Zero Day – Kennedy Meadows

In William Faulkner’s book As I Lay Dying, an entire chapter consists of one sentence: “My mother is a fish.” I never understood the book, let alone that chapter, but it has me thinking. Every night I roll out my insulated pad and sleeping bag. I take off my shoes and socks, climb in bed to reflect on the day and peck out drivel on my droid. The senses that surround me are overwhelming. I decide to write my own book titled: As I Lay Lie-ing.  The first chapter will simply read: “My feet are dead fish.”

Kennedy Meadows General Store

I spend the morning sorting food and realizing I have way too much. My bear canister arrived stuffed with food. Terri, when sending my new shoes, filled every nook and cranny of that box with even more. The problem I have noticed is that my backpack does not have enough nooks and crannies to match. Instead of buying burgers and pancakes like most, I am trying to eat at much of my food as I can. The locals here are not helping. They are having a happy hour and bring out tons of snacks: veggies, chips, cheese, crackers, artichoke dip and sliced meats. After snacks they offer up a full burrito bar with slow cooked beef, beans, cheese, salsa, guacamole and sour cream. Its a crazy amount, all free and they keep telling the hikers to have more. They did tell us we were lucky to be early in the season. When the herd arrives, it will be hotdogs and chili.

While not eating I am trying to figure out the Sierras. The forecast we are hearing is storm today and tonight, but clearing out sometime in the morning. It is good that we may not be walking in snow, but we will likely be walking on it. Postholing is what you do when your feet break through the crust layer and penetrate deep into the snow. Since we are wearing trail runners and not boots, it will likely be a very cold and miserable walk. I am taking 6 to 7 days of food. If the weather cooperates that will be enough to get to Independence, with a side trip up Mt Whitney.

It is very strange, but no other thru-hikers have arrived at Kennedy Meadows. There are lots of folks we know not very far behind us. They must have hunkered down during the storm and stayed put today.

Goodbye Old Friends

Setup before the storm