Day 37

PCT Miles: 0

Total Miles: 703.4 (1125.4km)

I was feeling surprisingly good in the morning. I woke up around 6 and went to the porch of the general store (which basically IS Kennedy Meadows). There, at 7am, they serve breakfast: all you can eat pancakes and coffee. That’s a good way to start a zero!

It was good to finally have internet again. I could upload the last days here on Polarsteps and call Maike 💜. I could also charge all my devices: phone, watch, headlamp, gps and power bank. Fully loaded for the coming 8~10 in the Sierra!

Spending a zero day camping on the backyard

of a general store (with focus almost exclusively on PCT hikers) is surely interesting. During the day you can resupply, drink a beer, have a burger, fix your gear, send or receive packages. On the backyard there’s also an outfitter store, selling literally any piece of clothing or equipment you might need for the Sierra. I spend almost four hours (!!!) on this store (which is inside a trailer, super tiny) talking to the owner Charlie Brown. I asked every possible question I could imagine about crossing the Sierra with safety. He seemed happy to help and answer my questions.

Starting tomorrow for the coming 500 miles or so, I’m required to carry a bear can. So, besides resupply it, I also bought one today (surprise, at the general store). Lastly, I made some improvements to my gear to be better prepared for the colder weather and be safer hiking on snowy/icy ground: I replaced my micro spikes for proper crampons, bought an ice axe 🪓 (for safety), another puff jacket, gloves 🧤, a pair of merino bottom base layer (to sleep on) and waterproof socks 🧦. I also replaced the thin sleeping mat that I was using for a thicker, warmer one.

Other than that, the atmosphere here is pretty festive. There’s clearly a vibe of accomplishment, after finishing the desert part. You can also feel a subtle apprehension in the air. We are all about to start the most challenging part of the PCT after all.

My plan is to start hiking tomorrow after breakfast 🥞. I’m bringing food for 8-9 days. My plan A is to hike 180 miles in one go. My plan B is to stop earlier and hitch to a town. In theory I don’t need to resupply, but if I need to go to town for whatever reason, there will be a few places that I can hitch to town. My plan AA is to go a bit further and reach Mammoth Lakes 🦣, 200 miles away.

Sierra Nevada, here I come!