Kennedy Meadows CG to Mile 720.7
Miles 704.7 to 720.7
Trail Miles: 16
I left Kennedy Meadows with about five additional pounds of equipment. Going forward a bear canister ( 2 lbs. 9 oz.) was required for keeping food, an Ice axe and crampons/micro-spikes are necessary for crossing snow/ice on mountain passes, plus additional warm clothing for the higher elevations and cooler temps (a pair of hiking pants and a Capilene base layer that my friend Parker gave me in KM).
Water will be more plentiful so I sent my 3L camelback ahead and will only have a 2.5L capacity.
In the Sierra we are planning to average 15 miles per day. It’s not a matter of physical capability (we’ve been doing 20+ days), but rather the snow conditions. You have to cross the snow covered passes early in the day, when the snow is firm. Otherwise you risk injury by post-holing — when the snow gives way and your leg submerges to whatever is underneath. People have broken ankles and legs post-holing, let alone lacerations, sprains and more. The distance between the passes will determine our daily mileage.
It’s not the desert even if it still looks like it
Painter & Cherry Bomb at Cow Creek
There was some fear mongering Kennedy Meadows as we had been forewarned regarding the snow conditions. The options were delay/wait and contribute to the fear mongering; flip-flop like Cloud Rider was doing (jumping ahead to another part of the trail); or press ahead and make good decisions. We are pressing ahead because there are outs/escapes. I think we have a smart group who is cautious and safety minded.
We camped at 9150ft elevation, mile 720.7 – 10 of us (AT Boys plus our 7). It was so fun. Eating dinner together and watching the sunset from a big rock. What a great group of people to share this trip with.
Dinner time
