Stats

Start: Bridgeport – Mile 1016.9
End: Tentsite and Carson river – Mile 1026.1
Elevation Max: 10,503
Elevation Min: 8,213
Elevation Change: 1,759 up & 3,220 down
Average Heart Rate: 121
Walking Time: 2 hrs 55 minutes
Date: 6/16/2022

The Walk

I woke up feeling a bit better. I only had a cough left. And I’m cough drops fixed it for the most part. I relaxed during the morning. The post office didn’t open until 8, and the neighbors offered me breakfast last night.

Around 7:30 I saw them moving around and stopped by. They had bacon, eggs, and potatoes. Plus orange juice and coffee to drink. It was just the boost I needed. They live in Oregon and we’re down to visit Twin Lakes and do some fishing.

They even gave me a ride into town to the post office. It saved me two miles of road walking. I felt thankful and think my luck is turning around!

I shipped my bear can, microspikes, and gloves back home. With 3+ pounds gone, my pack felt small again. My back appreciated it. No more awkwardly big bear can to stuff in. And now it’s much easier to access gear or food during the day.

I threw out my thumb and caught a hitch from Bridgeport pretty quickly. A couple in a van was headed to Tahoe and took me a third of the way to Sonora Pass. After that I struggled with the hitches. In 2.5 hours I got 5 more miles from two different marines. There was a military base nearby.

After another hour wait I got my fourth and final hitch! A girl driving a friends car from Denver to San Francisco took me the last 20 miles. I was so thankful. At least 100 cars drove by.

At Kennedy meadows north I resupplied for Tahoe and ate a burger. I finished just in time to catch the 2:30 shuttle back to trail. I was curious what the trail would be like! We’re at the tail end of the Sierras at lower elevation.

The walk started with a climb, then the snow and water on trail was back. I skidded down the two miles and was happy when the snow was gone. I walked another 5 miles and called it a day. I found a flat spot by a river and I was wiped out.

Happy to be back on trail and hopefully I’ll wake up with good energy for a big day tomorrow.