Day 55,

June 14
Lone pine (trail pass/ oops cottonwood trail) mile 750.22 to rock creek mile 760.42

Hiked 10.24 miles

Time to get out of Lone Pine! Nice place. Nice Hostel to. It's just time to go. My foot feels a little sore but it's not hurting so I think I'm ready. I found a YouTube video on how to use KT tape for Peroneal Tendonitis. So I hope I don't have any more problems. KT tape is amazing stuff.

I slept in my clean hiking cloths and everything is packed up. I just want to eat breakfast again at Alabama Hills Cafe. I headed out of the dorm room and ran into CatDog outside and told her about the amazing breakfast to be had there. So we walked across the street to go eat. She was in town because she was having issues with the elevation. She was thinking about skipping ahead to where the trail is lower elevation. I've never had elevation problems even at 14,000 feet, but it sounds pretty rough. I guess I may owe that to living in CO.

We get to the restaurant and it's packed. We put our names on the list. The waitress came outside 5 min later and said there is a table ready and called 3 names and asked us if any of us wanted to share a large table. The other girl on the list asked us if we are thru hikers and said she would share with us.

Her and her Boyfriend hiked the PCT in 2012. So that was a bonus we got to meet some PCT veterans and talk to them about the trail. Man I love this community of hikers. The culture we have is so cool. They also hiked the CDT last year. I'm drawing a blank on their names right now. I ate the same thing as last time. minus the pie with ice cream. We all pay and now it's hitching time. I need to get a ride back up to Horseshoe Meadows. It's kind of a hard hitch cause no one goes up there unless they are camping. I was on the road and several people stopped to give me a ride but they where going to the Whitney Portal (where you go to hike Mt. Whitney) After about a hour I started to walk back into town I was going to go back to the Hostel and see if I could get a ride from the owner who shuttles people for $20 I pasted by a restaurant and a guy came outside and asked if I was going up to Horseshoe Meadows. Score! I found a ride. This very nice couple gave me a ride. They where going to pick up his truck. He was sections hiking the PCT and Horseshoe Meadows is where he started. I am doing so bad with names right now since I am typing this up a couple days later. If you guys see this please leave a comment and remind me of your names. I don't want to forget you. :) (I'll pry remember later I'm drawing a blank right now)



I took a picture of them. It was a nice ride, and I am glad to have met you two.

I am so happy to be getting into the sierras it's starting to get really beautiful up here. I actually made a mistake on the way up I was going to take Trail Pass trail and I missed it and ended up going up CottonWood trail. Which is fine I guess it still goes to the PCT.





Look at this happy guy right here.

I ran into Ball Hawk, Shady, and Stiff Willie


Here is Ball Hawk


Shady and Stiff Willie.





Awesome meadow.


I also ran into Moonshine. I met him back at the BigBear Hostel. I stopped and talked to him a bit we hiked together for a while. We came to this Campsite that had this pretty cool tree. It makes a perfect chair. He decided to camp here. I told him about my plan to hike Mt. Whitney in the afternoon watch the sunset and sleep in the shelter at the peak and then watch the sun rise. He thought that was a great idea. So tomorrow we are hiking Whitney! I needed to hike an other .5 miles to get to the Rock Creek campsite cause there is a bear box there. I have to much food right now and it doesn't all fit in my bear can.

I got to camp and set up my tent. I needed to go get water from the river. Of course I slipped on the rock and got my foot soaked lol. I was pretty pissed at the time.


Dam it wet foot. Thats going to suck putting on a wet shoe in the morning.

I was getting ready for bed and Hugs and Pockets showed up. I told them about my Whitney plan as well they said they might join us. About a hour later Ball Hawk, Shady and Stiff Willie also showed up.

see ya in the morning LaZboy out.

- Posted from my iPhone

Day 53 & 54, another double zero

June 12 & 13
Zero miles hiked for 2 days.

I'm sick of zeros I just want to be out on the trail. I should have summited Whitney by now.

I my foot wasn't any better today. Ninja and Jon moved on. I moved over to the hostel. It's only $28 a night and it's really nice there. It the owner Dave. He's a pretty cool guy. I never saw he Hostel before he owned it. But in really like what he has done with the place. Lots or people stay in Lone pine to Hike Mt. Whitney.

