After Kennedy Meadows I’m really in the mountains.

I think I’ve lost about 15-20 pounds. Does it show in my face?

A friend of Justin’s has been reading the blog and today I received a VERY SPECIAL RESUPPLY from her. Awesome! Lots of goodies to put in my bear canister. Yup, I now have to carry a big bulky heavy bear canister. But those treats fit in just swell! Yummy.

A nero is a near zero or near zero mileage day. When you complete some mileage, but not very much then you’ve done a nero. For example, a few days ago I did a nero on the day I got to Kennedy Meadows. That day I only did four miles. For the rest of the day I relaxed, talked with other hikers, did my resupply, had a shower, drank 4 cokes, and ate an enormous double cheeseburger. That night I slept in the area behind the general store and left the next morning.

Today I entered the Sierra Nevada mountains and got to Kennedy Meadows.

So far NOPE. For I few days with Bilbo I set an alarm, but most days I wake with the first light about 5:30 AM. Sometimes I lay there for a few minutes, but very soon I get up. Each day the trail is new. Each day I have new miles as my goal. Some days I have a town to get to for resupply. The weather has been varying, but mostly it is clear and sunny. And the views as I hike continue to be extraordinary.

For the past two nights it has rained. Really rained. Luckily I got my tent up in time. Yesterday was particularly fearsome. From a few drops to a cloud burst along with wind as the front came through, but by this morning it was clear. We’ve heard that the Sierras had snow. And I’ll be in Kennedy Meadows, the gateway to the Sierras, tomorrow.

I have been hiking since 4/16. Today is 5/22 and I am one quarter done having completed 665 miles. That means I have been hiking for 37 days to get this far. A typical thruhike is 150 days. Projecting my pace (assuming it remains the same) that means I’ll complete in 4 times 37 days or 148 days. So I’m right on pace.

This is my typical hiking day…

I wake at 5 AM using my alarm. This is just before dawn. Typically this means I’ve slept 9 hours. I take off my sleep things (hat, headband, socks), pack them in their bag, and get on my socks and shoes. I pack up my sleeping bag, air mattress, and ground sheet. I do my toiletries and take my medicine. I eat my breakfast (typically cold cereal). Then I put everything in my backpack, hoist it on to my shoulders, and off I go. Typically this takes me 30-45 minutes so I’m hiking by 5:30-5:45 AM. The previous night I got out and put my morning snacks, lunch, and afternoon snacks in my backpack’s side pocket.

After about 2 – 2 1/2 hours I stop, take off my pack, sit down and eat my first morning stack. Right now this is dried fruit. Then after another 2 – 2 1/2 hours I stop for my second morning snack. For example, a Clif Bar and electrolyte drink. Some time around noon to 1 PM I stop for lunch. My lunches are still changing and I’m not completely satisfied with them. Today I had a mini-sausage, a small bag of Fritos, and an apple (a heavy luxury, but oh so good). On the middle of the afternoon I stop for the last time and have a Nature Valley granola bar with electrolyte drink. It is around this time that I finish hiking.

I make camp wherever I find a flat open spot. Sometimes it’s a Smartphone app’s recommendation. Other times it’s just looking as you hike. Off goes the backpack. If I’m cowboy camping I lay out my ground sheet and get rocks to hold it down. Then I take off my shoes and socks, and empty my backpack. Dinner is important so I boil water in my Jetboil. For example, tonight was Kraft macaroni and cheese, and a ham steak. Other times it is a Knorr side with package chicken. After dinner I floss and brush my teeth and get ready for bed. I sleep in my clothes except for my feet which I put on wool socks. Depending upon the temperature I might also wear additional layers from gloves to down vest to down coat to down pants. What I don’t use becomes my pillow. I put all miscellaneous things like glasses and phone in my hat right next to me. By about 8 PM the sun goes down (AKA hiker midnight) and I go to sleep.

That is a typical hiking day.