Packwood, WA to Snoqualmie Pass, WA

9-18-2013 to 9-23-2013

9-18-2013

PCT MILE: 2303-2312.98

-Woke up and did errands in town (Packwood, WA) with Rainbow

-Straightened my hair and added my cold weather gear to my pack. -It was amazing to feel clean, put together, and prepared before stomping off to conquer the wet woods again. This last section was really tough... but I learned my lessons and Im learning how to operate here. This is a challenge, but I like it. 

-Kitten is this hiker-dude from Detroit, MI. He is really calm, but super joyful, smart, and silly... just overall good vibes. He got his name because all he really wants on the trail is to have a kitten sitting atop his pack purring and playing while he walks the PCT. It's an outrageous idea that makes everyone chuckle when we think about the logistics of actually carrying around kittens on trail. We realized that we would have to breed miniature-kittens (like toy-dogs) so they would only weigh so much. And, to cut back on weight, we would toss the older and heavier kittens out and get a new, lighter-weight, baby kitten. I love thinking about this. Lol. 

-Rainbow drove Kitten and I back to the trail and away from the comforts of town. I updated my blog and called home to talk to my mom and dad.

-My mom and dad have been so supportive of my journey... They are taking care of my dog Sadie, they mail me gear and food as I need it along the way, they send me my bills, they flew out here to see me, my dad has started hiking again to hike with me, they purchased some of my gear, and they follow me on my SPOT device. Wow. This trip would have been so much more difficult, if not impossible, if it weren't for their help. I love you mom and dad!!!!!!!

-Hiked just under 10 miles today. I began hiking at 4pm and ended at about 7:00ish. I wanted to hike longer but it was getting darker and colder with every step. I decided to camp at a certain spot I knew was up ahead per my maps. Kitten had set up camp. I camped there too and we just chatted while we each made dinner from the comfort of our tents. 

-It's FREEZING here! And it's only going to get colder with every day.  That's incentive to hike really fast- to get your body warm. 

-Saw an elk today! It went barreling through the forest. Elk are HUGE! I bad no idea how big they are- like the size of an SUV or truck. 

-Good night!

9-19-2013

PCT MILE: 2312.98-2334.06

-Woke up early and was hiking out at 8:30am. Yay! I finally got up, packed up, ate breakfast, stretched, and had coffee by a decent hour! 

-Time really matters when you're backpacking. For example, you don't want to walk when it's too hot so you plan your hours accordingly to avoid the beat of the day. Right now, I am in Washington and winter is coming. It gets REALLY cold around 5:00pm, and the sun goes down earlier too. It's important that Im waking up early so that I can walk during the heat of the day and get at least 20 miles in a day before it gets dark. Had I considered these factors the other day, before climbing The Knife's Edge and having a near-death experience, I would have known to camp and save the climb for the following day when I would have ample daylight and more tolerable weather conditions. 

-Saw Shady Acres this morning and Explagrance this afternoon. She got confused with directions and she wasn't paying attention, so she started walking south on the trail!!!!! She totally backtracked and didn't even realize it until she saw me coming towards her. She asked if she was going the wrong way (sobo) and I said "yep!" She and I walked back in the correct direction (north) and we got to some trail magic at Hwy 20!!!!! I got apples and a coke! Trail angels, whoever you are... THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!! At the trail magic stop I also saw Golden Boy, Rustic, and First Man. Solstice went way up the trail as did Shady, Puff, and Safari. I hope to see them all again one day. 

-I worried about the hike today, but it wasn't all as bad as I anticipated. I was done with the inclines before I knew it. The weather was GORGEOUS!!!! The sky was blue with very few clouds and the air was cool and crisp. I would have needed a jacket on today if in weren't hiking no saw Mt. Rainier too!!!! It was beautiful! The mountain is massive and it protrudes into the sky unlike any of its surrounding mountains. It's covered in glaciers and ice. Mt. Rainier is marvelous. I feel so lucky that I got to hike next to it on a clear-blue day like today! The weather is supposed to take a turn for the worst, and today might just be the last blue-skied day Ill see in a long time. 

-Everyone wanted to convince me to hike on with them, but I was tired and I had already hiked more than 20 miles today. I didn't want to night hike on a ridge line with possibly poor weather heading my way and not having a place to stop for 10 miles if things got bad. I stayed behind. But Kitten and First Man are camped with me too. Both guys are really nice. 

-Kitten has TONS of food... I mean TONS OF FOOD! He gave me some of his food tonight because I didn't bring much (good) food with me. Thank you Kitten!

-I ate a very big dinner: Luncheable Pizza, 2 pepperoni sticks, 1 coke, 1 apple, macaroni and cheese, 4 slices of spicy cheese, tootsie rolls, sweet tarts, peppermint tea, and water!!!!!! I didn't eat much during the day today, so I hope the calories I consumed at dinner are enough to cover my 21 miles... Probably not enough, but at least I feel full. 

-Saw wild mountain goats on the mountain in front of me. 

9-20-2013

PCT MILE: 2334.06-2355

-Woke up late; left camp around 10:00am; strolled along the trail and took it easy while enjoying the beautiful weather

-Ran into Poolside from Virginia while on a saddle looking at Mt. Reinier. 

-Cabin and wood stove; local kids stopped by

9-21-2013

PCT MILE: 2355-2383.55

-Yep! I did 28.08 miles today!!!!!

-Hiked with Poolside

-Trail Angel surprise; burgers, beer, chips, cookies, soda, hot chocolate, whiskey, and more!

-Decided to stop instead of keep going to make my 30 mile goal... this magic was too good to pass up. 

-Sunny and rainy

-Every day I should: help someone out, accept someone else's help, challenge yourself, and do at least one thing you don't want to do that day. 

9-22-2013

PCT MILE: 2383.55-2402.00

-Woke up, packed, and slack packed to Snoqualmie Pass in the rain

-Got to Ardvark's at the Chevron and was greeted with warm food and all my trail friends

-Decided to stay at the Mostel Hostel here in Snoqualmie. 

-While running up the wooden stairs outside, I fell and face-planted into the wooden railing. I split open my eyebrow; blood was everywhere. I didn't go to the doctor... I hope I don't need stitches! The bleeding stopped so I think it's okay. 

-Greeted by other hikers staying at the Mostel- Pepperflake, Shotput, New Orleans, Rustic, Shady Acres, Danielle (Giardian Angel), & Taylor (No Poo Bear)

-Great to see everyone, and to be showered and dry even though I cut my forehead open. 

