Field Report 6: Going Our Own Way

While planning and resupplying in Tehachapi for the next wave of our trek, we had some things to consider. From Tehachapi to Walker Pass (about 100 miles) we were facing extreme drought conditions and very little road access. We read that there may be water catches at a few locations, but that we should not plan on them being stocked giving the volume of people on the trail. The longest section we would have to trek without water might be about 42 miles, meaning either switching to night hiking to use less water or carry about 20 lbs of water per person. Not appealing…

We also had a window of opportunity to hike with one of my childhood friends (Carmen!) in Yosemite for a few days if we could get to Kennedy Meadows within 3 days of leaving Tehachapi….

We decided our best option was to get a ride to Walker Pass and hike about 50 miles to Kennedy Meadows in 3 days.

We made quite the entrance to the Walker Pass campground as we pulled up in a tow truck hauling my father-in-law’s car. We broke down about 5 miles from the campground. During the 2 hours we spent on side of highway 178 we met a lot of hikers who stopped to try and help us jump the car or ask if we needed help. With a start like that, this leg of our trip was bound to be an adventure!

Walker Pass was beautiful. For a quick moment it felt as though we were out of the desert, but as we hiked into the Owens Peak Wilderness area, we were reminded that we still had a bit of desert ahead of us. The hot, exposed pass showed us views of the mountains ahead and the desert behind, as well as an incredible mix of species that thrive in both climates. We hiked 18 miles from Walker Pass to our next water source and camped near Spanish Needle Creek with a group of about 20 other hikers all trying to find our own space. It seems as though some hikers chose to skip the same section we did and others did not, creating a cluster of hikers out of Walker Pass that we haven’t experienced since the start of our trip.

The next day we hiked about 17 miles. The first half of the day took us though lush mountain areas, full of wildflowers, pines, and granite. Ahhhh how inviting the sweet butterscotch scent of the Jeffery pine. We descended into the Chimney Creek watershed which gave us a view of the very recent fire south of Kennedy Meadows. The fire was less than a mile away from the PCT and the area we were hiking in was closed until a few weeks ago. We could still see the red stains on the hills from the fire retardant – a very real reminder of the environmental dangers that exist and the damage that one thoughtless moment can create. That afternoon we walked thru an older burn area where very little wildlife seemed to be growing back. We camped on a small ridge, the first campsite we could find for miles after gathering water, with our first view of the snow covered Sierra Mountains. We were joined that night with a hilarious group of hikers from Canada, England and one woman from Oregon City.

The winds were strong on our little flat and getting up early the next morning was easier than normal. We hiked for miles in the old burn area before making a turn into lush oak and granite trails and heading towards the south fork of the Kern River. Reaching the Kern River was huge. A RIVER! A REAL RIVER! We found a spot hidden away and spent 2 hours enjoying lunch, reading, skinny dipping and having a great time by ourselves. We reached Kennedy Meadows a few hours later just in time to order burgers and beer. Feeling on top of the world, but with no cell reception we waited with fingers crossed that our ride would be able to find us. Tony, my childhood best friend Carmen’s brother, a man I’ve known since I was five and he was three, drove from Ridgecrest to pick us up and take us to his home. The following evening, Tony, his girlfriend Esme, Jordan and myself all piled into a car to drive several hours to camp at the base of Yosemite’s eastern entrance, Lee Vining. We found a quick camp at midnight in the packed campground, and left early in the morning to see Mono Lake.

We drove though Yosemite and met Carmen and her dad Rick at Hetch Hetchy for a Father’s Day Weekend backpacking trip. This was Tony, Esme, and Carmen’s first time backpacking and we planned a two night, three day loop near the northern end of the Hetch Hetchy Reservior. We had a blast; so much water, so much life! Everywhere we turned was breathtaking. No wonder this place is a national treasure! And so much fun to be with an old friend, in our element, like no time had passed since our last adventure together. On Sunday we hiked 11 miles back to the car and said our goodbyes before driving 7 hours back to Ridgecrest. (With a mandatory stop at Mammoth Brewery, of course…)

Tonight, Tony is taking us back to Kennedy Meadows where we will start our trek into the Sierras. We are exactly where we planned to be when we sent out all of our resupply boxes almost 2 months ago! That feels pretty darn good.

Once we arrive in Kennedy Meadows, we will have no cell reception for about three weeks. The weather looks perfect for the next 10 days, but we will have some harsh river crossings and steep passes. We feel prepared and excited for this next leg, but wish us luck out there! Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and following us on our journey.

Lots of Love,

Chia (and Topo!)