Day 38 - Friday, June 4

Tenting behind Grumpy Bear's in Kennedy Meadows (again).  A zero day.

Woke up about sunrise and lay in my tent for a while, catching up on some journaling.  After a bit, I got up and went to get in line for breakfast.   Placed our orders and found a table outside.  Myself, Frank, Jedi, AB, and Thin Mint (who I just met last night) chatted with Sam who finally accepted a trail name last night: Sure Foot.  Our food arrived and it was a LOT.  Eggs, sausage, hash browns, and All You Can Eat (AYCE) pancakes.  It's AYCE, but most people are lucky to finish one.  They're absolutely massive.

Finished mine but didn't get a second because yesterday's experience with the pizza told me I'd regret it later on. Photo: AB, Sure Foot, Jedi, and Frank working on breakfast.

We finished and then went over to Triple Crown Outfitters for some more supplies.  Had to wait outside because it was crowded but had a good chat with Narrator, Magnet (formerly known as Sophie), Microbe, Rambo, Sure Foot, and Hot Pink.  Forrest and Arugula also showed up after a bit.  They stayed in Ridgecrest last night and Arugula's boyfriend had brought them up here this morning.  After getting out stuff, we spent time sorting through our packs and more importantly our bear canisters, trying to get everything to fit.  This took a while but we finally finished early afternoon and I went to the restaurant to get another milkshake.  Spent some time on my phone and a little later, the others made their way down.  We all hung out there and passed time.  Threw some darts, sent emails, chatted, and made some calls.  My Wi-fi calling isn't working (and there's no service here) so Frank let me use her phone to call home and check in.  Hung out some more and I got a burger for djnner.  Basically the only thing I'd eaten since the massive breakfast.  We slowly filtered out and up to the campsite for a more controlled evening than last night.

Several of the others wanted to take a zero today.  I didn't really want to, but I don't want to head into this potentially dangerous section by myself and without people that I know and trust around me (you're welcome mom!).  Plus the rest won't hurt. The upcoming section of the high Sierra Nevada mountains are known for being snowy/icy and having dangerous river fords.

Tomorrow we'll set off toward the Sierra.  While in Tehachapi, we heard reports of a significant snowfall (12"+ in some areas) and single digit temperatures (despite it being late May).  Frank read a report that the current snowpack is at a 20-year low for this time of year.  In a normal snow year, the typical date to enter the Sierra is June 15.  We'll enter on June 5.  Despite it being a low snow year, we still expect to hit significant snow, especially on the north sides of the passes we'll cross.  I had my microspikes (think of them as tire chains for your shoes) sent to me to help with icy conditions.  Most people also carry an ice axe, but I'm not going to carry one.  Most people seem to be doing the same.  Only time and miles will tell how the conditions will be.