9-23-2013

Zero day in Snoqualmie Pass, WA

-Slept in, did laundry, tended to my eyebrow/forehead wound, rested

-Took a nap and woke up to Moist standing there! Yay! I hadn't seen him in ages!!!!!! Then, Safari ran up the stairs and tackled me (literally). And then Puff moseyed up the stairs too! Most all of my FAVORITE  people were there with me! I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. I love my trail family so much. 

Trout Lake, WA to Packwood, WA

Trout Lake, WA to Packwood, WA

9-14-2013 to 9-17-2013

9-17-2013

PCT MILE: 2287.53-2303

-So cold when I woke up

-Goat hunters' fort. Ken and Jim gave us hot coffee, whiskey, and a pipe. They also let us warm up by their stove inside their tent! I love these guys! So nice!

-Hiked fast to get to town; tired of being cold and wet. 

-Rainbow (a Vortex member who has finished the trail) was doing trail magic in the area. She picked me up from where the trail came across a major road at White Pass and she drove me to town where we split a hotel room. I got a hot shower, a hot meal, clean clothing, and a warm bed. This was HEAVEN on earth, especially after what I had just been through on the Knife's Edge. 

9-16-2013

PCT MILE: 2262.02-2287.53

-25 miles today! Woohoo! 

-Wanted to walk 30 miles today, but weather and terrain had different plans for me

-Life-Death situation where I couldn't screw up or else I would die; the most afraid I've ever been on the trail; mile 2285- rocky, steep, slippery, surrounded by snowy drop-offs, rain, wind, very cold air, getting dark, above the tree-line which means no where to run for cover, snow starting to fall, hardly any visibility because of the rain and fog, on a narrow ridge line- like walking on the very tip top part of the fin on a jagged mountain, getting hypothermic when I stopped walking, soaking wet, and very VERY scary... But the whole time I knew it would be okay if I controlled my breathing, drank water, moved my fingers constantly, wiggled my toes around, stayed calm, not let my emotions conquer me, kept my bearings, decided that I could not stop walking for any reason (otherwise I would freeze to death), and told myself it would be okay if I did these things and if I could calmly and safely make my descent down past the tree-line and into the forest again. Everything turned out okay, thank God. 

-The others in my group also struggled a lot and feared for their lives too over this part. I had fallen behind them on the uphill earlier in the day which is why I wasn't with them. 

-Hiking with Shady Acres, Apache, Gone Slow, Lady Killer, Cookie Monster, Golden Boy, Solstice, and Explagrance. 

9-15-2013

PCT MILE: 2247.66-2262.02

-Woke up early to a gorgeous sunset. 

-Got on trail and floated down it. It was an AMAZING hike... the colors, sounds, smells, changing weather, fog, cool air, and my body functioning properly all made the perfect hike. 

-Hiked and ate lunch with Gone Slow, Shady Acres, Apache, and Cookie Monster. 

-Candy from Shady Acres

-Hiked really well, and was LOVING the hike! But I stopped early for the night because a huge,  steep, waterless ascent was coming up and I didn't want to tackle it at night in the rain/mist. I stopped, made camp, got water, built a fire, and ate dinner. Apache, Gone Slow, and Shady Acres joined me. Cookie Monster hiked on. Solstice stopped by our camp but kept hiking. Others joined us to camp later. They were excited about our campfire!

-Planning on hiking at least 20 miles tomorrow, if not hike 30 miles! Lol... we'll see what happens as tomorrow's hike has one of our steepest climbs we have had in a while. It's going to be difficult. Ugh. And Im running out of food, so I've got no choice but to hike hard.

-Feeling stronger, faster, and more confident about my hiking. 

-Very large river crossing... slipped a little and everything below my knees got drenched. This wasn't good for my hiking boots, because they take so long to dry out. It also wasn't good for my socks because the only pair I have is the one I was wearing! Walking with wet shoes definitely isn't my favorite way to hike, but wet shoes weren't as bad as I thought they would be. 

-Rain... gear getting wet

9-14-2013

PCT MILE: 2237.50-2247.66

-Leaving Trout Lake, WA where I woke up and ate a great breakfast!

-More friends showed up in town- Cookie Monster, Sierra Bum (Diego), Fire Hazard, Rain Maker, Solstice, Ryan, Explagrance, and Rustic. 

-Still hot here in WA!

-Trail angel James gave me a ride back to trail. I got started on my hike at around 3:00pm! A little late, but oh well. 

-Nervous about today's CRAZY and CONSTANT incline! I was dreading it. But today's trail actually wasn't that bad! It was hard but worth the sunset view. I held back tears and just sat there on a ridge looking at the Cascade Mountains right before me. 

-I've noticed that Im stronger, my breathing is getting better, I am more centered so that I find myself in a 'zone' or 'hiker trance' more often, I am more relaxed, I am more thankful, and as a result... I am hiking faster! Yay! Im finding it easier and easier to push through the pains and to find that breath to keep you going. The inhaler has helped me a ton. 

-Hiked with Cookie Monster, my old trail friend from the PCT Kick Off. 

-Camped near a river at mile 2247.66 with Cookie Monster, Shady Acres, Apache, and [I forgot his name! Whoops!]. We sat around and ate dinner and chatted for a bit. I laughed a lot. 

-In my tent and its getting COLD!!!!!! Im excited for winter! :)

Cascade Locks, OR to Trout Lake, WA

9-9-2013

PCT MILE: 2155-2164.78

-Cascade Locks, OR across the Columbia River Gorge on the Bridge of the Gods into Washington

-CONSTANT incline! Ugh! Every time out of town the trail does this... Up, up, up... and my pack is full with a 10 day supply of food because Im trying to hike through to White Pass which is roughly 150 miles north of me. 

-Packed extra food since Im moving slowly and working back into my thru-hike after being off trail for so long. This means Im carrying more food weight than usual. 

-Meeting new people. I like it. 

-Different type of forest and weather here in WA

-Set out to the trail alone. Feels strange without my Vortex trail family, but it will be good for me to hike my own hike and experience some solitude I believe I need

-My back is really hurting me. Oh well. 

-Couldn't start a fire because everything was damp. I didn't try too hard to get one lit. 

-Camped alone

-Happy and excited to be back on trail! Also nervous... Im jumping back on after so much time off trail. I feel out of practice (because I am). This is why Im hiking the entire trail next year... so I can feel I've done a true thru-hike. 

-Female issues... grrrrrr!

