The Sierra Nevadas. Finally… After eating a hefty breakfast, we got a ride from the shuttle that took us from Grumpy Bears to the trailhead around 10AM - roughly a 3.5 mile journey. Within the first several miles, we were already loving the change in climate and scenery. We had flowing water along side the trail and large pine trees offering us shade from the still powerful sun. We weren’t totally out of the desert as hints of our past travels popped up in the occasional cactus and other desert fauna. For now, water is the least of our concern. Our backs and legs are thankful for no longer needing to carry the 10+ pounds of water that we had to consistently haul during the previous section. Unfortunately, we’ve made up the weight as we all have to carry Bear Vaults throughout the Sierra. Basically, it’s a 1.5 foot by 10 inch canister that locks tight preventing black bears from accessing our food. The only upside aside from not losing our food to bears is the convenient stool it provides.

After a quick 4 miles in, we stopped for lunch and took a swim in the Southfork Kern River. The water was refreshingly cold. It brought us some peace and ease of mind from the last several days of desert heat. We then walked through a significant burn section with no shade. The elevation was taking its toll as we approached 10,000 feet. Short of breath and moving slow from the previous nights beer, we mustered up the energy to keep pushing. The views became spectacular as the trail opened up to a massive meadow. The transition from the desert to the High Sierra is one of appreciation. As the sun began to set, we kept on hiking and stopped to grab water at a bridge over the Southfork Kern river several miles upstream from where we swam. A group of swallows had made their nest underneath the bridge and successfully took care of the mosquitoes in the area. The views were also breathtaking as the sun was beginning to set below the ridge line beyond making the light paint the grassy hillsides surrounding us.

After we crossed the bridge, we began our most significant climb back up to 10,000 feet where we would make camp. We stopped for a quick dinner and kept pushing as the sun had fully set. Our next 4 miles were spent in the dark but the cool breeze and sounds of running water provided a wonderful setting even without the views. We made it to camp around 10:00PM. Spoons, Fly Lord, Will, Mackenzie and I were making camp when a marmot began pestering Will unlike anything I had seen before. It even tried to climb up his leg. Out of frustration, he packed up and hiked another .6 but the rest of us stayed back. We’re exhausted and looking forward to some sleep. The stars are out and the air is cool. Should be some good sleeping weather.

Happy trails…

Mackenzie and I both slept great and awoke to the early risers walking by us as we were camped near the trail. It was a great surprise as to what our views would be since we arrived at our campsite in the dark. Before us was a sloping hill into the valley that we walked from the evening before. All around us were large boulders mixed in with old red wood trees. It was such a morale booster for our whole group as we felt like we were officially out of the desert and into the Sierra.

We walked roughly five miles to get to our first stop, some conveniently shaped stones that offered great seats for us. The views were incredible through this section. Massive redwoods, both dead and alive, with grain that twisted around like a candy cane. The vibrant color of the wood and the morning light created wonderful color palettes. Water was plentiful during this section as well. We would stop in grassy meadows or valleys and filter. The sun still hot but we were cooled by a pleasant breeze and the shade from the pines and red woods around us.

We kept walking another five miles to our lunch spot - a small waterfall with shaded spots all around. We passed Flora and Fauna who has just awoken from an hour long nap. We were all grateful to be out of the desert… we’re sleeping better and breaks seem like actual restful breaks, not just a pause to avoid heat.

We then climbed up to the second highest elevation we’ve reached since starting the trail - 10,700 feet. We’ll reach Whitney in a couple days so I’m hopeful we will get used to the high elevation (Whitney is almost 15,000 feet up). The terrain felt very similar to the desert yet with cooler temperatures and tall red wood trees. The trees have so much character with their telling the passage of time and the elements at play in the area.

After a quick break, we made our way to a nearby meadow to grab some water and make dinner. The views are incredible so long as you can bear the mosquitoes. It was a short walk to our campsite where we pitched our tent near a stream running through a meadow. We’re loving the Sierra so far and stoked to see what else it has to offer.

Happy trails…