://PCtwater.com
I am currently packing and sending Box #4 to the Best Western Hotel on the Cajon Pass (I-‐15). They will pick up and drop you off at trail again.
But, most importantly, you must hike your own hike.

At mile 109, Warner Springs, I picked up Shane as he had joined Kevin for the first week of hiking from the Mexican border. It was quite an experience for Shane and it was a very emotional day as Kevin was not ready for him to leave. Shane overcome with the magic of the trail and had an amazing week. I am hopeful he will share some of the great stories that he was able to experience first hand. It will surely bring tears of joy when you hear some of the remarkable things people do for the hikers. I will let him share those stories.
Currently, Kevin is at mile 266. Big Bear City. It was a tough week with really hot days and lots of climbing, up and then down and then up and then down again. I zoomed in on the topo map and it was pretty gnarly. Little water. Now the weather has changed. It may snow tonight on them? Crazy. He will walk for 4 days until he reaches Box #4 (Cajon Pass). Then he has 7 days until mile 454 – Aqua Dulce, where I will get to stay at our friends, Jackie and Martin’s Ranch! So excited. Shadow (my horse) is coming along and we will all “walk” together for the day on the PCT.

Jeremy has the URL updating on a periodic basis now, so you should be able to zoom in on the little hiker dude and see where Kevin is. He is feeling good and his feet are coming around. It is just a lot of walking, not just your typical pavement walking. The lack of water has been tough on the feet. The desert is a hot, dry area and you still have to cover those 20 mile days. Got to get to Canada before October!

We are working on a photo map that will give you some pics with certain locations. It’s a work in progress. I will attach some pictures that Kevin has been able to send via his iphone.
The trail is different for everyone. Some hikers are very serious about FINISHING and their daily miles. Some are great at hitchhiking to resupplies and skipping certain parts of the trail. Some just want to have a great time and make the entire experience one big party. Everyone looks out for each other. There is a 21 year old from Washington that Kevin’s little enclave has really taken under their wings. His mom sent 5 dozen cookies to Ziggy and the Bear (81 year old Trail Angels) in Cabazon. Everyone enjoyed Mom’s cookies in the backyard under tarps as Ziggy made them all fresh salad to go with their dinner. At 5am they were off after she fed them all a nice breakfast. Incredible.

It’s a community, for sure.
I feel like Kevin is in good hands.

A friend of ours shared a link from Warner Springs Monty (who I was able to meet at Warner Springs)...I think he does a good job expressing with words what Shane learned about the PCT and what Kevin is surrounded by on a daily basis. http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=12952

Until next week, Maureen

The Traveling VORTEX!

July 10 - Hat Creek Campground
mile 1384

Some new terminology I have learned in the last few days.

the Vortex - aaaah. be careful not to get caught in the vortex! this can be a trail town, trail angel, nice people at campgrounds, etc. you get the drift? I, apparently, have the Traveling Vortex (that being the camper!) by going to trailheads and being at nice campsites, hikers are all welcome to "hang-out" for how ever long they like. I have a cooler full of cold drinks of various beverages!, cookies, and are always welcome for dinner, breakfast or lunch. Apparently, you can easily get stuck in this vortex of mine. Midnight Choc. and Cowgirl have been somewhat stuck, but I love it. They have been hiking with Chief for the past few days and feel like they may be stuck in the "traveling vortex!"
SOBO and NOBO - southbound and northbound thru hikers. The NOBO's (which is the more common path) are always hoping to meet up with a SOBO to get more detailed trail info, for example..."is that water cache really there at Hat Creek Rim?" If the data book, halfmile, guthook says there is a water cache, one begins to doubt if it really is there. 1 litre weighs a bit over 2 lbs. to have to carry 3 ltrs over 20+ miles is not the preferred method of travel! NOBO's are a great source of knowledge for the SOBO's and trail rumor spreads once someone gets to chat it up with them.
DNF - the dreaded term of DID NOT FINISH.
Yellow-blaze - hitchike or drive a section and not go back and walk it. This is not in CHIEF's agenda. (In WILD, Cheryl did this in the Sierra section and she was a Section hiker)
NERO - less than 10, just a few miles that day
ZERO - no miles, essentially a rest day
The Log Books - oh so important for the hikers. Chief has made some really great friends with other thru's, but with some taking Nero's and Zero's for various reasons, you either get ahead or fall behind with previous groups of hikers. I picked up a couple hithchiking in Chester, IceMan and Kattywompus, that had been with Chief in the 700 mile range. They all got along, but somehow with a zero in between, they haven't seen each other. The log books are at the major Trail Angels and trail sections. You can then check to see who's ahead of you...they knew Chief was 2 days ahead. When I picked them up they pleaded with me to tell him to SLOW down!
so many more terms that just escape me now. When you sit around a table with a bunch of hikers it's almost like listening to a different language sometimes.

Ari...Cowboy and BirdMan say "Hey SeaLevel!" and hope you are well. Saw them when I was on the trail with bodie at around mile 1370 (outside of Old Station).

So here I sit in a reststop/overlook area with hikers sleeping under the truck in the shade. Taking an afternoon siesta getting ready for the long, hot stretch of the Hat Creek Rim trail heading towards Burney Falls State Park. They already did a 7 mile stretch to get here, now waiting for the right time to start off on the exposed 30 mile rim walk. They talk about a lot of different strategies, planning, looking and re-looking at maps, possible water cache sites, etc. It's lots of talking through things together. Everyone has their own ways to manage these situations, but this group is going for the late afternoon/night hike to Burney.

I wish them well and hope to see a large group come into Burney Falls State Park tomorrow evening. They will be hungry, thirsty and tired. I'm ready.

Chief's Wife