Day 53 - 6/17/12 - Up and Over Kearsarge

Contents:  Upper Vidette Meadow - Kearsarge Pass Trail Junction (2.8 miles) + 7.5 miles out Kearsarge Pass Trail to Onion Valley

I had another fun day today.  I was tired this morning and had trouble finding the motivation to hike, an unusual problem for me on town days.  I finally hit the trail a little before 8 chasing after Wash Out who'd left a few minutes earlier hoping to reach some rumored trail magic at a campsite a mile ahead.  I thought the rest of my usual crew might have camped there as well.  When I reached the trail magic, I was a bit disappointed to find that they were packing up to hike out.  In addition, my posse was MIA.  There were still some folks hanging out though, so I made myself comfortable and ate a bowl of granola for breakfast.  Shortly after sitting down, Nips and Wildflower strolled up.  I was really happy to see them.  It turned out they had stayed at a camp just before the camp Wash Out and I had crashed at, and we'd probably just unintentionally passed them the night before.  They said Snausage and Histo were ahead.

After relaxing for a bit, Nips, Wildflower, Wash Out, and I took off hiking bound for the Kearsarge Pass Trail Junction where Wash Out and I planned to cut out to resupply.  The trail out via Kearsarge Pass was about 7.5 miles, but it was beautiful.  Nips and Wildflower were fortunate enough to have a friend who was meeting them to camp for a night and packing in resupply goodies.

Wash Out and I cruised the 7.5 miles out to the campground at the trail head and found more trail magic and rides to town.  I also caught up with Histo and his Mom who had come out from the Bay Area for a visit with Histo.  It felt like it had been a long time since I'd seen Histo, and it was really great to hang out for a bit and spend some time with his Mom.  I also got to see Snausage briefly.  He had already made a quick trip to town and was getting back on the trail.  He's planning to do a side trip in Yosemite (I think!) and is trying to push ahead a little.

Wash Out and I got a ride into Independence where I picked up a resupply box that my Mom had sent to a Chevron station.  We then hitched about 40 miles into Bishop where we're shacked up for the night.  Town chores tomorrow and then back to the trail on Tuesday.

**Check out Kristy's new photo album (see link to photos).  It has pictures from Tehachapi to Lone Pine.**

Day 52 - 6/16/12 - Forester Pass - 13,353 feet

Contents:  Crabtree Meadow Camp - Upper Vidette Meadow (19.8 miles)

Hands down, today was the most gorgeous day on the trail!  I had a fantastic time hiking with Wash Out.  When we left camp this morning, we knew we were only about 30 miles out of our next resupply.  So there was absolutely no reason to push for big miles.  We took it easy and spent plenty of time relaxing at lakes and streams.  The High Sierra is a truly amazing place with craggy granite peaks, wide valleys, and refreshing swimming holes.  My pictures and writing will not do it justice.  The closest place I could compare it to are Washington's Enchantments.

The highlight of our day was definitely hitting Forester Pass at 13,353 feet, the highest point on the PCT.  The trail was blasted through steep granite and it was a beautiful slog up to the pass.  We were fortunate that there was no snow.  It was easy to imagine how difficult the climb would have been last year.  There definitely would have been some exposure and just identifying the pass would have been challenging.  I count my lucky stars every day and am so thankful for the low Sierra snow pack.

Wash Out and I are now camped in Upper Vidette Meadow.  I'd been hoping to catch up with Nips, Wildflower, Snasuage, and Histo who put in a few extra miles after climbing Mt. Whitney but we haven't seen them all day.  I suspect they're camped at some rumored trail magic a mile or two up the trail.  With any luck, I'll see them in the morning.

Day 51 - (6/15/12) - Mt. Whitney - 14,505 feet

Contents:  14.8 miles round trip for Whitney plus 1.1 miles to Crabtree Meadow Camp

PCT Thru-Hiking:  The best Mt. Whitney training plan ever!  I had an excellent day today.  I felt great.  I left camp a little before 6 and was on the summit of Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the Lower 48 by 10:30.  The hiking was beautiful.  The route itself was a simple walk up with just one tiny snow patch.  You can do it!  We passed several lakes including Timberline Lake and Guitar Lake.  I was slack-packing and felt like I was floating up the mountain at times.  About two miles before the summit, the trail I was on intersected the route coming from Whitney Portal, one of the main routes to the summit, and from this point on I encountered many day hikers.  I know most of the thru-hikers near me, but regardless, PCT-ers were easy to pick out of the crowd.  There's something about our running shoes, rain pants instead of hiking pants, full beards (still working on mine!) huge empty packs, and our looks of confidence that can only come from 770 miles on the trail that are dead giveaways.  I don't usually feel like an amazing hiker out here, but blowing by the day hikers was a welcome reminder of how strong we've become.  I know we all felt this way.  We're certainly a motley crew, but we've figured out this hiking thing.

On the way down from the summit, I ran into Wash Out who was on his way up.  Wash Out had hiked back to back 30 and 35 mile days just to catch up to our posse!  I couldn't believe it!  He had rolled in around 11:30 the night before and set up a base camp just below our camp.  We made plans to rendezvous at the bottom, and we're currently camped together about a mile from the ranger station I camped at last night.  Definitely looking forward to walking together.

I'm super tired and off to bed.  We'll hit Forester Pass tomorrow.  At 13,353 feet, Forester Pass is the highest point on the PCT.  From there, it'll be down hill to Canada!  Can't wait!

Day 50 - 6/14/12 - Sierra Ass Kicker

Contents:  Mulkey Pass - Crabtree Meadows Ranger Station (Approx. 24 miles)

Today was definitely an ass kicker, but Smiles and I got 'er done and it feels great.  There's absolutely nothing I love more than the completely spent feeling one gets after a really tough day in the mountains, and I get to experience that feeling so often out here.  In fact, I think I'm addicted to it.

Anyways, Smiles and I had a good, albeit strenuous day.  Though we didn't do quite as much climbing as yesterday, we were at high elevation all day, and the terrain wasn't exactly easy.  Like steep climbs through unconsolidated sand at 11,500 feet?  Hike the PCT! Seriously though - I thought we'd left this sand stuff in the desert.  Not so much.....

In spite of my complaining, the scenery was breathtaking and Smiles and I shared plenty of laughs.  We took long breaks at the Chicklet Lake outlet, and the Rock Creek crossing.  Gotta love all this water!  We've caught up with Histo, Snausage, Nips and Wildflower (they didn't double zero at KM) and are in position for our Whitney summit push tomorrow morning.  Can't wait.  Wish us luck!

