Day 47 – 8 May 19. More Big Hills and a New Snake

Today 33 km (20.5 mi), Total Distance 1121.2 km (696.7 mi). 8 hours 40 minutes (0830 – 1710)

I woke at my normal time but then drifted off to sleep again for a little while. I wanted to leave a bit later today so I would not be tempted to rush to Kennedy Meadows and do a big mile day.

When I woke I noticed my tent was wet. At first I thought it was condensation but realised it was the outside that was wet so there must have been a heavy mist during the night. I got up and wiped it down before doing my morning routine and the tent was nearly dry by the time I packed it up. Two people passed as i was getting ready.

The person who arrived late last night by torchlight was still there which surprised me. I assumed they were night hiking as they wanted to get to Kennedy Meadows quickly.

I was on my way at 0830 and it was nice and warm. The track dropped by switchback down the steep part of the hill and then it was a lovely gentle downhill for the next 3.5 miles (5.6 km). The trail was in the trees for most of it so it was a nice temperature.

At the bottom was Chimney Creek and I took my time filtering enough water for the next 10 miles (16 km) which was uphill for 7 miles (11 km) and then downhill.

As I was sitting filtering water Mora arrived. She is the one who arrived at the campsite late last night. She had walked from Walkers pass, so an extra 2.6 miles which was all uphill, from what I did yesterday. She was intending to get up early but was too tired. She is meeting her partner in Kennedy Meadows tonight.

As we were talking Billy Goat Queen arrived and we had a quick catch up. Then a little later Little Skittles turned up and I commented that I had never seen so many solo female hikers. Most females are with partners, friends or have become part of a Trail Family (group of hikers who hike and/or camp together all the time.

Little Skittles left first and I gave her about 5 minutes so I would not try to catch up. Just as I was about to leave a man arrived with some comment about pretty ladies. I couldn’t get over his white shirt. He was section hiking to Walker Pass.

I left and now it was a big uphill. 7 miles (11 km) of uphill from 1690 m (5545 ft) to 2434 m (7986 ft). Thankfully most of the gradient was not to bad, though the first bit was the steepest and had me sweating heavily. Luckily part way up the hill clouds covered the sun and the temperature dropped to a much more reasonable one.

I actually remembered the 100 km marker. I am at 1,100 km now. I missed marking the 1,000 mark which was a bigger milestone but it was on the water restriction day and my mind was on other things.

Interestingly I reached the 1,100 km mark on Day 42 of my Te Araroa (New Zealand) Thru Hike and on day 41 on my Norway Thru Hike. I think I am slower because of my more deliberate build up at the start of the hike, and the snow travel.

About half way up the climb, just as the trail was leaving the trees I stopped for lunch. A guy went past me without speaking and then Billy Goat who was stopping at the next road.

After a leisurely lunch I continued on, passing Billy Goat Queen having here lunch at the road.

The trail was now in the open and the gradient easier so I made good time. As I was nearing the top I looked behind and saw someone was catching up to me. As I stopped at the top to take photos he caught me. It is not often I get caught on an uphill in fact this is the first time. It was Ginger Balls who is a veteran doing this hike as part of a Veteran Project.

I stopped to take photos because the mountains were now in sight. On the horizon was a spread of snowy mountains in the distance.

I carried on and was able to witness Ginger Balls start to run down the hill. He quickly disappeared out of sight. I had heard from Caren the Trail angel who took me to REI that an ex Navy was part of the project and moving quickly. I wonder if this is Ginger Balls as he was moving quickly.

I was taking my time on the down hill. It was 5 miles (8 km) of constant down, in the sun which was making an occasional appearance from the clouds. I was feeling sleepy and most of the time there was not much of a view except of the rocky hill on the opposite side of the valley. I was drifting off thinking about all sorts of things. My upper left shin was niggling so I was stopping to stretch and then when I loosened my laces it went away.

I took a break with 1.7 miles (2.7 km) to go. Not long after I continued I nearly stood on a snake. I stepped back and had a good look at it. It was not a rattlesnake and was smaller than most of the snakes that I have seen, except the pastel green one. This on had beautiful patterns and changed colour from tan in the front to more reddish at the back. It was pretty docile and not reacting to me being there, except for keeping an eye on me. It did not move. I tried stamping and throwing rocks nearby but it ignored me.

Just as I was about to climb the bank above it I heard my name yelled from behind and it was Logan. I waited for him and he explained that he had not been feeling well yesterday which is why they got behind. They were planning on going all the way to Kennedy Meadows today.

After he stopped talking I showed him the snake. He took pictures, on his camera which is the same as mine, except slightly smaller zoom and better quality video. He then used his trekking pole to see if it would attack and when it did not he guided it off the trail with his poles. The snake stayed docile during this but when Logan touched its tail with his hand it started to get agitated. I moved past before it got really annoyed. Billy Goat Queen and Cruise Control had both caught up by this stage and they also went past.

I let Cruise Control in front as he looked like a man on a mission and was travelling fast. Logan was close behind so I also let him past and then when I stopped to take a panorama Billy Goat Queen went in front too. I was happy to be at the back as I was still going a gentle pace. I was also admiring the views. We were now on a flat valley surrounded by beautiful rugged mountains.

It was not much further to Manter Creek where I saw someone was camping. As I arrived I saw it was Finder who I had last seen at dinner in Agua Dulce. We did a catch up on what we had been up to, which is mainly how we spent our zeros. I filtered enough water for camp and continued on. Billy Goat Queen was camping there.

The trail was now gently undulating as it went at the base of the hill. It was now deserty terrain with big rocks, sandy path and sage bushes and other shrubs. A bit further on the hill to my right was full of rock formations and rocky areas.

The trail went into pine trees for a while, back into the open and then back into pine trees. I was now looking for a campsite and found one, just short of the one marked on Guthooks. I was about 30 meters off the trail.

I now only have 5.5 miles (8.8 km) to go tomorrow to reach the turnoff and 1 mile (1.6 km) from there to the Kennedy Meadows General Store. This means a nice short morning and I will try to get up early to be at the store just after 0900.

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