New Valley Hills

After the excellent party the day before, we shelter indoors with windows and doors closed and shades down to keep heat out; fans circulate the air inside. I catch up with news from the UK about the general election. Stepping outside to feed the chickens or get a cold one from the cooler is like Continue reading

We attend the Kenwood Parade. No photos as I was slightly overwhelmed by the numbers of people – I’ve got so used to the sparse backcountry populations. Anyway, there were cars, Rotary Club, Scouts, marching guards, National Anthem as the flag was raised. I’ve lost 12.5% of my starting body weight in 2 months – Continue reading

At 7am Rick and I head out. Houdini returns to trail. Rick is on a photography holiday. After the mountains he’s heading to Sacramento for sunflowers, hoping to catch a lovely panorama to print for his wife’s home office. For 2 hours we drive west from Yosemite sharing tales. At a coffee break he finds Continue reading

In the morning confirmed my decision to take some time off trail. I did just 9 miles today, all gentle downhill through riparian meadows along an easy track. I still felt tired after the first hour and had to take frequent breaks. Getting to Toulumne Meadows I checked at the ranger station my public transport Continue reading

Made plans last night to camp with James 20 miles up trail today. His start time is 5am-my wake up time. I found it difficult to start today, despite hitting 8 hours sleep – only the third time since I started. I’ve been averaging 6 hours 45 minutes since May 4th. Maybe the decent sleep Continue reading

Returning to trail. Most things washed. Third pair of shoes started. I walk a mile to the free shuttle which’ll take me 5 miles by road to Horseshoe Lake trailhead, then a 3 miles walk returning to the PCT. I bump into James again, standing at a bus stop on the other side of the Continue reading

Traci picks me up from the motel at 6.45am in her battered 4wd truck. With 3 dogs causing mayhem we drive for 30 minutes cross country to Little Hot Creek, Siphon Tub. We have the place to ourselves for 2 hours, adjusting the tap to get the desired temperature we ease in and talk food, Continue reading

Zero in Mammoth. Laundry, eating, food shopping, eating, I watch a movie in bed. Mammoth is at 8000ft but for me it was still too hot to be out mid-afternoon.sun very harsh. I make contact with Traci who had engaged me in conversation at Deep Creek hot springs a month earlier. She’d offered to show Continue reading

I start ahead of Beans. Later he passes me by having hooked up with a friendly couple of last seen before Whitney. The three of them race off to get to Red’s Meadow 20 miles distant for cooked food. I happily plod downhill looking forward to my easy 10 miles today, though also looking forward Continue reading

For the first time since starting I had a lie-in in my tent. A leisurely start with unlimited cowboy coffee for $5. I’ve got 32 miles, 6000ft up and 5000ft down to do in three days – this’ll be a breeze – arriving in Mammoth Lakes on Friday to hit the Post Office for a Continue reading