Day 49 - 6/13/12 - Girl Power

Contents:  Cow Creek Camp - Mulkey Pass (22.9 miles)

Today was a great day, one of my best days on the trail yet.  Smiles and I cranked out 23 HARD Sierra miles.  We did a ton of elevation and spent much of the day well above 10,000 feet. We both rolled into our camp at Mulkey Pass (10,380 ft) feeling super strong.  The scenery was fantastic, and it was great to have a girls-only day, especially in such a remote area.  We saw very few people.  I almost always do back-country trips with guys and it's so empowering to just be with a girlfriend.  The two of us formed a solid plan for the day and executed it in style.

Water was a bit scarce today and I definitely ran low.  I'm drinking more than usual due to the altitude.  The Water Report, which was my bible in the desert, ended at KM, so we're just relying on maps and a "data guide" now.  We're currently in the middle of a 20-ish mile stretch of no on-trail water, but our beta indicated a few sources that were a short hike off the trail.  The first of those sources was barely a stagnant puddle, so I skipped it hoping for better luck at the next source.  Unfortunately, the next source was completely dry.  I definitely regretted not taking a liter of the stagnant water which I'd bypassed.  I was starting to consider the possibility of 15 miles plus and overnight on a single liter but luckily the third source that we checked was flowing well.  The low snow pack has definitely had an impact on water out here, and I'm not going to cut it so close going forward.  No complaints though!  I couldn't have picked a better year to hike the PCT!

My feet feel good overall, but I'm nursing a new blister on my left pinky toe.  I guess you're never out of the woods as far as blisters are concerned out here.  Despite receiving a new pair of shoes that are a half size bigger in my KM mail drop, I wound up cutting a hole in my left shoe to allow a little more room and breathability.  I already feel like I could go up another half size.  I don't know if any of my shoes, ski boots, etc. are going to fit after this trip!

Smiles and I are about 22 miles from Crabtree Meadows where we plan to base camp for our Mt. Whitney climb on Friday.  We're both looking forward to another awesome day in the High Sierra tomorrow!

Day 48 - 6/12/12 - Back At It

Contents:  Kennedy Meadows - Low Creek Camp (approximately 19.5 miles)

Today was a good day of hiking.  I was happy to get back on the trail after so much time in town (though the double zero was well worth it).  I mostly walked with Smiles and Sunjay.  The terrain was beautiful, and for one of the first times on the PCT, water wasn't a concern.  The most I carried at any time was one liter.  

My legs and feet felt strong after two days of rest, though I was a little low on sleep.  Most of our day was spent on gradual uphill.  After leaving KM, we hiked up a wide canyon with a huge burn area.  We eventually popped up into a huge meadow that was absolutely gorgeous.  We crossed the South Fork on the Kern River in the meadow and spent a long time by the water before carrying on.  Shortly after the river crossing, we started climbing more steeply.  I'm currently camped near Cow Creek with Smiles, Sunjay, and White Bear.

We're hoping to do our Whitney climb in three more days, so we'll probably try to put in a 22 mile day tomorrow.  I'm super tired and off to bed now.

Day 47 - 6/11/12 - KM Vortez

Contents:  Kennedy Meadows 0.0 miles

I'd intended to wake up, spend the morning in KM, and then hit the trail, but needless to say, the vortex sucked me in and I remain firmly planted on the front porch of the general store.  The main factor in the decision was the arrival of several friends I'd been hoping would catch up - namely Wash Out, Panama Red, Spatula, and Mismatch.

A few hours later......had a great day.  I woke up feeling rested after going to bed fairly early last night.  I'd wound up skipping the movie but listened to Hee-Haw play some great guitar as I relaxed in a hammock chair over at Tom's.  Hee-Haw is really talented and is carrying a carbon fiber guitar along on the hike.  Anyway, my morning today was good.  I ate a bowl of my own granola before heading back over to Tom's for pancakes.  I spent the rest of the the day rotating between the front porch of the general store and Tom's and had a burger somewhere in between.....pretty hard to beat!

Evening was good too.   Spaghetti dinner at Tom's followed by an outdoor movie......I'm forgetting the name of the movie we watched at the moment.  I also split another pint of B&J's with Wash Out and Panama Red.  I'm feeling really antsy to hit the trail tomorrow.  I'm glad I took the extra day but am psyched for the High Sierra.  I'm planning to hike out with Tourist and probably others in the morning.

Day 46 - 5/10/12 - 15 Minutes of Bliss - A Double with Cheese, Cheetos, and a Pint of B&J's!

Contents:  Kennedy Meadows 0.0 miles

Today was a fantastic day in KM.  We had a great breakfast in camp with Wildflower's folks.  After breakfast, I went through my resupply boxes and attempted to pack my bear canister.  it was definitely a tight squeeze and I wasn't able to fit all my food inside.  The good news is that the cans aren't actually required for another couple days, so hopefully I'll plow through most of the food that doesn't fit in the meantime.  

Around 12:30, I caught a ride to the KM General Store where a ton of hikers were hanging out.  I spent the afternoon eating, taking care of mail (ditched my solar charger!), showering, washing dishes, and sending some quick emails.  There is a great patio outside the general store and it is perfect for relaxing.

I set a new Peels' record at dinner tonight when I put away a double cheeseburger, a bag of cheetos, and a pint of Ben and Jerry's (Half Baked!) in about 15 minutes.  Think you could beat that?!?!

I'm currently relaxing in a hammock chair outside Trail Angel Tom's Trailer near the general store.  The sun is going down and we're getting ready to watch an outdoor movie.  Wildflower's parents are still in town but I'm planning to crash here rather than at the campground tonight.  Gotta get the full experience!

I'm heading out of town tomorrow for another week long stretch.  It is going to be an amazing leg, and I'm planning to spend a day climbing Mt. Whitney, the highest peak on the lower 48.  Not sure how many miles are in store tomorrow....I might spend a little more time in town and make it a zero.  Either way, I'll be backing down my daily miles through the High Sierra on account of the altitude and relatively challenging terrain.  It's gonna be spectacular though!

Day 45 - 6/09/12 - KM or Bust!