I shared a room with three guys who where going to leave at 2am and head to the trail head and hike Whitney. I was also in the same room with TourGuides husband Keith. He was taking like 4 days off cause of shin splints. TourGuide is a beast. She hiked 90 miles from Kennedy Meadows to Kersarge Pass in 3 days! She showed up at the Hostel on the second day I was there. For two days. I just watched tv, Iced and messages my feet. And of course eat as much as possible.


Ninja already to head back to the trail.


Me with my foot wrapped. And I rotated soaking my feet it epson salt that I found in the hiker box. Still at the Dow Villa before they kicked me out/check out.

Found a strange bug on the side walk

They talked me in going to grab a beer.


A few of us grabbing a drink. Me, Blue, Dave(day hiker) Anders, and SlowJin. I actually started with Blue at the Mexico boarder. The others are my roommates at the Hostel.

There is some strange bugs in Lone Pine...

Haha this thing has weird pintchers and makes quite a loud strangle noise.

I'm off to bed hoping tomorrow I'll be good to go back on the trail.

Posted from my iPhone

Day 52. Unexpected stop into Lone Pine.

Sometimes your just down in the dirt.

June 11
Death Canyon Spring mile 730 to HorseShoe Meadows mile 744

Hiked 14 very painful miles

I woke up this morning at performed the usual tasks.

I laid in my sleeping bag longer than normal. I'm not sure if my foot is any better I haven't put any weight on it yet. I took some Vitamin I (Ibuprofen) hopping I can make it to Cottowood pass, only a short 20 miles away lol.

I was putting my shoes on and about to pack up the tent just as ET and Apache walked by. They are already on the trail. I am hopping that as soon as I get going my foot is going to be a ok.

I'm off at a slow pace trying to warm up a bit. My hope is that I can catch up to the others after a few hours. I'm feeling ok. About 15 min of walking and I would rather crawl, than take one more step. The pain comes on slow and steady which is not to bad then one step its like shooting pain from the outer side of my foot, almost brings me to my knees. I can stretch my foot and shake out the pain and keep going. Walking a certain way mostly on my heel feels somewhat manageable. I am not going to make it 20 miles no way in hell. In fact this is hell right now. Going up and down hills while my foots in a vice and being struck by a hammer on occasion. haha sorry for being so dramatic today is the suckiest day on the trail. Well at least the most painful.

I continued on and I heard that email tone from my cell phone. Yea service! It was really spoty and kind of in and out. I reached the top of the climb and I climbed up the top of these rocks and no service... thats weird. It was a great view so not all was wasted.






I could see all the way down to the valley where its flat I thought it was Death Valley (Owens Valley).

I turned around to start heading back to the trail and I got cell service along with 4G. So exciting it has been days since I've had service. I called Jordan. But of course she didn't answer. Jordan answer your phone! haha. so I called my Dad to see how my parents are doing. We talked for a while. I found out that my last spot check in didn't go through so I sent it again. It was nice getting on the internet I had 121 emails and I had to transfer money into my checking account from savings. I don't know how people did things without the internet and smart phones. I didn't grow up with these things but I have become quite accustom to them. Even out here on the trail I still need them. I forgot to pick up a package I sent myself in Hikertown so I had to send Bob at HikerTown and Email to forward it.

So n e ways back to the trail. So I have decided to leave this amazing area of cell service. I am getting off the trail. I am going to make an unexpected stop and go into Lone Pine.

I tried double rapping my foot with KT tape hopping to double the support.



It feels like it kind of helps but every step I'm taking on my left foot is still dreaded.

I am getting so hungry and my foot hurts I don't see any rocks to sit on and I am to lazy to pull out and set up my chair. Think I will just sit right now. I found myself pretty down and lacking motivation sitting in the dirt amongst these little black ants. Watching them be so busy moving tiny pieces of dirt, while others are walking around in search of whatever ants are in search of when they are walking around. I feel small, small as an ant...

I can see someone coming up the trail... It's Ninja. We talked for a bit. He Kept asking if I was ok. I guess it might Have been odd that I was just sitting in the dirt where I was. He had said that he has people that he is going to be meeting up with in Lone Pine and Jon is coming behind him and he asked if I would want to share a hotel room with them? ...Heck yes. He had come from a long ways away I think he said this was going to be a 26 mile day for him. (as I hobbled out 10 miles so far) Amazing how in the lowest moments the trail provides what you need to bring yourself back up. It's hard sometimes to keep your mental toughness that I usually have.

Alright suck it up man get to Lone Pine where The town food like pizza factory hotel and shower awaits. (even though I wasn't ready for such things since I just got back on the trail. but I can't hike on like this.)