-Saw old friends this past weekend at PCT Trail Days... Atlas, Busted, Kitten, lots from Vortex, Shady Acres, Explagrance, Rain Maker, Solstice, Wild Fire, Fire Hazard, White Lightening, Rustic, Rocks, Cookie Monster, and more. 

9-10-2013

PCT MILE: 2164.78-2184.96

-OMG! I walked 20 miles today! Woohoo! Yay! Im tired as all get out, but mentally Im feeling good. Im proud of myself and Im glad I pushed on today. 

-Leap-frogged with Rando, Muck Muck, and Man in Black. 

-Hiked with Rando a lot towards the end of the day. He is an Army Veteran, my age, friendly, and super chill. He is nice company.

-Muck Muck is a chic from Australia who is really boisterous and her joy is infectious. Don't know her too well, but I appreciate her positivity. 

-Woke up late and didn't start hiking until 10:00am. 

-TONS of uphill! Aagghhhh! It was difficult, but worth it. 

-While I was walking and wondering why Im here and putting myself through a grueling hike up hill, the trail spat me out from the thick forest onto a beautiful mountain ridge with snow-capped mountains off in the near distance. It was a remarkable sight and I stood there speechless. THAT is why Im here. 

-My feet, hips, back, and shoulders hurt me the most right now... practically all of me, lol. But my feet are THROBBING right now!

-Ate Pad Thai for dinner... soooo good!

-Happy to have my tent, stove, and blow up sleeping pad. I've got too much food (I think). Need to get Tyvec, a tarp, a bivy sac, a synthetic down sleeping bag, snow shoes, micro-spikes, and a well-fitted ice axe. 

-Need to ask mom and dad to send me down gloves, socks, and pink long-johns set. 

-Im really glad to be back on trail. I feel less lost, and like my life has direction again. Being off trail was hard for me (mentally). Being able to come back on trail, and to return to the trail community and way of life is so amazing. I love it here even though it is challenging and Im dirtier than ever. 

-Slipped on a patch of mud, fell down on my right side, got bloody and bruised knees, and my hip kind of hurts. Im okay though... just mother nature's rude welcome back to the trail again. Lol. I should remember to not be overcome with nostalgia for the trail- it's really really really difficult hiking!!!

9-11-2013

PCT MILE: 2184.96-2204.34

-9 miles of uphill!!!!!!! Didn't think it was possible, but I did that plus almost another 11 miles. Im very proud of myself. Im also very tired!

-Blister on right pinkie toe

-Said bye to Rando this morning and got a late start

-Hard finding a camping spot in the dark, so I practically set up camp on trail... I just didn't have it in me to keep going

-Hearing animals and critters around my tent... kind of freaky

-Sooooo tired, my body hurts... but I'm so happy Im here!

9-12-2013

PCT MILE 2204.34-2227.35

-Yep. You read that mileage correctly! I hiked 23.01 miles today! Woohoo! I haven't done that in a looooooong time! Im exhausted and hurting, but man am I proud of myself today. 

-Woke up to the threat of stinging insects attacking me. I could have sworn I heard a bee's nest or something just behind my tent. I very carefully drug all my gear into my tent, organized and packed it all up as best I could, put on as many layers of clothing I could find including my bug net for my face, exited the tent and quickly walked away with my poorly packed backpack. I then went back for my food bags, and finally I went and grabbed my tent. I hauled all this down the trail a ways, took my tent down, threw everything in the backpack, and walked 2.5 miles to a good rest stop. I realized that I wasn't near a bee's, hornet's, or wasp's nest; the entire forest sounds like its sitting on top of a nest! It's safe here. You have to pay attention to insects just like anywhere else... but for some reason they're loud here!

-Washington is HOT! I thought it would be really cold and overcast. It's beautiful, sunny, dry, and warm! 

-Blister on my pinky toe still hurts. I think it's getting bigger too. I keep trying to take care of it and keep it dry, but Im walking too much for it to heal properly. Oh well... I'll be in town in a few days. I'll rest up there. 

-HYOH Mantra: Hike Your Own Hike... Mind your own business. Don't tell others what to do. Don't offer unsolicited advice. Don't try to take care of others. Don't try to mimick someone else's hike or plans. Simply do your own thing and take care of yourself. Everything else falls into place when everyone just worries about their own hike, health, plans, and overall journey. If you need help, ask... you may not always receive it so don't feel entitled. If you're lonely, ask someone for some company... don't just innocently stalk someone. Hike your own hike. Be an individual. You are autonomous and responsible for you and only you!

-Why I love the trail: human experience, scenery, sense of accomplishment and direction, challenging, adventurous, fun, learning experience, always changing, and it requires adaptation, mental strength, and physical strength.

-Scared of the dark and running into a bear. Talked out loud to bears in the forest to scare them away and alert them as to my whereabouts. 

-Gave myself a WetOnes Wipes bath. It's not much, but I do feel a bit better. I've been sweating an insane amount and the salt from my sweat is crusted all over my skin. It feels great to be free of dried salt for now!

-Goodness gracious... My feet are KILLING me! And my low back and my hips, especially the left hip. I took a pain pill and some ibuprofen. Im hoping the medicine and sleep will help me out. Im nervous about my back going out- its incredibly sore and my hip is almost "locked" right now. I need a massage!

-Made a "PCT Playlist" on my phone today. I love it!

-I miss my dog, Sadie. 

-I miss my girlfriends so much! I like to imagine each friend hiking with me for a day or two. Often I end up laughing out loud because most of my friends would be horrified at the things us hikers do. I see some friends as being able to do large portions of trail with me. I also see some of my girls hiking the entire trail on their own; where we set out together on day one and then go from there- no commitments to stick together or meet by absolute deadlines- just to hike and see where we end up on trail, and if we end up hiking together due to similar hiking styles. 

-To my girlfriends back home: I love y'all and miss you gals so much!

9-13-2013

PCT MILE 2227.35-2237.50

-Accidentally slept in waaayyy too late... 10:45am! Wtf?!? Whoops! I can't believe I slept so long! I took my medicine last night in addition to my emergency pain pill because I was really hurting all over. I think the pain pill made me more drowsy and lethargic than normal. I just didn't feel 'right' when I woke up this morning. And now, after being off pain pills for so long, I look back at the year when I was so heavily medicated and it now makes perfect sense to me why I was incredibly catatonic and depressed! Im so happy Im not taking pain medication anymore. 

