Today marked the completion of 700 trail miles. More importantly, though, it marked the official end of the Southern California section of the PCT. I reflected on that and, though I've seen a lot of great things so far, I am glad to be moving on. Southern California was a psychological drain, with stretches of desert interspersed with tall dusty mountains. Of course, there was the ever present search for water that made it a challenge as well. Tomorrow I head into the high Sierras, which of course poses it's own set of challenges. First of all, I am currently camped at 6400 feet, and will get up to 10,400 tomorrow. I will be cruising at high altitude, hitting the highest peaks on the PCT. I will also be traveling in remote areas which means being cut off from communicating with friends and family. Resupply is difficult as well, resulting in heavy loads.
Today was fairly easy. The trail cruised uphill for 4 miles then back down. Then up again for 8 more miles and back down. I listened all day for the roar of jet engines, since there is a nearby military base that trains its pilots back in these canyons. Yesterday I had seen a midair refuel, a surveillance aircraft, and a fighter jet at low altitude. Today I heard the distant roar of a fighter jet engine but never saw the jet itself.
About 18 miles into the day the trail turned northwest and I got my first distant view of Dome Land Wilderness (pictured). Soon I entered Rock House Basin, where the Kern River flows (pictured). This basin is beautiful, with steep granite cliffs, pine forest, and a meandering river. It was the first time I felt like I was truly in the Sierras, and I must say I felt at home. The trail eventually reached the Kern River, with views south toward some of the granite domes that gave this wilderness its name (pictured). I stopped for dinner by the river before pushing on to Kennedy Meadows, an extension of the basin separated by a short narrow stretch of river canyon.
At Kennedy Meadows Campground I met a family from Chico who are hiking the PCT together. They skipped a large chunk of SoCal due to the heat. Still, they are hiking with their 9 year old son, which is quite a feat. I managed to hike a total of 31.5 miles today, overtaking "Mountain Alex," whom I had met briefly in Agua Dulce and who passed me while I was taking my zero days in Shell Beach. Now off to sleep in preparation for a long uphill day tomorrow.