Contents:  Chimney Creek - Kennedy Meadows (approx. 21.5 miles)

We made it to KM!  I am so happy. We have officially survived 702 miles of So. Cal's desert and we're about to walk into the High Sierra. This is a huge milestone.  I started the PCT with zero experience in the desert and found it to be a humbling but wonderful place.  Never in my life have I been so hot, thirsty, filthy, or blistered, nor have I ever had so many laughs or such a great suntan.  I truly walked with a smile at every mile and felt fortunate for every step.  I am so grateful to be on the PCT.

After just over 700 miles, my body is holding up well, and I am lucky to be injury free (knock on wood!)  My left side is still stronger than my right side, but both are in good shape.  Although lefty could definitely handle 30 mile days, righty still gets fatigued in the high teens.  Sometimes, especially when my pack weight is up I've had talks with both and we've agreed to compromise in the low 20s.  Also I can't tell you how relieved I am that my reconstructed knee feels perfect.  I didn't express too much concern about it before the trip, but it was definitely a wild card that I worried about privately,  

The hiking today was a lot of fun.  I walked the first 6 or so miles (mostly climbing) with Tourist who I really enjoy.  He grew up in Seattle but lives in Salt Lake now and does a ton of back country skiing and adventuring.  He thru-hiked the Hayduke route a couple years back.  We saw lots of bear evidence.  After a big group break in a burn area, I walked with Smiles until we stopped for another group break at the end of the burn area.  Other than the initial 6 miles, it was mostly flat or gradual downhill today.  After our second major break, I mostly hiked with Nips and Wildflowers' friend Jarette.  He is great too!  They all lived together and worked on the ski patrol in Mammoth this past winter.  It was fun walking together and we stopped for a fantastic swim in the Kern River.

After Jarette and I arrived in KM, we walked a little over half a mile to the general store where I bought chocolate milk and a muffin and picked up my resupply boxes.  There were a ton of  peeps hanging out at the store including many I hadn't seen in quite a while, so it was fun to hang out for a bit.  Not long after we arrived, Wildflower showed up with her parents' car (and best friend Sammy who made a surprise visit with the parents!) and gave us a ride to the campground.

We had a wonderful evening at the campground. Wildflowers' parents brought steaks, salad, fruit, potatoes, cheese, bread, cake, cookies, drinks, and the list goes on.  After dinner we had a campfire and a water report burning ceremony.  SO GLAD to be back in the land of lakes and rivers!

Tomorrow the plan is to get organized here in camp and then head back to the general store.  We'll be leaving KM with bear canisters so it'll be interesting to see how everything packs out.  I'll be carrying about 7 days worth of food.  The only other time I've done a 7 day trip with a bear canister was when Joe and I did the Bailey Range Traverse a few years back and we definitely didn't squeeze all our food in two cans.  There's no doubt I'm eating way more now!

Wildflowers' parents will be around again tomorrow and we're definitely going to zero.  I may stay at the campground again or just crash outside the general store.  It's definitely going to be a happening place.

Day 44 - 6/08/12 - Less Than 2000 Miles to Go and 25% Down

Contents:  Jenkins/Owens Saddle - Chimney Creek (20.2 miles)

Today was another excellent day. The terrain was gorgeous, and I felt really good.  We are mostly out of the sand and my feet are loving it.  20s are the new 18s.  I walked with Nips, Wildflower, and Jarette.  We got a late start and took lots of breaks including an afternoon coffee break, thanks to Jarette.

KM or bust tomorrow!  We are definitely with the herd, and it's going to be a big party this weekend.  Wildflower's parents are going to be visiting.  I'm really looking forward to meeting them.  One or possibly two zeros are on the horizon and then we're off to the High Sierra.  I absolutely can't wait!

Day 43 - 6/07/12 - Walker Pass

Contents:  McIvers Spring - Jenkins/Owens Saddle (16.9 miles)

Today was an awesome day!  We slept in a bit and then had a leisurely 8 mile stumble to Walker Pass.  The terrain was fast. We made our way through a large burn area before descending gradual switchbacks to the campground.  At the campground, we not only found Nips and Wildflower's friend Jarette, but we also found trial magic provided by Meadow Ed, a very well known trail angel.  It was fantastic!  Throughout the week, I'd slowly eaten off of the snacks I'd allocated for today with the exception of my trail mix which I was planning to save for this afternoon.  Unfortunately, hunger set in early and Snausage came across me around 9 AM sprawled next to the trail with an empty bag of trail mix.  Oops!

Anyways, the awesome trail magic saved the day and tided me over until Nips and Wildflowers' amazing friends, Phyllis and Bill, showed up a little before noon.  They were absolutely wonderful.  Bill hiked the PCT back in 2001 while Phyllis followed along in an RV as his support crew, and they knew just what we needed.  They made us a huge salmon salad with craisens and walnuts and Frito croutons.  What a great idea!  They also brought cobblers, bagels, cream cheese, fresh fruit, 48 snickers bars, Butterfinger Pretzels (so good!), tons of drinks, TP, and so much more.  These people were really special and had driven 3.5 hours just to have lunch with us. 

The rest of the hike was great.  I mostly walked with Nips, Wildflower, and our honorary team member Jarette.  This hiking was gorgeous.  It really feels like we're on the crest now.  We've camped at the saddle between Owens and Jenkins Peaks.  We have the sunset to the west and the lights of Ridgecrest to the east.  Lots of shooting stars too.  Life is good!

Bigger miles tomorrow.....have a good night!

Day 42 - 6/06/12 - Extra Dinner Discovered!

Contents:  Camp Just Past Willow Spring Road - McIvers Spring (approx. 21.1 miles)

I knew today was going to be a great day when I woke up at 2 AM realizing I had packed an extra dinner.  I couldn't believe my luck! This discovery means that I get to eat one of my "dinners" for lunch.  While I was too short on water to cook this afternoon, I did double up and eat two PBN sandwiches.  My food is shaping up well this stretch.  Tomorrow we'll be passing through a campground where we're meeting some of Nips' family friends who'll be cooking us lunch.  The following day, I'll eat my extra dinner, and I plan to eat my emergency potato packet on my way into Kennedy Meadows on Friday.  Can't beat that!

Today was another gorgeous day.  It was cold this morning but warmed up quickly.  The terrain was fairly gentle with the exception of a long climb after the Bird Spring Pass Cache.  The views from the ridge we attained were spectacular, and we could see Death Valley National Park.  There is a little extra haze due to a forest fire that is burning about 50 miles west of Kennedy Meadows.