-The late start on my day and my constant body odor and dirtiness was getting to me. I had 10 miles to walk until the trail put me close to the town of Trout Lake, WA. I had originally planned to skip over the town. I even packed enough food so as to last me all the way to White Pass. But given the way I was feeling, I decided to stop to rest. I immediately got a hitch into town from a local trail angel named James. My town stop was meant to be. 

-Saw Cookie Monster! We ate dinner and split a bunk room for $25 total! Hell yeah!

-Took a bath and am cozy in bed. Everything is right. I feel good and am loving life! :)

Truckee, CA to Burney Falls, CA:

Truckee, CA to Burney Falls, CA:

Howdy friends, family, and readers! I hope you all are well! I apologize (again) for my lack of posts. Once again my electronic diary deleted itself. I think it is time I switch to good ole' paper and pen journaling. I have had about a 5 week unanticipated 'vacation' from the trail. I believe my last post was in late-July/early-August from Truckee, CA, so I shall pick up from where I left off. Let's rewind...

TRUCKEE, CA:

I mailed my tent, tent poles, blow up sleeping pad, sleeping bag liner, and stove to myself up the trail in Sierra City in an attempt to lighten the weight of my pack. I purchased an emergency shelter and an emergency bivy sack while I was in Truckee, CA just in case I encountered bad weather. This means I planned to 'cowgirl camp' for the next week or more. This also means I got my pack's base weight down to 13.6 pounds!!!!!!! Woohoo!

SIERRA CITY, CA:

My friend Story Time and I hitch hiked 40 miles north from Truckee, CA to Sierra City, CA. The part of trail I skipped over is relatively easy to moderate. I skipped for the sole reasons of laziness and trying to catch up to my trail friends in Sierra City. I stayed at the Red Moose Inn while in Sierra City. Bill and Margaret Price run the inn and provide trail magic by letting hikers camp on their grounds and use their bathroom and computer. You can also eat delicious, home-cooked meals at the diner. They are such nice people! They even drove me to the doctor in another town! I love them so much. I saw tons of friends there as well: Rocket Lama, Giggles, Rainbow, Puff, Kelso, No Rush, Story Time, Shark Rider, Banjo, Poolside, Wolfpaw and Prometheus (who practically took up residency outside the city park's public restroom for over a week), and Salty and his mother Peanut (who just so happens to be my Phi Mu sorority sister)! It was great to see everyone. I love my trail family. Some details of my stay in Sierra City include the bear who startled Salty at the general store (unfortunately I was not there in person), the local swimming hole where we jumped off small cliffs/rocks into the water and drank piña coladas, and my doctor's office visit where I found out I have exercise-induced asthma and had my sore swimmers-ear looked at. Finally, after resting a few days and receiving a clean bill of health, it was time to move on. 

SIERRA BUTTES:

I was nervous to face the climb out of Sierra City. The climb was a lengthy one (7 miles uphill if my memory serves me well), headed straight up to the Sierra Buttes. I hiked this in the evening with Salty and Peanut. All my other friends set out either a day before me or on a road walk instead of hiking the actual trail. This was the first time I used my inhaler... and my oh my! did it work well!!!!!!! I practically flew up the side of the mountain- impressive compared to how long it used to take me to go uphill and considering I had been off trail for about 4 days! I felt incredibly accomplished, refreshed, and alive. Salty, Peanut and I camped near the jeep road at the top of the climb. It was gorgeous up there and I could see the orange glow of city lights off in the distance. While warming up and sitting in my sleeping bag while talking to Salty, a HUGE ball of fire flew across the sky. It looked like someone lit a car on fire and catapulted it into the air above my head. In reality, this was a meteor... very common in early August. Every year from late July to around August 13th there are two major meteor showers. Camping right below the jagged buttes with flying meteors and shooting stars overhead was incredible. In the morning I woke up to spectacular views. You can see all the way to Lake Tahoe in the south to Mt. Lassen up north, all from the top of the Sierra Buttes. Im so happy I did this hike rather than doing a road walk. And Im happy I did it with Salty and Peanut. They're such nice and interesting folks. I really like them. 

Before leaving the Sierra Buttes, we decided to hike up to the fire station in order to achieve the amazing views. The hike up was very difficult for me as my back muscles were spasming. I sat on a rock to try and stretch my back out; I really wanted to make it to the fire station above, but I had to give up as my back pain became worse and worse. I wanted to cry and I felt so discouraged... but not pushing myself was the right decision for me. 

SALTY & PEANUT:

We hiked on up the trail towards Buck's Lake. I really got to know Salty and Peanut over the next few days. Peanut just turned 55. She is TINY in stature and is a teacher. Her attitude is calm, driven, friendly, intelligent, and committed. All in all she is a total badass. I really look up to her and hope I can be as active, fit, and ambitious as she is when I am 55! Her son, Salty, is TALL. He just turned 30 years old, he is a Marine Corps veteran, and he has worked for the Forest Service as a forest fire fighter for years. He is extremely interesting, knowledgable, calm, witty, and strong. He taught me a lot about forest-related topics, like types of trees, why many trees' trunks are curved at their bases (they are shaped by the snow), why fires are good for forests, and general issues firemen and forest service employees face. During our hike I introduced practices such as having small, nightly campfires and sleeping in late to Salty and Peanut. They had not had any campfires during their hike! I couldn't believe it... I love campfires!!!!!!! They had not done too much night hiking and sleeping in on the trail either, but due to the weather being so hot and dry we needed to adjust our hiking and sleeping schedules.

The hike was beautiful and I felt very happy. I was speechless when we arrived to the Middle Fork Feather River bridge, for the view was absolutely breathtaking. We found a campsite near the river where we decided to take a break to swim, bathe, wash our clothes, resupply our water bottles, and have dinner. When I was climbing out of the river and over rocks to get back to our rest-stop, I slipped and my feet jammed in between some rocks. All I had to say was: OUCH!!!!! Actually, some very choice cuss words flew out my mouth, but I'll refrain from using them here. Lol. My big toe on my right foot hurt the worst. It swelled up and turned purple. Salty thought I likely fractured or broke it. I still had about 5 miles to hike up out of the valley from where the trail had dipped down to the river. I usually hate inclines; but this time it was easier and less painful for my toe to walk uphill and my inhaler was helping me breathe much more easily. Finally Salty, Peanut, and I made it to Buck's Lake! Yay!!!!!

