Walker Pass to Kennedy Meadows

Day 51 | June 21 | Into the Night
Tentsite Mile 656
4 Miles

DAY 52 | June 22 |  Bored
To Tentsite Mile 676
19.9 miles

Today was the first time I was listening to music while hiking. Loved it! The time just flew by.

I set up camp by myself about 4 miles before the next water source. The tent site mentioned on Guthocks was quite windy, but I managed to find a cozy, sheltered spot.

 

Day 53 | June 23
To South Fork Kern River (M698)
22.1 miles

Alarm at 4 a.m. but could not get up. Very tired still, woke up various times; either because of the wind or fantasizing about a bear stealing food.

Walked out of camp at 6.30 and once I arrived at the spring in 5 miles at 8 am everybody there had gone. It was quite warm already when I started a quite steep ascent. I tried to keep a steady pace while listening to the sound of Depeche Mode’s 101 album I had not listened to for ages.

I my motivation to get up there was to have lunch once I got to past the top. Once I was there though there suddenly was no shady spot anymore! I continued to walk until 1 pm in the heat until I came to a road crossing where I climbed up to a shady tree to have a tortilla sandwich and a big nap.

At 4 pm I walked on and met Danila, Jörg on the way with whom I camped by the Kern River eventually. KM was still 5 miles away and the river was a cozy spot to spend the night.

DAY 54 | June 24 : Hello Kennedy Meadows

Arrived at the Kennedy Meadows general store at 9 am where everyone arriving is greeted by all hikers there with a big applause.

The store was just about to open and quite a few people were already hanging around on the terrace.

Once the store opened I got some fresh fruit and coffee. I met Neon again who was stuck at KM with the same ankle/shin problem I had at Tehachapi.