We're currently camped at McIver Spring.  There is an old cabin here. Smiles showed up after dinner and it was super fun to see her again.  We definitely needed to catch up.

We have an 8 mile hike to lunch with Nips' family friends tomorrow and hopefully knock off another 12 or so in the afternoon.  Another unrelated friend of Nips and Wildflower is going to meet us at the same campground and join us for the rest of the journey to Kennedy Meadows.  I'm looking forward to meeting him...Wildflower says he's super cute.  Hasta Manana!

Day 41 - 6/5/12 - Desert Home Stretch

Contents:  Robin Bird Spring - Camp Just Past Willow Spring Road (approx. 20.8 miles + 3.6 miles round trip for water)

The rain held off last night and we woke up to a beautiful morning.  We had another good but tough day.  I am definitely counting the miles 'til we're out of the desert.  It is relentless!  I think my feet felt better today but they aren't 100% yet.  We did a lot of sand walking which put some additional stress on them.  

The weather was quite cool and windy today.  I'm not sure how reliable my zipper pull thermometer is, but it indicated we were in the 30s this morning and it felt every bit of that with the wind.  I started walking in my puffy and rain pants.  

The good news about the cool temps was that I didn't need much water.  It was definitely scarce today.  I bypassed the second to last cache this afternoon and should have enough water to avoid the last one tomorrow.  The next natural water is just over 20 miles away.  If I manage to pull it off, I will have skipped all the desert caches.  There have definitely been some tough stretches, so I'm excited to be through.  Today I hiked almost 2 miles out of the way to a remote spring.  It was a lonesome walk.  

Other news....Thanks to Histo, we were able to watch Venus transit the sun today.  This won't occur for another 108 years, so it was definitely a one shot deal.  We're currently camped in a small semi-sheltered spot among some rocks.  The sky is beautiful!  I was quite a ways back due to my water excursion, and am so happy to be reunited with the gang. 

Off to bed....have a great night.

Day 40 - 6/04/12 - Californians and Their Rain!

Content:  Golden Oaks Spring - Robin Bird Spring (18.8 miles)

Today was another tough day as the arch on my right foot was quite sore.  I think I have a touch of plantar fasciitis caused by the heavy load I carried yesterday.  On the bright side, my stomach felt all better and the terrain was fairly gentle.

Most of the day was spent walking along broad ridge tops or contouring.  We were in beautiful forest with oak trees and pines.  We stopped for dinner at Robin Bird Spring and were planning to put in a couple extra miles after eating but a few clouds started rolling in and the rain panic began!  It was pretty comical.  The Californians started scrambling for cameras like they had never seen clouds before!  At any rate, the decision was made to set up camp while it was still dry, so the miles will wait until tomorrow (totally fine with me).

We're currently settled in a flat spot near the spring.  It is breezy and overcast but no rain yet!  As for me, I'm taking my chances and not pitching my tent.  There's a good chance I'll pay for this decision dearly in the middle of the night but I haven't set up my tent a single time since the kick-off and want to see how far I can make it.  I love sleeping under the stars, and if I were to do this trip again, I would definitely leave the tent behind and just carry an ultralight bivy.

Day 39 - (6/03/12) - Embrace the Struggle

Contents: Tehachapi - Golden Oaks Spring (25.1 miles)

25 miles, 6 liters of water, 7 days of food, stomachache, lots of elevation - that just about sums up the day.  The good news is that we got 'er done!  We left the trail head around 6 and knocked out the 8-ish miles to Highway 58.  We were in the Tehachapi Mountains.  The first couple of miles were tough but I settled into a rhythm eventually.  It was super windy and we passed by many windmills.  The windmills were cool, but they don't get me quite as excited as they used to!

After crossing Highway 58, we climbed up into the Piute Mountains.  The terrain was super harsh.  The desert is relentless!  We finally made it to the spring where we are currently camped around 6:30.  It was great to get to camp.  I'm exhausted but feel like my body held up well, all things considered.  I'd expected more foot and joint pain from the heavy load.  I think my slow and steady approach paid off today.

I think we're all trying to get through this section.  We are counting the miles to Kennedy Meadows (120 to go!)  Kennedy Meadows at mile 702 marks the start of the High Sierra, probably the most eagerly anticipated stretch of the PCT.  Getting there will be a huge accomplishment, and it will feel great to put the desert behind us.

Day 38 (I think!) - 6/02/12 - Zero in the Hatch!

Contents:  0.0 miles

We had a super hectic day in the Hatch but we've been safely delivered back to our home, the lovely PCT.  We slept in 'til about 7 and then hit the continental breakfast at our hotel hard.  It was great - eggs, bacon, real waffles, fruit, etc.  After breakfast, we lounged around before motivating to walk to the PO.  It was a bit of a trek but not too bad.  On the way back from the PO, I stopped at Home Depot to pick up some denatured alcohol and work on a solution for my trekking pole problem.  I headed for the nail department hoping to find a substitute for the horizontal pin I'd lost.  I wasn't sure I'd be able to find one that was the appropriate length, but I figured I could use a rock or hammer to bend down the pointy excess (this would hold the pin in place as well).  As it turned out all of Home Depot's nails were in packages (not bins), so it was a bit tricky to check the fit.  Rather than just opening the packages, I made a beeline for the cutest employee I could find to ask for assistance.  Sometimes, it pays to be a girl!  In addition to being extremely good looking, this guy was a champ at trekking pole repair.  Within minutes he put together a screw and bolt system which holds my strap in place perfectly.  He also used a saw to cut off the excess so I can't stab anything or anyone.  Success!  

Mission accomplished, I headed back to the hotel for a little more hot tubbing and to get packed up.  Around 2, Histo, Snausage, and I took off for Albertson's for grocery shopping.  We'd been planning to walk but less than a block from our hotel a guy driving a truck turned around to pick us up.  Without any real communication, the three of us piled in the back, hoping he was actually planning to take us to the store.  We were in luck, and within minutes Daniel dropped us off in front of Albertson's.

Grocery shopping tends to be a long and tedious process and today was no exception.  As we were repackaging or food in front of the store, Daniel swung by to see if we were still around and wanted a ride back downtown.  We weren't ready yet and still had another errand to do but what a sweet guy!  Though I've had positive experiences everywhere I've been, the people in Tehachapi have definitely been the kindest I've encountered so far on the trail.