BUCK'S LAKE:

Salty, Peanut, and I ran into Rainbow Bright and Puff at Buck's Lake. We had stumbled upon a sad departure between Rainbow and Puff who were very fond of each other. Here's the scoop: Puff got stung by a bee on his foot which had consequently swelled up to the size of a soccer ball. His swollen foot and ankle made it impossible for Puff to hike; he had to play the waiting game for the swelling to go down. Because of this, Rainbow had to move on without Puff's company. The duo had been hiking together for quite some time and it was so sad to see them part ways. They are really cute together. That night Salty, Peanut, and I 'stealth-camped' with Puff on a clearing overlooking Buck's Lake. Puff said he was relieved and happy to see us, and to not have to camp alone while experiencing the blues. I love Puff... such a sweet kid (I call him a kid because he is 7 years younger than me). 

CHESTER, CA:

The next morning Salty and Peanut hiked on while gimped-out Puff and I resigned to hitch hiking up to Chester, CA to rest up and meet the others when they arrived there. We hung out in Chester at the Seneca Motel... it's clear the owners there aren't concerned with being friendly to their customers. But the room was cheap and clean which made up for the owners' poor social skills. Eventually our friends arrived one by one and we enjoyed each others company while being lazy from the comfort of our cheap-ass motel rooms. 

I started to feel really sad in Chester, CA for a number of reasons. First, I had done lots of skipping lately and felt down about that. Secondly, although I was insanely excited that my real life family was coming to visit me and I felt homesick for them, I worried that seeing them would somehow influence me to leave the trail and go back to the luxuries that await me in Texas. I wanted to hike a bit before seeing my family, but my hiking was on hold because of my injured toe. I feared I would hardly hike any more of the PCT this year, and I feared this would be the last time I would be with my trail family/friends. I hate goodbyes. I decided to try and hike regardless of my toe, and despite the fact that I was leaving my friends in Chester and heading out onto the trail alone. A local trail angel who goes by "Piper's Mom" picked me up and gave me a ride to the trailhead. She is such a sweet lady who does trail magic for hikers. Her daughter, Piper, once hiked the trail and received tons of trail magic from trail angels. Piper's Mom wanted to pay the kindness forward to this year's hikers... so thank you Piper's Mom!!!! It felt great to take charge and do something about my mixed emotions instead of sulking in my motel room. It felt comforting to be back on trail. 

DRAKESBAD RANCH:

The plan was for me to hike past Drakesbad Ranch and into Old Station, CA where my older brother Ryan and I had planned to meet. Hiking again was wonderful, and I was enjoying my time alone. As it got dark outside I started to become scared of the bears I knew were lurking in the dark woods. I (very loudly) sang songs, whistled, clapped my hands, banged my hiking poles, and made all sorts of strange noises as I meandered through the forest. I was hoping to make it to the first spring, but seeing as I had enough water and I was only a mile away from water which would be a short trek in the morning, I decided to make camp. My toe was hurting me as well. I threw my tarp on the ground followed by my sleeping pad and sleeping bag, crawled into bed, ate dinner, looked at the stars, and drifted off to sleep. I got to the spring in the morning and started to hike. I eventually made it to some natural sulfuric-acid ponds. The ponds are a mint-green color, they smell like sulfur, and the pond itself bubbles and boils from being so hot and acidic. If you ever see one of these, DO NOT GET IN, for you would be injured badly. Warning signs were posted all over the place informing hikers to keep away from the ponds and to only take pictures. Just after the sulfur ponds is a place called Drakesbad Ranch. The ranch consists of numerous cabins overlooking a beautiful meadow in the middle of nowhere. A natural hot springs swimming pool, showers, and laundry mat are on the premises and are open to hikers who pay for at least one meal from the ranch's restaurant. I changed my original plan of walking to meet Ryan in Old Station, CA to meeting Ryan at Drakesbad Ranch. My toe was throbbing and I felt I should rest it. I met many nice weekend-getaway guests while I lingered around at the ranch-resort. Just about everyone had questions to ask me about the trail and about my hike. People crowded around to listen to bits and pieces of my stories and advice. The new manager at Drakesbad Ranch even gave me a Pepsi, on the house! A family I had chatted with earlier in the day invited me to sit and have lasagna dinner with them at the restaurant. I happily accepted their offer and got to know them better over dinner and dessert. Ryan eventually pulled up to Drakesbad Ranch in his large, maroon GMC truck. It felt so strange to see my brother standing right there! I was thrilled to see him. The moment was surreal. He joined me and my new friends for dinner and explained to them his own vagabond ways. We later set up a campsite just a half mile down the road. While setting up camp, we saw headlamps off in the distant woods. I knew the lights were coming from my trail family's headlamps; who else other than a PCT thru-hiker would be hiking through the woods in the middle of nowhere late at night? I made a "koo-wii!" bird call and flashed my headlamp at them. They called back and flashed their lights at me. I was overcome with joy and excitement that my trail buddies were headed my way. Ryan and I invited them to our campsite and we hung out talking for a bit. Puff was back on trail with Rainbow Bright and this made me happy. I headed over to the hot spring swimming pool which felt incredible! The premises offers floaty pool toys to its guests. I grabbed a few swimming noodles and got cozy in the pool. When I leaned my head back and looked up, meteors and shooting stars continued to shower above me in the sky. Life felt sublime and I was more than content. 

OLD STATION, CA:

The following day Ryan and I decided to follow my trail family up the trail for a few days, doing some trail magic of our own by bringing food, beer, water, and ice cream to my hiker friends. We headed to the Hatcreek Rim Campground in Old Station, CA. Ryan, who has been traveling around on a whim with his vehicle, has loads and loads of car-camping gear. To clarify... car-camping is when you load your car up full of tents, cots, lawn chairs, blankets, coolers, boom boxes, and other large, heavy, and unnecessary comfort items to make your outdoor experience feel as though you are in the comfort of your living room. You drive your fully loaded vehicle to a camping spot, drag everything out of your car about 20 feet away, and set up camp right next to your car. This is probably the most typical way Americans camp; it is how I grew up camping before my family upgraded to the comforts of pop-up campers and then the r.v. with satellite tv and lazy boy recliners. Keep in mind that I have been backpacking for months now, where I carry everything in a very small pack hoisted up onto my injured spine, and where I hike with as few comfort items as possible so that my backpack weighs as little as possible. I had been backpacking without a tent or a stove... that is how bare-bones I was getting when it came to my gear and my needs. So... Ryan and I decided to car-camp in Old Station. We picked and paid for a site, backed the truck into it, and began hauling all of his equipment out: 9 person tent with awning, a separate open-air awning to place over a picnic table, queen sized air mattress, 2 coolers, bins of food, huge lanterns, a lawn chair, pots and pans, dish scrubbers, dish towels, and soap, glass plates, full bedding to include real pillows, candles, etc. On one hand, all of this gear was great; it meant camping in comfort! On the other hand, I felt incredibly overwhelmed and appalled by all of this STUFF that seemed so unnecessary and frivolous. It's a lot of work setting this kind of camp up. After months of sleeping on a simple tarp that has a total set up time of about 30 seconds, it was hard for me to get on board with Ryan's car-camping set up which seemed too complicated in my mind. Why even bother? Why not simplify the camping experience and get rid of all the car-camping luxuries so the time usually spent setting up camp can instead be put towards hiking or relaxing by a river? I think I was going through culture shock. When we were done setting up the campsite, Ryan told me I could sleep on the air mattress with the comforter and the two real pillows because anyone who has walked over one thousand miles deserves to sleep in comfort for a night. I felt so thankful for his offer, and I secretly praised the good Lord above for luxury car-camping. My negative and slightly arrogant back-packer's attitude in regards to car-camping shifted towards appreciation for the comforts of normal American life that Ryan practically delivered to me. I stood corrected.