We talked about what trail they are going to take to get to HorseMeadows. I checked my map only a mile to the first one. Then 1.7 to Horseshoe Meadows. I guess there is a bunch of trails that go there. They went on a head of me. I lost sight of them and I just hiked on through the pain.

I forgot which trail they said they are taking I just went down the first one. It was steep and not much of a trail. it's all washed out. I lost the trail for a minute and was bushwhacking down through the forest. I came to this cleaning an awesome meadow which I neglected to take a picture off. The ground flattened out and was sandy which felt good on the feet. I could see for some distance I know they didn't take this trail. I guess If I don't find them I hope I can find them in town. I found the camp ground and went straight for the restrooms. One cat hole not dug today(I'm keeping track by the way lol)...

There wasn't a single person in this camp ground. Great this is going to be a really hard hitch into Lone Pine 22 miles. I checked the camp ground map saw there was another area. So I headed that way.

I saw a big white van... wait a minute thats Brittany and Toms van. Both doors open I could see Kyle and Brittany sitting inside. I walked over to there surprise they said "Hey! where did you come from?" I wanted to say from hell but I just point to the forest and said from way up there. They were there to pick up Matt he was coming off the trail he to was having foot problems. (new Boots I guess) I pulled out my chair and Brittany offered me a Blue Moon. Oh yes, I feeling much better. We talked for a bit. then Ninja and Jon came walking up. They to were surprised to see me. "How did you get here so fast?" I told them I just came down the Murlkey trail. Britany offered to take us into Lone Pine after Matt gets here. We decided to try and hitch out first incase he takes a while him to get here.

We walked out of the Campground out to the road. There was no traffic at all... This is going to take a while. It took us maybe 45 min to catch a ride. Super stoked. This Prius pulls over the two guys inside tell us to get in they are going to Lone Pine.



This is how you pack it in. I almost couldn't close the door haha. The two guys that picked up was Geraldo and George. Couple of really nice guys. They Planned to hike Mt. Whiney tomorrow morning at 12 to catch the sunrise.

Had a nice view on the way down to Lone Pine.










Here the whole group of us. George, me, Ninja, Geraldo, and Jon

The Dow Villa, it's was an ok place. No ac which almost sucked. But it has good internet. ;) and with 3 sharing the room it was the cheapest.



Went across the street to the Pizza Factory. I got a large pizza and the salad bar. So good I ate myself silly full.

Got to talk to Jordan which was really good. I miss you Jordan, so much it hurts sometimes. :(

Back to hotel and had a shower and time for sleep. I hope some more rest helps out. I expect to have to stay another night though.

- Posted from my iPhone

Day 51, No more desert into the mountains.

June 10th
Campsite at mile 709 to Death Canyon Creek 730

Hikes 21 miles.

I had the breakfast and packed up and hit the trail just after 6am and I was about 15 min before Apache and ET. Which is good cause in the morning I need the extra time to get warmed up. Plus after about 3-5 miles it's time to do the morning duty. Which is when Apache and ET had passed me. It's a really great view from my duty spot I must say.






It's a nice meadow, mountains in the background and some sweet looking clouds. In this moment everything is prefect. I can't believe I'm here. The miles are rolling by so easy. The trail is flat the temp is perfect and the scenery is beautiful.



















I spoiled this picture with my finger in the corner dang it.

I caught up to Apache and ET at the Spring near Beck Meadows. Ewok and Shrek where there still camped. Ewok is carrying this 15lb dumb thing. Check out the video. It was pretty awesome just hanging out here for a bit.

Thats ET sitting on the ground in the blue hat.



Should have laid down in the grass and stared at the sky all day.

There is a group of high school students on a 5 day backpacking trip camped out in the meadow. I spoke with a couple of them as they came to spring to get water.

Unfortunately I must leave this place. We hiked on. I feel so good I'm hiking pretty fast everything is perfect I'm so excited to get up to the mountains. I almost had 10 by 10 which is 10 miles by 10 am. The hunger is in full force these days. I had stopped to eat an early lunch. After I packed up my stuff picked up my pack and I noticed my feet are hurting pretty bad. Which is weird they haven't hurt in a long time. I went about a mile and I have to stop they hurt so bad.






Had to put the feet up. I shouldn't have stopped I was feeling good. funny how quickly a day goes from great to shitty. I'm just glad I have my chair.