After loading up our ridiculously heavy packs, Histo, Snausage, and I started toward Big Five Sporting Goods which was located just a couple blocks away.  Histo and Snausage were looking for new shoes and/or insoles.  We'd just left the store when Histo realized his bladder which was located towards the bottom of his pack was leaking everywhere.  He had piled too much weight on top of it and it had burst.  He quickly exploded his pack on the lawn and sidewalk.  While Histo assessed the situation, Snausage continued on toward Big Five and I made myself comfortable on the lawn and waited for Histo to sort things out.  As he was telling me that today just wasn't his day (his package hadn't arrived at the PO, his food didn't fit in his food bag, etc), the sprinklers on the lawn we were sprawled on turned on.  It was unbelievable!  We both got soaked (as did most of Histo's belongings) but all we could do was laugh until we were practically crying.

After Big Five, we headed back toward downtown.  We were planning to meet Nips and Wildflower at a restaurant for dinner before getting picked up by some angels who were giving us rides back to the trail head. We were exhausted and not in the mood to walk a couple miles with our heavy packs, so I approached the first truck I saw pulling out of a driveway and asked if we could hitch a ride.  Once again, we were in luck.  Gotta love the people!

We're currently camped at the trail head.  We're all tired but still hoping to get a fairly early start tomorrow.  We have a 25 mile day ahead and will each be starting out with 5 to 6 liters of water, but the good news is that these will probably be the heaviest packs we have to carry all summer.  Off to bed now!  Have a great night!

Day 37 - 6/01/12 - The Hatch Provides

Contents:  Tylerhorse Canyon - Tehachapi (16.9 miles)

Today was another great day.  We were woken up earlier than planned by a hiker shouting for his buddies.  He had apparently lost the trail on the ridge above us in the dark.  Though his reaction was a little obnoxious at 3 something in the morning, it definitely got us moving and we were able to knock out most of our climbing before it got too hot.

We made it down to Willow Springs Road shortly after 11.  We'd heard it could be a difficult hitch, so the boys made themselves scarce while Wildflower and I worked the street.  Within minutes a guy driving a flatbed tow truck pulled over.  We were in luck!  He had room for all 5 of us!

Nips, Wildflower, Histo, Snausage, and I are splitting a room at the Best Western Hotel.  Our room is awesome, and we are really enjoying Tehachapi.  The town is much more compact than we expected.  Histo, Snausage and I walked downtown for lunch before we even took showers.  Priorities!  After lunch and showers, we took naps and then did some hot tubbing.  We went out for a BBQ dinner and then returned to the hotel for Ben and Jerry's and more hot tubbing.  We are definitely living the life of luxury. 

Tomorrow we plan to clean out the continental breakfast and then hit the exercise room for a team workout (just kidding!).  In reality, it'll be the usual town chores.  We plan to hitch back to the trail head tomorrow night to position ourselves for an early start the following day.  The stretch is going to be rough, but our next stop is Kennedy Meadows!   Crazy!  We'll be hiking out with 7 days worth of food and a 25 mile dry stretch.  We'll definitely be relieved to get that day behind us.

Day 36 - 5/31/12 - LA Aqueduct

Contents:  Hiker Town -Tylerhorse Canyon (23.0 miles)

Today was a hot day.  We got up early and were out the door before 3.  It had been a windy night.  I slept in the hostel lounge which was in a garage and I almost thought the doors were going to blow off.  I probably would have been better off outdoors but it's hard to pass up an opportunity to sleep off the ground.

I walked the first few miles with Mad Dog but the rest of the crew was close behind.  We were mostly following dirt roads, and Mad Dog and I hiked a long ways in the dark without headlights.  It was awesome.  We didn't have any moon so it was super dark.

We reached the aqueduct, a massive pipe that carries water from the Sierras to LA, just as the horizon was starting to brighten.  While I stopped for a bathroom break, Nips, Wildflower, Histo and Snausage caught up.  We enjoyed a second breakfast before pushing on just as the sun rose.  It was a beautiful morning, and the hiking was quick.  We either followed dirt roads that paralleled the aqueduct or just walked on the concrete on top of it.  It got hot quickly. I was able to pick up some radio and heard a forecast for a high of 102 degrees in nearby Lancaster.  Though we passed by a gigantic wind farm which I took a ton of pictures of, the morning was very still.

After about 16 miles, we stopped under a bridge to rest and wait out the heat.  The next water was about 7 miles away, where we are currently camped.  I'd left the hostel with 5 liters, enough to get to camp.  I knew there was a cache at the bridge but was planning to avoid using it.  It turned out that a spigot tapping the aqueduct was unexpectedly turned on, so I wound up topping off with that water.  Definitely a nice surprise.

The day proceeded to get hotter and hotter and we wound up spending a whopping 8.5 hours under the bridge.  It was a bit maddening, and it was very difficult to stay comfortable even in the shade.  It was too hot for sleeping.  The big excitement of the day was cheering on the windmills as they started to slowly turn in the late afternoon.

We finally left the bridge around 6 and knocked out the remaining 7ish miles to camp.  The walking was beautiful.  We continued through the wind farm and eventually climbed above it before dipping into a canyon to camp.  The evening light and sunset were lovely.

Annoying trekking pole update....The strap on one of my new REI Traverse poles came undone because the horizontal pin holding it in place popped out and got lost.  It seems like a terrible design.  The piece on the pole that is still intact is super loose and I don't expect it to stay put for long.  I'll be strapless tomorrow.  Not a huge deal, but I definitely feel like I'm having bad luck in the trekking pole department.  I don't think there is an REI in Tehachapi, so I'll have to come up with something creative to hold the strap in place.  I'm thinking a nail might work, but I'm not sure.

16 miles with climbing in store tomorrow.  It's going to be a scorcher but we have town to look forward to.  No complaints!

Day 35 - 5/3012 - How Many Miles ?!?!

Contents:  Saw Mill Campground - Hiker Town (19.4 miles)

Today was another great day.  I'm going to try to keep this entry short because we're planning to get up around 2:30 to knock out as many miles as possible before the sun comes up.  We're in the Mojave, and it's hot and dry.

We cruised through Mile 500 bright and early this morning.  There was a small mile marker identifying the spot. Without discussion Nips whipped out his iphone and we filmed a totally awesome impromptu video.  I'll try to post it if I can figure out how......I have it in my email right now.

The morning was beautiful, and I felt super happy.  I am absolutely loving this adventure.  The afternoon was a little tougher.  We descended to the Mojave Desert, and it was toasty.  The trail was brushy and we did a lot of weaving around private property.  It seemed like it took forever to make the smallest amount of progress.