TRAIL MAGIC & SLACK-PACKS:

One day later, Ryan and I ran into Puff, Rainbow, and Story Time in Old Station. They kept hiking while Ryan and I picked up ice cream and other goodies to drop off to my friends on the trail. Ryan and I had our backpacking gear ready to go in case he and I decided to depart on an impromptu backpacking trip. When Puff, Story Time, Ryan, and I pulled up to the trail, we saw none other than my trail family- Rocket Lama, Rainbow Bright, Simba, and Shark Rider. I learned that No Rush went on and that Giggles was stranded back in Old Station with a hurt leg, so we drove back to get her. We spent some time chilling with my friends at the rest stop where the road and trail intersect. During our visit, Simba realized that the road went right alongside the trail for a few miles. He asked if there was any way he could slack-pack with our help since we had a vehicle. For those who don't know, slack-packing is when you put your pack in someone's car who delivers your pack to you up the the trail while you carry very little with you on your hike. The purpose of slack-packing is to carry very little; the less crap you have to carry the faster you will hike. We agreed to help all of my friends slack-pack about 10 miles up the trail. Simba and I went on a ride and drove the car up the dirt road and to the trail so we could verify if our plan would actually work. We had a nice drive and we found where we would drop the packs off up trail. We also found No Rush there. It was nice to see him again before he pressed onward. Simba and I returned to our friends who were getting ready to slack-pack. Story Time and Giggles decided they wanted to ride with us in the car for 10 miles rather than hike. I decided I wanted to hike, and so did Ryan. So Story Time and Giggles drove the car while Ryan and I joined up with my trail friends for a 10 mile night hike along the rim between Mt. Lassen and Mt. Shasta. The hike was excellent- bright moon, gorgeous weather, good vibes, no packs... I loved this hike! We all arrived ten miles up trail to Ryan's truck. We laid our mats down and slept under the stars and in the comfort of our group being together again. 

BURNEY FALLS, CA:

The next stop was Burney Falls State Park, 28 miles north from where we camped. I didn't want to hike that far and neither did Ryan, Giggles, or Story Time. Everyone else hiked out while our small group returned to the Hat Creek luxury campsite. We took everything down, loaded up the truck, had breakfast at JJ's Cafe in Old Station (you must go there!), and drove north to Burney Falls State Park. We picked a campsite, hauled everything out of the truck again, set up the huge ass tent, tarp, air mattress, and other luxuries, and made signs to put on the trail directing backpackers to our campsite to receive trail magic from us. No one walked to our site that night; I didn't expect to see anyone arrive. The following morning our trail family strolled into camp. We all had an extremely lazy day just sitting around laughing, playing music, listening to music, eating, drinking, smoking, telling stories, taking showers, and enjoying public toilets. Everyone ended up spending the night, for we all feared this might be the last time I was with them all on trail. 

PARTING WAYS:

My parents were flying into Reno on August 18th to join up with Ryan and I for an outdoorsy family vacation. On the morning of August 18th, me, Ryan, and my trail family broke down camp and loaded up the car. The car battery had to be jumped which put a small hiccup in our morning. Me and my trail family said our goodbyes and parted ways. I felt very sad to see them leave, happy to have had so much time with such incredible people, and excited to see my real life family. Ryan and I finally got squared away and headed south towards Reno, NV. 

Checking In from Truckee, CA

Howdy Folks!

I hope you all are doing well.  I apologize for the lack of blog posts; I accidentally deleted all of my journal entries I wrote during my time in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  Perhaps those entries were not meant to be shared on the worldwide web and the memories made there are best kept to myself and those I created those memories with.  I am currently writing a summary of my time in the Sierras so that I may share some of the highlights of my trip with you all.  I'm still working on writing this.  In the mean time, I wanted to touch base and give y'all a quick update on trail life...

I am in Truckee, CA which is just outside of Reno and north of Lake Tahoe.  It is beautiful here... mountains, lakes, rivers, streams, wildflowers, wildlife, blue skies, and starry skies abound.  I am at PCT Mile 1160.  I cannot believe I am still on trail and that I have made it 1160 miles in!!!!!!  Woohoo!  I am capable of more than I thought!  I feel empowered, happy, strong, motivated, thankful, loved, beautiful, and special.  I also feel a little homesick for my family, friends, & dog, weak in comparison to other hikers who are stronger and faster than me, intimidated by all the challenges that await me, and tired from all the hard work I am doing.  I am where I am supposed to be.  I am learning the lessons I am meant to learn.  I am becoming who I am supposed to become.  Hiking the PCT is one of the best things I have ever done for myself. 

I wish all of my friends could hike part of this trail, climb some of the mountains I have climbed, and drink from the same streams I have drank from.  I also wish my family could be here with me... and my wish is coming true on August 18, 2013 when my family flies out here to see me and do some backpacking with me!  I am so excited that my family is so supportive of my hike!  I am incredibly lucky to have such a close-knit family. 

Anyway, back to the trail... I have been hiking with a big group of friends.  We call ourselves Vortex- mainly because once people meet us they don't leave because we have so much fun while on trail and while in towns.  The Vortex has become my trail family.  I will describe the Vortex in more detail once I re-write my lost "Sierra Diaries."  The last few days I hiked from South Lake Tahoe into Truckee, CA.  This was about 60 miles.  My back was hurting REALLY badly and the pain was slowing me down a ton.  The Vortex was hiking near 20-25 miles days while I was only capable of hiking 15 miles a day.  My friend Story Time stayed behind to hike with me.  I really am so grateful for this seeing that bears have been spotted close to us by other hikers.  I am getting back on trail tonight- headed for Sierra City.  I was going to write more, but the friendly lad letting me borrow his laptop has to leave and the coffee shop I am in is closing.  So, please stay posted... I have not forgotten about the blog!  I miss you all and will write more ASAP.  Chao! 

