PCT Day 41: Rock House Basin & S. Fork Kern

Daily Miles: 25.4, Total Miles: 698.3

The best night’s sleep yet on the trail – a quiet and still night helped.

I headed around the canyon along the contour before dropping down to Canebrake Road and Chimney Creek. I found a cache of Orange Crush and Tecate with Elizabeth and 5-Star arriving just in time to join me for the refreshments.

The trail then climbed about 2,500 ft to 8,000 ft elevation – stopped about midway for water and lunch at Fox Mill Spring, next to the remains of an old barite mill.

I descended through an old burn area all the way to the bottom at Rock House Basin. Crossed a dry creek at about mile 694 and went around a large boulder. I was admiring a nice, flat camping area in front of a still-standing burned tree. Looked up in the tree about 20 ft away and locked eyes with a black bear draped around a limb about ten feet off the ground.

The bear opened his mouth very wide and let out a big huff. I started backing away while reaching for my camera and he settled down but kept an eye on me. I hotfooted it another four miles and camped along the banks of the South Fork Kern River. I’m now only four miles from Kennedy Meadows, gateway to the Sierras.