We are stopped for the night at a donation only hostel called Hiker Town on the edge of the Mojave Desert.  Hiker Town is really neat.....It is almost like a small village.  I think it may have been created for a movie set.  There is a school house, post office, etc., all with beds.  I just cooked a camp dinner to reduce my pack weight but bought a salad and ice cream to supplement.  Also had a hot shower.  I was planning to camp outside but it's super windy so I may crash on a futon in the lounge.  Either way, I'm sure I'll sleep well!  I'm excited for a night hike....feel like I'm heading out on a glacier or something!

Day 34 (5/29/12) - Dang Yummy!

Contents:  Casa de Luna - Saw Mill Campground (20.8 miles)

Today was a great day!  Two zeros in three days is a wonderful thing!  For the first time, I walked into camp after a 21 mile day feeling like I could pop off another 10+ no problemo.  Such a great feeling for a change!

We left the Andersons around 8:30 after another pancake breakfast.  Breakfast was delicious.  As many of you know, pancakes are my thing.  My companions have been blown away by the number I can put away.  There is a 5 pound pancake eating challenge at a restaurant in Seiad Valley (mile 1662) and everyone thinks I should go for it.  We'll see.  If there's a food challenge I could handle it probably could be pancake eating.  I feel like I've had a lifetime of training!  But 5 pounds?  That's some crazy talk!

Anyways, we hit the trail around 9.  We kicked the day off with a solid climb but then had rolling terrain for most of the day.  The walking was pleasant and not too hot.  Smiles and I ticked off a lot of miles together, and we enjoyed some excellent girl time.  I love Smiles - she is a great friend.  We finally stopped for lunch at a difficult to find guzzler that I finally managed to locate (woman's intuition!) and waited for the rest of our friends.  Water was relatively plentiful today, but the sources tended to be quite murky.  I'm definitely glad to have my new filter.  There are a lot of guzzlers in this section, and they are really gross.  Though it's definitely overkill, I've been known to both filter and bomb with bleach.

We stopped to cook dinner at the last water source before camp.  Dinner was hilarious.  A few hikers came up to the water as we were eating, and we made the spontaneous decision to play the "meow" joke from the movie Super Troopers on them.  Naturally, the boys pulled it off, but Wildflower, Smiles, and I were in hysterics immediately.   I think the hikers who walked up thought we were totally nuts.  This was definitely one of those moments you had to be there for, but I wanted to write about it for myself.  I know the memory will forever bring a huge smile to my face!  It definitely doesn't take much to amuse us out here.

Off to bed now.  Mile 500 awaits tomorrow!

**Check out Kristy's new photo album (See link to photos). It has pictures from Wrightwood to Tehachapi.""

Day 33 - (5/28/12) - Straight Edge on Hold

Contents:  0.0 miles

Today was one of the chillest days ever.  It was awesome.....one of those days that just goes on forever and keeps on giving.  My morning started with a pancake breakfast made by Joe Anderson.  After pancakes, I enjoyed one of my favorite past times - the post-breakfast nap.  A couple hours later, I relocated to a futon in the yard where I spent most of the rest of the day.  So nice.  We had a super low-key party atmosphere going the whole time.  Lots of food, drinks, good music, you get the idea.  I don't know if I've ever accomplished so little in a day without the slightest feeling of guilt.  Life is perfect.  The real world is a long ways away.

We had a huge BBQ tonight.  I'm camped in a Manzanita forest behind the house.  It is a great set up as there's plenty of separation between the party and sleeping areas.  Tomorrow, we'll head back to the trail in the morning.  I'm not sure if we're hitching or getting a ride from the house after breakfast.  We're currently about 80 miles out of Tehachapi and will probably roll in there late Friday.

Hasta manana!

Day 32 - (5/27/12) - Casa de Luna, aka Hippie Day Care

Contents:  Aqua Dulce - Casa de Luna (24.2 miles)

Tonight is at least tied with lasagna night for best night on the trail!  It has been ridiculous!  We're at the Anderson's house after a long day of hiking.  The party has been great.  I am way too tired to do it justice.  There are probably 70 people here.  Many hikers sped up, slowed down, or even hitched in order to hit Anderson's this weekend.  A trail angel was waiting at the trail head when we arrived to drive us to their home.  Highlights of the evening included the traditional round of applause we received when we rolled up and gave for subsequent arrivals), Terri Anderson's taco salad dinner, the hilarious text Trip sent Wash Out on my behalf, and Terri and Joe Anderson's story of how they got started as trail angels.  Without a doubt, Terri and Joe are some of the most (if not the most!) amazing, generous, open-minded, and totally wild people I've ever come across.  Casa de Luna rocks!

The hike today was good.  I felt a little off this morning, and didn't get my usual alpine start but I was better by the afternoon.  I think the first miles out of town are just tough especially with 5 days of food and 4 liters of water.  Both the Green Bean and Peels were working hard.

We're taking zeros tomorrow.  I can't wait for a day off without town chores.  I plan to alternate between eating and doing nothing.  Thru-hikers definitely need holidays too!

Day 31 - (5/26/12) - Hiker Heaven

Contents:  0.0 miles

Today was a productive day.  I got up early and headed to town for breakfast with some other peeps who had stayed at the farm last night.  Breakfast was fun.  We've been using this ancient beater van without windows or passenger seats to get around and we all just pile in the back.  It's pretty sweet.  We definitely feel like refugees.

After breakfast, I moved my stuff over to the Saufley's house where I'm staying tonight.  Around 9:30, I caught a ride from a super nice guy named Chris to REI in San Fernando Valley, about 40 minutes away.  Many wonderful people donated their time today to ferry thru hikers to REI.  At REI, I picked up new socks, a replacement photon light (I'd lent mine out to a friend who'd lost her headlamp and didn't have back up and she's now a ways behind), some bars, and new trekking poles.  I'm done with BD poles.  The new pole that they just sent me had "street" tips......not quite what I need on the PCT.  When I'd originally bought the poles, they'd come with two sets of tips - one street and one trail set, and I'd assumed the replacement would come with the same, especially since the guy I talked with knew I was on the PCT.  Not the case.  Anyway, to make a long story short, REI didn't have the tip I needed, and on top of this, I've virtually worn through the original set (it's duct taped), so I decided to cut my loss and start fresh with a new pair of REI brand poles.  I'm a little annoyed about dropping money on the pole I just received but can't use, but I'm mailing it to Anchorage and might follow up with BD about the tip (and the pole with the broken strap) in the fall.  Right now, I just need poles that'll get me up the trail.