XOXO... Girly Girl ;)

DAYS 55-65: The Sierra Nevadas

DAYS 56-65: The Sierra Nevada

DAY 56

6-18-2013

Miles: 702-716, + plus a walk off of the trail to pick up gear and camp. 

-Day 1 of the Sierra Nevada Mountains!!!!!! So exciting! I'm finally here! 

-I've decided not to rush this hike...

-Slack-pack out of Tom's!!!!!! Shoulders hurt because my slack pack was an improvisation of my purse being turned into a backpack; it was miserable. I've never been happier to wear my real backpack! 

-Slack-pack:

-Finally escaping "the vortex."

-Vortex intervention, lol

-Kelso, Shark Rider, & Larry again... and Captain

-"Stole" a car and drove around in the forest. 

-Beautiful meadow... picturesque 

-Bulls and wild cows

-Campfire, hung food bags, cooked fettucini Alfredo 

-Cold and happy

DAY 57

6-19-2013

Miles 715-730.82, + 1 or so miles from my hike back to the official PCT trail from where we (me, Shark Rider, Larry, Kelso, and Captain) camped. 

-HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!!!!!!!

-Day 2 of the Sierras

-First day back on trail with a FULL pack... uggghhhhhh! My pack is ridiculously heavy because I just added cold weather and ice gear, a bear canister, a week's worth of food, and a stove to my pack. Yikes! My pack is probably 55 pounds which is KILLING me! In addition to the added gear and weight, I am climbing into higher and higher altitudes. High altitudes put stress on your body. Your body is deprived of oxygen and it requires more energy (calories) to do usual activities. Hunger, drowsiness, muscle soreness, shallow breathing, nose bleeds, headaches, dizziness, and nausea are all symptoms of altitude sickness. Moving up in elevation is making my body work hard! Warming up after taking 5 zero days at Tom's, having a much heavier pack, and climbing in elevation has made this day very challenging. 

-Camped with a big group- very fun and refreshing

-Cooked again tonight... stuffing

-Tired!

-Everest

-Not in a rush

-Feel badly I can't call Dad on his birthday

DAY 58

6-20-2013

Miles 730.82-746.8

-Day 3 of the Sierras

-Self Acceptance

-Self Awareness

-Need for affection realized

-Need for socializing and not isolating discovered

-Disappointment and how to handle it (any farm vs. trail)

-Motivation  

-Air Force jets overhead

-Feeling tired and moving slowly

-Talked to dad on top of a mountain... I finally got cell reception!!!!!!!

-Hiked with Captain, Indie (Charlie from France), Rufio, Kaitlyn, Stealth, Linley, Plato (John), No Rush, Erica, Kara, Monkey Wrench. 

-Camped with Captain, Indie (Charlie from France), Rufio, Kaitlyn, No Rush, Erica, and Kara. Awesome camp site near water. Uneven ground but I dug a trench so I can lay flat. Great fire. No Rush helped me hang my bear bag. 

-Larry, Kelso, and Shark Rider went on. I hope to see them again soon. Those guys make me laugh until it hurts!

-Really loved talking to my dad today. I could tell he is proud of me by the sound of his voice. He says he is shocked I've made it this far, that its great, and that he is speechless. I'm not sure words can express how wonderful it was to hear him sound so proud of me and what I am doing. I feel very loved and supported. Talking to my dad helped give me that extra push I needed to get a second wind and hike more miles than anticipated. I'm excited to hike with my Daddy-yo! 

-Challenging hiking, but I love it here! The views are breathtaking and entirely worth all the effort put in to getting there. It's all about the journey.

DAY 59

6-21-2013

Miles 746.8-760.38

-Day 4 of the Sierras

-Church

-Community

-Happy Solstice

-Hike Naked Day

-Skinny dipping in Chicken Creek

-Cried because my breath was taken away at how beautiful the Sierras are

-Enjoy the journey

-Comparisons lead to rushing and disappointment

-Be content

-Slow down!

-How do I battle that which is against me while completing this hike?

-River! At the base of Mount Whitney!

-Captain

-"The reasons we come out here are different than the reasons we stay." -Safari

DAY 60

6-22-2013

Miles 760.38-767 @ Crabtree Meadows + 3.5 to Guitar Lake

-Woke up semi-late next to a beautiful river. I was on the trail by 10:20am. The day started with an uphill climb- just my luck! I find it humorous that I can't stand uphill climbs, yet I am hiking the PCT! Haha. I guess it's the challenge and the adventure I seek. I made it to Crabtree Meadows by early afternoon. The hike was difficult, but not horrible. Every consecutive day I hike I feel better and more apt to climb in elevation than the day before. I think the zero's and the nero's really impact my muscles. A body in motion stays in motion... I should try not to take so many "off-days." I think my body would be better prepared for the hike and upcoming climbs. 

-Counting game

-Words of affirmation game

-Goals. What were they then? And now?

-Cooking and food system

-Saw Marshall and Jodi the Coyote at Guitar Lake. They had just come down from summiting Whitney. 

-Really can't believe I am here. I say the word "WOW" over and over again throughout my days here on the PCT. Every sense is called upon. I cry and I laugh at the same time. Scenic views leave me speechless. Towering mountains surrounded by green valleys with snow-melt rivers cascading down into alpine forests... I am stopped right in my tracks. It feels majestic, dreamy, peaceful, overpowering, and awe-inspiring. I love it here because I am so alive. And I get scared here because I am so small and vulnerable. I am starting to think life is more about making memories and sharing experiences with others than what I previously had thought. I thought I needed to learn how to walk through this world alone... to not be so reliant on others... to not need others and to not feel vulnerable. I am discovering that my realities are largely solidified when I am connected to and sharing things with others. This means a lot when my realities of being overcome with happiness and awe when walking around a ridge are shared with others. 

-Camping by Guitar Lake, near Double D. Gotta get to bed. Night!

DAY 61

6-23-2013

Guitar Lake to Mount Whitney Summit to Wallace Creek Trail to PCT mile 770.3... a lot of miles!!!!!

