June 3rd, 2016
Zero Day at Kennedy Meadows
We woke up all discombobulated and actually near the PCT somehow. We walked a half mile to KM General store where a cavalcade of hikers were sitting on the porch eating Pancakes. We ran into our freiend Nick who we actually met in the San Diego airport and have been seeing on and off since starting. He gave us the low down on the place, the various lists we needed to put our names on, one to get our packages, one to get in line to do laundry, and most importantly the one to get the pancakes. Lots of lists.
The day was spent in a fog like state as we sorted through 5 packages of stuff (luckily they all made it. Many people were not so lucky since the fire closed down the road, halting mail for a few days.)
We had ice axes and micro spikes and bear canisters and 5 days of food that all required Tetris-like precision and a doctorate in geometry to fit in our small backpacks. The bear valt is a requirement in many sections comming up, so everyone picks one up in KM, and it’s a real 2.5 pound hard plastic pain in the ass. The only way it fits is attached outside to the top of our packs.
We did laundry and had showers and after were able to get a ride to a restaurant 3 miles down the road, to eat and use their wifi to send out some “We are Ok” text messages to family (no phone service up here or for the past week)
The day went by quick and I’m glad it’s over. There are so many hikers here (because of the fire) all trying to get there shit together for the hike out of here. All the porta johns are all backed up, poop blossoming out of the top of toilet seats like spring flowers after a nice wet rain, a testament to the numbers here. ?
We are leaving this madhouse tommorrow morning and heading into the High Sierra. I’m very excited but a little nervous about what we will experience with the conditions. It’s been very hot this week so perhaps a lot of snow has melted…one can only hope.
