Day 54: KMS Zero, Day 1
My day with Isabel in Kennedy Meadows was amazing! We slept in and went to Grumpy Bear’s Retreat for breakfast, which had pancakes the size of plates. Isabel drove me around to do some of my chores, and it was amazing to have my own chauffeur. We hung out at the General Store after I picked up my bear can, and a ginormous cat named Ranger kept trying to steal people’s food. He was so adorable.
I tried on the shoes I ordered from REI that Isabel picked up for me, and regretfully, none of them fit. I ended up buying a pair from the gear store that were a size 8 wide in MENS, after I had worn size 8.5 in women’s for the past two weeks. No wonder my feet were in pain!!
Because I could push off most of my chores until the next day, since I was taking my first double zero, the two of us got to spend quality time together. Kennedy Meadows was a funny spot to visit out of all the places on the PCT— it was just one road that connected the trailhead, General Store, Grumpy’s, and a few houses. I think she had booked the only AirBnB available in town. I was beyond grateful that she made the 13 hour drive from Eugene to see me. Out of all the difficulties I’ve faced on trail, being away from my partner is without a doubt the hardest one. I’m lucky to have someone who loves and supports me so much.
We spent some time swimming in the river with my friends. It felt really nice for her to get to know the people I’ve been hiking with for 700 miles, and for them to get to know her, this person I’m constantly talking about!
After dinner, I spent time organizing my gear and getting ready for both of our inevitable departures, hers back to Oregon tomorrow and mine into the Sierras the next day.
Day 55: KMS Zero, Day 2
Saying goodbye to Isabel was really hard. I couldn’t find my pants that I had washed the night before, and then hit my head closing the trunk of her car. I was holding it together emotionally until that point, but the small inconveniences triggered a bigger crisis in my mind about being away from each other again, and the fear of starting such a difficult section. She reassured me as she said goodbye. I’d be okay, and we’d see each other again soon.
Still emotionally reeling, I completed my resupply, which would be the longest one yet, seven days. Everything had to fit in my bear can, as well, which was a frustrating, heavy, puzzle.
I spent most of the day after that catching up blog posts at the General Store, which had a more relaxing atmosphere than Grumpy’s, the other campsite in Kennedy Meadows. I took the shuttle, a minivan piled with hikers, back there to set up my camp, since Rory, Clare, and Jay were there. The rest of the group had left that night, but I didn’t feel quite ready, and neither did the three of them. We’d take off tomorrow morning, giving us one more dinner, and few more hours to get our gear together.
I was nervous for the Sierras, and not feeling as prepared as I thought I should be. There were so many new challenges to face there— altitude, more elevation gain, rockier terrain, river crossings, thunderstorms, bears, and the list went on. I wondered if I would be able to face them all. I was also still feeling so tired still, exhausted to the bone, and couldn’t believe that more hiking awaited after 700 miles. But I was also excited, looking forward a whole new world, with so much beauty. I’m not even ready for what awaits me out there!