My feet are hurting in a different way then they used to in the beginning. I wrapped my feet in the way you would if you had Planter Fasciitis. My right foot is pain free. My left is still hurting. but resting has made it better. I plan on going only 21 miles today so it's 12 and only have 8 more to go. I was planning on getting to Death Canyon Creek by 3pm which was my pace this morning. Thats not going to happen now. I can walk for about 30 min till it hurts bad enough I have to stop for a break. The pain is pretty intense on the outside edge of my foot. I don't know whats going on.

I came across a couple guys that Had just gotten on the trail. Adam and Andy. Adam actually lives in FORT COLLINS! Crazy small world. I chit chated with them while we got water from this small creek.

The day drags on and on. This is bullshit I'm sick of having these injuries/pains. I just want to feel good and hike. I hope tomorrow I feel better.

I got to camp where there was lots of other Hikers. Lumber, Apache, ET, TourGuide who I met while I was resting in my chair and a handful of others I didn't get a chance to meet which isn't my style. I like to get everyones name that I come in contact with on the trail. I was just in pain I needed to get water still and dig my second cat hole for the day which is a first. The sun is setting and the mosquitoes (skeeters I prefer to call them) are out for blood for the first time on the trail.

I ate dinner before I got to camp so I had a snack and wedged my bear can between a couple logs a little ways away from my tent. Guess I better get in practice for when I get to the areas where there are those Campsite bears that like to rip open your tent to get at your food lol. The idea is to place your bear can away from you so they smell that and go play with it for a while till they realized they can't get any food from it.

Off to sleep. Hopefully a nights rest is all I need for this foot to feel better.


- Posted from my iPhone




- Posted from my iPhone

Day 50, Leaving Kennedy Meadows, Finally!

June 9
Kennedy Meadows mile 702 to campsite 709

Hiked out 7.25 miles. (I knew I could escape)

Woke up in a lazy fashion. Knowing I have nothing to do for a long time today. Rolled out of the tent at 7am. Haha that's sleeping in for a thru hiker.

I must say it sure is nice to have a pee bottle. Not having to get out of the sleeping bag at 5 ish in the morning.

I organized some of my things before I set out for the patio/deck to get breakfast. Today there is biscuits and gravy. I got extra biscuit and gravy cause I told them to hold the sausage and eggs. With a little hot sauce it's pretty legit. I had to get two orders of course w/coffee.

Now time to play with my bear can and see if I can fit this in my pack with everything else. I managed to get all of my food in there. Bear can with food It feels like a 20lbs of shit. (Well it soon will be. haha) this thing does not feel good on my back it throws everything off. Dammit this sucks. I think I'll go back to the patio and try not to think about it. Looks like everyone is getting a Mohawk hair cut lol. I wish I had hair I would have joined in.

Backroads has arrived! With my sleeping bag as well. So I sent my other one home. I am going to miss you Nemo Nocturne the most amazing sleeping bag ever. From Amazon I bought a Therm-a-rest sleeping bag. It's a Antares 15 degree (thought it was a 20) it saves me a over a pound off my base weight and is half as bulky. Which is the main reason I wanted it. To save the room in my pack. It has no insulation on the back. Instead it has straps so I can attach my Therm-a-rest Neo Air that I already have and love. I also sent two pairs of socks and my source water bladder home. Got rid of my sun screen I never wear. (I'm trying to off set the weight is the 2.5lbs bear can. I came close.

I'm ready to go. Well almost. I make one last ditch effort to adjust the bear can to make my pack... dare I say bearable lol. I flipped the can on its side and it's a super tight fit in the pack... Holy shit it's worlds better, I mean bearable. I put it in the bottom of the pack.

Apache is ready to go as well. He introduced me to a guy named ET who he met on the AT (Appalachia trail, long distance trail like the PCT) small world. He too was hiking out right now. So we are a party of three getting out of here. We get an applause from the crowd as we head across the dirt parking lot towards the road. It's so hard to leave and so easy to stay. There is tons of camping spots behind the store and it's free to camp. There is lots of food and beer to be had here as well.

It feels good to be back on the trail but also hard I'm not used to carrying the weight. I have had 5 days off.

We are moving fast. We went 7 miles in 2.5 hours to a pretty big campsite. Some others were here as well. I only knew Mongoose. Threw up the tent and ate dinner( lol that sounds funny) Excited and nervous to try out this new sleeping bag. I'll take photos of it soon if I remember.



- Posted from my iPhone