It was fun, albeit overwhelming to go on a real outing!  I can't say I miss traffic, but the front-country was a nice change of pace.  We even stopped at an In "N Out Burger on our way back to Agua Dulce.  It was awesome - hard to beat a cheeseburger animal style and a chocolate shake!

Once back at the Saufley's, I grabbed a bike and headed to the grocery.  I bought more food this time around, and it's going to be tasty.  I made a few additions, my favorite of which is sour gummy worms.  Histo had some on the last leg, and I had some serious gummy worm envy.

In addition to the trekking poles, I shipped a few other items back to Anchorage from the Saufley's.  I'm ditching my mug and my underwear. I've never worn underwear in the back country in the past but had decided to try them on the PCT thinking they would help my shorts/pants stay clean longer.  While this is very nice in theory, in order to make this plan work, I need to change my underwear and better yet, rinse them occasionally.  Unfortunately, these activities have not found their way into my daily routine, so the undies are goners!  Clothes-wise, I'm down to a t-shirt, running shorts, two pairs of socks, puffy, rain coat and rain pants, stocking hat, baseball cap, and gloves.  Not bad!

Nips and Histo made dinner in the guest house.  We had chicken, rice, and broccoli.....so nice to have a home cooked meal.  After dinner, I took a shower and then watched Beer Fest with a bunch of people.  Not a bad way to end a busy day.

Tomorrow, most of us are doing a 24 mile hike to some other famous trail angels, the Andersons.  They are known as Casa de Luna.  Casa de Luna is definitely the party house on the trail and I fully expect a rowdy but fun night.  It's recommended (but certainly not required!) that hikers show up wasted, and we're told there is a beer cache 10 miles out.  The plan is to zero at Casa de Luna on Monday (Memorial Day) and then get back with the program on Tuesday.  Have a great night!

P.S.  Today marks one month on the trail!

Day 30 (5/25/12 ) - A Peels Kind of Day

Contents:  Maddox Canyon - Agua Dulce (14 miles)

Today was an excellent day.  We woke up early to a very light mist.  We could hardly believe it!  We'd all been complaining about feeling sticky before going to bed last night but didn't think it could actually be humid....way too rare down here!  Rather than risk getting soaked, we packed up and hit the trail bound for Agua Dulce.

During the night, the dry stream we were camped by in Maddox Canyon started flowing strongly.  I'd never seen anything like this before.  The canyon wasn't narrow and the mist was light, but it was a live reminder of how a flash flood could start.  In the right environment, it definitely wouldn't take much precipitation.  Definitely made me think of the movie 129 Hours which I watched recently.

The hike was wonderful...beautiful clouds, cool temps, and gently rolling terrain.  I'm not sure why, but I almost felt like I was in Hawaii.  The walking went quickly and I cruised the 14 miles into town by about 10.  Gotta love the light pack on town day!

The PCT runs through the center of Agua Dulce.  My very first stop was at the grocery where I grabbed a chocolate milk, yogurt, tons of fruit, and a bar.  I'd walked into town on empty having eaten my "emergency" mashed potato packet about 10 miles out.  

After leaving the grocery, I started making my way towards the Saufley's house.  However, I didn't get far.  About a block down the road, I ran into Histo parked outside the bakery with a ham, egg, and cheese croissant.  I certainly couldn't miss out on that fun so I quickly purchased my own and joined him outside.  It definitely hit the spot.

Once satisfied, Histo and I continued along to the Saufley's house, aka Hiker Heaven.  The Saufleys are some amazing trail angels who put hikers up in bunks and provide foot baths, bikes to get around town, and so much more.  We'd been really looking forward to meeting them.  However, by the time we showed up, they were full for the night.  We thought we were going to wind up at a campground outside of town, but a new angel came out of the woodwork!  Believe it or not, a neighbor named Laurie showed up on the scene, and invited us to stay on her farm.  We couldn't believe our luck!  We gathered our packages we'd had sent to the Saufleys (for me, it was a new trekking pole from BD, a filter and cookies from my parents, and an awesome card and goodies from Kirsten - thank you SO MUCH!) and headed to Laurie's place.

The farm is wonderful.  We were given a complete tour and even got to watch the goat milking.  We've had hot showers, and the food keeps coming.  There is a van for us to use, and we just got back from town where we had pizza and ice cream.  I'm currently sitting outside next to a fire.  Life is good.

Tomorrow, the plan is to take care of laundry, resupplying, and other town chores.  A trip to REI in a neighboring town may also be in order.  (I need new socks, and my new trekking pole came with the wrong kind of tip).  Otherwise, I'll just be kicking back and moving over to the Saufleys for tomorrow night.

Day 29 - (5/24/12) - The Poodle Dog Dance

Contents:  Mill Creek Ranger Station - Maddox Canyon (approx. 21 miles)

I'm definitely going to know if I'm allergic to poodle dog bush within the next 48 hours.  We encountered a TON of it today.

Our morning began with a continuation of the road walk we started yesterday.  As I probably already mentioned, part of the PCT is closed because it's been completely overgrown with poodle dog brush.  In fact, we've heard rumors that a hiker we know somehow managed to miss the detour and is now off the trail covered in the rash.  Yuck!  Anyways, we knocked out the road walk fairy quickly.  The scenery was lovely. We past a memorial for the two firefighters killed in the blaze.  I actually remember reading about them back in 2009 when they died.  They were killed in their truck.  Very sad......We also walked past a damaged cell phone tower and many burnt buildings.  The fire department had some training facilities that were destroyed in the blaze.

After about 14 miles of road walking, we finally rejoined the PCT.  It was great to be back on the trail, but there was still a lot of poodle dog brush to contend with.  It seemed sort of impossible to avoid, so I finally gave up and started plowing through it......hopefully I don't pay for my haste!

I'm currently camped in Maddox Canyon with the usual gang and Mellow Yellow who recently caught up with us.  We were expecting to find water here but the creek is dry.  I wasn't really prepared to dry camp, but I'm making do.  There is a KOA Campground with water about 4 miles away and I'm going to hoof it there first thing in the morning.  I just didn't feel like putting in a 25 mile day and walking there tonight.  I just ate dinner and have enough water to make it 'til the morning.