-Summited Whitney today. It was surreal... an experience I will never forget. I got teary-eyed on my way up the mountain- thinking about how lucky I am to do this, about how I was such a victim of negativity prior to backpacking, about how far I've come as a person and as a hiker on the trail, about my childhood, my friends, my family, loved ones I have lost, my goals and dreams, how I felt like I was never good enough, how I have sought approval from others... my head and my soul went into overdrive thinking about all these things. I was laughing and crying at the same time. I kept telling myself to save it for the summit- but when I got to the summit I was so excited, I took so many pictures, and there were so many people that I didn't really have time to reflect. But it's okay- I reflect every day I hike.

-Hiking up Wallace Creek Trail to the PCT was beautiful, but then it got dark, cold, and scary much more than I had anticipated. I was singing out loud and clicking my hiking poles together to make noise in order to scare of bears and other animals. I was singing at the top of my lungs. I even practiced speaking Arabic for a while. I finally came to PCT mile 770.3 where I heard voices. I came across a group of fathers and their daughters who were backing for just a few days. I set up camp with them. They made me hot chocolate! Such nice people!!!!! They also said that they'll give me some food in the morning since I'm running semi-low on my own food. Some guys on Mount Whitney overheard me saying that I needed food, so they have me a Mountain House Mac n' Cheese dinner and some brownie mix. Another guy gave me half a link of some summer sausage. People are so nice and helpful! 

-Talked to a 74 year old man named Mañuel on Mount Whitney. I think I convinced him to attempt to hike the PCT. He and I spoke for a while; I told him my story and he said I am an inspiration. His wife has had similar issues as mine (spine and mentality), so he said he felt encouraged that she can get better after talking to me. 

-Should in write a book? Almost everyone out here that I speak to, I mean REALLY speak to, says I have an amazing story and that I should write it down and share it. I feel like that's a bit narcissistic, to write a book about my life... but I'm thinking maybe ill give it a go one day? I dunno. 

-Cleaning dishes with dirt...

-Everyone cries

-Freezing cold!

-Was trying to catch up to Captain, Rufio, K Dirty, Indie, and Stealth... but Mt. Whitney took longer than expected and I was too tired to try and catch up. Hopefully I'll see them in Bishop!

DAY 61

6-24-2013

Miles 770.3-784

-Day started good, then bad, then super shitty, then better, and then wonderful! :) Most days end on a good note. I fell and skinned my knee- the same one that was recently sprained. It hurt so much, and I was laying there alone in the mud. I was so sad, but even then, I was happy to know that only me could help me. I had to pick myself up, dust off the dirt and the blood, put my pack on, and walk towards Forester Pass- the highest point on the Pacific Crest Trail. There was no going back at this point. The climb was getting difficult and painful for me and I was feeing so discouraged... until Kara, Erica, No Rush, and John showed up. No Rush even took a few things out of my pack and put them into his own pack. He literally helped carry my burden. I was speechless. He also hiked slowly and waited for me. Very sweet guy. It was raining and snowing a little on Forester Pass. Once over the very narrow ridge, the entire landscape changed to snow, rocks, fog, and hardly any visibility. It was nice to have a friend there with me. We met up with the others and hiked until we saw a good camp site. We are by a river right now. After setting up camp, we sat around the fire, cooked, talked, shared food, shared stories, shared thoughts about the trail, laughed our asses off, etc. My trail family really helped me out today and I can't express enough how thankful I am for their effort to help get me through Forester. 

-Sequoia to Kings Canyon

-Knee hurts

-Brownie batter, orange tea

DAY 62

6-25-2013

Miles 784-788.5, + 7.6 miles East on Bullfrog Trail and over Kearsarge Pass into Independence, CA. 

-Hitched with a nice Christian couple into Independence, CA

-Ran into No Rush and Magic Mullet

-Subway sandwich without meat, annoying door chime

-Hitched to Bishop from Independence with the Mercedes man

-Captain's and Vigazzle's birthdays being celebrated in Bishop at Rusty's Bar

-Tons of hikers crammed into one hotel room at the Comfort Inn

-Got drunk for the first time in ages

-Got sick from drinking for the first time in ages

-Feeling lots of love for my fellow hiker-trash (hiker buddies)

-Got to cuddle with my buddies

DAY 63

6-26-2013

Miles: Zero day in Bishop, CA

-Denny's

-Nap time

-Hungover

-Toenail fell off

-Knee hurts

-My hiker-trash buddies are heading out tomorrow. I'm one day behind them. I'm watching them pack up right now. I always get sad watching people leave, but I think I'll see them again at some point. It's good for me to stick to my own pace, even if it means I stay behind alone. I've gotta do what's best for me without holding others up. 

-Proper gypsies

DAY 64

6-27-2013

Miles: Zero day in Bishop, CA

-Tons of trail friends came into town today from the trail... PARTY!

-I love my hiker buddies!

-Laundry with Simba and Appa (John); climbing buildings in town

-Monsters U movie with Simba, Drama Queen, Wolf Paw, and Promethius

-Rusty's Bar with the hiking crew

-Denny's

-Slept in an abandoned car with Safari because my hotel room was full of about 20 passed out hikers

-Tried to find a spot to sleep, but couldn't... so I moved to a small patch of grass in the motel parking lot. I slept great! Hahahahaha. I also slept like a total bum. Lol. My folks would be so proud of me! Kidding!

DAY 65

6-28-2013

Miles: Zero day in Bishop, CA

-Went to Von's to resupply food for the next 10 days in the Sierras. This will be the longest stretch ever of being out in the wild on the PCT. I also just realized I don't have my maps for this section- ill be okay though. I'm heading out from Bishop, CA to Independence, CA. From there I'll head up to Kearsarge Pass where I'll have a hard climb back up into the Sierra Nevadas and back onto the PCT. I'm currently on a bus with Larry, Puffy, Safari, Simba, Drama Queen, Prometheus, Wolf Paw, and Appa/Johnny. Rufio, Kaitlyn/Marmeque, Captain, and Indie left for the trail earlier today. I hope to see them again. 

-This bus is so ridiculously hot! Agghhhh! 

-I'm nervous to get back on the trail... it's like I'm going from elementary school into junior high school for the first time. Haha. It's going to be great!

-I love everyone back home and I miss you all so much. More than anything, I hope everyone back home can get outside and go on a hike- to experience the beauty that surrounds us, and to feel so small and in awe of what's around you. I wish you all could experience what I'm going through. 

-I think The next town I'll be in is Mammoth, CA.