We're about 14 miles outside of Agua Dulce, and we can't wait to be there.  Most of us are planning to stay with the Saufley's, some of the most famous angels on the trail.

Day 28 - (5/23/12) - 3000 Calories Before 10 AM!

Contents:  Cooper Canyon Trail Campground - Mill Creek Summit Ranger Station (22.7 miles + 1.8 miles to breakfast)

Today was a tough day.  I got up early and hit the trail with Mismatch and Spatula a little before 5.  Despite eating a couple of pop tarts and close to half a pound of Gorp, I was starving and quickly committed to the restaurant plan.  We cruised the 8 miles to the Highway 2 intersection and then ditched our packs for the 1.8 mile road walk.  Highway 2 gets very little traffic and we didn't expect to get picked up.  We were right, but the 1.8 miles went quickly without the packs and we arrived at the diner at 8:45, just before they opened.  We were all starving.  I went with the Two Timer which included two pancakes, two eggs, and two sausages.  I could have easily put away two orders.  I hardly ever feel full these days.

We were fortunate to get a ride back to the trail head from another patron at the restaurant.  Once on the trail, we put in another 8 miles to Fountainhead Spring at mile 411.1.  At the spring, we caught up with Nips, Wildflower, Histo, and Snausage who had slept in and skipped the restaurant excursion.  We'd all been hoping to take a break there but found very little shade so we decided to proceed a little farther before stopping for siestas.  

We spent much of today walking through a huge area that burned in a fire called the Station Fire.  There is a nasty plant called the poodle dog bush that grows in burn areas.  The oil from the bush can cause terrible itching and burning when it comes in contact with skin, similar to poison oak.  Some people are more susceptible to reactions than others. I  don't think I'm very prone to skin problems and have never been overly careful about avoiding poodle dog in the past.  However, parts of the trail were completely overgrown with it today and it certainly warranted a little additional caution.  In fact, a lengthy stretch of trail was completed closed, and we were forced to follow another detour along a dirt road.

We are currently camped outside a fire station along the detour.  We're definitely feeling a little homeless away from the trail, but it's been a really fun night.  I was exhausted when I arrived and could barely motivate to make dinner but am feeling much better now and just impressed the boys with my dwindling pull-up skills (my daily set of push-ups isn't cutting the mustard!)  My ankle is a little sore tonight but I think we're all feeling something.  Misery certainly loves company.  I'm definitely going to zero in Agua Dulce on Saturday, as are many others.

Day 27 - (5/22/12) - Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog Detour

Contents:  Mt. Baden-Powell - Cooper Canyon Trail Campground (20.2 miles + .3 miles down from summit of Mt. Baden-Powell)

I woke up this morning in time to watch an amazing sunrise from the summit of Mt. Baden-Powell.  It was gorgeous.  I took some photos, but they probably won't do it justice.

After the sunrise, I made the quick descent down to the PCT where I ran into Histo, Nips, and Wildflower who were on their way up.  It was good to see them, and I told them I'd wait for them at the next water which was a spring about 6 miles up the trail.  The hiking was pleasant, rolling but tending to stay along ridge top.  I always love ridge walking.  The PCT does an impeccable job of contouring which minimizes elevation change, but sometimes I'd just prefer to be on top of the ridge, even if it means more up and down as was the case this morning.

I didn't have to wait long at the spring before Histo, Nips, Wildflower, and Snausage walked up.  After resting, we hit the trail together.  The terrain was beautiful but tiring.  The elevation changes were much more significant than I'd prepared myself for today.

Beginning at Eagle's Roost Picnic Area at Mile 390.2, the PCT is closed for about 3.6 miles in order to protect the mountain yellow-legged frog.  There were a couple of detour options, but we opted to road walk 2.7 miles along Highway 2 before meeting up with another trail which intersected the PCT after the closure.  The total length of the detour was 4.9 miles.  The highway walking was a bit brutal, but we played a fun word game similar to 20 Questions which made the time fly by.  I would explain the game now, but I'm a bit tired.  I'm sure we'll be playing more of it though!

I'm currently camped with the usual crew as well as Spatula and Mismatch.  We have another big day tomorrow.  There is the possibility of breakfast at a restaurant located 1.8 miles west of the PCT near mile 403.2.  I may hit that with Mismatch and Spatula depending on how I feel in the morning.  Off to bed now!

Day 26 - (5/21/12) - Wrightwood and Mt. Baden-Powell (9399 ft.)

Contents:  Wrightwood - Mt. Baden-Powell 9.7 miles + .3 miles to summit of Mt. Baden-Powell

After a big breakfast at the Evergreen Cafe, I spent the morning taking care of town chores.  One of my first stops was the post office where I mailed my hiking pants, long sleeve shirt, dress, and peanut butter knife to Anchorage.  I'm not sure exactly how much weight I'm saving, but the total package weight including the fairly minimal envelope I used for shipping was 1 pound, 11 ounces.  This is a huge reduction in my base weight! I don't think I'll have any regrets!  I also ditched a Nalgene water bottle in town.  I don't think I'll need quite as much capacity for this leg, and Gatorade bottles are lighter anyway!

After packing up at the hotel, I headed to the grocery where I picked up about 4.5 days worth of food.  I then sat outside getting organized and proceeded to get sucked into the Jensen's Supermarket vortex.  I must have been there for hours just hanging out, eating, etc.  I wound up meeting a couple of cool guys from Tahoe who I ultimately left town with.  Their names are Spatula and Mismatch.  Their plan was to camp on top of Mt. Baden-Powell, about 9 miles up the trail.  I definitely couldn't resist the opportunity for a summit bivy.  I was able to score a ride up to the trail head with a trail angel leaving the store with a car full of thru-hikers, and the boys got a hitch almost immediately.

The hike was beautiful but there was a lot of elevation gain.  We actually had to descend a fair amount before starting the climb.  We had great views of the Mojave Desert which we'll be hiking through in a matter of days.  It looked daunting.

I'm now camped on the Baden-Powell summit at about 9,400 feet.  It's been an amazing evening.  There are quite a few thru-hikers camped up here.  The sunset was spectacular, and we can see all the lights from LA Metro.  Spatula has an ipod and speakers, and we've been listening to really good music.  Other than flying, I've never been so high above such a huge city, and it definitely makes me feel a little insignificant.

Lots of down tomorrow.  I'll probably hook back up with my usual crew at some point.  I'm guessing they're camped a couple miles back.

Have a great night!